Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
She doesn’t give me time to think too hard. She kisses me. I thought the lead-up to getting into bed was a seduction. I’m a fool. This kiss is a thousand times more seductive. It starts off slow and almost tentative, a leisurely exploration of my lips. Then she teases my mouth open and kisses me.
I don’t mean to move. One moment I’m gripping their biceps, and the next my hands are in their short hair and I’m trying to wrap one leg around their hips. Rusalka tenses their hand, keeping my hips pinned to the bed despite my writhing. It creates the tiniest distance between us. Too much. I hate it.
I break the kiss enough to gasp, “More.”
18
RUSALKA
Belladonna takes to desire as if she were one of mine—born to it. She kisses me eagerly, her body already rising to meet mine. I slowly ease the kiss, pause to nip her bottom lip, and raise my head. “I have a question, and I want you to answer it honestly.”
She blinks. “Okay.”
“I’m going to spend the night worshipping your body with my mouth and fingers.” My hands actually shake where I grip her hip. I don’t try to fight the response. She deserves to know exactly how intensely she affects me.
“That . . . wasn’t a question.”
I laugh softly. “No, it wasn’t. And it’s actually two questions.” I slide my thigh between hers. “Are you going to be a good girl and take your pleasure . . . or do I have to tie you down?”
Her eyes get wide. Her mouth works, but no sound comes out. I wait, giving her time to process . . . but not too much time. Thankfully, she manages to win whatever internal battle my words brought forth within a few beats. “Tie me down.” The words come out in a rush. “Tie me down so I can’t stop you.”
I shake my head. “You can stop me, with a single word.” I enjoy games of protest when the mood strikes, but games have rules that must be abided by, and there’s no way we’re going there the first time I have her properly in her bed. Not when we haven’t had a clearheaded negotiation ahead of time. “If you want to pretend I’m forcing you, that’s something we can discuss—another night.”
Belladonna sucks in a breath. “I don’t . . .” She shakes her head. “I don’t think I want that. That’s not what I meant.” I wait as she shifts beneath me, obviously uncomfortable with this frank discussion, but I’m not about to let her off the hook. Finally, she closes her eyes. “I meant that, even now, their voices are in the back of my mind, screaming that this is a sin. You tying me down isn’t forcing me to do anything, and I don’t want it to be. But it sounds like peace, and I want that.”
That, I understand. Zhenya loves bondage. It’s the only time ze calms down and goes all sleepy in a sexy sort of way. Still, I want to negotiate this carefully. No normal ropes will do for Belladonna. Not tonight. “If you like this, we’ll try something more challenging to get out of another time. Put your hands over your head.”
Belladonna tenses as if she’ll argue with me, but she finally obeys, sliding her arms over her head. Her fingertips barely brush the headboard. I concentrate, drawing my fire and arranging it around her wrists. She gasps, and I glance down at her face. “Does it hurt?”
“No.” She wiggles her fingers. “No, it’s just warm pressure. It feels good.”
Perfect. “You can break this binding easily. Lift your hands.”
She obeys, hissing out a breath when her wrists easily slide through the flames. Not bondage, not properly, but a mindfuck that I think we’re both going to get off on. I slide my hands over her arms, urging them back into place. “You’re not really being held down. But you’re not going to break these bonds, are you, little one? You’re going to be good and obedient and accept the pleasure I give you.”
“Y-yes.” She licks her lips and squirms. “You said two questions.”
Eager little thing. I love it. “I did, didn’t I?” I form more flames around my fingers. “I said I would please you with my tongue and fingers, but I have an additional way if you’re interested and willing.”
“Yes.”
That draws a light laugh from me. “I haven’t even told you what it is.”
“It’s you. Everything you do feels good to me.” She holds my gaze. “Yes, Rusalka.”
Her trust humbles me in a way that makes my throat threaten to close. I could press forward with these negotiations, but she’s just as impatient as I am to move forward. I shift back to kneel between her thighs. The robe is oversized and only offers little slices of skin to entice—the grace of her wrists, the soft curve of the top of one breast, her pretty knees.