Any resolve he had, shattered, and he attacked her with fervor, licking and sucking on the bundle of nerves at the same time he slid a finger inside her. Not anticipating the invasion, she gasped as her back arched higher. She’d touched herself before, but not like this.
Her fists were gripping his hair so tight, it had to hurt, but he didn’t seem to care as he started moving that damn finger faster. His thrusts were firm and demanding, but he was careful not to hurt her. Her entire body tensed like a bowstring; the pressure so strong she wasn’t sure she’d survive it.
“Fuck yes, Veralie, come for me. Let go.”
“Oh my gods.”
He growled into her, and the hand on her thigh, squeezed. “You don’t belong to the gods, you belong to me. The only name I want to hear you call out is mine.”
He sucked hard exactly where she needed him to right as he curled that damn finger against her inner wall, and she screamed his name as release tore through her.
His finger continued moving, working her through her orgasm while his tongue lapped at her desperately, determined to taste every last drop of her release. When her body finally sagged in his arms, she looked up through heavy-lidded eyes to see him smiling at her, his lips glistening with her arousal.
He removed his finger and sat back on his heels, and she could see the rock-hard erection still pushing at his pants. With trembling arms, she pushed herself up and reached toward him before pausing, unsure.
“I don’t—I mean, I’d like—” she stumbled over her words, her brain still mush from her mind-blowing orgasm. She licked her lips, “I don’t want to leave you unfulfilled either.”
Groaning, he shook his head. “As delicious as that sounds, my restraint is not strong enough to be able to feel your lips around my cock and not fuck you after. Because when you make me come, it will be while I’m buried deep inside you, not in your mouth.”
Trying her best to appear confident, she continued reaching for him, gripping him through the fabric. “What if I just touch you then?” She rubbed her palm down to his tip and back up, hoping she wasn’t making a fool of herself. She smiled when he twitched in her hand.
“Fuck, Veralie, I—”
She rubbed him again, harder this time, and watched his defenses crumble to ash. He rushed forward, grasping her face and kissing her deeply.
When they finally broke away, she again reached for him, “Will you show me what you like?”
“Yes, but know that I’d like anything you did, little star. You can’t do it wrong.” She shifted closer until their knees were touching, watching his long fingers work to undo his trousers.
When he sprang free, her mouth dropped open. That was supposed to fit inside her? And he’d mentioned her mouth…gods. “How is that…” she trailed off, a furious blush filling her cheeks.
He grabbed her hand, pulling her down until her fingers wrapped around him. “Do not finish that question. My restraint is only so strong, Veralie, and if you put that thought in my head, it won’t be your hand that is working me.”
Her mouth dried, her pulse pounding in her ears. She gave an experimental squeeze and he lurched, eyes flaring as he cursed through clenched teeth. “Yinlanem dupye!” It was all the encouragement she needed. Seeing him lose control by her touch alone was invigorating. It made her feel powerful.
She kept her grip firm as she began to move up and down his shaft, reveling in the words of praise he rained down on her like she was his own personal goddess.
He groaned out her name, tipping his head back, and digging his nails into his thighs. When his body stiffened and his breathing became irregular, she had a feeling he was close. She increased her effort determined to make him feel as good as she had.
One second, she was working her hand up to his tip, and the next, she was flying backward. Her back had barely touched the bed when he leaned over her, gripping her hip, and covering her torso in hot spurts as he came completely undone. Her eyes widened. She’d known what happened when a male orgasmed, but she hadn’t known it could be so fucking hot.
She leaned up onto her elbows, desperately wanting to kiss him, but he placed a single hand on her chest, pressing her back down. “Jaren?”
He snarled, flashing his canines and flinging her thighs open. “We’re not done.” And with that, he descended, feasting on her again like he had no other purpose in life.
After he had her screaming his name a second time, he pushed off the bed, standing in one fluid movement. He ran his tongue over his lips and hummed in approval.
“Can’t say I’m not disappointed your guard wasn’t here to see me between your legs. I want him and his princeling to know that you are mine.” His look was nothing short of wicked and even in her exhausted state, it sent a thrill through her.
“I’m going to map out our morning route. I’ll tell the innkeeper to have water sent up. Bathe and rest, little star.”
She nodded. Her eyes already felt heavy, but she’d rather dine alone with the emperor than refuse a bath. She watched him throw on his cloak and walk out of the room, and she’d never felt so content in her life.
Chapter 23
EITHAN
They’d kept a hard pace along Eastmore Road for two days, and he still had no idea where she was. After Sulian’s barely veiled threat, he’d left with his remaining guards as soon as possible. But with every hour that went by with no sign of her, he came closer and closer to snapping.
There wasn’t even a guarantee she’d been taken this way. For all he knew, they’d taken the eastern gate as a diversion before redirecting west. But he had no choice, east was the only lead he had to go on.
Eithan questioned every traveler they encountered, but no one had seen anyone fitting Vera or Gibson’s descriptions. He wasn’t stupid, he knew whoever had her would have wanted them off the main road and out of sight. They likely never even touched Eastmore, choosing instead to follow one of the old, unused paths through the Lakewood Forest.
Eithan’s group was too large to attempt any of the smaller paths through the trees. He’d considered separating into several small groups before shutting down the idea. If it was a Magyki, he’d need his entire guard to take him down. Eithan had no idea how powerful a trained Magyki male could be, and he couldn’t risk it.
So they kept to the main road and pushed their mounts to the limit, desperate to move as fast as the beasts could handle. By the time they’d come within a few hours of Midpath, he still had no leads, and he was seconds from ripping his hair out.
When a single traveler on horseback appeared in the distance, Eithan didn’t even deign to give him more than a cursory glance, confident the traveler would be as useless as every other. But as they steadily came closer, the traveler kicked his horse into a gallop, aiming straight for them with purpose.
His men surrounded him, their weapons at the ready. If he gave the signal, Hayes could have an arrow in the man’s chest before he even knew what was happening. But Eithan waited.
When the man finally got close enough for Eithan to make out his mask and uniform, he almost leaped off his horse. Pushing past the barricade, he ordered his men to stand down.