Filed To Story: Between Two Kings: A Split or Swallow Book PDF Free
After a moment, Leo whispered, “She never loved me. Not like you did.”
Tem looked straight at him. “Do,” she whispered.
He looked straight back at her. “What?”
“She never loved you like I do.”
It was an important distinction. And it was important that Leo knew it.
Tem shouldn’t be saying this, shouldn’t be confessing her love to Leo now or otherwise. But in light of what was about to happen, it felt like all her cards should be on the table. It felt, somehow, like the moment of truth was finally here.
They didn’t speak much after that. Tem picked at her food-she was far too stressed to digest anything properly. Leo opted for a liquid dinner, downing two worryingly large glasses of whiskey before simply sitting and staring at the table. He seemed to be contemplating something, and Tem had no desire to disturb him. Despite the circumstances, he seemed relatively resolved, which could work in their advantage. Tem did not expect Caspen to keep his temper; she was relying on Leo to do so. His safety depended on this meeting going well. If anything went wrong-if the basilisks took offense or if Leo’s apology wasn’t sufficient-it would mean disaster for both kingdoms. Neither side was willing to bend, and as a result, everything could break.
Eventually, mercifully, dinner was over.
The carriage ride was silent, which was no surprise to Tem; there was nothing left to say anyway. She was struck by how calm Leo seemed. If their positions had been reversed, Tem wasn’t sure she would have been quite as calm. Leo had no idea what awaited him tonight. And if Tem was being honest, neither did she.
They exited the carriage together, and Tem led them into the mouth of the cave. It was just as it always was-dark and warm and lit by the fireplace carved directly into the stone. The fire was perpetually burning, and Tem wondered suddenly whether Caspen did that on purpose, so she always felt welcomed when she came here.
As soon as they were inside, Tem turned to Leo. “Take off your clothes.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You won’t need them.”
“And why won’t I need my clothes?”
“Because basilisks don’t wear clothes.”
He blinked. “Are you saying that everyone is… naked?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
Leo stared at her blankly. “Tem,” he said. “I cannot go in there naked.”
She almost laughed at how different his reaction was to Gabriel’s. Not everyone was so willing to be nude. “Why not?”
“Because it’s…preposterous. And improper.”
“Improper?”
“You really expect me to make peace with the basilisks without any clothes on?”
“Yes.”
“Tem. Please be serious.”
“I am being serious.”
Leo was staring at her like she’d just asked him to recite a limerick. Perhaps that would have been less ridiculous than what she’d actually asked. Leo had no concept of basilisk traditions. Everything that was about to happen tonight would be a surprise, and Tem had no time to prepare him for it.
“You’re wasting time. Everyone else will be naked. It will be disrespectful if you’re the only one wearing clothes.”
“So now it’s an insult if I’m not naked?”
“Yes. It is.”
“Kora.”
“Would you just take these off already?” She yanked at the leg of his trousers. “We don’t have all night.”
Leo ran his fingers through his hair before letting out a heavy sigh. “Will you be naked too?”
“Yes.”
He seemed to cheer up at that. “Very well.”
“Really?
Now you’re ready?”
“I am but a man, Tem,” he smirked.
That he was.
Leo undressed first, and Tem watched every second of it. She hadn’t seen him naked since the night before their wedding, and she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t missed his cock. It was as straight and proud as ever, and well on its way to being hard. Tem didn’t bother suppressing the rush of warmth that touched her cheeks at the sight. As soon as Leo was naked, he turned to her expectantly.
There was a beat of silence as they stared at each other. Then Tem slowly untied the laces of her dress. She hadn’t intended to put on a show for Leo, but it was turning into one anyway. To undress in front of Leo was a pleasure-a gift Tem had been robbed of ever since their wedding. She hadn’t thought she would get to do this again for him. She’d only been naked for him once since then-in the library, with the letter opener. But that had been feverish and rushed. Desperate. Now she moved slowly, letting him see every inch of her. She wore no underclothing-there was no use for it under the mountain, and she didn’t own any now. Tem held his eyes as she let her dress fall to the ground. There was nowhere to hide-absolutely no mistaking the tight breath that Leo sucked between his teeth the moment she was fully naked before him.
“Tem…”
“Leo,” she warned. “Don’t say a word.”
“And why not?”
“Because I don’t want to hear it.”
“Hear what? How much I want to fuck you?”
“Leo.”
“I’m a man, Tem. And you’re naked. You can’t expect me not to look.”
It felt like the conversation with Apollo all over again. He hadn’t been able to look away either. “I need you to keep it together, Leo.”
“I was keeping it together perfectly fine until you took your clothes off.”
“I had to. It’s customary.”
“Some custom.”
“Leo,” she said again. They faced each other, the flickering firelight the only thing between them.
“Tem.”
It was agony to be this close to Leo and unable to kiss him. Tem studied the angles of his face. They’d become sharper lately-most likely an effect of the crest. Or perhaps he was just getting older and the strain of responsibility was turning him gaunt.
Still. This was Leo.
His body was familiar to her-a body she had seen naked before and didn’t think she’d ever see naked again. Tem remembered exactly how he felt inside her, how hard he’d become when she rode him.