Page 27 of The Hunchback

“Thank you,” Kwazeem said in a weak voice. But the gratitude and the love in his silver eyes made me melt from the inside out.

“Don’t mention it,” I said, suddenly feeling shy. “I wouldn’t have been much help without Victus,” I added, casting an affectionate glance towards the little imp. He chirped proudly, puffed his small, scaly chest, and spread out his wings. “But Lazarus helped, too, keeping watch and pouring his magic into you.”

The second imp, who’d been looking a little forlorn for being left out, perked up at being acknowledged as well.

“Are you hungry? Thirsty?” I asked.

“Water, please.”

“Right away,” I said, scurrying to the kitchen.

It took me a moment to find the glasses, and I ended up pouring myself one as well. I returned to the room to find Kwazeem sitting up, looking groggy as he tried to strip out of his remaining clothes.

“Let me help you,” I exclaimed, fighting the urge to scold him for making so much effort, so soon.

“Don’t worry,” Kwazeem said, although he didn’t reject my assistance. “I’m used to managing on my own after a drain. But thank you. I appreciate your help.”

He removed everything but his form-fitting black underwear. I tried not to stare at the impressive bulge at his crotch. If it was this big when he wasn’t aroused, how massive would it be once erect? But now wasn’t the time to entertain naughty thoughts.

Kwazeem sat at the edge of the bed, looking on the verge of complete exhaustion. I handed him the glass of water which he gulped down in the time it took me to take only a couple of sips from mine. Without hesitation, I extended my glass towards him. He hesitated before accepting it with a sheepish smile. I chuckled when he guzzled it down just as quickly as the previous one.

“Do you want more?” I asked, ready to go refill both glasses.

“No, Mera,” Kwazeem said in a soft voice. “I only want to rest for a while, and to hold you close while I do, if you would allow it.”

Without hesitation, I kicked off my sandals, waved my hand in front of the glowstone to turn it off, and then joined my man in bed. Kwazeem made me lie down on my back and, placing a possessive arm over my midsection, kissed my lips before resting his head on my shoulder. The imps settled at the foot of the bed while I gently caressed my man’s hair. Only after his breathing became regular did I also succumb to the lure of the dream world.

Chapter 11

Kwazeem

Iawoke to soft warmth and the delectable scent of my woman. It took me a moment to realize I wasn’t still dreaming, and then the peaceful beating of Esmeralda’s heart slightly picked up. Her hand, caressing my back, hesitated for half a beat before resuming its slow tidal movement.

Not my back, my hump.

I stiffened at the realization, my insecurities coming back with a vengeance. Having no doubt sensed my reaction, my woman slipped her left hand into my hair, gently scraping my scalp with her nails before pressing her lips at the top of my head.

She has seen my hump last night, drained it of the poison killing me, and still decided to lie with me.

In how many more ways did I expect her to keep proving she didn’t care about my deformity? Taking a deep breath, I lifted my head resting on her shoulder to lock gazes with her. Whatever I might have feared immediately vanished as I drowned in the green sea of her eyes, and the infinite tenderness burning within.

“My mate,” I whispered.

She smiled and cast a swift glance at my lips. I didn’t resist the implied invitation. I pressed my lips against hers, and Esmeralda’s embrace immediately tightened around me. Timid at first, our kiss deepened, and then our tongues mingled. A hot flame lit up in the pit of my belly as I climbed on top of my woman. She didn’t balk, spreading her legs instead for me to settle between them.

Breaking the kiss, my mouth roamed along her jawline, down her neck, stopping only long enough to suck on her pulse there. The link between us awakened, attempting to form again. But no sooner had it reared its head than I felt Esmeralda shut it down on her end. I hated that we couldn’t form a proper bond. And yet, if that was the only way we could be together, I would accept it.

Esmeralda’s hands feverishly explored my body, and her throaty sighs as my own caressed hers with increasing boldness quickly distracted me from such somber thoughts. When my palm slipped under the short skirt of her sarong dress, I interrupted the kisses I’d been sprinkling over her chest to look up at her. My mate’s green eyes, darkened with desire, locked with mine.

No words were needed between us for her to understand my unspoken question.

She responded as silently by reaching for the knot at the back of her neck which kept the sarong wrapped around her body. My mouth went dry when, once she’d untied it, Esmeralda merely tugged on the silky, black fabric, and it obediently parted. A bolt of lust exploded in my nether region at the sight of her flawless, golden skin and her bare, perky breasts whose darker nipples stood erect, begging for my attention.

I didn’t resist. My tongue licked her areola in slow circles before I sucked in the hard little bud. My woman’s back arched, pressing her breast against my hungry mouth, and her fingers fisted my hair to keep me in place. Flicking away the panel of her sarong that still clung to Esmeralda’s body, I wrapped a possessive arm around her back, holding her to me. My free hand caressed her other breast, tweaking its nipple, and then slid down her waist and over the rounded curve of her bum.

Since Esmeralda landed on Eden, every night and every waking hour I’d fantasized of holding her like this, my mouth and hands ravishing her, and hers all over me. Never would I have imagined the incommensurable softness of her skin or her delectable sweet and salty taste on my tongue. In fact, never would I have believed one such as me could earn the favors of any woman, least of all this embodiment of feminine perfection.

Heart pounding with need and a sense of trepidation, I hooked my fingers around the waist of her slip and slowly slid it down, giving her a chance to resist. But she lifted her behind instead to ease my task. My cock further stiffened in response and began to throb with anticipation.

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