Chapter 30

Isit carefully beside her, pleased beyond belief that she wants me to sit by the fire with her. Everything she does sings a sensual song, from the way she flicks her shining hair over one shoulder, to the way her eyes seem to keep trailing over my body.

I should put on the loose pants in the pack, or a shirt, but I like her attention. Even though it scalds my blood, making my cock hard, even though I will not push her tonight… I want to. Hers is a siren song I will never be able to resist.

"Are you hungry?" She asks, tucking hair behind one ear, scooting closer to me.

"Yes," I say, because I am, though not simply for the food I prepared.

"Let me feed you?"

I nod once, unable to take my gaze from her. Her forearm brushes against me as she leans forward, across me, snagging some of the food I made. The neck of my shirt hangs open, and I can make out the shadowed swells of her perfect breasts. I swallow a groan, wanting her more than any food. Still, I quiet my instincts, waiting to see what she does.

She rocks back, and the fire in her eyes lights up her whole face.

"You are beautiful," I whisper, entranced. Ali smiles softly at me, and my heart aches for the trust I see there. The light in her undimmed, even after all she's been through.

"Here," she says, in an equally quiet tone. She holds the small open sandwich out to me, as though I am a small child, unable to feed myself.

It makes me grin, and she smiles back to me, a mischievous expression in her eyes.

Gently, I take a bite. I hardly taste it, because I'm so focused on her reaction, on the concentration that furrows her brow as she tries to keep the toast and toppings intact. Her finger brushes against my lip, and I tense at the contact.

I'm going to lose my mind if she keeps this up.

"Here," I say brusquely. "I'll feed myself." I take the toast from her, shoving it in my mouth, then quickly devouring several more. I do not want to be distracted from her.

Her arms are crossed over her body, her expression closed off.

"Are you hungry?" I ask, mystified.

"I—"

Suddenly, I'm in action, wanting her to experience exactly what she did to me. I take a bit of food, offering it to her. Her gaze darts between my hand and my eyes, as though she's expecting a trick. I raise one eyebrow, and she opens her mouth.

My cock immediately stirs.

When she bites into it, I trace the edge of her lower lip. Her mouth parts again, and she sucks the tip of my finger. I groan loudly as the wet heat of her mouth closes over my finger.

Stars above and below, this woman.

Carefully, I withdraw my hand. Her eyes are fiery, and lust surges in me.

I down the rest of the toast in one swift bite.

I close my eyes, trying to shut out the image of her sucking my finger, because it only makes me think of her mouth around my dick.

"What's wrong?" Her voice is small and pained, and I open my eyes immediately. "Why won't you touch me? You haven't even acted interested since we kissed in the barn earlier. You've barely spoken to me. I don't know what I did, Lesath, but I want this to work. If you want this to work, then you have to talk to me."

I chew, swallowing slowly, disbelief warring with reason. "I acted improperly toward you in the caves." Surely she knows this. Shame and regret overload my lust, and I lean away from her.

Her eyes narrow, and I wait a beat before continuing. One of the horses chuffs in the darkness, the crackle and snap of the fire the only other sound.

"I did not know you were not yourself that morning. I am not trying to…"

"Run cliterference?" she asks.

My eyebrows shoot up, confusion replacing my shame. "I do not understand."

"Never mind." Her hands twist her lap, her shirt —my shirt— hiked up so that the entire perfect, smooth expanse of her thigh is revealed. The shadow between the shirt and her thigh tantalizes me.

"Explain," I press, not wanting this moment to slip away, because she's right. "I do want this to work. I want you, stardust and blood, Ali Lamn, I want you more than I've ever wanted anything. But I won't take advantage of you again."

Her eyes widen slightly, her mouth parting. "What do you mean, take advantage of me?" She pushes a stray hair behind her ear slowly, her gaze darting between mine. "Is that what this is?"

"You were suffering from magical poisoning, and I did not even know. Over and over again, I've broken your trust." My throat tightens, choking me as the words spill out. "I am amazed that you continue to sit next to me, that you haven't retaliated." I tear my gaze from her, sick to my stomach, unable to watch what I'm sure will be confirmation of my misdeeds against her.

To my surprise, she curls a hand around the nape of my neck, gently pressing my head until I look back at her.

"You didn't take advantage of me, Lesath, so get that out of your head. I knew exactly what I wanted, and I knew what you were doing to me, and nothing happened that I didn't very enthusiastically support." She says the last on a laugh, and shock ripples through me.

"You do not have to spare my feelings."

"Have I ever once spared your feelings?" Her other hand cups the side of my face, and I lean into her touch.

It's too good to be true. That this perfect, beautiful, clever, and kind woman with unspeakable power, should be sitting here, telling me this. After all I've done, she is soothing my hurt. Completing me.

"Lesath, all I've been able to think about today is seducing you." Her shapely legs stretch out, and she shifts to kneeling. Lust roars back to life as she rocks forward, sliding one leg across my lap so she's straddling me. "All I have wanted is to finish this thing you started between us."

"What do you mean?" I want to believe her. I want her to tell me that she's mine, that she will accept the mate bond. I can hardly stand to hear anything less.

"I want you, Lesath. All of you. I want to be yours." She slowly, breathtakingly slowly, pulls my shirt from her body, running her hands down the mark of Scorpio written across her skin in pale purple, matching her tattoos.

My breathing speeds up, coming fast as I revel in her beauty, enhanced by the magic dancing across her skin. I don't dare touch her for fear of breaking the spell.

She lets out a hiccupping laugh, then her delicate fingers circle my wrist, and she pulls my hand up to the glowing mark on her skin. Slowly, she traces the lines between the stars there, the constellation Scorpio.

"I'm yours, Lesath. I've been stubborn and unkind and scared, but I'm all in. You've been the knight in shining armor to my damsel in distress."

"I was also the one who caused your distress," I remind her, savoring the feel of her skin against my fingertips.

She smiles at me, her thumb tracing over the rasp of stubble on my jawline.

"You've been a mentor to me. You've fought terrible things and taken care of me when I'm hurt." Her lips brush against my ear as she leans forward, and I groan as the tips of her nipples brush against my chest. "You've brought me so much pleasure. You make me laugh. You drive me crazy." Her small teeth nibble against my ear, and my resistance snaps.

I clutch at her back, causing her to arch up in surprise.

"Ali," I groan, then take a nipple in my mouth. "Tell me you want to be my mate."

"I want to be your mate, Lesath. I want you to be mine." Her fingertips bite into the back of my neck. "I want it now." Her fingers fumble with my towel, and I hiss out a breath as she wraps them around my cock.

I pull off her breast with a pop, grinning up at her. "You think I would simply rut you like a beast, now that I have you ready and willing in my arms?"

"I want it," she moans, dipping low.

I catch her around the hips, stopping her from spearing herself on my throbbing dick.

"I told you, you would be begging for it by the end." I lay down, and she clambers on top of me, apparently thinking I'm acquiescing to the slick heat of her pussy. My hands tug her higher, and she squeaks in protest.

"Do you trust me?" I ask her, staring up at her lust-addled expression.

"Yes," she whimpers. "Please, Lesath."

"I like when you say my name like that," I tell her fiercely. "I want you to say it like that as you come in my mouth."

"Oh," she says, grinding against my chest, desperate already. Lust tightens everything in my body, and I drag her further up.

"Sit on my mouth," I command. I'm desperate to taste her, to feel her move against me, to wrench as much pleasure from her as possible, knowing it will make my claiming her all the sweeter for both of us.

"Oh!" Her eyes pop open. "Oh," she says on an exhale, crawling up my body. To my surprise, she doesn't do as I ask, not exactly. Her wet, pretty pussy glistens over me, but she repositions herself slightly so her head is facing my feet.

My cock jerks at the sight of her, and I can't wait any longer, grabbing the soft mounds of her ass and pressing her pussy to my lips.

She cries out, and I run my tongue down her slit, lavishing it with attention.

"You're so wet for me already," I growl in approval. "Tastes even better than I remember."

When she curls her hand around my cock, I groan into her, licking faster. She presses further down, rocking against my face.

I grunt in approval, loving that she's losing control, lost in the taste and feel of her body against mine, her hand on my cock. Her hot little tongue strokes against my tip, and my control begins to slip as we fall into a mutual rhythm.

"More," she whispers, her voice low and husky.

My mouth presses against the hard nub of her clit, and when I suck, she cries out, shuddering over me.

"Now, now, you are ready," I say, slapping her ass lightly.

She makes an unintelligible noise, and I laugh quietly, rolling her limp body over and positioning myself over her. Her eyes are heavy-lidded, her lips swollen. I crush my mouth against hers, and she moves against me, spreading her legs.

I can wait no longer, and her hands reach down, her fingernails biting into my lower back. Stroking my cock, I rub it up and down her wet heat, causing her to cry out.

"Lesath, do it. Please," she arches up, staring at me with wild eyes. "I am begging you now, okay? You were right."

I press a light kiss to her forehead, loving how wild I've driven her. Loving everything that she's saying. And then, without warning, I thrust. She clenches around me, her head falling back with a sigh.