Page 8 of Spellbound and Gagged

They stood in awkward silence, years of shared history hanging heavy between them. Juno absently reached out to touch a nearby plant, needing something to do with her hands, anything to break the tension.

"Careful," Thaddeus warned, a second too late. "That's a—"

The plant burst into a fit of giggles, its petals quivering with mirth. A giggling geranium, sensitive to the slightest touch and highly contagious in its laughter.

Before Juno knew what was happening, a chuckle escaped her lips. She clapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. The laughter bubbled up, impossible to contain. To her amazement, a deep, rich laugh joined hers. Thaddeus, his usual composure completely shattered, was doubled over in mirth.

Their laughter, mingled with the geranium's high-pitched giggling, echoed through the greenhouse. Juno clutched her sides, tears streaming down her face. Every time she thought she had herself under control, she'd catch Thaddeus's eye and dissolve into giggles again.

As their laughter finally began to subside, Juno realized they were standing closer than they had in years. For a moment, it was as if no time had passed at all.

Thaddeus reached out, almost unconsciously, to brush a leaf from Juno's hair. His hand lingered for a fraction of a second too long, his fingers just grazing her cheek. Juno's breath caught in her throat, her skin tingling where he'd touched her.

"Juno," he said, her name a prayer on his lips.

And then he was kissing her, and her world narrowed to the feeling of his lips on hers, his hand in her hair, his body pressed against hers. She melted into him, her arms winding around his neck as she kissed him back with all the pent-up passion of years apart.

It was everything she remembered and so much more. Thaddeus kissed like he did everything else—with intensity. His tongue swept into her mouth, and Juno moaned, pressing closer, needing more.

Thaddeus wasted no time, pressing Juno against the cool stone wall of the alcove. His lips found hers again, and Juno lost herself in the kiss. It was different here, more urgent, as if the years of tension between them had finally reached their breaking point.

Juno's hands roamed over Thaddeus's broad shoulders, down his chest, feeling the solid heat of him beneath his robes. He groaned into her mouth, his own hands sliding down to her hips, pulling her closer.

"Juno," he breathed against her neck, pressing hot kisses along her jaw. "Do you have any idea how long I've wanted this? Wanted you?"

She gasped as he nipped at her earlobe. "Probably about as long as I've wanted you," she managed to say, her voice breathy and unfamiliar to her own ears.

That was all the encouragement Thaddeus needed. He crashed his lips to hers again, his kisses growing more heated, more demanding. Juno matched his passion, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed herself closer.

They were so lost in each other that neither noticed the rustling of leaves around them, the way the night-blooming jasmine glowed brighter, its scent growing more intoxicating by the second.

It wasn't until a vine snaked its way around Thaddeus's ankle, nearly tripping him, that they broke apart.

"What in the name of—" Thaddeus started, looking down at the offending plant.

Juno laughed at his indignant expression. "I think," she said, gently untangling the vine, "that the embracing ivy might be a bit jealous."

Thaddeus's eyebrow arched. "Jealous? Of what, exactly?"

"Well," Juno said, "it is called 'embracing' ivy. And right now, you're embracing something else entirely."

A slow smile spread across Thaddeus's face. "Am I now?" he said, his voice low and full of promise. "I think we need to go somewhere more private."

Before Juno could respond, Thaddeus had scooped her up, eliciting a surprised squeak from her. He carried her to the stone bench in the center of the alcove, setting her down gently before joining her.

"Now then," he said, his eyes never leaving hers, "where were we?"

Juno's witty retort died on her lips as Thaddeus leaned in, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss. She melted into him, all thoughts of jealous plants and professional rivalries forgotten. Thaddeus's hands were everywhere, exploring every inch of her body, his touch sending shivers down her spine. His lips traced a path down her jawline, trailing hot kisses along her throat andcollarbone before finding a way back up to her waiting mouth. Their tongues tangled together, dancing and teasing one another as they became lost in sensation after sensation.

It felt like coming home after a long journey away—familiar yet exhilarating all at once. As he teased her lips with his tongue, she reciprocated eagerly, her hands finding their way under his robes, exploring the hard planes of his stomach. She gasped when he trailed hot kisses down her neck, sucking gently on the sensitive skin there. Her head fell back in pleasure as he nipped at her earlobe, sending waves of delight coursing through her body. She could feel his hardness against her abdomen—a clear indication that he was just as eager as she was. She wanted nothing more than to feel his skin on hers, to lose herself completely in him.

They flung off each other's robes and fumbled with each other's clothes until they were naked. Thaddeus muttered a spell, and the rock bench turned into a feather bed just like he had done for them all those years ago. Before he could lay her down on it, she sank to her knees that were cushioned by a fluffy pillow that had also magically appeared. Sliding her hand over his thick cock, Juno leaned in and ran her tongue up his thigh. His hardness twitched, and he groaned helplessly as she took him into her mouth. Her hands moved up his powerful thighs, caressing his skin as she took more and more of him inside her mouth, loving the feel of his length sliding against her tongue. Her lips massaged him gently, teasing and tormenting while she used her hand to stroke him in time with her movements.

Thaddeus's hips jerked forward as Juno took him deeper, her tongue swirling around his shaft in a perfect rhythm. He let out a needy moan that sent wetness through her core. His fingers tangled in her hair, urging her on, pulling gently at the strands as he lost himself to the pleasure she was giving him.

As his moans increased in volume, she looked up at him with hooded eyes, seeing the lust and desire painted all over his face. The look on his face gave her courage to take him deeper still until he couldn't take it anymore. His thighs trembled under her touch as he bucked into her mouth with a ragged cry. She kept sucking and stroking until he came with a loud grunt, filling her mouth and making her taste him fully. She savored every drop before swallowing it eagerly, loving the way he tasted of strength and passion mixed with magic. Satisfied by the taste of him, Juno slowly got to her feet, slithering up his body. When he tossed her on the bed, she shrieked in delight. Her shriek turned into a delighted moan when he buried his face between her legs and used his talented tongue to probe her fast and deep.

Her fingers clawed at the sheets beneath her as he coaxed a series of sighs and moans from her. Every lick, every suck, was building up a crescendo of pleasure within her, and she could feel herself nearing the brink.

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