Chapter 26

ChapterTwenty-Six

Selene hadn’t thought this through. She’d assumed sleeping with him would tie them together in the only way she had left. It was a last ditch effort to solidify their relationship, but she’d forgotten how tied up in him she’d become.

These were the thoughts she woke up with. Literally. Like her mind had turned off after multiple earth shattering orgasms, only to turn back on as she woke.

She shouldn’t have done this. She shouldn’t have let him touch her like that because now all she wanted was for him to do it again. Her stomach clenched and her mind already whispered that she could roll on top of him and it would take no time at all to take him inside her. He’d wake before he knew what was happening and then he’d groan, rolling her over onto her stomach as he took control. Those deep, guttural sounds would echo in her ears again and... and...

“It’s too early for you to be so awake,” he grumbled, rolling and throwing an arm over her chest. “Give me a minute, little moon.”

“I’m not asking for anything,” she whispered.

And yet, he smacked his lips as though he’d tasted something divine. “You cannot hide from me anymore, remember?”

Ah. Right. He could taste her lust, and now that he’d gotten the taste of it she’d never be able to hide it from him anymore.

Damn it. That complicated things.

Everything about this made their situation more complicated. She’d thought this would remind her that her position here was sacrificial. Her family had raised her to be this, and if she didn’t sacrifice herself, then she had no idea what her family would do to her.

Allowing a demon to be inside her, to see him looming over her in the darkness with those horns silhouetted in shadow, it was meant to remind her of her place. Instead, he’d touched her with soft hands. He’d whispered words in her ears that made her feel like the only person in his kingdom who mattered.

She’d never been the only person to matter. Selene had never even met someone who would have put her before themselves. And now she didn’t know how to feel because she would have to betray him at some point. He knew this. She knew it. They were together on borrowed time.

Lust sighed and moved a little closer, settling his chin on her shoulder while his breath puffed against her neck. “You’re overthinking already, aren’t you?”

“I am not.”

“You’re letting that mind run away with what the future brings, when you should be enjoying the morning.”

“How am I meant to do that?” She wanted to list all the problems she had running through her mind, as a way to scold him for such foolish thoughts.

But then he opened his eyes and that wonderful softness was still in his gaze. He let his eyes flicker over her features, lingering on all his favorites, and she knew which ones he liked best because he had to tear his gaze away from her lips, her nose, and her neck.

Finally, he sighed and shook his head. “Let me help.”

Help? How was he going to...

He dipped low and captured her lips. He took his time with this kiss, languid, slow and sweet. There was no heat, no intent on making her lose her mind with desire.

This kiss was a good morning. And how are you doing and I hope you’re well, and if you aren’t, let me make it better for you.

She sighed into him, her hand lifting to cup his jaw and hold him against her. He had no idea what he did to her. Surely he didn’t, because if he knew then he would have rolled on top of her and had his way with her.

He chuckled into her lips, pressing once, twice, a third time for good measure before he pulled away. “As much as I would love to spend the day in bed with you, I have to entertain my brother.”

“He’s still here?” She blinked owlishly up at him. “I thought he’d left.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Well, I just...”

“You don’t like him.” He grinned down at her, dimples appearing on his cheeks. “I thought I’d save you the suffering of entertaining him alone. He never says how long he’s going to stay, though I would like him to see you a little more now.”

That sounded a little ominous. “Why now?”

He danced the backs of his fingers down her cheek, curving around to her neck, which he followed with the barest hint of a touch. “Because he’ll know you’re really mine.”

As if his brother would be able to tell what they’d done. She snorted and then rolled her eyes for good measure. “No one can read me that well. Unless you intend on telling him yourself.”

“Oh, it would take a blind man to not see how enamored you are with me.” He pressed one last fierce kiss to her lips before he rolled out of bed. “You watch me with a hunger in your eyes, now, sorceress. One might think you actually like me.”

She had the perfect retort ready on her tongue, but then lost all sense as she stared at his perfect ass. He stood from the bed, the silk sheets falling away from his hips as though even they didn’t want to stop touching him. He stretched his arms up over his head, the muscles in his back flexing with every movement. Long lines curved up his form, the golden texture of his skin appearing even more like polished metal in the morning sunlight. The breeze from his open balcony played across him, leaving goosebumps to rise in its wake.

And she wanted to touch him again. Just like that. Her fingers actually itched to do so.

He chuckled and glanced at her over his shoulder. “Oh, come on now. We have a busy day.”

“You have a busy day. I have no expectations here.” She sat up, clutching the sheets to her chest as she watched him walk to his closet. Even his thighs flexed in a way that made her eyes almost cross.

She had to admit he was lovely. Every part of him was so attractive it made her body clench with need. And she supposed it was freeing now that she no longer had to hide her reaction.

“I think I’d like to change that,” he said, throwing open the doors to the closet and pausing for her to take one last look at his naked form.

She licked her lips. “Change what?”

His grin widened even further. “Pay attention, Selene. I’d like you to get more involved with the kingdom. You’ve been here long enough to at least try.”

And before she could argue, he turned toward her fully, letting her eyes widen at the sight of his erect cock before he disappeared into the closet.

He knew what he was doing, she decided. He knew she was tempted by him and that the sight of him like that would make her entirely miserable while she sat here trying to figure out what had happened last night.

And without him in the room as a distraction, she worried about everything that had happened. She feared she’d changed something between them, and not in the way she’d hoped. He was no more under her thumb than he’d been before all of this had happened, but she was completely and utterly in love with him.

No.

She clenched the sheets a little harder to her chest and shook her head in denial. She was not in love with him. Lust was only a demon she had to betray for the sake of the kingdom. He was not a kind man who had cared about her last night, and even this morning.

He was the person who had taken her as a sacrifice. That was all. He’d seen what she offered, and he took it because he was selfish enough to do so.

Except... He hadn’t. He hadn’t even fully had sex with her. Almost as though he could see into her head and knew that she was second guessing whether this was what she wanted or what her mother wanted. He’d known and instead, he’d given her orgasm after orgasm and still used her own wetness to bring himself to completion, but he hadn’t...

He hadn’t had sex with her. Even though she’d agreed to it.

Frowning, she drew the covers up over her shoulders and head to think.

That was where he found her. Buried upright in a mound of blankets while she tried to understand what had happened between the two of them.

She heard his deep chuckle first before she realized that the door to the closet had opened again. She peered at him through the blankets, hating how handsome and awake he looked this early in the morning. The open neck of his shirt revealed those planes of muscles that she’d touched last night but hadn’t been able to run her tongue over like she wanted. His pants clung to powerful thighs that had flexed against her while he used her hand to make himself come, groaning with that deep, deep voice.

Her thoughts were interrupted by his head peering through her blankets. “Selene?” he asked. “I really have work to do today, so you’re going to need to stop it with those thoughts.”

“What thoughts?” She blinked at him innocently.

“Whatever thoughts are making you taste like that, darling. And I believe you need to get out of bed as well. If you’re interested in coming to court with me today, that is.”

“Not really.” She needed to think over last night. Then maybe she could show her face to others without turning a dark crimson.

“I think you should at least try.” He sat on the edge of the bed and gently drew a blanket away from her head. He pulled the second down as well, until her face was at least partially visible. “You’re overthinking again, little moon. Want to tell me why?”

No.

Yes.

Maybe she should tell him at least a little of what was going on in her head, but she hardly knew what it was herself.

So she settled on letting out a long, defeated sigh. “You know why I’m here, Lust. So why did you let me...”

“Ah.” He sighed as well, but then brushed his fingers through her hair in a delicate touch. “I am not afraid of your mother or her people, Selene. This is not the first time a sorceress has tried to kill me, tame me, or force me to rule the way they wished. I’ve had a long life, and frankly, these attempts bore me at this point in my life. I’ve seen it all. This isn’t even the first time a sorceress has tried to fuck me.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “But this is the first time someone like you has walked into my life. I’m not going to waste that because your mother has other plans for you. I trust you to do what is right for you.”

“What if what is right for me is the same plan as my mother?” She knew her eyes were wide and perhaps a little shiny. “What if I ruin all this? What if I break you and bring this kingdom to its knees?”

He leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together. Lust inhaled, taking a deep, long breath that was as measured as it was sad. “Then such will be the way I fall. It’s you, Selene. Only you are making this decision.”

She squeezed her eyes shut as her heart felt like it was breaking. “That feels like a lot of pressure.”

“I’ve lived a thousand years, Selene. Ten of your lifetimes, if you’re lucky, twenty lifetimes of the unlucky. I have seen humans live and die and kingdoms change and people grow. It has been a long life. A good life.” He pressed his lips to her forehead and smiled against her skin. “And now I have met you. I can safely say that these last few weeks have been the most entertaining of all my years. Do with me as you will, sorceress. And I will be at your feet, thanking you for whatever you decide.”

He drew away from her even as she wanted him to hold her against his chest. It didn’t feel fair that he’d been able to withdraw from her arms when she wanted him... here. In bed. She wanted him to scoop her back up and hold her against his heartbeat for a little while longer.

Maybe then she could sort through these feelings. These strange emotions wouldn’t let go of her heart.

As she stared at him, golden in the morning sunlight, she knew she didn’t want to hurt him. She didn’t want to do anything that would take that smile off his face.

Swallowing hard, she looked down into her lap. “You didn’t... Last night... I mean, I thought you would—“

Selene had no idea how to ask why he hadn’t fucked her. She’d been begging for it. She’d even grabbed his cock and asked him to put it inside her. She didn’t know any other way to make it more clear that she wanted to have sex with him. He’d been the one to deny her, and that shocked Selene to her very core.

“You weren’t entirely ready,” he replied. Then shrugged. “I didn’t want there to be any regret this morning. Any more than I knew would be there regardless, that is.”

“Why?”

She looked up at him when he didn’t immediately reply. Lust’s eyes had wandered, staring over her shoulder as though lost in his thoughts. Perhaps he didn’t even know the answer.

She’d never heard anyone claim that Lust had much control. If it was offered, he took. He even took when there was the smallest hint that someone wanted something. The next morning be damned.

Lust was fleeting, wasn’t it? The emotion itself heralded a short, enjoyable time and then the two people, or more, would move on. That’s why so many in the kingdom loved it here and loved his festivals. They were enjoyable for a time, and then they went about their normal lives.

So why had he stopped? Why had he held himself back?

Finally, he murmured, “It is a strange feeling, you know.”

“What feeling?” Her heart stuttered in her chest.

“Restraint.” He smiled at her, and those dimples flashed. As though he were utterly pleased with himself. “I’m not interested in rushing this, Selene. For the first time in my life, I’m enjoying that there is no hurry. I will give you all that you desire in time.” And then he winked before heading to the door. “But I will make you beg for it.”