Heat rose to my face. The day he’d first tasted my blood. My thighs began to throb at the intimate memory. Pleasure pooled in my core at the very thought of his bite.
“You deserved it,” Raf snarled. “In fact, if the tavern wasn’t so crowded, I’d throw you against another wall—break the other arm.”
Oh no.I had started this. I put my beer down. Perhaps, I should’ve stuck to one.
The roar of a lion silenced the bar. Galen was standing, leaning over the table, zoned in on Rafael. “You would find it more difficult this time.” Fire played on his fingers, causing the wooden table beneath his hand to smoke, while taut tendons and veins emerged along his neck.
Raf was equally ready to snap as shadows twisted and darted around him. His eyes were glowing with challenge, as if he was just waiting for a reason to end this, once and for all.
One of the barkeeps ran over sputtering, “E-excuse me, Your Highness. N-no magic inside the tavern.”
Galen rushed him, and for a moment, I thought he was going to turn on the man. I jumped forward, stifling his fire with ice as I put my hands over his.
His flames winced out without hurting me. His eyes grew wide, like I’d surprised him with my boldness, like he wanted to swipe the beers off the table and take me right there. Instead, he addressed the group, avoiding Raf’s gaze. “Let’s all get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day.” He took my hand, shoved past the crowd, and led me up to our room.
thirty-one
My heart was pounding as the door of the tiny inn room clicked closed. I was still angry, butgodsI wanted him. I backed against the wooden door, trying to find my fortitude. Galen snapped his fingers, sending flames to the untouched logs in the hearth. The familiar crackle of a blazing fire began immediately. Smoke filled my nostrils, acting as an aphrodisiac as it blended with his scent. My pulse quickened and the butterflies in my stomach went rogue, darting around as if they'd caught fire as well.
He held so much power in those fingers of his. My gaze traveled over his capable hands, up his toned biceps… to the exposed skin above the collar of his tunic. I wanted to press a kiss against the soft hollow of his throat, to taste the salt of his skin on my tongue. He stalked forward… slowly, deliberately. I knew where this would lead if I didn’t stop it.
“Galen. We need to talk about Isla.”
He stopped short of touching me, tilting his head. “Marigold, it was just a bracelet. She means nothing to me, and I didn’t appreciate you making a scene.”
He took a step closer, testing my boundaries. One more and his hands were on my arms, rubbing the chill from them as my magic responded to his touch.
“A scene?Sheis the one who gave you a gift in front of me. Clearly, it was to provoke me. Does she love you?” My heart pounded, afraid tohear his answer.
“I can’t control how she feels about me… and I doubt she loves me. She loves my power, my title. I don’t care one way or the other.Youare the one I want.”
He leaned down, waiting for me to tell him no, but I didn’t. His lips brushed along my neck, stopping right where my pulse fluttered, and I gave a pathetic whimper. I arched my back in response, like a cat rubbing against its master.
“Have you slept with her?” I panted as I broke away from him, jolting us back to reality.
“Of course not. You keep me plenty satisfied.”
I silently stared at him, trying to decide if I believed him. His emerald eyes narrowed. “Are you looking for reasons to push us apart?” He gripped my throat with one hand, his fingers curled loosely around my windpipe. Adrenaline shot down my spine. This large male was undeniably dangerous, an apex predator—a literallion. And his focus was locked on me.
“Take it off,” I hissed, pointing to the bracelet. We glared at each other until he pulled it off with a slight tug and threw it in the fire. He slowly released me, still holding my gaze.
“You need to learn to respect me,” he said in a rough voice. “It seems you’ve left me with only one option.Punishment. In the form of unrelenting, torturous pleasure.”
Yes.
I yielded, letting him pull me into his arms. Our tongues clashed together like violent waves in a tumultuous, stormy sea. He broke away with a growl and knelt down until he was on his knees. He began unbuttoning my pants, pulling them down forcefully, while his unblinking eyes drank me in.
Mesmerized, I watched him peel my underwear off, ripping them away like cobwebs. I stopped breathing when I felt hot breath at the apex of my thighs—then his tongue as it parted my wet curls. The first stroke set me aflame as he lapped at me like an unstoppable wild fire. His touch was searing, making me writhe in delicious agony.
Soon we were rocking against the door as hefeastedon me. What was it with us and doors? One of my legs hung over his shoulder, while the other shook so hard, it had been rendered useless. He supported me as he spread me open, licking me, devouring me… as if he’d spent an eternity starving himself for this moment.
Two fingers moved inside me, while his tongue continued to explore me with steady, mind-numbing pressure. Every time I came close to release, he pulled away, purposefully tormenting me.
I was going to evaporate into steam.
“You don’t get to cum until I say so,” he huffed.
“Please…”
