Galen prowled over me like a mountain lion, pinning me beneath him, caging me in. My legs were splayed on either side of him as he bent down to lick along the hollow dips of my hips, my belly, up to my breasts, suckling a nipple into his mouth. Then he kissed me with an intensity that left me panting.
“Your magic sings to me, Marigold. Can you feel it?” Pressure was building beneath my skin, like a volcano aching to erupt. I was molten lava. My blood felt effervescent, as if my veins were filled with sparkling wine.
With one hand still fondling my breast, he brought his other hand lower, tracing it down my abdomen… beneath my navel. He paused for a moment, making eye contact with me… before sliding a finger inside of me. I bucked in surprise. He watched with a grin as I came apart at the seams.
“Relax for me, Marigold.” He ran two fingers down my middle and over the bud of my sex in a rhythmic pattern. My breathing grew fast and shallow. I was clawing at him now.
“Galen… please. It’s… too much,” I said each word between gasps.
“Do you want me to stop?”
“Gods, no. Do… not… stop.” I lifted my hips, trying to outrun the feeling chasing me. I was writhing, arching, aching, as his fingers continued to play me like a piano.
“Hold still. Let it come to you.” He ran his tongue along my neck, before returning to my lips, teasing me as I tried to kiss him back. I tilted my head until my neck was completely exposed, trusting him not to biteme. I was a fool for trusting a blood thirstystranger. But in this moment, I didn’t care. All I wanted was him.
He circled around a bundle of nerves and then pushed one finger… two fingers, inside of me, pumping in and out. Slow and deep. He curled his fingers, hitting a spot that made me cry out, as he swirled round and around.
I moved with his rhythm, hungry for friction. I was a wave crashing against the shore… over and over. I left my body as I reached the pinnacle of an ancient song strumming in my core. My muscles spasmed and clenched as I gripped his shoulders. He supported me until my legs stopped shaking. And then I melted into the bed, covered in a sheen of sweat, as I came back into myself.
He eased his fingers out of me and settled his hips on top of mine, pressing his full weight into me. I could feel him throbbing against my thigh. He stared down at me for a moment, wonder on his face, before he rolled to his side and propped his head against his hand.
“Satisfied?” He couldn’t contain his smirk.
“You…” I breathed. “Are exceptionally gifted atthat.” I gave him a delirious smile. He bit my bottom lip and tugged in answer, sending another wave of pleasure through my core.
“Do you need me to help you relieve your… I’ve never… touched a man that way,” I said awkwardly.
“We’ll do it all soon enough, if I have any say. Tonight, this is enough. You’re perfect.” Galen nuzzled into me and threw a leg over one of mine, locking me in place.
After a few minutes of warm, content silence, I asked sleepily, “Should you leave now? We don’t want to be caught.”
“Do you want me to leave?” Before I even had a chance to respond, he was on me again; kissing my throat, making me see stars, until my nails were digging into his back in blissful agony.
“Is it alright if you stay? We won’t get in trouble?” I choked out the question as his tongue ran along sensitive skin. The Queen’s cold eyes flashed into my mind and I shivered. Or perhaps it was his mouth giving me the chills.
“We won’t get in trouble. It isn’t considered taboo to share a bed with someone here. Sometimes multiple someones. We don’t adhere to the same rigid rules as your humans. My mother might not like it, if she thinks you’repulling me away from her choice of bride, but perhaps she should get used to the idea of us.”
My mind was still stuck on the multiple someones. “You mean sex with more than one person… at the same time?” I must have misunderstood him.
“Yes. Youareinnocent, aren’t you?”
I cringed, my cheeks growing hot. “You come from a sheltered upbringing. Will you tell me more about your life back home?” he asked, pulling away to study me. I didn’t feel ready for him to know who I was.
“Maybe later.” I smiled, tugging him on top of me. His gleaming white teeth beamed down at me in the soft orange glow of the fading oil lamp. We didn’t talk for the rest of the night.
The next morning, Galen was out of my bed before dawn. I instantly missed his warmth. I watched him dress and tried to contain my awe at the back muscles that rippled as he bent down to retrieve his clothes.
“I have to get ready for a meeting with the Elders. You’ll find that I have a relentless schedule. What I would give to stay here and eat you for breakfast—maybe lunch too.” He bent down to kiss me goodbye on the forehead. “I’ll see you at dinner. Don’t be surprised to see Isla. Her family will be living here until the festival. I’ll talk to her soon—let her down gently.”
“No… don’t!” I cried out with a little too much urgency. “Don’t change your plans for me. Last night was a mistake… The wine went to my head. I need to focus on returning to Erador. I can’t afford to be distracted.”
I couldn’t allow myself to care for him, was the truth I left out. I needed Galen’s friendship more than whateverthiswas. If I lost him, I’d have no one. Not to mention Sylvia’swrath.
There were a million reasons why this would never work. Last night shouldn’t have happened. I’d once again been reckless and selfish—caught in a perfect storm of alcohol, hormones, and pent up…something.
But when his eyes narrowed, it felt as if I’d been punched in the gut. I’d hurt him and he wasn’t hiding it. “If that’s what you’d prefer. Then, of course. I’d hate to be a distraction.”
He turned and left without another word, severing our connection with the slam of a door. I laid in bed awhile longer, thinking of our incredible evening together… and how easily I’d ruined things. I’d pushed him away, just like Deric.
