Page 78 of Insolence
Holy goddess.I stare as the tip of her tongue swipes out. Trails up the length of a slick finger.
“Tiss.” This time her name is a plea on my lips. An invocation.
“Yes?” she purrs. Her cheeks go hollow as she sucks both fingers into her mouth, eyes never leaving mine.
Fucks’ sakes.The place between my legs is swollen with all the blood not making it to my brain.
She stands when she’s finished. Brushes her skirt down. Cocks her head and walks toward me, mad half-grin on her face.
She pounces when she reaches me, throwing both arms around my neck. An evil little laugh bubbles out of her. I stumble back, her mouth seizing mine, tongue forcing my lips apart.
The taste of her own earthy musk buckles my knees. White hazes the edges of my vision. I sway, clinging to her as she swipes her tongue over mine, laughter tickling my lips.
Tiss…My addled brain and worthless body battle each other over whether to fight off her hold. Or hold her down and fuck her senseless.
Then, still laughing, her teeth clamp down, puncturing the thin flesh inside my lower lip. My yelp is ear-splitting. The taste of hot copper fills my mouth.
Before I can throw her off, a throaty screech and the rattle of powerful wings fill the air. Black feathers descend, rending the world.
Tiss goes rigid. Tearing her mouth away, she flings herself backward. I fight to keep my balance while her shriek rings in my ears.
Arms over her head, she dashes to the door. A flurry of feathers and talons, Bibi chases her.
I stumble forward. “Bibi, leave it!” But my bird is doing everything but listening. Thankfully, she’s only trying to intimidate. To protect me. Tiss wouldn’t still have her eyes in her head, otherwise.
The door slams but doesn’t stick. Dropping to the ground, Bibi issues a loud hiss and folds her wings, beard puffed out.
I drop into the empty chair. “Fuck.” I gasp, but it sounds more like“puck.” My pulse thrums in my ragged lip. Blood pools around my teeth and gums, its metallic tang mingling withher.
That woman won’t stop until she’s my complete undoing.
And I’m stuck. Bound to her. Trapped in this godsforsaken temple together.
The door is ajar. For once I welcome the frigid air seeping in.
The lust haze is finally starting to clear when I notice the blood on the flagstones. Splotches of it leading outside.
Chapter 24
Itissa
Itumble out of the greenhouse and into a day that’s once again turned cold and gray.
“Dammit,” I hiss, my legs collapsing.
Agony bolts through me, bitter wind cutting in from the cliff. Bracing myself in the dirt, I pant, unable to catch my breath.
“That you, Tiss?” Sadrie peeks around the laundry. “Tiss? Gods!” The second she sees me, she runs.
For shit’s sake.The outside of my right forearm is rent gruesomely apart—red, wet muscle exposed like raw steak.
A vague, distant part of me is annoyed the sun decided to go away thesecondI got back outside. Shivering, I look down.Why the hell is my shirt open?
“Tiss.” Sadrie descends on me, squeaking when she registers the torn meat column that used to be my arm. “Gods, you’re ripped apart andbleeding!”
“Hadn’t noticed. Oh, gods,” I gurgle as the whole mountain seems to slew sideways.
My friend catches me before I hit the ground. Hands around my shoulders, she rights me. “Were you just in there with Elodie?”
