Filed To Story: Between Two Kings: A Split or Swallow Book PDF Free
She sighed. She knew he was right. They were attempting to break a centuries-old pattern of strife between their kingdoms. It was necessary work. But the thought of sitting so closely with him and Evelyn was abhorrent. She didn’t want to see them together, didn’t want to observe how Leo looked at her the way he used to look at Tem. That was a special kind of torture-one that not even Tem deserved. When she didn’t answer, Leo leaned in.
“There will be excellent food,” he said quietly. “And ample dessert.”
The smallest of smiles broke her face. The memory of feeding him the chocolate souffl? in front of his father sprang immediately to mind. “In that case, we’ll be there.”
Pure joy flitted across his face, so quickly Tem almost missed it. A moment later, it disappeared, smoothed over by a careful mask of indifference.
Leo nodded. “Very well,” he said. “I shall send a carriage.”
Tem nodded too. It was all she could do.
There was a silence as they looked at each other, and Tem remembered all the conversations they’d had in this very foyer. The one after their first date:
“I’m not going to kiss you. Instead I’m going to picture everything I want to do to you without that dress on. And I’m going to pretend that someday you’ll let me do it.”
The one where she’d asked for his trust before taking him down to the dungeon:
“You can’t tell him I’m showing you this.”
“I will not tell him. You have my word.”
Tem would take either of those conversations over the one they were having now. She no longer wanted to be in this castle-it hurt her to stand here among all the gold. But there was one more thing she needed to ask him.
She held out the hand with her wedding ring. “Do you want this back?”
Leo’s eyes flicked to her fingers-to the slim silver band that had belonged to his mother. Tem expected him to answer immediately, but he didn’t. Instead, he stared at her raised hand, his jaw tight, his own hands behind his back. Then, he said simply, “No.”
Then he turned and left her.
Tem stood in shock as Leo ascended the steps to where she knew his bedroom was. Was Evelyn waiting for him? She wanted to vomit at the thought. How different this interaction had been from her previous nights at the castle, during the competition to see who would be his bride. Back then, Leo had constantly pursued her, his sole goal to marry her. Now that marriage was annulled.
Tem looked down at the marble floors, staring blankly at the tiles laced with gold. The whole castle felt poisonous to her now, as if the walls themselves were trying to strangle her. She should leave. But somehow, standing here, she still felt close to Leo. She wished she could run up those stairs after him. It didn’t matter that Evelyn was there-it didn’t matter that there were a hundred reasons why she shouldn’t. Tem wanted to fall into Leo’s arms and never leave him again. But she couldn’t do that.
She may have won the competition for Leo’s hand in marriage, but she’d barely had any time as his wife. None at all, really. It would have been a good marriage, of that much she was sure. Leo would have taken care of her, ensured she never wanted for anything.
And yet.
A life in the castle with Leo would have been a life without Caspen. A life without the addictive rush of danger and lust that only a basilisk could provide. Tem remembered the heat from the dream the night before she went into the caves for the first time. Caspen’s heat. She didn’t know much, but she knew she would die without that heat. Tem had duties now-obligations and promises to people other than herself. She belonged to Caspen and her quiver and every single basilisk beneath the mountain. She was their queen. She would not let them down; she would not let it all fall apart. Even if it meant missing Leo-even if it meant feeling incomplete every day for the rest of her life. Her future was decided.
It was time to return to her husband.
The ride back to the mountain was long and cold, but Tem barely felt it.
When she finally returned to their chambers, Caspen was in their bed. He sat up immediately when she entered. “How did it go?”
In reply, she kissed him.
She was desperate, somehow, as if she needed to prove to herself that what she had with Caspen was enough. And of course it was. It was as easy as breathing with him. His hands slipped to her waist, ripping off her robe before pulling her on top of him. But instead of setting her on his cock, his hands gripped her thighs, guiding her so she was straddling his face, his mouth between her legs.
Tem gasped as his tongue found her center.
They’d never done it like this before-him on his back, her thighs clamped over his shoulders, bracketing his jaw. His tongue was on her clitoris, teasing it before he gave it the gentle pressure of his teeth. Tem had no idea how Caspen didn’t suffocate beneath her. Every time she tried to lift herself, he yanked her right back down, his fingers digging deep into her hips as he held her against him. His moans were guttural; he drew just as much pleasure from this as she did. Tem couldn’t believe the ferocity with which he devoured her, as if he were tasting her for the very first time.
His head tilted back, coaxing her forward. Tem angled herself so there was no more space between them-nothing stopping the orgasm that bore down on her like an avalanche. Undeniable power surged through Tem as she rode his face the same way she rode his cock, knowing that as soon as she was done, she would ride that too. Her fingers threaded into his hair, holding him against her, seeking salvation.
Come for me, Tem. Come on my tongue.
Gone were the days when such a plea would have scared her. Now Tem knew there was nothing Caspen wanted more than to taste the part of her she never imagined could bring another person pleasure. Now she knew he needed that part of her just as she needed every part of him.
His hands squeezed her ass hard. Tem was losing her mind on top of him. The very last of her inhibitions abandoned her as she threw her head back in surrender, allowing him to take her where she so dearly needed to go. Caspen didn’t relinquish his grip as her climax spread. Instead his fingers tightened on her ass, holding her against him as he drank down every last drop of her. When at last he pulled away, he trailed his tongue over her clitoris. Tem was so sensitive that she gasped, then leaned down to kiss him, tasting herself on his lips.
Now turn around.
Tem did so without question. Caspen moved behind her, centering himself between her legs and pushing them open with his thighs. Strong hands grasped her, lifting her hips and exposing her even further. Then he gave her is cock.
Caspen was less gentle than he used to be. And Tem liked it.
Every thrust was merciless, filling her completely. She was split open-a raw nerve. Smoke twisted in her hair, pulling it back and arching her neck. A hiss filled the cave as Tem cried out shamelessly, her moans an endless intonation of pleasure just for Caspen.
It was simple like this. It was right. Caspen took what he wanted from her and gave her what she wanted in return. There was no explanation, no rationalization. They were beyond words, and Tem had never been so happy to be speechless. The sound of his cock sliding in and out of her was the only thing she cared to listen to. The feel of his breath on her back was the only thing she cared to feel. She wanted only to give and take and be enraptured as she deserved.
Beautiful, Tem. So beautiful.
Tem barely heard him. The air was unbearably warm; sweat coated her chest.
Look what happens when you do as I say.
He showed her with every thrust. It was her reward-the prize she won for compliance. But she wouldn’t let him take charge that easily. It was her turn now.
Tem pulled suddenly forward, sliding herself up his cock so he was barely inside her. She moved her hips tentatively, testing the distance. When she was nearly empty, she paused. Caspen gasped as she slid herself back down his cock, taking all of him in one go. Tem held still, snug at the base, before moving again.
Up. Down. Then back up again.
She went slowly- so slowly-to make sure he would see it. The visual would be incomparable for Caspen. Tem knew from his presence in her mind that he was captivated by this, watching every single inch of his cock disappear into her before coming back out again. She arched her back, accentuating the angle, working herself all the way up to the tip.
She stayed there-just on the head-using tightly controlled movements until she knew she was dripping all over him. With a strained groan, Caspen yanked her all the way down his cock and held her there.
Enough.
Tem smirked. She’d won their little exchange, and she knew it. If Caspen thought he was in control, he was wrong. Tem had always been able to push him to his limits, to force him to recognize her power. That would not change no matter how many orders he gave her.
For a moment, they were both still. The air was sweltering; smoke swirled along the edges of her vision. Caspen slid his palms slowly over her hips and up her back, squeezing the curve of her waist until he reached her breasts. Then he squeezed those too. His fingers twisted in her hair, pushing her into the mattress. His body pressed against her with immovable weight. Just when it became too much, he pulled them both upright so she was on his lap, her back against his chest. Tem turned her head to look into his black eyes. Scales were crawling steadily up his neck, turning his skin to armor. Then he began to thrust.
They were building toward it now, each of their bodies acting of their own accord. Tem moved her hips to match his rhythm, taking his cock as deep as she could while his fingers found her clitoris. The combination of sensations took her straight to the edge. But just before she came, Tem did something she’d never done before.
In her moment of climax, she shielded her mind from Caspen, closing herself off so they were no longer connected. Tem wasn’t even sure why she did it-pure instinct, pure intuition. If Caspen noticed, he didn’t say anything. Possibly because he was too busy having an orgasm.
As soon as he pulled out, she pulled him back in.
“Again,” Tem said.
It was never enough.
She had him over and over until they were both soaked with sweat and out of breath. Tem had once thought that Caspen’s sexual appetite was unmatched. But now hers was just as insatiable, if not more so. The thought of going a night without sex legitimately scared her.
You never have to go without sex, Tem.
He was still inside her.
What do you mean?