Filed To Story: Spit or Swallow: Kiss Of The Basilisk
She stood suddenly still, no longer struggling as Jonathan stepped closer, stroking his cock with one hand.
“Come on then,” he said with a grin. “Show me.”
He was just close enough to make it work.
Without a second’s hesitation, Tem flung her leg up as hard as she could, crushing the hard bone of her knee into the soft tissue of Jonathan’s balls. He screamed, doubling over and falling to the ground. Christopher’s grip on her loosened as he gasped in surprise, and Tem took the opportunity to wrench herself from his hands.
Without thinking, she leaped off the path, heading for the caves. She could think of nowhere else to go. In the other direction was only forest, and she knew she wouldn’t make it all the way home before the boys caught her.
“Hey!” she heard Jonathan yell behind her “Come back, you little slut!”
But Tem was sprinting hard, her breath coming in short gasps as she flung herself through the door in the wall. The second she passed through it, Jonathan’s taunts ceased. Tem didn’t slow down, letting her feet carry her up the slope to the base of the mountain. She barreled straight for the farthest cave, scrambling through the entrance and scraping her palms on the rocks. It was completely dark inside-the fireplace wasn’t lit, and the air was cold. What if he wasn’t here? What if the boys followed her, and now she was cornered? What if-
“Tem?”
Caspen emerged from the shadows. He was wearing a loose linen shirt and trousers, his eyebrows raised in surprise. With a snap of his fingers, the fireplace flared to life.
“What are you doing here?”
“I…” Tem started but didn’t know how to finish. Now that she was here, she realized just how foolish of a plan this was. Caspen owed her nothing. Why should he grant her refuge? She had shown up to his home completely unannounced, while they were on less-than-friendly terms. What if it made him angry?
Caspen stepped closer. “You should not be here,” he said, confirming her worst fears.
Tem nodded desperately. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s just…there were these boys, and they-they-“
But she stopped again, too ashamed to go on. Instead, she took a step back, ready to leave before she made things worse.
“Wait,” Caspen said. His gaze fell to her torn dress, which she was holding together with her hands. He frowned. “What did they do?”
There was genuine concern in his voice. At his tone, she swallowed, trying to calm herself down.
“They…touched me.”
Caspen went completely still. “The way I do?”
“Yes. Well, no, not really.” Tem could feel herself blushing. But she couldn’t seem to stop the words. “They were rough. I…didn’t like it.”
Caspen’s eyes flicked back to her ripped dress. He stepped even closer. “What are their names?”
Tem clamped her lips. Something about the way he asked it made her certain she didn’t want to answer.
“Tem.” His voice was a low, controlled growl. “Answer me.”
“Jonathan…and Christopher. They’re a year older than me. Jonathan…” Tem dropped her voice in shame. “He was the one who touched me. Christopher only helped him.”
Caspen was standing with his fists clenched at his sides.
When he didn’t say anything, Tem mumbled, “I shouldn’t have disturbed you. I should go-“
“No.” Caspen shook his head. “You will stay.”
Tentative relief shot through her.
“Take that off.” Caspen nodded at her dress, which she was still holding together tightly.
Tem hesitated. She didn’t want to be naked right now, especially after what had just happened. She hadn’t come here for one of their lessons; she had come here for comfort. Perhaps she had been foolish to expect the basilisk to provide it. Perhaps he expected payment for his protection.
Before Tem could decide how to respond, Caspen pulled off his shirt. He held it out to her, and she took it cautiously.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. He continued to watch as she let her dress drop to the ground. Before she could put on his shirt, Caspen stepped forward.
“You are hurt,” he said. Tem followed his gaze to her breasts, where Jonathan’s greedy fingers had left several grape-size bruises.
“I’m fine.” She shook her head.
Caspen reached for her, and she jerked away sharply, pulling the shirt up to block him.
Caspen dropped his hands, his eyebrows knitting together. “I only mean to heal you, Tem. Nothing more.”
“Oh,” Tem said. “Sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He paused. “I will do it later if you prefer.”
His voice was soft. Tem wasn’t used to that tone from him. Their relationship had only recently become a reciprocal one, and she didn’t know what to make of the way he was treating her tonight. But she knew one thing: Caspen would never touch her the way Jonathan had.
“You can do it now,” Tem whispered.
She lowered the shirt slowly.
Caspen’s eyes lingered on hers before returning to her chest. He stepped closer, cupping her gently, his hands warm against her breasts. The fire dimmed as a coolness spread from his skin to hers. When he was done, Caspen brushed his thumbs over her nipples, caressing them tenderly, as if his touch could undo Jonathan’s. Tem closed her eyes, savoring the way it felt.
“You should only know pleasure,” Caspen murmured, tracing the curve of her breasts before filling his palms with them. “Never pain.”
“Tell that to Jonathan,” Tem said without thinking. It was the first thing that popped into her mind, and she immediately regretted it.
Caspen’s eyes narrowed. He looked her in the eye, and she saw all the anger in the world there. “I intend to.”
Tem had never heard such fury in his voice before. “I…don’t want anyone to get hurt,” she whispered.
Caspen smiled coldly, dropping his hands. “We cannot always get what we want, Tem.”
He turned away, and she was left there, shivering. She pulled his shirt on quickly. It smelled of smoke. When she was covered, Caspen beckoned to her.
“Come.”
“Where are we going?” Tem asked.
“To my chambers.”
“Oh,” Tem said. She’d always figured Caspen spent his nights curled up in the cave, nestled among the stones while wearing his true form.
“Follow me.” Caspen nodded at a passageway nearly invisible in the shadows. “And keep your eyes down.”
The temperature rose significantly as they left the dim light of the cave. Caspen’s shoulders were broad in the dark, and Tem stayed close behind him as they wound through a stone tunnel, passing doorway after doorway. Tem realized suddenly why Caspen had told her to keep her eyes down. If a basilisk wearing its true form emerged and looked her in the eye, she would die.
There was no light in the tunnel, and Tem found herself tripping over the rough stone floor. At one point, she lost her balance, and Caspen’s hand darted around her waist, preventing her from falling.
“Steady, Tem,” he said quietly. He kept his arm around her until they reached a door identical to all the others. Caspen pushed it open. “After you,” he said.
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.