Arun

  I’m standing barefoot in front of the bedroom wardrobe while Alexios fastens the last button on my shirt.

  “Are you alright this morning?” Alexios asks as he smooths the fabric over my shoulders.

  “Just… nervous, I think.”

  Truth be told, my stomach has been in knots since we both woke up this morning. He moves behind me to adjust the collar with gentle touches.

  “Anything I can do to ease this?”

  Looking at him in the mirror, I swallow sharply.

  “No,” I say hesitantly. “Just stay close to me if you can.”

  “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he says with a kind smile.

  When he’s done, I pull one of his darker coats from the wardrobe and turn to him.

  “My turn now.”

  Alexios stands still as I guide his arms into the sleeves before fastening the cloak buttons slowly.

  “Perfect,” I whisper to myself.

  “I love you,” he says, plain as day.

  He pulls me into his strong arms, pressing me tightly against his chest.

  “I love you more,” I murmur back, curling as closely as I can.

  “No,” Alexios says simply. “I will always love you more.”

  Leaning down, he leaves a gently kiss against my cheek before letting his hand find mine as we leave the bedroom and descend the stairs side by side.

  --

  My hands stay knotted in my lap as I sit next to Alexios in the carriage, doing my best to focus on the steady rhythm of the wheels rumbling softly beneath us. As the colorful blur of the countryside moves outside the window, I can feel Alexios’s eyes on me.

  “Are you still nervous?”

  I give a small nod and lean into his shoulder.

  “It was a bit easier to pretend I wasn’t at home, but now that we’re on the way…”

  My words trail off as I shrug. He rests one of his hands over mine.

  “Remember what I said, I will be right there with you. No one will speak to you without my permission.”

  Truthfully, the thought does help, but only a little.

  “I know,” I answer. “It’s just… no matter what I say or do, they already have this preconceived idea of me in their heads.”

  “Do you truly care about what these bastards think of you?” Alexios asks. “They’re wrong anyway.”

  “Well…” I mumble, shrugging against him.

  “You shouldn’t,” he cuts in gently. “You are the most important person in that room, Arun. They are nothing.”

  I glance up at him, only to see him still watching me with a faint smile that eases the knot in my stomach ever so slightly.

  Before I know it, the carriage slows before stopping in front of the council hall’s main entrance. I allow myself a moment to breathe deeply as the driver hops down to open the door.

  I’m just about to make my way up the steps of the building when Alexios catches my wrist.

  “Wait,” Alexios says quickly as he pulls me towards the side of the building, out of view from the few people loitering nearby.

  The kiss he presses to my lips is far deeper than the shallow touches we shared while we dressed each other this morning. I can’t help but make a startled sound, but I’m melting into him after, gripping the sides of his hips as his tongue licks at my bottom lip and my tail curls up a little at the end.

  When he finally pulls back, I’m practically gasping for air.

  “Alexios, what…”

  He leans in, cutting me off by stealing another heated kiss before pulling away again.

  “Don’t let them poison your thoughts,” Alexios purrs. “I want you to think about how good you’ll feel riding me in the carriage on the way home instead. Will you do that for me?”

  I’m much too flustered to even answer him, cheeks burning hot. Then he offers his arm as if nothing even happened. His composure is back in place while my knees feel like they’ve forgotten how to work. All I can think about now is how soft his lips were against mine.

  The door swings open and a servant bows to us as we walk in, my heart still trying to settle back into its usual rhythm. I straighten my posture anyway, forcing myself to match Alexios’s confident steps, quite certain that every person in the building will still somehow see my flushed cheeks.

  The servant leads us down a long hallway towards the designated meeting room, with every footstep sounding louder than it should. Just before we step inside, Alexios slows and lets the others move ahead. He leans in close enough that I feel his breath against my ear, causing it to twitch slightly.

  “I can practically hear your thoughts,” he whispers. “Think about this instead.”

  Grabbing my hand tightly, Alexios moves his cloak aside. I’m in an utter state of confusion until he presses my hand against the front of his pants and over his obvious erection.

  “Alexios!” I gasp, eyes wide.

  My entire body runs hot in an instant and I almost miss my next step, thankfully catching myself with a small awkward shift of my foot before I step on my tail. He bites his bottom lip before straightening up while I’m left trying to keep my heart from leaping out of my chest… again.

  The double doors open just ahead of us and I follow him in, my mind caught between my anxiety about facing the council again mixed up with something far more distracting.

  A scattering of candles and tall lamps line the long council table making the polished wood practically sparkle under the lights. Council members rise from their seats as we enter. My focus stays on keeping my steps to my chair steady as Alexios guides me toward the far end where the head chairs sit.

  “Alexios,” one of them says, bowing his head politely. “A pleasure to have you with us today.”

  “It’s my pleasure to be here,” Alexios answers smoothly. “This is Arun, my partner.”

  I bow politely.

  “It’s an honor to be here, thank you.”

  A few responding nods are seen around the table.

  “We’ve refreshments if you’d like something before we begin,” another member says as she gestures over to the pair of chairs for us. “Please, sit and relax.”

  “Water for him,” Alexios says, nodding towards me. “Thank you.”

  As a servant places a goblet of water in front of me, I almost think of eavesdropping into a few of the surrounding conversations. Some of the members are stealing quick glances over at me, obviously quite curious.

  Alexios leans back in his seat, relaxed naturally, but I know it’s a calculated move on his part.

  “Shall we begin?”

  The head of the council nods as he adjusts a stack of papers.

  “Let’s begin with the latest updates on any pending trade agreements,” he states.

  At first, everything moves smoothly. The exchanges of numbers and agreements are kept professional, with measured voices passing back and forth. I sit with my back straight, listening closely and jotting down notes in the small journal I brought from home.

  Now and then, I can still feel eyes on me, whether it’s just a glance held a moment to long or a whisper between two members on the opposite end of the table, but it ends as soon as I look their way.

  Alexios speaks confidently, his tone carrying authority that perfectly keeps the discussion moving. Every time he pauses though, his hand squeezes mine gently under the table as if he’s reminding me that I’m not alone here.

  But with every passing minute, it feels like the room is watching me more than the numbers on the pages in front of them. I can’t tell if I’m overthinking it though.

  We move seamlessly into shipping delays to one of the coastal ports and I find myself focusing on the way Alexios taps his fingers against the tabletop when he’s thinking, but soon enough, my attention turns to a deep voice coming from the middle section of the table.

  “…don’t understand why he’s even…”

  The man stops talking immediately when he notices I’m looking his way, but there’s still a rude little smirk on his face. Another member leans closer to him and whispers something I can’t hear from where I’m sitting. Both look over at me before returning to their papers.

  I see his hand curl into a fist on the table for a moment before he catches it and forces himself to relax. My eyes return to the numbers in front of me, but my handwriting tightens into smaller strokes.

  From another section of the table, a pointed laugh bubbles up and Alexios’s head turns slowly towards the sound.

  “Is there something you’d like to share with us today, Rumblevale?” Alexios asks sternly, his head tilting to the side.

  Rumblevale, with his silver hair tied neatly at his nape, leans back in his chair.

  “Some of us are wondering if bringing… personal company to these meetings is a bit of a distraction.”

  I feel my stomach tighten again.

  “My apologies,” Alexios answers cynically. “I didn’t know it was a crime to bring Blackwood Plantation’s co-owner to meetings. The plantation is as much his as it is mine. Is that truly a problem?”

  There’s a ripple of reaction among the members and I don’t even fully register what Alexios said until I look over at Alexios.

  Me…?

  Co-owner of Blackwood Plantation?

  “Ah,” Rumblevale says, nodding his head. “Only if it distracts from the matters at hand.”

  There’s a few moments of discomfort among a few of the members, but Alexios moves his hand over to my thigh underneath the table, gently squeezing.

  “Nothing distracts me from what matters,” he states. “I trust we can proceed.”

  There’s a small shrug from Rumblevale as if to say he was only making conversation and the silence after Alexios’s reply lasts long enough to cause the head of the council to clear his throat.

  “Let’s move on, shall we?”

  The remainder of the discussion moves much more smoothly. A few members who’d been silent earlier in the meeting direct a few questions about the potency of the newer plants we’ve begun harvesting.

  I can still feel the watchfulness in the room, but now it’s less with doubt and more with cautious respect.

  As we near the end of the meeting, the head of the council asks a final question about upcoming shipment timelines for Sigia.

  “We’ll have the next shipment ready within the month,” Alexios answers easily. “My partner will make sure the documentation if prepared for your review.”

  The meeting adjourns and polite farewells are exchanged. I follow Alexios out, still trying to wrap my mind around my newly appointed title. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel like victory.

  The street just outside the council hall is bustling with foot traffic now and Alexios steers me to a small café tucked in between a line of robust balconies. We take a corner table, ordering coffee and something sweet to share.

  “What was that?” I ask.

  “What ever could you be referring to, my love?” he says, cheekily.

  “In there,” I answer. “When you called me your… co-owner.”

  “You are, Arun. Whether you believe it yet or not, you are. Blackwood Plantation is yours too and so is the all the coin in the bank.”

  I can’t help but blush at his words, as pride fills my heart.

  “You could’ve warned me,” I whisper.

  Alexios smirks.

  “Remember when I told you I had to go to a meeting a while back and I couldn’t tell you what it was for?”

  I nod, remembering the suspicion that lived inside me that day.

  “This… was that,” he says, gesturing between the two of us. “I wanted to put you in that seat to make sure the council knew you weren’t just there on my arm. You deserve an official place in all of this.”

  My eyes drop to my hands. I had accused him of sleeping with someone else that day when really… it was to give me a place right there beside him.

  “So… that was the surprise.”

  Alexios laughs softly.

  “That was the surprise,” he says. “And don’t say I could have just told you. I would have missed the look on your face in there.”

  He reaches across the table, fingers intertwining with mine.

  “Besides,” he adds softly. “Your birthday is coming up and I think you’ve earned more than a title. Let’s celebrate, hmm?”

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  Puzzled, I look up at him.

  “What kind of celebration?”

  “A dinner party,” he answers without hesitation. “Good wine, good food and the people who actually matter to us… all at the manor. I don’t mean those jackals from the council either. I mean people who respect you.”

  I can’t help but smile at the idea.

  “You really want to do that?”

  “I want you to finally see yourself the way I do,” he says. “If seeing a room full of people toasting to you will help it sink in more, absolutely. Will you let me do it?”

  A laugh bubbles up as I nod to him.

  “Fine, but I get to help with the menu.”

  The grin he gives me is almost boyish now.

  “Anything for you.”

  --

  Alexios and I find ourselves in his study in the evening, scraps of paper detailing various wines and dishes litter the desk and floor. Alexios leans back in his chair as I continue jotting down notes on the menu draft.

  “You’re thorough when it comes to the desserts,” he teases.

  “I can’t help it,” I whisper, glancing up at him. “You’ve spoiled me, Alexios.”

  He smirks but doesn’t dare argue back.

  “Speaking of spoiling you… I’ve been thinking about what you should wear that night.”

  I raise my eyebrows.

  “Do you have an idea yet?”

  “I’m already picturing it,” he corrects. “Silk. Deep wine-red. Fitted here…”

  His finger points to my chest.

  “And loose just enough here.”

  That same finger drops to my hips. I roll my eyes but laugh anyway.

  “Of course you’re picking something sexy.”

  “I’m picking something that I want to see on our bedroom floor,” he answers simply.

  “You’re going to distract yourself more than anyone else.”

  “That’s the plan, my beloved.”

  His smile is so sharp now that I can’t decide if I want to straddle him or teasingly slap his arm.

  --

  Two weeks later, my outfit is hanging from a carved stand, the light from the hearth catching the deep wine-red silk beautifully. Alexios’s own robe rests next to it, black as midnight with the exact wine-red acting as an embroidery at the ends.

  He insists I dress first so I slip into the robe, fabric cool against my warm skin. It fits practically like a second layer and the open back almost leaves me feeling self-conscious but when I turn to Alexios, the desire burning in his eyes erases my doubts completely.

  “Gods,” he breathes out. “You are a vision, Arun. Exactly as I imagined.”

  My heart starts racing.

  “Now you.”

  He shrugs into his robe and fastens the buttons slowly. The colors are absolutely exquisite on him, the black of the silk making the wine-red lining pop when he moves. The high collar makes him look taller and more dangerous, almost like he did when I first saw him years ago.

  We stand in front of the tall mirror, his hand resting gently on my waist as I rest mine on his chest.

  “We really were made for each other, weren’t we?” I ask, almost shyly.

  “That’s exactly the point,” he answers, smiling brightly at me in the mirror.

  We descend the staircase together and the moment our feet touch the polished floor of the main hallway, heads turn. Alexios keeps his stride calm, fully claiming the room. I try to keep my pace beside him, heart racing faster as even more eyes are pulled to us.

  Alexios doesn’t pay them any mind, but he does turn to look at me every now and then like he’s checking to make sure I’m still next to him.

  When the crowd parts, I realize they’re not just making way for him.

  They’re making way for us.

  Guests smile, bow and incline their heads as we pass while Alexios keeps holding my hand, guiding me to the center of the room where the first glasses of wine are being offered. He whispers something polite to a merchant and I realize I’ve been nodding along without picking up a single word from a few guests we’ve greeted.

  Eventually, we’re seated side by side in the dining hall, white roses and ivy trailing down the table’s polished surface. Soft laughter and simple conversations flow through the room, just as the quartet’s music does.

  As Alexios leans forward to reach for more wine, I can smell the spicy scent of his cologne even over the aroma of deliciously roasted chicken and spiced vegetables. His hand makes its way to my thigh, fingers tapping idly before the rhythm changes.

  I take a slow sip of my iced tea while Alexios continues chatting with a merchant from Felcren City on his other side, desperate to cover up my soft gasps as his hand slides up my thigh just a fraction.

  Every part of me feels tuned into him, even as I politely nod along to a question from the dwarven woman sitting across from me. I can’t tell if this dinner will last two hours or five… but I know exactly how the night is going to end by the way Alexios’s thumb traces small circles over my inner thigh.

  “Arun,” someone says. I look over to see an older, broad-shouldered woman with a gentle smile leaning forward. “I heard you have been overseeing the healing work here at the plantation for a few years. How has that been going?”

  I clear my throat as I’m pulled out of the haze Alexios has me wrapped up in. His fingers retreat, so I fold my hands together in my lap, mostly to be polite but also out of disappointment.

  “It’s been… going very well actually,” I say honestly, managing a smile. “I find that it’s rather fulfilling work. It’s nice to ease suffering, even when it comes to the small things.”

  The woman nods.

  “I imagine that takes a good deal of skill then.”

  I answer her, even when I feel Alexios’s eyes on me. When I turn to him, I can see it in his eyes. To anyone else at this table, he probably seems unreadable right now, but I know better. He’s hungry.

  The moment the woman moves her attention to someone else, Alexios leans in and presses a slow kiss to my cheek.

  “You’re being so polite tonight,” he says, voice barely above a whisper. “Want to know what it does to me?”

  Before I can ask what he means, his hand slides under the table again and finds mine. He guides my hand away from my lap and onto the thick bulge pressing against the front of his robe.

  My free hand flies up to stifle the gasp that almost comes out.

  “Every time you laugh,” he adds, voice practically a purr at this point. “This is what you’ve been doing to me all evening.”

  Alexios’s eyes move to my mouth then back up to my eyes. I swallow sharply, fingers curling around his hardened length before I can stop myself. One of his fingers caresses my knuckles before he lets go so I can pull my hand back if I want, but I really don’t want to.

  Not right now at least.

  I think he’s letting me off the hook… until I feel his hand back on my inner thigh. It starts slowly, with just a graze that’s casual enough to be mistaken for nothing at all, but he doesn’t stop there. His fingers trail higher to gently brush over my own length through the thin silk of my outfit.

  “Stay relaxed, my love,” he whispers, hardly moving his lips as he smiles at something one of the guests says. “No one is going to know.”

  The silk of my outfit shifts as his fingers slip under it to stroke me ever so slowly. The touch is somehow too much and not enough all at the same time. I can feel myself growing harder by the second, making it impossible to focus on the conversations around us, much less anything else. I force myself to keep my hands folded politely on the table.

  “Hold it together for me,” he hums softly, practically making me melt in my chair.

  I’m trying. Gods, I really am.

  Alexios’s wrist moves slowly as my thighs fight between tensing up and relaxing, but he doesn’t rush. Instead, he keeps toying with me and brushing over the tip to make me gasp before retreating to remind me he’s in control right now.

  It’s impossible to keep still as his thumb circles lazily before the rest of his hand dips down again. Even my fork is trembling in my grip.

  “Do not come,” he mouths, keeping his eyes on his wine glass even though I can absolutely hear the smirk in his voice.

  Every sound around me is practically amplified now, even against the pounding of my heart.

  “Alexios,” Je Suis calls from further down the table. “Are you planning to send a shipment to Daedi before the month ends?”

  I expect his hand to stop when I hear Je Suis, but it doesn’t. Not even for a single second. Alexios looks over at her like not a thing in the world is happening right now.

  “We will, yes. The contracts are already signed, but we’re waiting for the weather to ease up before transport. If it’s alright with you, I’d rather push talk of business to a different day.”

  She nods thoughtfully before turning her attention back to the man next to her. Alexios’s hand under the table gives one last slow stroke before resting lightly against my thigh again, but I know that this is far from over.

  The rest of the table keeps speaking in a pleasant manner and I nod along again, but my thoughts are still in fragments, greatly missing Alexios’s touch. Thankfully, his knee nudges against mine under the table every now and then. I nearly miss it when someone asks me a question about the healing room’s inventory.

  I manage to answer politely, but every time I look over to him, I find his piercing red eyes on me as he smirks. He’s enjoying watching me try to keep a straight face even as my body clings to the memory of what his hand was doing only moments ago.

  Dessert finally arrives and my fork moves mechanically across the apple tart, still desperately waiting for Alexios’s touch again.

  “When they leave,” he murmurs low. “You are all mine.”

  I can only nod and swallow, unable to fully trust my voice at the moment. As the dinner winds down, it’s clear that both of us are counting down the minutes until the last guest leaves for the night. Finally, Je Suis stands to say her goodbyes, giving us both tight hugs before she leaves.

  The moment the door shuts behind her, Alexios turns to me with that same calm presence he’s held all night, but the look in his eyes gives him away entirely.

  “Upstairs,” he commands. “Now.”

  I can’t help but laugh playfully as I make my way up the stairs. Alexios follows along behind me, wine glass in hand.

  The bedroom door closes quickly behind us as we step inside. He leans against it for a moment, eyes running up and down my body.

  “Do you know how difficult it was not to drag you away or bend you over the table in front of everyone?”

  I try to speak, but Alexios is already crossing the room, placing the wine glass down on the table before grasping at my hips tightly to pull me to him until my body melts into his. One of his hands slides down to cup me through the silk outfit as the other lifts my chin up so he can kiss me slowly at first before his teeth nip at my bottom lip.

  My hands wrap around his waist while his tongue plays with mine, legs going weak as he walks me backwards until the back of my knees hit the bed. I lower myself, watching as he slowly takes off his silk robe.

  When Alexios steps between my knees, his hands come up to cup my face, thumbs softly moving over my cheekbones.

  “You are so damn beautiful,” he says. “Do you have any idea how much you mean to me?”

  I swallow hard before nodding slowly. Then his hands are on my thighs, parting them as he bends down to kiss me again. When his fingers trace along my inner thigh under the silk, I let out a soft moan before he pushes me back gently and climbs over me. His lips find mine again and my hands run through his hair as I cling to him. Every touch is slower than I expected, even as he rips at my outfit.

  “Arun,” he purrs. “Do you want this too?”

  I know why he’s asking and I am more than willing to give him what we both want tonight.

  “Yes,” I plead. “Yes, Alexios. Please.”

  --

  Before I can even finish the sentence, he’s dropping down between my legs, his mouth closing around my erection instantly. The heat of his mouth has me arching off the bed and there’s nothing gentle about the way he’s taking me into his throat.

  He’s messy and utterly depraved tonight.

  Alexios’s tongue swirls and strokes, teasing at the head of my length before taking me in even deeper as his nose presses against my lower stomach. My fingers tangle in the silver-white strands of his hair, eagerly fighting the urge to thrust my hips into him.

  The wet and sloppy sounds he’s making are punctuated by guttural moans that vibrate around me. Then, he somehow takes me even deeper and I can feel my length press into his throat as it closes around me, pulling a choked sound from him that makes me think I should be concerned, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard.

  To my surprise, he doesn’t pull back. He holds himself there, fighting against his gag reflex as tears swell in his eyes.

  “Alexios,” I gasp.

  He looks up at me as he pulls back, gasping for a moment of air before taking me back into his mouth as the wet, choked sounds resume. Just as my hands tighten in his hair, Alexios pulls back, leaving a long lick from the base of my length to the head while I’m left breathless.

  “Wait, don’t…” I try to protest.

  I need Alexios inside me. Now.

  Pushing myself up onto my elbows, I start digging through the bedside table to find a small bottle of oil that’s quickly pushed into Alexios’s hand as I lift my hips.

  He looks at the bottle in his hand, then back at me as he shakes his head. Before I can question him, he’s pulling himself up off the bed, grabbing his wine glass from the table and taking a sip.

  To my surprise, he’s back on the bed, straddling my hips as he sets the glass on the bedside table not far out of reach.

  “I want you inside me tonight,” Alexios says. “I want you to be in control, Arun. Is that okay?”

  He leans down and I feel his lips ghost across my ear lobe before his teeth gently nibble. My hand cups his cheek, thumb caressing the soft skin of his face.

  “Yes,” I breathe out. “Let me, please.”

  His smile practically lights up the room before he shifts onto his back beside me. I take back the bottle of oil as I pour a generous amount in my hand, coating my fingers and then my own erection. I press a slick finger into his tight entrance, pulling a sharp gasp from him as I gently work him open for me.

  Alexios grinds against my finger softly so I add a second finger, scissoring and stretching him slowly. I can feel his impatience start to frow so I press the head of my length against his entrance and ease forward, sinking in inch by inch until I’m seated inside fully. My body shakes in overwhelmed pleasure and Alexios lets out another guttural moan.

  He drapes his legs over my shoulders and the sight of him under me is intoxicating.

  “Fucking hells,” he snarls, throwing his head back against the pillow. “That’s… that’s it.”

  His hands grip the sheets as I begin a slow and steady rhythm of thrusts, with each of them being met with more groans and string of curses from Alexios. I’m pushing into him harder now when a deep thrust makes him cry out in pleasure, hands abandoning the sheets completely. One hand moves to grip the headboard while the other wraps around his own pulsing erection, stroking himself almost in time with my thrusts.

  “You feel so damn good,” Alexios groans. “Just like that, my love… just like that.”

  His moans get louder, echoing through the room as his hips grind against my thrusts. I watch as his hand moves faster around his length, strokes becoming even more erratic, but then with a sudden effort, he removes his hand and plants them both on my chest to roll me onto my back again.

  I’m pinned against him once more before he sinks down again, taking my entire length in one fluid motion. He throws his head back, gasping out in pure pleasure as he rises and falls with enough force to make the bedframe shake violently.

  Alexios’s pace is relentless as his hand begins stroking himself again. Then he shifts and the rough bouncing becomes slow, aggressive circles of his hips. The headboard slams repeatedly against the wall, his grinding becoming a wild ride that almost pushes me to my own orgasm.

  “F-Fuck,” I whimper, my hands flying to his hips to simply hold on as I writhe beneath him.

  He gasps and almost goes completely still before laughing loudly, clearly proud of how easily he pulled that word from my lips.

  “I’ve never heard you say that,” he says, amazed.

  He leans down, crashing his lips into mine in a messy kiss of teeth, tongue and desperate whimpers. I watch him reach for the glass on the bedside table.

  “Open for me,” he says before taking a drink of red wine.

  I do, opening just enough so he can lean down again to let the wine fall from his mouth into my own. My eyes roll back as the full-bodied flavor settles across my tongue. He straightens up and brings the wine glass back to his lips, but instead of taking another sip, he tilts it, letting the rest of the wine run down his face and chest.

  “Alexios!” I cry out as the cooled wine spills over me too. “The sheets!”

  He laughs wickedly, setting the now empty glass down on the bedside table again before bracing one large hand on my chest and resuming that brutal pace of grinding. It’s making my head spin, and my toes and tail curl. The sounds he pulls from me are raw and filthy now.

  “I don’t give a fuck about the sheets,” he growls, his other hand stroking himself once again.

  With a final grind, he throws his head back as a throaty yell tears from deep inside him, his release splashing across my stomach and chest in hot spurts. I am so damn close and he knows it by the whimper that escapes my lips.

  “No,” Alexios pants. “Not yet.”

  He moves off me and I’m left trembling on the bed as my own body screams out for release. I can only watch as he motions towards the end of the bed. Confused, I push myself up, legs almost useless as I stand on the plush carpet.

  Alexios simply lies back on the bed, sliding down until his head hangs over the foot of the mattress, his long hair cascading down the wooden frame. He looks at me from this inverted position, red eyes still burning with passion even after his orgasm. I step closer and his mouth opens for me. Now… I understand.

  Pressing forward hesitantly, I carefully give him an inch of me at a time, but Alexios clearly wants none of whatever caution I’m giving. His strong hands come up to grip my hips and with a powerful tug, he pulls me in further, fully engulfing my swollen length in his throat.

  I can hear him choking and gagging around me, the sight of him so completely wicked when I look down at him. Drool seeps from the corners of his mouth, falling down his cheeks and into his hair.

  This man…

  This beautiful, lustful mess of a man is all mine.

  Alexios’s throat convulses around me and I give in to his want as I eagerly thrust my hips into his mouth. My trembling hand slides down his stomach, desperate to give him even a fraction of the pleasure he is giving me, but he swats it away, letting me know that this is about my pleasure right now.

  Eventually, he grabs my hand, still stinging from him slapping it away, and guides it to his own throat. I gasp sharply as my fingers press against his neck. As I move inside him, my fingers can feel the distinct outline of my own length moving inside him. Each thrust created a bulge in his throat and I can feel the clenching of his throat muscles.

  My hips begin to move rapidly, urgently chasing my own orgasm, as my whimpers turn into broken cries that fill our bedroom.

  “Alexios,” I gasp, my hand still pressed against his throat. “I… I can’t… it’s too much…:

  With a choked sob, I thrust one last time and then my climax comes in blinding waves of pleasure that tear through me and into his mouth. I pull out, trying my best not to choke him, and I watch as some of it lands in his open mouth. He swallows, a satisfied moan leaving his lips as he does. Majority of my seed splashes across his cheeks and even in the strands of his hair.

  I stumble forward, collapsing onto the edge of the bed, my chest heaving as I struggle to catch my breath. Alexios props himself up on his elbows and raises a finger to his face to collect some of my release before bringing them to his lips and licking them clean.

  “You are delicious,” he huskily mumbles. “Would you like a taste?”

  His finger runs across his other cheek and he offers it to me. Too stuck in a haze of satisfaction, I can only nod as Alexios smiles and brings his finger to my lips. My tongue darts out to taste myself. It’s slightly bitter, but he seems to adore the taste of it.

  --

  Alexios leans in to capture my mouth in a slow kiss. My hand drifts up to comb through his hair, but my fingers brush against something sticky.

  “Oh gods,” I gasp, pulling my hand free. “I’m so sorry. I...”

  I’m scrambling off the bed to find anything I could use to clean it out, but Alexios grabs my hand before I can make it too far.

  “Leave it,” he commands. “I love it there. A lovely reminder from the man of my dreams.”

  He runs a hand through the tangled, sticky strands before rising gracefully to grab a small towel and clean blanket from the wardrobe. Slowly, he wipes the rest of my release from his face but makes no attempt to clean his hair. He leans in, leaving a soft kiss on the tip of my nose.

  “Let’s get to bed, hmm?”

  Alexios removes the wine-soaked sheet and tosses it to the side, no doubt leaving it out for a servant to clean in the morning. Then he’s pulling me into his arms as he settles us against the soft pillows.

  “You are… everything,” he whispers as he presses a kiss to the base of a horn. “Relax now, my love. I’ve got you.”

  I rest fully against him, letting the rise and fall of his chest help guide me back to a relaxed heart rate. One of his hands comes up to comb through my sweaty hair, fingertips gently massaging my scalp.

  “What did I do to ever deserve this kind of love?” he asks quietly, like the question is only meant for him. “I am so damn lucky.”

  Too blissed out to answer, I let out a contented sigh as an answer. Alexios kisses the tips of my horns before pulling the clean blanket up around us to keep me close, not intending to let go for the rest of the night.

  My body sinks further into him as I let my eyes close. He adjusts slightly so I’m fully cocooned in his arms as our legs stay tangled under the sheets.

  “I love you,” I breathe out.

  “I love you more than you’ll ever know.”

  I fall into a peaceful sleep knowing he will never let me go.