Chapter 27 #3
My hands shake as I drop them to my skirts, rucking them up and out of the way, spreading my knees wide.
“Two fingers. Inside yourself. Now.”
I hasten to obey, sliding them past my slippery clit with a moan and inside, where the wet, scalding heat of me tenses at the intrusion.
Magic. I’m this close to coming.
North’s hand snatches mine away, bringing my soaked fingers to his lips. His sinful mouth closes around them, sucking. My clit pulses in answer. Stars above…
That should not affect me like it does.
“Please,” I moan as his tongue slips between the digits, stealing more of my taste. “Please, Sir.”
He shakes his head, releasing my fingers. His tongue darts out, chasing the taste of me on his lips.
“I warned you, bratty girl. You’re going to go up to bed dripping and marked with my cum, and if you do anything about it, I’ll know.”
How? He isn’t psychic. Everything south of my navel clenches in rebellion, my thighs snapping shut and rubbing together to try to ease the ache he created.
Who is he to decide what I do in the privacy of my own room?
My pout must clue him in to my intentions, because he releases my braid at last, trailing his hand down to my chin and tugging my face up until I’m forced to rise on my knees.
“Don’t test me again, or I’ll tell the others not to let you come tomorrow either.
And don’t think you’ve won this argument.
I might enjoy a little bit of a challenge, but if you think this shit’s going to fly with Leo?
” He tsks under his breath. “From Lambert’s gossiping, he likes his submissives sweet and obedient.
I don’t think you know the meaning of those words. ”
I get to my feet, suddenly uncomfortable with the imbalance. North isn’t fazed. He simply wraps an arm around my waist and topples me onto his lap.
These arcanists are getting far too comfortable manhandling me. Maybe I ought to add a rule about it…
Stars only know how I’d explain that one to the other patrons.
“I’m not oblivious to the fact that I’m unlikely to share chemistry with all six of you,” I retort, stiffness returning to my tone. “I just wanted to try.”
North’s thumb strokes up and down the side of my hip, lulling away the defensiveness with his unexpected touch.
He only ticked the box for a sexual relationship, but this feels a little too much like more than that. Still, I hold my tongue. I don’t think I’ll ever object to more touch from him—or any of them.
I’m shamelessly addicted to intimacy after centuries spent in the cold.
“I don’t think you’ll struggle to find a spark,” he corrects, his other hand tugging my blouse back up and around my shoulders. “You’re just prickly because you’re not used to putting your trust in others—especially men.”
Because it was a man who tricked me into the Arcanaeum. A man who stabbed me. An heir.
An Ackland.
Perhaps he’s right.
I swallow, not enjoying the disquieted tumble deep in my gut.
Was I testing him? Provoking him seemed fun at the time, but deep down, was I looking for him to snap? To lash out or betray me like Edmund did?
North’s knowing look strips me to the bone, and he leans forward to press a small kiss to my temple.
“You can brat for me any time, Ice Queen. I can handle it.” His hand winds around my hip, moving my skirt aside so his fingers can trace the seam of my sex. “And maybe I was wrong. Maybe you’ll make a passable submissive, with a little training.”
It’s the worst kind of tease. Too light to send me over the edge, but enough to keep the flames of my arousal simmering. It distracts me from his almost-compliment so badly that I can’t gather my wits to reply.
“Answer me honestly,” he says after a pause. “Did you enjoy that?”
I meet his probing stare with one raised brow. “Yes. Does that surprise you?”
The fullness of his lower lip disappears as he bites it while he thinks, and his touch moves to my lower back, thumb tracing circles there. “You don’t tolerate disrespect from anyone.”
That touch is anchoring me, and when combined with the sense of being surrounded by him, it turns my blood to honey in my veins.
“I appear to be making a lot of exceptions for you and the others. What’s one more?” I pause. “Only for this, though. Never—”
“No. Only for this, and never in front of anyone else.” His agreement is fast and soft, and it’s the final piece of reassurance I need to relax fully against him.
We stay like that for a heartbeat longer, and his smile is gentler, missing some of its usual arrogance, when he releases me. “Get some sleep and try not to think too hard. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“You need rest, too.” I get to my feet and hold out my hand as a peace offering. He surprises us both when he takes it and stands, zipping up his fly.
One look, and I know that the soft, concerned version of North I just saw is hidden away again.
He confirms it when he says, “Fine. But don’t get any ideas. I’m just making sure you don’t try to dodge your punishment.”
“It’s not punishment,” I growl. “It’s torture.”
“I disagree.” He holds the door for me like a gentleman, then slaps my ass as I walk through it. Neanderthal. “It’s going to be fun watching you squirm yourself to sleep and unleashing a grumpy, frustrated Librarian on those parriarch bastards in the morning.”
Why, that conniving…scheming…asshole!