Page 88 of Obsidian Prince

Liliana swallowed. That was how her prince defined a desirable partner, someone who was useful. She could be useful. “I am good at getting past guards. When I go in and out, I will advise the base guards what they are doing wrong that allows me to pass. It will help tighten base security.”

He studied her for a moment. His expression blanked, his default for when strong emotion hit him. He parked in the driveway behind her house. Her garage had gym mats on the floor and trapeze swings in the rafters. It was not really a good place for cars.

Liliana opened the car door, trying to think of other ways she could be useful to Alexander.

He put a hand on her arm, stopping her from getting out. “You’re not useful, Liliana.”

The words hit like a blow. She blinked hard. Did he want to end their relationship? Had she done something wrong like Eliot did? “I just saved your life.”

“That’s not…” Alexander rubbed his face with his hand and winced when he hit the big iron bracelet against his chin. “I mean…” He took a deep breath. “You’re not just useful.”

Liliana looked at him with all her eyes since he no longer seemed to mind. She really needed to understand. His complex soul showed a variety of shades of embarrassment, confusion, the red of undimmed desire, some of that creamy white. It looked like love, but was so fleeting, she wasn’t sure. A surge of warmth soothed her hurt. He was having trouble expressing his feelings, something he didn’t often do. “You know, a prince is supposed to be good with words. You should probably work on that.”

“Are you teasing me?” He asked, a hint of a smile, with some disbelief.

As intimidated by him as most people are, I bet no one teases him.“Someone should. You don’t laugh enough.”

Alexander shook his head and got out of the car, that amused little smile broader than she had ever seen it. His eyes crinkled with suppressed laughter that sparkled bright in his aura.

She got out of the car by balancing on one foot, but didn’t get a chance to wonder how she would get into her house.

He scooped her up and carried her in like she weighed nothing.

Liliana ripped off his t-shirt when he’d barely got her inside. It was torn and blood splattered anyway. She’d almost lost him. She’d seen him die a hundred times. She needed to feel him warm and alive.

He gave her a flash of an amused smile big enough to show teeth, then leaned in to kiss her.

Liliana put her hand in front of his mouth to stop him. “No, I get to kiss your chest this time.”

Alexander laughed and sat down on the bed with her in his lap. He spread his arms wide. “I am yours.”

Finally, she got to touch him, swirl her tongue around his nipples, taste his washboard belly. “Hold the headboard,” she ordered.

“Now, who’s bossy?” he teased her, but he laid back. He put his hands up to either side of her narrow bed, holding the support posts. Her bed was never meant for two, especially if one was as big as her prince.

His smile vanished in a gasp as she straddled him and unbuttoned his pants. She got to taste all of him. She didn’t stop until he was moaning and squirming under her.

He let go of the headboard at last. His fingers tangled in her hair as he pulled her up for a desperate, gasping kiss.

He helped her shed her clothes in moments.

With him on his back, she mounted and rode him, his body buried in hers. As his big hand ran down her back, making her shiver, she blurted out, “May I bite you again now?”

“I don’t need healing,” he said. “I feel better than fine.” He rocked his hips and gifted her with that hungry shark smile that was broad and real and full of desire as he heard her moan.

Liliana could barely think with her own desire, a kind of impatient need. “Not for healing. To share venom.” She rocked her own hips as she leaned down to lick his tight nipple. “Because it will be good.”

His hand stroked her hair, fingers deliberately entangling in the thick tresses. “You want to lay a deeper claim to me,” he said, a smile still in his voice.

“Yes,” she said very seriously. “Please. I almost lost you.”

His hand behind her head pulled her to him. “I’m here, Little Spider. I trust you.”

The words still made her stomach flutter the third time he’d said them to her. With care she hadn’t had time for before, she nibbled the thick slab of pectoral muscle, barely piercing the surface with a fang. She rocked her hips at the same time so his groan was far more of pleasure than of pain.

The drop of venom would make the area impervious to pain. Once it had a moment to do its work, she bit again, deeper, giving her lover the gift that was hers alone to give. She licked the tiny trickle of blood from the puncture marks he never even felt, and sat up again, enjoying the shift of angle of him inside her.

All eight of her eyes watched as his pleasure increased. She rode him hard, driving that pleasure forward.

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