Page 48 of Seph

He so rarely heard her laugh. It lit him up inside like a hit of whiskey.

Before he could say how much, her lips sealed over the spot, worrying it and kissing his throat, sucking the bitten skin deep into her mouth as her hips wiggled against his.

It’s because she knows vampires. Knows what makes us tick. When she finds a weakness, she’ll exploit it.

God, yes, exploit me all you want, Huntress.

She needs to have the balance of power. That’s it. That’s why. She’s keeping you...

“You’re a natural at this, Emily. Gifted, and no I’m not lying or sweet-talking. You’d know.” A sharp, sweet gasp and her teeth marked his throat, a role reversal of the best sort. “Fuck.” Simeon’s vision went starry black when she clamped down softly, pressing her crotch to his, rubbing herself against him.

No. I don’t think it’s just power. If it were just power, she’d find another way. She’s letting you have your cake and eat it, too, Simeon.“Love you. Want you.” Was thathispanting, ragged little voice?

“I’m here. We’re here, together.” Her whisper was hot against his ear.

Simeon’s hands moved from her back to her bottom, and then one moved between them, gently rubbing that hottest, softest spot. “Lemme make you feel good, Emily.”

She ground herself to his fingers, making him damp, even through the fabric between them. Her fingers, normally so expert, were clumsy and fumbled as they undid his fly, letting him free.

His eyes flared wide.She’s touching me. Emily’s fist is curling around me.

He was going to come in seconds if he focused on the miracle of her pleasuring him.

Better please her first.

“Simeon? What’s wrong?” Emily’s tone went from sleepy and sensuous to insta-panic when he pulled away.

She moves without fear—but part of it’s an act. Underneath the armor, there’s still some sad little lost girl. Everyone she loves leaves her. If we don’t find Persephone, I’ll be leaving her, too.

“Not a damn thing, Emily. Everything is perfect.” He answered in a firm voice and kissed her soundly on the lips, tongue darting against hers before he slid down her body.

Emily froze, but not in fear.

She’d been partially terrified the whole time, but she’d long ago learned to shut out the fright and fight anyway, believing she just had to go through the motions to survive and come out on the other end relatively unscathed.

But that was fighting, not making love.

This was so much more terrifying.

I’m a virgin. There’s going to be blood. Blood and vampires...

Her mind did a lazy wobble then righted itself as cool fingers, just room temperature, curled over her waistband.

Simeon’s pulling my pants off. Simeon’s kissing a trail from my ribcage to my private spaces. Private as in just for me.

Her head was back and her eyes were closed, almost afraid to look. Better to just feel.

The hunter in her forced her eyes open just in time to see Simeon lowering his open mouth to her mound.

The contact made her jump, but the way his lips instantly went to work had her squirming into his touch, not away from it.

“I’m going to give you kisses here. It won’t hurt. It’ll be very soft, and you’ll like it. If you don’t like it, then we don’t have to do it,” Simeon whispered, a finger gently tracing her thigh.

“Okay.”

“We don’t have to. I will never, ever ask you or force you to do anything you don’t like. Never ask you to do things I think you won’t enjoy,” he whispered.

Another shaky reassurance. “Okay.”It’s just kissing. It’s kissing where I’m supposed to have a man inside of me. It’ll be fine. I’ll just... Let him. It’ll be okay.

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