Page 54 of Degradation

“Sorry, Love,” Liam said, petting my bare arm as he pressed a kiss to my temple. “Go back to sleep.”

I gladly did so.

* * *

When I next woke,the sun had yet to rise, and I was alone in bed with Liam.

“Good morning,” he said when I opened my eyes.

“Good morning. Did the pair of you continue arguing?”’

“We weren’t arguing, Love. I was attempting to persuade him to see what a stubborn ass he can be.”

I laughed lightly and enjoyed the feel of Liam’s fingers running through my unfettered hair.

“Are you recovered from yesterday’s casting?” he asked when I remained silent.

“I believe so. Why? Is there another spell I should cast?”

“No.” His yearning teased my senses, awakening the hunger in my well.

“They said not to feel shame. That you all love me unconditionally, and if I’m hungry, I should appease it regardless of where the hunger stems from. And I’m trying to settle in my mind that I shouldn’t hold myself to the same standards of other maidens my age—though I’m not a maiden anymore, am I?” I exhaled heavily and drew closer to him, needing comfort from the unrest in my mind. “I’m trying, but it’s not easy to set free that part of myself I’d hidden for so long. A part that my kingdom would have shunned. Add loving the seven of you into the mix, and I’m not sure how to free myself to be who I am.”

“Ah, Love,” he said, holding me tight. It was then I felt his bare chest against mine. Skin to skin from head to toe. While his heart was filled with compassion and the need to comfort me, mine turned to hunger, the damned wanton thing.

“Don’t let the others rush you,” he said. “Move forward at your own pace.”

My current pace felt too slow in the face of my hunger. Setting my hands on his chest, I pushed him onto his back and straddled his hips. The blanket slid down my torso as I straightened, and I felt the storm of his emotions. The love and the need.

“The pace changed,” I said. “I’m hungry.”

His pupils dilated, and he gave me what I needed with a single heated look. Closing my eyes, I let it in and moved against his desire for me. His hands gripped my hips, guiding me so my folds parted. I shivered at the contact and continued my slide over him.

He sat up and wrapped his arms around me, increasing our contact as he lifted me to position himself. Sinking onto his hard length drew a low moan from me. He didn’t rush me to move. Instead, he let me set a slow pace that fed his desire for me.

Unhurriedly, I consumed what he felt as the pleasure inside of me grew.

“Please, Love,” he said, kissing my neck. “Tell me what you need.”

“More,” I breathed.

He shifted his weight, folding his legs underneath him.

“Lean back,” he said, gripping my hips with one hand and pressing at my chest with the other so I lay back. He half knelt between my legs, keeping my hips elevated as he continued his slow thrust. It was a position I’d seen in the book in Henry’s study. And in this position, Liam hit a spot in me that sent shivers racing down my spine with each stroke. He picked up his speed until the sound of skin slapping skin filled the room.

The others heard us. Their lust charged the air and flooded into me. I couldn’t think or speak. I could only feel. Their need. The sensual pleasure growing inside of me, climbing higher with each of Liam’s thrusts rubbing me from the inside, coaxing me to let go…to feel…to be free.

The maelstrom inside of me clamored to be unshackled.

Liam reached between us and flicked his thumb over that sensitive nub. My mouth opened with a silent scream, and I arched at the explosion he set off inside of me.

Pleasure rippled out from my core with an intensity that flung the lid clean off my well. The air around us exploded with color as I spasmed around him.

“Don’t stop,” he gritted out, keeping his rhythm steady. “Take what you need.”

I had no control to take. Liam was my master, and I accepted what he gave me. Even when I started shaking from the duration of the release and the growing sensitivity, I didn’t ask him to stop. I simply accepted what he gave. The second release started before the first fully finished. And this time, I was not silent.

My tortured wail shook the room, and dust rained down on us from the ceiling.

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