Chapter 36

36

LECTURE NOTES FROM IMMORTAL ANATOMY:

Despite popular belief, the tongue is not the strongest muscle in the body. However, it is made up entirely of muscle, with considerable range of motion.

O ver the course of an hour, she’d been fed, taken an overdue bath, and was finishing a full tour of camp. The dress Sila had loaned her was made of a white cloth material. It had no sleeves and was cut with high slits, for walking, Sila had said—although her wink had said otherwise.

Back in Sila’s tent, she wasn’t expecting to see Soren. His dark eyes hovered from the grimoire to what she was wearing. “You look … different.”

“That’s what you’re going to say to her?” Sila threw a hand on her hip.

Soren’s father shuffled into the tent. “Ah, good. I wondered when you’d both get to work.” He moved beside Sila, kissing her cheek.

Soren slapped the book shut. “Well this would be a lot easier if there were less distractions.”

Sila, not much taller than Thessa, lifted her chin. “I’ll remind you General Whitfield, your tent was prepared at first light, twelve lanes south and thirty-four east.

“Did you forget you left your son guarding the book in this tent?”

“Where is Brenneth?” she asked.

“I told him his canine services were no longer needed. I’ll keep it with me from now on.”

Sila sighed. “Fine, less fuss for us.”

Jussal nodded once.

Soren stood with the grimoire tucked under his arm. “Now that you know the book was not stolen, and that your son was relieved, rather than disposed of, I’ll be going.” He paced toward the tent flaps before eyeing Thessa over his shoulder. “Are you coming?”

She skittered behind him.

No more than three steps outside he whirled around to face her. “Why are you wearing that?”

She loved the dress. “You don’t like it?”

“I can’t think with your shoulders that bare.”

“Oh.”

A moment later he threatened to rip it off entirely.

Thessa’s eyes widened. “You’ll do no such thing.”

“Then I suggest you get inside my tent, and fast.”

“What?”

Soren flashed his magic and purred, “Run,” as several serpents slithered toward her.

Is he mad?

Heart racing, she took off .

The tour around camp had proved itself useful; the lane system they used was easy to navigate. She dodged the children whisking past her, ignored the curious glances from strangers, and stumbled inside Soren’s tent. She took in the thick rugs, overstock of candles, rolled up maps, and fresh-cut table as she caught her breath; it was a tent fit for a general.

Soren fled in a moment later, grabbing her from behind. “You’re faster than you look.”

She squealed in his grip.

He loosened, but only enough to toss the grimoire and spin her around. His arms draped around her low back, pulling her closer.

She traced her finger along his chest. “What’s all this about?”

Soren growled. “You.”

She rubbed her lips together, then smiled.

He angled his head. “You look different when you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Smile.”

“You don’t prefer my usual face?”

He huffed a laugh. “I prefer when your eyes light up.”

She blushed, drawing her head down.

One of his knuckles found her chin, pulling it right back up. Thessa flicked her gaze to meet his. She felt weak, tingly even. “I haven’t felt like this around anyone since my ex,” she admitted.

Why am I bringing up my ex right now?

Soren backed away a little.

Thessa shook her head as an apology formed on her lips.

“Me either,” he blurted.

“Then maybe we shouldn’t.” The last time she fell for someone, her heart fell apart too .

He stepped closer, wrapping his arms back around her.

She eyed the distance between them and breathed, “This is incredibly selfish.” Her voice had betrayed her like she was some seductress.

“You’re right.” He loosened his grip.

She tugged him back. “I didn’t finish what I was going to say.”

He quirked a brow.

“This is incredibly selfish … but not once in my life have I been the selfish one.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I don’t want to wait.”

He grinned.

She clutched his tunic, drawing him closer. “Just kiss me already.”

And Soren did. Their lips molded into one in some desperate attempt to consume the other. She didn’t want air, or space. She wanted something other than the world around her.

Opening her mouth, she welcomed the push of his tongue. It was as decadent as his magic.

Soren gripped her thighs, hoisting her onto his hips. She moaned at the contact as he walked them across his tent. He sat her atop his table, then laid her down. Only when her back hit the smooth pine, had he released his mouth from hers.

She drew in what felt like her first true breath, but her body buzzed for more.

“I need to touch you,” he said.

“Please.” The word had just escaped her.

He made a guttural sound before yanking her sleeveless dress down with a single tug. While his mouth devoured one breast, his calloused hand massaged the other .

When his other fingers trailed lower, sliding between the slits of her dress, her back arched alive. Finding a very sensitive peak between her thighs, he pressed and twirled until she was moaning. By the time he slid a finger inside her, she whimpered his name.

“Tell me what you want.” His warm breath atop her battered breast was too much.

“More,” she breathed.

Soren growled something indiscernible as he added another finger. What started as slow and gentle strokes, easing her into his touch, had turned fast enough to rattle the maps off the table.

She reached her forearm across her mouth to bite back her moans.

Soren’s grunt was her only warning before he pulled his fingers from her and dragged her to the edge of the table.

She clawed at the wood for purchase. “What are you doing?”

He knelt before her, propping each of her feet up. “I said I need to touch you, Thessa, and I plan to do just that.” His tone had her toes curling.

After clutching her thighs and drawing his face against her center, the unthinkable happened. His mouth was upon her. She’d tensed on instinct, pulling her knees in closer.

Boxed in, he stopped and met her gaze. “You okay?”

“What are you doing?”

“You’ve never done this before?”

She shook her head. “No. Only the other way around.”

He bit his lip, then nudged her inner thigh with the side of his head—a silent command.

As Thessa opened, his breath sent shivers up her spine, and kept them there as he snaked his tongue up the length of her. She cursed when he kept doing it, wondering if this would send her straight to the underworld. Once he added teeth, she had her answer.

Thessa dug her nails into the wood the moment he buried his tongue inside her, doing things tongues shouldn’t have the capacity to do.