21 The Minotaur

21

The Minotaur

I believe her. Maybe I'm a fucking fool, but for the first time since the day I realized she'd run and left only a note behind, I feel something like hope. That I won't have to drag her into a future together. That we have a fucking future at all. But that shit is a concern for tonight and tomorrow and beyond. Right now, she's so wet and soft against my fingers that it drives me wild. I've touched her like this before, but never with the ability to take my time, without limits in place.

"Turn around, sweetheart. Let me get a look at that dress."

She starts to obey but pauses before she shifts. "I like this dress a lot, Asterion. Don't cut it off me." She doesn't wait for a response before she twists to present me with her back. Again, I marvel at the way the straps crisscross her light-brown skin. She's like my very own piece of art. A present I can unwrap at my leisure.

I trace my fingers lightly along the straps, enjoying the way she shivers in response. She's given me several gifts today already. I want to do my best to return them. I'm not made for softness, but I am made for her. I have to trust that I can give her what she needs.

"Stand up." I don't wait for her to do as I ask; I grip her hips and lift her to her feet. This is better. When she stands like this, I have her back even with my face. I gently tug at the delicate little bow until it unravels, baring the small of her back. I lean forward and press an open-mouthed kiss to the newly revealed spot.

And then I slowly undo the laces, following the path with my mouth. Ariadne whimpers and shakes, but she doesn't move from that spot until the last bit comes free and the dress flutters down around her body, leaving her gloriously naked. I palm her big ass and set my teeth against the curve. She squeaks, which just makes me do it again. I like that I make her this kind of nervous. As if she's not quite sure what I'll do next, but she still trusts me implicitly.

"Spread your legs, sweetheart." I barely wait for her to do as I say before I delve my finger between her legs and press into her. She's even wetter than before. It makes my spent cock twitch with need, but it'll still be a few minutes before I can fulfill that promise.

And we have nowhere to be.

I still can't quite believe it. There's a part of me that wants to rush this, to grab every bit of pleasure with Ariadne before something happens to stop us in our tracks. But she's here, in my apartment, and we locked the door to the outside.

I nudge her forward and slip down to sit on the floor. She moves easily as I guide her to turn to face me and lift one knee up to the edge of the couch. It puts her pussy within kissing distance, which is all I've ever wanted. I lean forward and drag my tongue up her center. Her pussy blossoms for me. There's no other way to describe it. She's so soft and perfect against my tongue, and it gets even better when she starts shifting restlessly. I really thought it would take me several minutes to recover from that last orgasm? I'm a fool. It feels like I'll always be ready for her.

I turn my head and gently bite the scar on her thigh. "Ride my face, sweetheart. Take what you need."

She stills as if she's about to protest. I shift back to prop my neck on the edge of the couch, giving myself up to her. The sweet vulnerability on her face slowly melts away, replaced by need. For me.

Ariadne shifts closer and then her pussy is against my mouth. I kiss her thoroughly, giving myself over to the rolling motion of her hips grinding against the flat of my tongue. And then her hands are in my hair, guiding me right to her clit even as she keeps fucking my face. Her moans are the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. Especially when they go frustrated and sharp. "Your fingers, Asterion. I need them."

I don't make her beg. I press two fingers into her and curl them against her inner wall in the exact way that made her come apart so beautifully for me before. She cries out my name and then she's coming all over my face. She presses me down hard to the cushion, covering me so thoroughly that I can't draw a single breath. Good. I don't fucking need to breathe. Not as long as she's coming. Not until she's finished.

Her hips jerk one last time, and then she slides bonelessly down my chest to straddle my hips. She cups my face, her expression pleasure-drugged. "Did I kill you?" I love that she doesn't sound particularly concerned one way or another.

"Still alive and kicking, sweetheart."

"Good." She kisses me. After all the dirty face-fucking, it's sweet and light and absolutely perfect. She nips my bottom lip as she eases back. "We're not done yet." She squirms a little, grinding her wet pussy against my rapidly hardening cock.

"No, sweetheart. We're not done yet." I grip her thighs and stand. It's awkward as fuck, but I love the way she shrieks and clings to me. As if I would ever fucking drop her. "I'm taking you to bed."

Her grin is free of all the stress and fear that's plagued her steps for far too long. "I would be heartily disappointed if you didn't."

I carry her into my bedroom and lay her down on the bed, settling between her soft thighs. It's so fucking tempting to just keep going, but I'll have no regrets between us. Not anymore. Not again. I reach down and yank the bottom drawer of the nightstand open and pull out a box of condoms.

Ariadne watches with wide eyes as I rip it open. "A whole box, just for me?"

"It's sure as fuck not for anyone else." I yank a string of condoms out and toss them onto the pillow next to her head.

I start to rip one open, but she lays a gentle hand over mine. "We don't need to use them."

Need almost makes me reckless, but Ariadne was hurt by my recklessness before, and I'll be damned before she is again. "If you want kids, we'll do that—when it's safe. Not risking it. Not a second time."

"Oh." She clears her throat, shifting nervously. "No, I didn't mean that . I just meant that I'm on birth control. I have been since my follow-up appointment after the…procedure."

Which means we didn't need to use a condom in the dressing room. I almost ask her why she let me put it on, but the answer is clear enough. She didn't fully trust me then. She does now. I gather her close and kiss her. "You sure?"

"Yes. Absolutely."

I don't ask her again. I guide my cock to her entrance. "Ready, sweetheart?"

"Yes." She reaches down and sinks her fingernails into my ass just like she did when she was choking on my cock. The pain makes me jerk forward, and we both moan as I enter her. Too good. It's always too fucking good with her.

Because it's her. Because it's me. Because it's us .

I slip an arm between her hips and the mattress and roll us. Ariadne plants her hands on my chest, steadying herself. I squeeze her hips. "You didn't think you were done yet, did you? You rode my mouth. Now ride my cock."

She opens her mouth like she wants to argue, but I thrust up into her just a little, and it seems like she forgets what she was about to say. It's just as well. I'm running out of words myself. I don't believe in the gods, but if I did, no one could convince me that Ariadne wasn't a child of them. Everything from her savvy brain to her hidden ruthlessness marks her as a person far above the rest. But this? Watching her start to ride my cock? It feels beyond good, but it's the sight of her taking her pleasure without hesitation that really does me in.

I stroke my hands up her sides, my thumbs feathering over her stretch marks, and cup her breasts. Perfect. Everything about her is perfectly made.

"If you could…see the way…you're looking at me."

"Don't need to see it. I'm feeling it." My chest is too tight. I have been in love with this woman since I was a kid, but it's never felt like this before. As if the overwhelming need I had for her, to be around her, has morphed into something infinitely stronger. As if she's pulled my heart right out of my chest with her bare hands. This pleasure is so acute, it morphs into pain. I welcome every moment of it. Good. Take it. It was yours all along.

Ariadne skates her hands up my arms and then down her stomach to finger her clit. Almost immediately, her strokes go jerky. I grab her hips and keep her moving at the pace that will get her there. I need to feel her come around me. I need to watch her expression in that moment of perfect surrender. I need it more than anything.

"Asterion!" She throws her head back and arches her spine, grinding down on my cock as she orgasms. "Oh gods, don't stop."

I don't stop. I keep her fucking me through the end of this orgasm and into another. And all the while, I watch her face and know that I'll seek a repeat of this moment for the rest of my fucking life.

I don't believe in the gods, no, but I believe in Ariadne. Her body is the altar I worship at, and her love is the only sustenance I need.

Then the little brat reaches back and takes my balls in a firm grip. Her nails prick the sensitive skin there, and surprise sends me hurtling into an orgasm that's so strong, my vision shorts out. I fuck up into her, needing to be closer, needing to go harder. Needing for it to never end.

I arch up and kiss her as the last wave recedes, leaving me boneless and more relaxed than I've ever been. She slumps onto my chest and starts to move to the side, but I'm having none of that. I'm not ready to let her go yet. I never will be. I kiss her lips, the bridge of her nose, her forehead. "Stay."

"I'm not going anywhere. I promise."