Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
Caspen brushed his lips against hers, and Tem’s worries fell away. Her body was too sore for sex. But she wanted it anyway, and Caspen had never been able to resist her. When he slipped inside her, she bit her lip in pain. Caspen paused.
We do not have to do this, Tem.
I want to.
I understand. But we do not have to.
Tem only pulled him closer. He thrust slowly, gently, making eye contact the entire time to ensure she was fully present. Eventually, he turned her onto her side, entering her from behind so their bodies were cupped together-two crescent moons in identical orbit. Tem closed her eyes, losing herself in the way his cock felt, allowing him to fully take charge. She was so wet, he slid in easily, her body accommodating every inch of his length.
It was different from the sex they had in their true forms. But Tem needed to fuck like this too, as a human, so she could feel connected to the part of her that felt like her.
Soon, she was close.
Caspen rolled her so she was on her stomach, his thrusts speeding up as he buried himself in her over and over again until they fell into orgasm together. Tem gasped as the euphoric rush hit her, clenching her muscles around Caspen’s cock as he groaned against the back of her neck. Afterward, they remained clasped together, his arms still wrapped around her. He pulled out, and his fingers found her clitoris, caressing it gently. He slid his fingers inside her, and it wasn’t until Tem felt pressure between her legs that she realized what he was actually doing. Another claw was forming deep in her center, molding itself perfectly to the inside of her body. Tem gasped as it pressed against her clitoris, curving into its final shape and coaxing her straight into another climax.
Caspen’s other hand went to her throat, arching her head back so he could kiss her as she came.
“Caspen,” she breathed against his lips.
“Tem,” he breathed back.
He released her. The claw was solid inside her. Tem welcomed its weight.
Thank you.
Of course, Tem.
They kissed again. Finally, Tem broke away. I have to get back to the farm.
He buried his face in her hair, and she knew he was smelling her scent. I want you to stay.
You know I can’t.
He only held her tighter. Please, Tem. Stay.
His request surprised her. There was a hint of desperation in his voice-of deep-seated longing. It was almost as if the closer they became, the more he was scared of losing her. Tem wanted to reassure him. But their relationship was not the only thing at stake. Tem had other people she loved now-other people to protect. Caspen could protect himself.
No.
He released her with a sigh.
They walked together through the passageway, and when they reached the head of the trail, Caspen pulled her against him again. He kissed up her neck, biting at her earlobe.
“Caspen,” she yelped. “You have to let me go.”
He only held her tighter.
Tem went still, allowing him to hold her. This was a different version of Caspen than the one she was used to. This version was not aloof, not secretive or harsh. This Caspen openly yearned. This Caspen needed her.
Something had changed between them at the lake, when their minds had combined. It felt as if he’d left a piece of himself with her, and Tem realized it was possible that he had. And perhaps she’d left a piece of herself in return. She had no idea what magic had occurred in that cavern under the mountain, no clue how deep their connection now went.
“Caspen,” she whispered. “Let me go.”
He let her go.
Tem returned to her cottage a changed woman.
The farm no longer looked like home. Perhaps it never had been. Whether Tem’s future lay in the castle with Leo or in the caves with Caspen, she knew for sure it was no longer between these wooden walls.
Her mother was away, delivering the eggs. Tem spent the day doing chores, watching the hours tick slowly by. Caspen sent her pulses-too many to count. Tem savored them. She’d missed carrying the claw inside her, and now that she had it again, it was as if part of her had slid back into place. She experimented with sending pulses back, practicing the same thing she’d done in the cavern with intermittent success. It turned out Tem wasn’t quite used to her power just yet. At one point, she sent a pulse so strong that Caspen roared in pain, shouting a word in a language she’d never heard.
Sorry.
His pain subsided, replaced by wary amusement. It is no matter, Tem. You do not know your own strength.
I didn’t mean to hurt you.
I am not hurt. That was merely…a surprise.
Tem smiled. She sent him several more surprises that day.
By the time her mother returned, Tem had no desire to remain in the cottage. The pulses through the claw had given her energy; it was her first taste of what it felt like to draw power from Caspen, and she was aching to expend it. But instead of going to the caves, she wanted to savor what could be her last night in the village-to be young and impulsive one last time.
Without a second thought, she pulled on her cloak and set off for the Horseman. It was early; she figured she’d be the only one there. To her delight, she was wrong.
“Temperance.” Gabriel threw his arms wide as soon as she pushed open the door. He was seated in their favorite booth, several empty beer glasses in front of him. “It’s been too long.”
Tem slid in beside him. “Shouldn’t you be at the castle helping prepare for the ball?”
“I’m injured,” he said and brandished his thumb, which was wrapped in an astonishing number of bandages. “They sent me home.”
Tem took a sip of his beer. “How’d that happen?”
“Had a little disagreement with a steak knife.”
“Who knew cutlery could be so disagreeable.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Gabriel,” Tem said slowly. “Thank you.”
He cocked his head. “For?”
“For…” Tem paused, remembering the way Gabriel had protected Leo at the Passing of the Crown, how he’d shoved away the villager who’d launched himself at the prince. Tem knew he’d done it for her because he understood, even after only seeing them together briefly, how much Leo meant to her.
“Everything,” she finished quietly.
Gabriel pressed his lips to her cheek. “Anything for you, dearest,” he said just as quietly. He threw his arm around her, pulling her against him. “But enough about me. How’s my future princess?”
The last time Tem was here, she’d been about to tell Gabriel what Caspen had done to Jonathan and Christopher. Then Leo had shown up, and the evening had gone in a completely different direction. So much had happened since then; there was so much more to tell.
“The future princess is tired.”
Gabriel laughed at that. “I’d be tired too if I was fucking two people at once.”
“You are fucking two people at once.”
“Oh, that’s right,” he said, tapping his good finger against the beer glass. “I am, aren’t I?”
Tem rolled her eyes. “Besides, I’m only fucking one person,” she said resolutely.