Page 9 of Catalyst

Kane froze for a second, then a sheepish expression overtook his face. “I forgot you could do that. Is it… bad?”

I shook my head, my face still burning. “Just unexpected.”

“Good.” He flashed a slow, lazy smile, one he quickly hid under his hand. “Because Iwasn’tabout to apologize for it.”

A shiver ran down my spine as I finally looked up to meet his eyes. They were darker now, full of something raw and hungry. His chest rose and fell as he breathed deeply, his gaze never leaving mine. A cool tendril of shadow slid up the leg of my pants, wrapping around my ankle.

My breath hitched.

“Is that okay?” His voice was low, rough with restrained desire.

I nodded, unable to find any words to respond.

“Good.” His lips curved into a wicked grin. “Finish your breakfast, and I’ll help you relax.”

The shadow crept higher, curling around my thigh, and I nearly dropped my fork. My hands shook as I tried to lift another bite of eggs to my mouth. The shadow brushed the edge of my panties, and I gasped softly.

“What if I’m f-full?” I stammered, trying to steady my breath as the shadow teased me, brushing against my clit through my underwear.

“You’re not.” The shadow shifted again, pressing just enough to make my breath catch. “And I’m going to make sure you take care of yourself.”

I swallowed a whimper, hurriedly scooping the remaining eggs onto a piece of toast. Kane watched me with that same dark intensity, his lips curling into a smirk as I took bite after bite. Every time I swallowed, the shadow moved, stroking me through the fabric, keeping me on edge, driving me crazy.

By the time I finished the last bite of my toast, my breath was coming in shallow pants. I chased it down with a quick gulp of juice, desperate to satisfy him—and let’s be real—myself.

But just as I set the glass down, Kane withdrew his shadows. The sensation vanished, leaving me hollow and aching. My bodyscreamed in protest, a whine slipping from my lips before I could stop it.

“Hey!” I panted, glaring at him. “What are you doing? I finished eating!”

Kane’s chuckle was low and deep as he stood, his chair scraping against the floor. He took his time crossing the small kitchen, his steps slow, deliberate, almost predatory.

“Oh, I know,” he said, his voice like silk as he stopped just in front of me. His hands slid over my shoulders, down the curve of my back. “Just because it’s your reward doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it, too.”

A shiver ran down my spine as his fingers trailed lower, skimming over the curve of my stomach before slipping under the hem of my shirt.

“Stand up,” he ordered softly, his lips brushing my ear. “Tits to the table.”

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if my legs would even hold me up. But Kane wasn’t the kind of guy who waited for permission. One of his hands pressed firmly between my shoulder blades, guiding me up and out of the chair. My body obeyed him before my mind could catch up, and the next thing I knew, I was standing, my chest pressed against the edge of the table.

The solid weight of his hands disappeared, only to return as he hooked his fingers into the waistband of my leggings. With one sharp tug, they were down around my thighs, my panties following close behind. The sudden chill of air on my bare skin made me gasp.

“Jesus Christ,” Kane muttered, his voice low and thick, “You’re soaking wet.”

Heat flooded my cheeks as he toyed with my clit, his thumb sliding back and forth with agonizing precision. My body arched against the table, desperate for more.

“I knew you were a freak,” he murmured, his breath hot against the back of my neck. “But if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were getting off on the idea of being fed and fucked.”

A whimper escaped my lips as I pressed my cheek to the cool surface of the table, giving him a lazy glance over my shoulder.

“M-maybe…” I admitted, too far gone to care how embarrassing it was.

A wicked grin spread across Kane’s face. “Oh, Jace is going to have a fucking field day with that.”

Before I could respond, his shadows wrapped around my ankles, pulling my legs apart and anchoring me in place. I choked on my breath, bracing for his next move, but nothing no amount of preparation could have readied me for the feeling of his tongue against my clit. The sensation sent a shockwave of pleasure tearing through me.

“Oh my God,” I gasped as his shadows pushed inside me, stretching me with the same slow, deliberate rhythm he’d teased me with earlier.

The combination of his tongue, the shadows, and the cool table pressing against my skin was too much. My body felt like it was on fire, every nerve ending raw and exposed. It was overwhelming—in the best way possible.

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