Chapter 14

Chapter

Fourteen

EINAR

H arper gave a little gasp, her blue eyes flaring wide as lust swirled between us. "You called me Harper before."

My dick tightened. When I'd sensed her in my study, I told myself I was going to keep things quick and impersonal. Five days away should have been plenty to clear her from my system. To cure the need that plagued me whenever she was near.

It wasn't. As the sweet scent of her arousal invaded my lungs, I knew that a hundred years wasn't enough time to purge my need. But five days was long enough for me to control the parts of me she couldn't see. Those parts had to stay hidden. If I'd been a better man, I would have stayed away forever. That would have kept her safe. But I wasn't that good of a man, and I couldn't make myself walk away. Not now.

I wanted her too badly.

More importantly, she wanted me too. And this time, centaurs had nothing to do with it. For some inexplicable, miraculous reason, Harper was just as caught up in me as I was in her. Had the attraction been there all along? What brought it out? Whatever it was, I wasn't going to look too hard at it. Not with her standing before me, her luscious body throwing off enough heat to set my hair on fire.

"Did I?" I murmured, ignoring the way the Book of Crubeus rippled and changed shape in my peripheral vision. The woman in front of me was far more tempting. Helpless to resist her, I stepped close and feathered a thumb over her plump bottom lip. "And do you prefer it when I call you Harper?"

Her shaky exhale fluttered over my fingers. "Yes." She seemed frozen—and more than a little flustered—but she didn't pull away. "What are you doing?"

"I could ask you the same question." I made another pass with my thumb. "You came looking for me. Or maybe you just wanted to snoop in my study."

Her blue eyes flashed. Like always, the little flare of irritation went straight to my cock. "I wasn't snooping," she said.

"So you were looking for me." I let a smile curve my lips. "You wanted to see me."

Her thick, dark lashes lowered as she looked at my mouth. "I…"

Taking a chance, I slid my hand to her jaw—and had to suppress a groan at the silky feel of her skin against my palm.

Her heart sped up, the pulse in her throat fluttering like a trapped bird. "Arlo said it was your idea to let me use the kitchen while you were away."

A week ago, I might have denied it. Let her think my steward was trying to keep her busy. But the arrangement had obviously pleased her, so I'd be damned if I didn't take credit for it.

"It was," I said. "You mentioned wanting to make your mother's recipes. I thought this was a perfect opportunity."

Her gaze softened. "It was."

"Then I'm glad. Harper."

The scent of her desire thickened, the air heavy with honeysuckle and a deeper, headier perfume that was hers alone. Pink bloomed in her cheeks. "You went grocery shopping for me."

"Yes."

"You replaced all the ingredients I used and then some."

"I did."

She searched my gaze, something both hopeful and solemn in her eyes. "Why would you do that?" she whispered.

Electricity sparked between us, the little currents licking at my skin. I was done lying to myself—and to her.

I lifted my free hand to her cheek so I was cupping her face with both hands. "You're a reporter, Harper. Haven't you figured it out by now?" Unable to help myself, I stroked a lock of bright hair away from her face. "I thought five days away would fix this, but I was wrong."

Her lips parted. She stared up at me with blue eyes filling with something like wonder. "Fix what?"

"I want you. You're under my skin, Harper Ward. And the harder I try to fight it, the more I want to make you mine. No one challenges me like you do. No one dares. Every time we argue, I walk away wondering if I should have kissed you instead."

Her breath caught, the wonder in her eyes growing. "You don't hate humans?"

Surprise flared in my mind. Although, maybe it shouldn't have. I hadn't really given her a reason to think I held her species in high regard. Time to remedy that right fucking now.

I brushed the pad of my thumb over the spray of freckles on her nose. "I don't hate humans. In fact, I find myself utterly entranced by this one."

"I thought…" She trailed off, a deeper pink staining her cheeks. The color should have clashed with her hair. Instead, it made those charming freckles glow like little specks of gold.

Gods, the woman checked all my boxes. "What did you think?" I asked.

"I thought maybe you were disgusted when I…" She swallowed, and her voice went low. "When I orgasmed in my room."

For a second, I was speechless. Then I canted her head back, forcing her to hold my gaze. "Harper, disgust isn't a word in my vocabulary when it comes to you. I haven't stopped thinking about that day, or how fucking perfect you looked."

"But…you left. You walked out like you couldn't wait to get away from me."

"Because I was going to fuck you if I stayed. And it seemed like you didn't want that. You said as much."

She bit her lip, the gesture making more blood pump to my dick. A mix of humor and desire shimmered in her eyes. "I guess we're both really stubborn."

"Probably. You're worse, though."

She huffed a laugh, and my heart soared at the opportunity to be silly with her. To joke with the woman who drove me mad in the best possible way. "Our communication skills could use some work," she said.

I stroked her cheeks with my thumbs. "Fair enough. I'll go first. Your scent is in my lungs. I want it on my tongue."

A tiny whimper escaped her. The scent in question swirled thicker, her sweet essence perfuming the air.

"Maybe we should try that," I offered, sliding a hand lower and tracing her delicate jawline.

The pulse in her neck fluttered more wildly. Her nipples thrust against her sweater. Another sweater. The thinnest one yet.

"Maybe we should," she breathed.

It was all the permission I needed. In a blink, my hands were on her hips, her gasp in my ears as I swung her onto the desk. I deposited her on the edge, shoving the Book of Crubeus out of the way in the process. It flopped open, its gleaming white pages laid bare. Lines of ancient text flowed down the parchment. Whispers followed in their wake.

Harper started to look over her shoulder.

"Don't," I said, catching her chin and forcing her head back around.

"The book!" she protested. "It'll trap you."

Stepping between her legs, I reached around her and flipped the book closed. "I'm strong enough to resist it. But damn if I can resist you."

Grasping her chin, I bent and kissed her. She opened under me right away, her lips warm and soft. And she tasted as sweet as I'd imagined, the honeyed nectar of her tongue driving my lust higher. Deepening the kiss, I swept my hands up her sides, roaming her curves. She dug her fingers into my shoulders and yanked me closer. With a hungry-sounding moan, she hooked a leg around my hip.

I grasped her thigh and bore her back, laying her out on the desk. She arched into me with another moan that went straight to my dick. Still kissing her, I slipped a hand under her sweater and worked my way up, mapping the dips and curves of her delicate ribcage before reaching one firm breast. Her nipple strained against the thin fabric of her lacy bra. I plucked at the eager point, then rolled it between my thumb and forefinger.

Harper gasped into my mouth, her body bowing off the desk. She tangled a hand in my hair, tugging at the strands as I broke the kiss to trail my lips down her neck. When I reached her pulse, I flicked my tongue over the frantic beat.

She made a needy sound as she cradled my head against her. "Please. Please, Einar."

My name on her lips was the sweetest sound anyone had ever uttered. She was sweet. And I needed more of her.

I lifted my head and met her gaze. "I need to taste you." On the remote chance my meaning was unclear, I moved my hand to the button of her jeans. "I want to eat your pussy, Harper." Her eyes went wide, her irises darkening with desire.

I slid my fingers down, stroking over the denim that covered her sex. She was so wet she'd almost soaked through the fabric. "I want this," I said, hearing the growl in my voice. "I want to bury my face between your legs and lick you until you scream. I want every drop of honey, sweetheart. Say yes."

She gave a shaky nod. "Yes."

Triumph surged through me. I stripped her jeans off—and then caught my breath at the sight of her in nothing but panties and her thin sweater. She was like a creamy dessert, her strawberry blond hair spread on my desk and her pale skin glowing against the wood. But it was her pussy that held my attention. The flimsy, cream-colored silk between her legs clung to her folds, the sweet furrow between them dark with arousal.

I met Harper's stare. "Grip the edge of the desk."

Her breasts rose and fell rapidly. She licked her lips, hesitation in her blue eyes. "Why?"

I smoothed my hands up her legs, urging her knees up and placing her feet flat on the desk. She moaned as I lowered my head and licked the damp silk that covered her opening. Her salty-sweet taste teased my tongue.

And it wasn't nearly enough.

"Because," I said, slipping my fingers under the silk—and almost losing my mind at the damp, hot feel of her most intimate skin against my hand. "I have a feeling this pussy of yours is going to taste like candy. When I find something sweet, I take my time with it. So you're probably going to need to hang on." With one swift motion, I ripped the panties from her body.

Her gasp echoed around the study as I went to my knees and yanked her ass to the edge of the desk. Then I spread her pussy with my thumbs and ran my tongue up her center. Ecstasy. She was ambrosia, her cunt as sweet and intoxicating as I'd imagined. Moisture pooled at her entrance, the sight of her creamy, pink perfection instantly searing itself into my brain. Spreading her wider, I thrust my tongue inside her.

The desk creaked as Harper trembled above me, her breathless sounds of surprise becoming impassioned moans. "Oh my… Oh god, yes . Yes, Einar." Her knees fell wide, and she squirmed against my mouth.

My hunger grew, a growl rumbling in my throat as I laved her slit, drawing forth more of her silky sweet arousal. I lapped and sucked, running my tongue over her plump lips before fucking her with my tongue.

Her soft moans filled my ears as she writhed on the desk. A second later, pain shot through my scalp as she gripped my hair and dragged my mouth to her clit.

"There," she growled, holding me where she wanted me.

Yes, ma'am. I circled her clit with my tongue, teasing the swollen little bud.

"Yes, yes," she panted, bucking her hips against my face. The desk creaked rhythmically with her thrusts. Her moans grew louder, her movements more frantic. I sucked at her clit, bracing for her to come.

"Where have you been the past five days?" she asked.

I paused, surprise and amusement coursing through me in equal measure. Finally, I turned my head and nipped at her inner thigh, making her yelp. "Is this some new reporting tactic? Offering me a taste of paradise while you pepper me with questions?" I fluttered my tongue over her clit.

"Oh god," she moaned, her legs trembling around my ears. "Is it working?"

I couldn't hold back my chuckle. "No." I pushed a finger inside her, and I couldn't control my groan when her pussy clamped down. "Stop being nosy and come on my face." Pumping my finger inside her, I fastened my mouth over her clit and sucked hard.

"Oh!" She tightened her grip on my hair, ensuring I couldn't move. Not that I would have moved for anything. I sucked and licked down her folds, dropping kisses over her slick, feverish flesh before returning to her clit. The next time I suckled the questing bud, her cries rose to a wail.

"I'm coming! Oh my… Einar, I'm coming!" She stiffened, her cries climbing as she claimed her pleasure.

I took her through it, suckling her clit and pumping my finger into her tight, pulsing passage. Dragging forth every last drop of pleasure.

Finally, she went limp, her satisfied-sounding sigh fluttering around my ears. I stood and wiped my face. Then I pulled her up and threaded my hands through her hair. She was breathless, her temples damp and her cheeks bright pink. I wanted to keep going—to press her back down, free my cock, and plunge into her heat.

As if she'd read my mind, she regarded me with glassy, lust-drunk eyes. "What about you?"

I pulled a strand of hair from her sweaty forehead and smoothed it back. "What about me?"

Something vulnerable flashed in her eyes—there and gone so quickly I wouldn't have caught it if I hadn't been standing so close. "Don't you want to keep going?" she asked.

I took one of her hands and guided it to my erection. As her eyes rounded, I gave her what I knew was a rueful smile. "You have no idea how much I want to keep going." I rested my forehead against hers. "But you deserve better than a desk or a sofa in my study. When I fuck you, Harper, it's going to be in my bed, where I can spread you over my face and eat your pussy properly."

Her eyes darkened to sapphire. Her reply was a thread of sound. "That wasn't proper just now?"

"Not at all. That was a warm up." I slipped a hand between us and pushed two fingers into her heat. Her pussy clenched around me, and she shivered, her eyes locked with mine even as her flush stole down her neck.

I smiled. "As I said before, when I find something sweet, I like to take my time with it. So that's how we'll start. And when you're slick and begging, I'll give this pussy what it deserves." Slowly, I slid my fingers in and out, finger-fucking her without touching her clit. The thick, wet sounds of her juices warred with her ragged breaths. I continued pumping my fingers into her heat. "Now, I couldn't help but notice you loaded up my refrigerator with food. Are you going to feed me?"

Her reply came in a breathless rush. "Do you…oh god…want that?"

"Mmm, I definitely do. How about dinner tonight? You cook. I'll clean."

"Do princes clean up after dinner?"

I withdrew my fingers enough to circle her clit, and I smiled when she shivered and dug her teeth into her lip. "This one does," I said. "Have dinner with me, Harper."

She nodded, her eyes glittering with lust. "All right."

"Good." I pulled my fingers from her pussy, and she gave a little cry of protest as I tugged her off the desk and set her on her feet. I took a moment to steady her, and then I moved briskly, retrieving her jeans and ruined panties from the floor. She blushed furiously as I tucked the panties in my pocket, and she made an exasperated sound when I crouched before her with the jeans.

"I can do it," she huffed, but she let me help her into her pants, and she stood docilely as I straightened her sweater and smoothed her hair.

"There," I said, stepping back. I sucked my fingers into my mouth, and I didn't muffle my growl as her taste hit my tongue again.

Despite everything we'd done over the past half hour, Harper's cheeks went scarlet. Her hand shook as she tucked a lock of tangled hair behind her ear.

I licked the last of her arousal from my fingers. Then, with a hand on her shoulder, I turned her toward the door and delivered a firm swat on her ass. "You're distracting me, woman. Go back to the kitchen and make my dinner."

She rounded on me, one hand going to her posterior. As I skirted my desk and settled in my chair, it was clear she didn't know whether to be angry or amused. She seemed to settle somewhere in the middle as she shot me a disgruntled look.

"What do you like to eat?" The second the words left her, she snapped her mouth shut, clearly realizing what she'd said.

I leaned back in my chair, anticipation flaring under my skin. "Harper," I said, loading my tone with as much suggestion as possible. "If you make it, I'll eat it."

She absorbed the double meaning with bright pink cheeks and a jerky nod. Then she was gone. But I had her panties in my pocket. If dinner went the way I planned, I'd soon have her in my bed. And if a little voice in the back of my head warned the latter was a very bad idea, I didn't hear it.

I pulled the Book of Crubeus in front of me, flipped it open, and resumed searching for the elusive knowledge that might finally deliver the freedom I'd waited almost a century to find.