Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

ZELDA

Walker vanished below the balcony's railing.

Zelda's heart dropped all the way to the ground, all twenty zillion stories. She ran to the balcony's edge, gripping the railing.

Below, on a balcony one story down, Walker sprawled on the ground. He moaned and moved his legs.

Luna—where had she been this whole time?—rushed to the railing. She turned on Zelda, jabbing a finger at her. "What did you do? You pushed him!"

"I didn't?—"

"Do not worry. It was only a little fall," Mal said, steering Zelda away.

"Don't walk away from me," Luna ordered. "Walker told me all about you. We'll sue!"

Mal waved a carefree hand, not stopping as he walked away. "I believe he will be too preoccupied to bother with such trifling concerns."

Zelda tried to turn around, to watch as emergency services finally arrived. Luna shouted for a medic.

"Shouldn't we… I don't know, help? That fall had to hurt," Zelda said.

"I caught him. He fell a meter. Only his pride is injured," Mal said.

"Oh," she responded, unable to think of anything else.

No one stopped them as they headed for the elevators. Zelda wasn't sure if it was another one of Mal's tricks or just the general chaos of very important people all vying for the attention of the emergency responders.

Once in the elevator, he pushed her against the wall.

Zelda gasped, their bodies pressed together. He had a hand planted over her head. The other toyed with the meteorite necklace.

"I showed compassion. Does that please you?" His black eyes bore down on her.

"Yes," she answered, her voice thick.

"I ruined that male for you. Does that please you?"

It did. It really did.

Zelda nodded.

"Good. Now show me the pink panties."

"Shouldn't we?—"

He tugged on the necklace, pulling her forward. "My kiss," he said.

"Then kiss me," she said, lifting her face to his.

"Panties. On the floor. And then I will have my kiss."

Oh. Oh. A kiss down there. That was the trick. They hadn't specified the location of the kiss.

Her blush intensified. Zelda felt as if she might burst into flames. She should be appalled at Mal's manipulation of their bargain, of him taking more than she intended to give. Oddly, she didn't mind so much. "Here? In the elevator?"

"I want to taste you now, and I am a male inclined to indulgence." He stroked a finger along the curve of her cheek. His eyes were black, swallowing the light. A dark mist gathered in the elevator. Mal wore a crown of horns. He was terrifying. When he spoke, his voice echoed inside her head. "If you do not wish for this, I will respect your choice."

The rational part of her mind told her that she should be frightened. Yes, her heart beat faster, but it wasn't from fear. She wanted Mal. She'd been attracted to him almost instantly. The flirting and the charm made her hesitant, like he was faking it, but she saw desire in those dark eyes.

For her. Her . Plain old Zelda Kniffen, who worked in a pawn shop.

"Okay," she said.

"Yes?"

She nodded. "Yes. I want you to kiss me."

He leaned in and nuzzled his face against her neck. "Where do you want me to kiss you, my comet, my falling star?"

"Anywhere you like."

He growled, then licked the column of her throat. With a flick of his hand, the elevator stopped.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I will not be rushed, and I'd rather the doors not open while I enjoy you."

Zelda lifted the hem of her dress.

"Allow me," he said. With another flick of his hand, the hem rose, revealing the pink silk panties. He rubbed his fingers against the fabric, groaning to find it already damp. Kneeling, he hooked his fingers under the waistband and slid them down.

Another flick of his hand and Zelda was lifted in the air. She yelped in surprise.

"I have you," he said, spreading her legs open. "You're so lovely, Zelda Kniffen."

She didn't have time to worry about being exposed or what Mal thought of her bits. He dove straight in with the enthusiasm of a thirsty man guzzling the last glass of cold water.

He kissed the soft flesh of her inner thigh, then licked her folds. That tongue. It was as wonderful as she suspected. Warm, silky, and just enough texture to make her shiver as he lapped her up. He circled her clit, eliciting a gasp. She reached for his head, grabbing one of the spikes in his crown of horns.

He growled, his ministrations growing in intensity.

Then his tongue went inside her core. Pleasure coiled tightly inside her. She wanted to wrap her legs around his head, to lift her hips and hold him against her, but she was pinned to the wall by an invisible force. His tongue hit all the right spots, places she didn't know she had. Her nerves sang with delight and begged for release.

"Mal, please," she pleaded.

"What do you need, my falling star?"

"Don't stop."

His tongue, long and so, so perfect, filled her. He pulled back, and somehow, he was able to lave both her sensitive clit and plumb the depths of her core all at once.

That wonderfully long tongue.

Ecstasy coiled tighter and tighter, squeezing her until she thought she might break from the pleasure of it all. Pinned against the wall, held up by more than Mal's hands, all she could do was let sensation roll through her. She squirmed and bucked, grabbed his horns, and twisted her fingers into his hair. The black smoke curled and wrapped up her arms. The cool touch made his tongue and mouth that much more intense. He was heat where he licked and sucked. His fingers dug into her soft inner thighs.

Her climax came with a cry, echoing off the elevator walls.

Mal remained in place, breathing her in. Gently, he pulled back and lowered her to the floor.

Zelda wobbled on unsteady legs. She tugged down her dress and smoothed a hand over her hair. Flush and tingling, she was sure she looked a mess. Anyone who saw her would know what they'd been doing. Again, oddly, she didn't mind.

Still kneeling, Mal licked his glossy lips. His face shined from, well, her. Rising to his feet, he gathered her into his arms. Zelda lifted her face instinctively, wanting another kiss.

His swirling eyes gazed down at her, as intense as ever.

Zelda smiled back. That moment felt endless. She could happily rest there, in Mal's embrace, for a long time.

Apparently, at some point the elevator had started up again. She hadn't noticed until it stopped suddenly.

"This is our stop," Mal said as the elevator opened to an elegant hallway.

"This isn't the garage." She pulled away, the moment over. Their bargain was finished. She'd go home and back to her ordinary life. Maybe she'd get her job back, but she wasn't sure she wanted to go back. The museum and all her old colleagues dropped her without a second thought. Geneva, for all her flaws and questionable notions of property ownership, was reliable.

"Such an archaic word," he muttered. "No. My residence is on this floor."

"You live here?" Zelda stuck her head out of the elevator, like she could tell which door belonged to Mal.

"I must sleep somewhere. This is as good a domicile as any."

Zelda disagreed. The building was expensive and exclusive. There were plenty of places good enough to sleep in. This was one of the most luxurious buildings her little planet had to offer. "I thought you'd take me home."

"I will feed you," he said, frowning as if he didn't know why he said that.

"You don't have to do anything. Our contract is finished. All obligations met."

"No. I want to feed you." He extended his hand. "My gift, freely given."

Zelda searched his face for some hint as to his motivation. Was this pity, another trick, or did he enjoy her company? Perhaps he was simply hungry.

Don't overthink it.

"Sounds good," she said, taking his hand. Her skin tingled where they touched. Unlike the electrified jolt that went through her when they made their bargain, this felt lighter. Promising, like a beginning.