Page 62 of Xeda

"You did really well," she said, trying to keep her hands from shaking.

He bared his teeth in a smile, a low hiss of laughter, amused by her game. "You are a clever, wicked little thing, I'll give you that." His gaze drifted down her naked body as her robe had come undone. His eyes lit up again, this time with a mischievous look. "I can see I was rough with you last night."

She knew he meant the bruises and cuts on her thighs. "Yes, a little."

"That wasn't very nice of me at all, was it?"

She shook her head. "Not very. Maybe you should fix that."

He grunted, then leaned in toward her. His tongue grazed the underside of her thigh along the tiny cuts, and she tensed, air sucking into her lungs. He trailed across the area between her thigh and center, his long tongue curling.

When he hit her center, her grip on the plate was lost. She let it fall, hitting the ground with a clang as a whimper spilled from her mouth. As his tongue slid against her, she reached out and gripped his horns. Her legs buckled, and he caught her before she hit the floor, gripping her hips as he kept her in place. She arched her back and gasped as his tongue slid into her center, heat curling, twisting.

She writhed against him as he stroked her much like she had done for him, and it didn't take long for her to tighten and buck against him, a scream ripping up her throat through her teeth, her legs trembling.

She lay there as he lifted from her, licking his teeth, his expression much like how it had been when she had first given him that bite of meat.

He crawled over to settle himself beside her, lying on his stomach. She shifted on her side to better look at him. She studied his scars, letting her fingers trail over them.

"You're not ashamed of this with me, are you?" she couldn't help asking.

His gaze caught hers. Then he seemed to think it over. "No," he said at last. "Strangely, no. Though I feel like I should only because of...everything in my past."

She didn't pry him. She knew some of what he felt from what she was told about the Blood Guard. But she didn't know how deep or intense his hatred went. She couldn't help wondering again, however, how much of what he felt now was affected by his heat, but she couldn't bring herself to ask.

"It doesn't matter if I should feel ashamed now or not, anyway," he continued. "Things are different here. With you. With these games. Everything."

She wondered if they would remain the same after. Or would he change his mind once he was free? Would having a way out mean leaving her and all this behind him? Would what happened here on Kingsway remain on Kingsway? Would she have to let him go?

These questions slipped through her mind like poison, but she was too afraid to ask them aloud. At least not yet. Let them worry about getting free first. Because if they weren't free, none of it mattered, anyway. And she would rather see him free than forced to be tied down to this place and therefore to her because he had to. She wanted him to choose her still when the time came.

She pet his side, thinking. "There are no events planned today. I was thinking you and I..."

"Whatever it is, my answer is yes," he said.

She grinned. She was about to offer a few ideas when a knock came at the door. Her smile dropped, and she quickly wrapped her robe around her. Anxiety pulled at her as she went for the door.

She opened it and her heart sank. One of Sal's men glared down at her. He glanced behind her shoulder, and she turned quickly to see Xeda sitting up with his pants on, glaring back. "He wants to see you," the man said and left her without an answer.

She closed the door and stared at Xeda.

He stared back at her. "I really do want to kill that man."

* * *

Smoothing out the top of her uniform, she stepped into Sal's apartment, unease growing in her gut. Every room was nothing but mirrors and marble, with sleek black furniture. It was cold-looking, unlike the warmth of Xeda's room. As she walked down the front hall, she had to avoid one of the cats who hissed at her as she passed. She slipped by one room and saw Sal's wife with his sister talking in whispers. They noticed her and gave her a cold stare before she moved on.

Down one side, she came to a door with one of Sal's men guarding it, not the same that had come to her door earlier. He gave her one look, then knocked on the door before opening it. "It's Ophilia," he said to Sal within.

"Good, bring her in," she heard him reply. The guard allowed her to enter Sal's private study. She stepped inside and stopped just after the door, hearing the guard shut it behind her.

Sal was at a table looking over a 3d display of a map of one of his properties. Next to it was a set of data she didn't recognize.

"Ophilia, Ophilia," he greeted as he studied the map. He glanced up at her and frowned. "Well, what are you standing all the way over there for? Get over here."

She hesitated, then slowly made her way to the opposite side of the table. "You wanted to see me?" she asked.

"Everything going okay with you?" he said. "Getting a good sleep?"

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