Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
“I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Caspen laughed again, pressing a kiss to her neck. “You could never.”
“Don’t lie.”
He shook his head, his lips brushing along her jaw. “I cannot. Remember?”
She did remember, but she didn’t believe it. Her insecurities ran far too deep for mere legend to soothe them. She knew he wanted more, and she hated her body for withholding it. Tem reached for him again, intending to pleasure him with her hand. He pushed her wrist down onto the mattress.
“Tem,” he said sharply. “Stop.”
Tem was on the verge of tears. “Just take the pain away,” she insisted. “Then we can go on.”
Caspen shook his head. “That cannot become a habit. It would be wrong to use you that way.”
“Then how am I supposed to satisfy you?”
He smiled. “You have already satisfied me several times tonight, Tem. Surely, you noticed.”
She knew he was purposefully keeping things light. But Tem wouldn’t be persuaded. “I’m not enough for you,” she whispered.
At her words, Caspen sighed. There was silence, and in it, they looked at each other, breathing in sync. “You are human, Tem,” he said finally. “I do not expect anything beyond what a human can achieve.”
“And if I wasn’t human?”
Caspen frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Would a basilisk be able to match your stamina?”
He tilted his head. The motion was so distinctly reptilian that Tem only felt more justified in her question.
“It would depend on the basilisk,” he said slowly. “We are not all identical. But yes. Sex in my true form is…”
He didn’t finish his sentence. Tem found she didn’t want him to. She didn’t need to know all the ways she was inferior. She didn’t need to hear confirmation that a female basilisk would be a far better match for him than she ever would. She already knew it.
At the look on her face, Caspen leaned in. “I chose you to be in my bed, Tem. Do you think I make my choices lightly?”
Tem knew he didn’t. But she also knew he had chosen others in the past, and he’d all but confirmed he’d enjoyed them better.
“I think even you can make mistakes,” she whispered.
Caspen sighed. “If my words do not comfort you, what will?”
Tem had no answer. She couldn’t fathom that Caspen was satisfied with her, regardless of what he said. So instead of saying anything, she kissed him. Soon Tem felt the familiar stirrings within her that wanted more. She pulled Caspen’s hand between her legs.
“Tem,” he murmured against her lips. “I cannot keep saying no to you.”
“Then don’t,” she murmured back, guiding him deeper. “Say yes.”
“Tem,” Caspen said again. But he didn’t stop touching her.
He explored her gently, sliding his first two fingers in and out with slow, soft strokes. When he brushed over her clitoris, it was so tender that she winced. His fingers retreated immediately.
She tried to pull him back, but he placed his palm on her chest, right between her breasts. He pressed down, and Tem felt a coolness pulse through her. When he removed his palm, she was no longer warm. The heat between her legs remained, but she felt suddenly indifferent, as if she no longer wanted to have sex. The sudden change left her breathless.
“What did you just do?” she gasped.
“I took away your desire so you will not crave me anymore.”
Tem stared up at him in horror. It was true; the fiery thirst that had consumed her a second ago was gone.
“Put it back,” she said immediately.
“Tem,” Caspen sighed in exasperation. “If I put it back, you will just keep wanting to-“
“I said, put it back.”
He frowned. She had never used that tone with him before, and it was a surprise to them both. “I do not understand,” he said slowly. “You told me to take away your pain-“
“That’s different.” Tem cut him off sharply. “Pain is a physical sensation. Desire is an emotion. Emotions are a part of who I am. You can’t manipulate my feelings. It’s an abuse of your power and a betrayal to me. It’s worse than what Jonathan did.” She grabbed his hand, holding it to her chest. “So put it back. Right now.”
Tem saw many thoughts swirling behind Caspen’s eyes. But finally she watched as comprehension, then regret rose slowly to the surface.
“I did not think of it that way,” he said quietly. He pressed gently against her chest.
Tem felt the pulse again, and with it, her desire returned, as hot and desperate as before. But this time, she didn’t act on it. Instead, she threw Caspen’s hand off her and glared at him, waiting for him to speak.
Finally, he did. “Forgive me, Tem. I only meant to help.”
“I know what you meant to do,” she snapped. “And in doing so, you diminished me. You can’t suppress my feelings when they’re an inconvenience to you. I’ll never trust you if you control me like that again.”
He listened to her in silence.
“Promise me,” Tem said, still looking him straight in the eye.
“I promise.”
“Be specific.” Now she was the one making demands.
Caspen took a deep breath, his chest rising steadily. “I promise never to alter your feelings again. You have my word.”
They stared at each other.
“I’m so angry at you,” Tem said finally.
To her surprise, the corner of Caspen’s mouth twitched. “Yes. I can tell.”
“It’s not funny.”
“Of course not.” He arranged his expression into one of purposeful seriousness. “It is just that I have never seen you this angry before. You set your jaw.” He touched her chin gently. “It makes you look strong.”
“I’m strong whether I look it or not.”
Caspen’s finger traced down her neck. He smiled once again. “That I know.”
They lay in silence for a long time, the only sound the soft crackling of the fire. Tem thought about what had just happened. Could Caspen control anyone’s emotions or just hers? If his power was truly so limitless, it meant that the basilisks were even stronger than anyone knew. And considering they could bypass the mirrored wall, there was no telling what they could do.
But these were worries for another day.
For now, Tem was here, in Caspen’s chambers. And she didn’t want to waste time thinking about anything other than that.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.