Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
“And what exactly is the nature of your connection?”
Tem had no idea what to say. No answer would satisfy Leo: no explanation would make this situation acceptable to him. How could she possibly tell him the extent of her mental bond with Caspen? How could she tell him that they had sex through that connection, that Caspen would turn her on and she would do the same, that they had brought each other to orgasm more times than she could count? It was incomprehensible, even to Tem.
“He speaks to me…and I…answer.”
“I see,” said Leo quietly. “He speaks. And you answer.”
His voice was steady. But Tem knew they were in very dangerous, very uncharted territory.
She held her breath as he said, “How often does this occur?”
“It’s…not consistent. I can’t predict it.”
“And what did he say to you tonight?”
Another question she wished he hadn’t asked. She couldn’t tell Leo how Caspen felt-how their entire relationship had flashed before her eyes in an avalanche of aching torment.
“He didn’t say anything, really. He just…” Tem broke off, trying to put the experience into words. “He’s jealous,” she finished simply.
“Well,” Leo murmured, and to her surprise, his tone softened. “We can hardly blame him for that.”
Tem wanted to say something else. To apologize again. But she knew it wouldn’t make a difference. Instead, she tilted her head and kissed Leo on the lips. He kissed her back, and for a moment, Tem felt peace. They didn’t try to have sex again. They simply kissed slowly, their bodies intertwining under the covers. Tem was still terrified Caspen might return, and she knew Leo must have been too.
They kissed until Tem was too tired to kiss anymore. When they stopped, Leo simply held her, cradling her body against his. She fell asleep with her head tucked underneath his chin.
When Tem awoke, her legs were tangled in Leo’s. He was still asleep, his arms wrapped securely around her. When she tried to lift her head, she immediately regretted it; she had a headache so severe that she doubted it was just from the alcohol. It had to be an aftereffect of Caspen’s infiltration.
At her movement, Leo’s eyes opened.
Without a word, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Their bodies merged even closer, their skin still warm from sleep. Eventually, Leo slipped his hand between her legs. What he was doing felt so good, it took everything Tem had to whisper, “We can’t, Leo. My mother.”
“Is tending to a child in the village.”
“Will be returning any moment.”
“We’ll make it quick.”
“I don’t want it to be quick.”
Leo laughed softly at that. “Good to know.”
He was still touching her. “Leo,” she said gently. “Stop.”
He stopped.
They stared at each other in the dim morning light. Even though Tem had just denied him, Leo looked irrefutably happy.
“What are you smiling at?” she asked.
His smile widened. “I’m glad you changed your mind.”
“Even though…”
She couldn’t say the words. The night had been an utter disaster, all things considered. Caspen’s presence hung between them like an unspoken curse, and Tem doubted very much that Leo’s experience with any of the other girls in the competition had gone at all the way this one had.
Leo shrugged. “A small price to pay for your company.”
But Tem would not be convinced. “I can’t control it, Leo.”
He looked her right in the eye. “I understand, Tem.”
It was all he said. But it was enough for now.
They dressed in silence, stealing glances at each other before leaving the cottage. When they reached the garden gate, Tem turned to face him.
“Well,” she said. “I’ll see you soon.”
“That you shall.”
There was so much more she wanted to say. But the words wouldn’t come.
Tem turned away.
“Wait.” Leo grabbed her hand. “Would you do something for me?”
She looked back at him. “What?”
His hand tightened in hers.
“Hold on to it.”
“Hold on to what?”
“Whatever it was that made you change your mind last night. Just…try to hold on to it. Please?”
They stared at each other, and in that moment, Tem realized how much last night had truly meant to Leo-how deeply and desperately he wanted to be with her, how badly he hoped what little progress they’d made wasn’t ruined by her lingering connection with Caspen. Tem wanted to reassure him, but she didn’t want to lie. So she simply nodded instead.
“I’ll try.”
Leo nodded too. Then he dropped her hand, turned, and disappeared down the street.
Tem stood as if in a trance. It had been one of the most formative nights of her life. Not only was her relationship with Caspen hanging in the balance, but suddenly, Leo had stepped up in a way she’d never thought possible. I know what it is to have an occupied heart, Leo had said. It was horrible was what it was. Tem did not want to feel this way for two people-did not want to split herself in two.
Her mother appeared on the garden path.
“My dear,” she said. “How are you?”
What a question.
There was no way to answer it. In response, Tem merely shrugged. They returned to the kitchen together, and her mother held up the half-empty liquor bottle.
“Really, Tem?”
“It wasn’t just me,” Tem said quickly.
“That infernal boy,” her mother muttered, and Tem knew she would assume it had been Gabriel. There was no point in correcting her.
Tem tried to busy herself with farm work, but the chickens provided no distraction whatsoever. She could think only of the way Leo’s hands had felt on her body-of how he’d been able to ignite something in her that she once thought only Caspen could ignite. Tem had no choice but to comprehend the most fundamental thing that now rang true: her heart was in two places, and things would not be easy for her.
Leo.
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.