Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
Leo’s arm encircled her waist as they ascended the stairs together, and when they reached the landing, he stopped in his tracks. Tem thought he might say something or perhaps make a move on her. Instead, he closed his eyes, leaning his head back so it was resting against the wall.
He let out a deep sigh.
Tem stared at him, unsure what to do. It felt like a moment that should be private, and despite herself, she felt bad for Leo. Tem wondered suddenly if he decompressed like this after every dinner party. Growing up with a father like Maximus couldn’t have been easy on him.
She touched his chest.
Leo’s eyes opened. He placed his hand over hers, holding them together. They stared at each other for a long moment. Then Leo raised his other hand, brushing the tips of his fingers underneath Tem’s chin. Perhaps she’d had too much wine. Perhaps she was simply overwhelmed by the events of the last few days. But for some reason, his touch felt so good that Tem couldn’t help but close her eyes as he traced his fingertips along her jaw. She tilted her head so his palm could cup her cheek.
“Come to my room,” he whispered.
She shook her head.
“Why not, Tem?”
“Because you’re just going to try to have sex with me.” Even though her eyes were closed, she knew Leo was smiling.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She opened her eyes. He was smiling. “Promise?”
Leo smiled wider. “Having sex with you requires your consent, Tem. And you essentially just revoked that. There would be no point in trying. But if you insist, then yes. I promise.”
Together, they entered his room.
Tem stood by the bar cart as Leo shut the door behind them. Everything was the same as she remembered it: immaculately made bed, packed bookshelves, crackling fire.
“Would you care for a drink?” Leo asked.
“Please.”
He poured them both whiskeys before sitting in one of the armchairs facing the fire. On a whim, Tem set her whiskey on the end table, crossed to Leo, and curled up beside him. He moved to accommodate her, pulling her against his chest with a deep, satisfied sigh. They stared at the fire for a long time, neither of them saying a word.
Tem breathed in his scent, savoring the cologne that lingered on his neck. He smelled so good. She savored other things too. Like the way his arms were wrapped securely around her. And the way a single lock of blond hair lay over his forehead. He was handsome, she realized. Or maybe she’d always known he was but had pretended he wasn’t. Tem tried to imagine what it would be like to wake up next to him every morning for the rest of her life. Before she could picture it, Leo looked at her.
“Tem,” he murmured.
Tem didn’t think. She just pressed her lips to his.
They kissed slowly, their bodies folding together in the armchair. Tem expected Leo’s hands to stray, but they didn’t. Instead, she was the one pulling him closer. She was the one running her palms under his shirt, touching his ribs one by one, feeling the angled lines of his torso. She remembered what Caspen had told her:
You are mine, Tem. Whether you give your body to another does not change that.
Tem pressed her lips to Leo’s neck. She wanted to taste him.
“Tem.” The prince pulled away, but just barely. “Stop.”
“Why?”
“Because you made me promise not to try to have sex with you.”
“I don’t see you trying. You just told me to stop.”
“You make it rather difficult to keep that promise.”
He pulled back in earnest this time, his eyes gleaming in the light of the dying fire. His voice dropped to a whisper. “You can’t imagine everything I want to do to you right now.”
“Yes, I can.” She traced her fingertips down the center of his chest. “But you’re a man of your word, remember?”
“It is becoming impossible to remain one.”
Tem giggled. She couldn’t help it. It was fun to tease him, to force him to resist her, especially when she knew how badly he wanted to do the opposite. She liked playing these games with Leo. It had always been that way between them-a battle of wills, a test of who held the power. Tem was holding it now, and she didn’t plan on relinquishing it.
“Tell me what you want to do to me,” Tem whispered.
“Everything.”
“Be specific.”
Leo moaned, the sound vibrating deep in his chest. “I want to rip this off you”-his fist twisted the strap of her dress-“and throw it in the fucking fire. I want you to tell me what you like, and I want you to say my name while I do it.”
“More, Leo. Be specific.”
His hand went to her throat, pulling her head to his. “I want you spread open in front of me. I want to bury myself in your cunt until you can’t fucking breathe.”
“More.”
“I want you all to myself. I don’t want to share. I want my name to be the only thing on your lips, and I want my cum dripping out of you.”
“More.”
His final words were a tortured whisper. “I want to do everything you’ll let me do.”
Tem sat up.
Leo’s eyes widened. Then, just as quickly, they narrowed in hungry anticipation as Tem straddled him so they were facing each other in the armchair. She grasped the bottom of the dress and pulled it up over her head.
“Tem,” Leo said at the sight of her naked body.
Tem’s finger darted forward to touch his lips. “Don’t worry,” she whispered. “You kept your promise.”
“If you tell me I can’t touch you this time-“
“Touch me, Leo.”
Leo didn’t hesitate.
He grabbed her with both hands, pulling her onto his lap so she was pressed against the hard length of his cock, which was barely contained by his trousers. He groaned while he did it, and Tem moved her hips to meet him, rubbing against his shaft to make him even harder. She took his hand and placed it on her thigh.
Leo’s eyes fluttered shut. For a moment, he didn’t seem to breathe. Then his eyes flew open, and he took over, sliding his hand between her legs and slipping his fingers inside her.
Tem gasped as he slid them in, then out, then back in again, driving them deeper every time.
“You’re dripping, Tem,” he whispered. “Is that all for me?”
Tem nodded.
“Say it,” he commanded.
“It’s all for you.”
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.