“Me?” Kendrick asked before Caden could answer. “I can’t let you be on top in front of everyone. I have a reputation to maintain.”
I barked a laugh. “Reputation?”
“The predators have a very different idea of me than the prey shifters do.”
Eyeing him up and down, I hummed. “So youdon’twant to get on your knees for me?”
He opened his mouth and closed it again, eyes narrowing.Are you teasing me for a purpose or are you being a brat?
Both.I grinned at him.Bring out your antlers, get naked at your leisure, and get up on the platform if you want to play with me.
Kendrick stared at me for a long moment, a shiver rolling through him before he slipped his shirt overhead.Why do you want my antlers when I hurt you with them?
Let me heal from that in my own way.
And what’s the purpose of teasing me?
I want you to understand the crossroads between predator and prey. I am both and neither.Balls of light formed in my open palms, glowing like tiny suns.I want you to know the comfort of surrender.
He swallowed hard.I’m plenty comfortable without it.
I think we both know that’s not true. Trust me to show you what it can be like. I know the peace it can bring. I know you have to crave it the way I do. Hand me the power and I’ll take care of you.“Strip and kneel.”
Those congregated stared at him, gazes curious, waiting to see if he would comply or push back the way he usually did with everything else.
Fire blazed in his eyes. His breathing was hard like a bull pawing the ground and ready to charge despite his cock standing at full attention. That particular appendage knew as well as I did how much he wanted to follow my lead.
His pride was a barrier he hadn’t conquered.
Yet.
I stepped a little closer and felt the tension peak in those gathered. Were they worried how he would react? He had already hurt me once, nearly killed me, however accidental it had been. Kendrick had let his fear guide him, and as much as it had the potential to keep him safe, it wasn’t a way to live forever.
I waited for him to follow my instructions, my magic absorbing back into my skin in a flare of light.
Trust me.
I don’t trustanyone.
Time to start.“I won’t tell you again. You can have me so long as you listen.”Or you can leave and have me in private.
With one shaking breath, Kendrick slipped out of his pants and underwear, kicking them to the side, and climbed onto the mattress. There, he lowered slowly, one knee hitting the bed and then the other. The sight of him was like a shot of whiskey, the fire of it burning through me.
I stepped up there with him and reached out, cupping his cheek. “There’s a good boy.”
He shuddered but still didn’t relax. I stepped even closer so his face was level with my chest and I could see the little surge of defiance, the tensing of his muscles as he leaned forward. I caught his antlers with both hands.
“You just can’t resist, can you?”
He growled. “I shouldn’thave toresist.”
I tugged on his antlers, directing him down, pushing with barely the force of two fingers, but he followed me until I was on my knees in front of him. He allowed me to arrange him,pushing him by the antlers until he was flat on his back as I braced him against the floor. “But you want to give in. I’ve seen it. I’m very familiar with how incredible it feels to let go. I can give that to you if you allow me to.”
His whole body vibrated under my hands. He let out a low moan before relaxing entirely.
“There we go.” I flipped my leg over his waist, trapping his cock between us, still keeping one hand on his antlers and using the other to stroke his cheek. “How does that feel?”
He didn’t say a word, but his trembling grew stronger.