Chapter 16 #2
How the fuck was I supposed to check her food if I didn’t carry her tray, pick her sides, and do everything short of prepare her dinner myself?
Thankfully—because I was dangerously close to going full caveman, boinking her on the head, and locking her in our room—a simple topaz around her neck would be enough to warn her of any nearby poisons.
“I can’t accept that.” She shook her head and leaned away into the armrest of the couch. “It’s too expensive, Kaiden.”
“Kai,” I corrected. “As your boyfriend, it would be weird if you didn’t call me Kai.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Fake boyfriend.”
I shrugged. Our budding bond was certainly real, and that was enough. For now.
“Unless you’ve changed your mind on how we’re playing this, you’re going to have to let go of that specific chip on your shoulder, princess.
” I held the necklace up. The fiery crystal contained more orange and red than yellow, a perfect reflection of my bond’s temperament.
“It serves a practical purpose,” I told her and scooched close enough to reach out and brush her curls off her shoulder.
“And it's non-negotiable if you want to leave this apartment.”
She huffed but finally relented. I hid my smug smile as she turned, giving me her back and lifting her hair enough for me to loop the chain around her neck. The crystal was tiny, small enough to rest comfortably in the hollow of her throat. As such, the chain was just as delicate.
“The stone will change color if any poisons are present in your food or drink.” My fingers grazed the sensitive skin on her neck as I made sure the chain remained untangled before I clasped it.
Eryn’s hands lay restless in her lap as if she struggled with controlling the urge to reach back and secure it herself.
I enjoyed the brief contact it allowed us and took my time.
Tiny strands of hair tangled at the back of her neck, and I blew a gentle stream of air to clear them.
Her skin pebbled under the cool onslaught, and she shifted in her seat.
“How will I know there’s poison if I can’t see the stone?” she asked, her nerves carefully concealed.
“It will warm against your skin. Trust me, it will be obvious.” As an heir, I had a topaz on me at all times and was intimately familiar with its warning.
Once the necklace was secure, I moved back so she’d have space to turn around.
I casually grabbed the remote from the coffee table and started a random streaming app.
Eryn settled into the seat beside me, easily falling into the routine we established a few nights ago.
We took turns choosing a movie, usually a favorite or one the other had yet to see. No genre was off-limits.
Tonight, I’d chosen something simple that didn’t require much focus to follow along: one of the many Fast and Furious installments.
It had enough action to be entertaining and worked with my alternate plan for the night.
Touch. I was slowly getting her used to mine.
Looping my arm behind her, on the back of the couch, I pressed play.
We hadn’t even gotten past the obligatory car chase in the intro before she tried to subtly inch away. My hand came down on her shoulder, stopping her progress.
“We won’t convince the world we’re a couple if you try to escape every time I touch you.”
She was a frozen statue. Caught. “I don’t.”
“Really, princess?” I snorted. “There’s an ocean between us.”
She swallowed, her gaze darting down to the length of couch that could be seen between her leg and mine. Then, with a stubborn glare, she practically threw herself across the seat.
“There.” Pride filtered down the bond, along with some anticipation.
I smiled at the challenge and closed the distance the rest of the way, pressing my leg against her bare thigh.
Her breath hitched, but I turned back to the movie as if all the points our bodies touched weren't slowly driving me mad.
My hand on her shoulder, her arm tucked into my side, and our legs pressed against one another.
None of that was even sexual. But fuck, if only I could convince my dick of that.
It was a colossal effort to keep him contained, and still, he swelled. Thirty minutes of tense silence, and a truck going up in flames on the screen, and I decided to increase our torture.
“Hold my hand,” I demanded, offering said appendage on my knee, palm up.
A little crease appeared between her brows as she stared at it. “Isn’t this enough?”
Ouch. I pushed the sting of her rejection down and buried it under a dwindling layer of confidence.
“You need to get used to the small things,” I explained and gently pried one of her clenched fists from her lap. “This is dating 101.”
Threading my fingers through hers, I brought our joined hands back to rest on my leg.
Every few seconds, I’d rub my thumb over the soft skin of her wrist. It took half the movie, but we finally fell into sync.
She melted against me, no longer tense and straight.
Her hand didn’t grip with misplaced nerves but sat loosely within mine.
Milestone reached. I was perfectly content spending the rest of the night just like this. My dick finally behaved, and her comfort made it easier to relax. That is, until she opened her mouth and blurted out the last thing I thought I’d hear her suggest.
“Should we practice kissing?”
Four words. It only took four little words to break me down to my most basic thoughts.
She said kissing, and instantly, my dick stood at attention.
There was nothing in my brain but images of her soft lips and memories of how they tasted.
I reached for the remote, taking the precious few seconds to pause the movie and get myself under control.
When I trusted that I wouldn’t pounce on her like an underdeveloped Neanderthal, I turned slightly on the couch. She sat there, as nervous as I’d ever seen her, but completely serious. Her knee bounced as she waited for my answer.
“I’m trying not to be insulted here,” I told her, my tone teasing. “Do you think I need practice?”
“No.” She shook her head. “You were…fine.”
One brow rose. Fine? I was fine? Clearly, she needed another demonstration, and she was asking for one, wasn’t she? I’d show her fine. She closed her eyes and sighed before I could act on my baser instincts. When she looked at me again, her cheeks were tinged pink.
“More than fine,” she amended. “What I meant…Shouldn’t couples as enamored with each other as we’re supposed to be…kiss?”
So that was it. She was still worried that we couldn’t sell the story. It was a fair concern, seeing as simple touches were something we had to work on, but I didn’t like the idea of her wanting to kiss me only to pacify others.
“No one else needs to know a thing besides that we’re together. It’s none of their business.”
“But Rani will know,” she argued, worrying her bottom lip. “There’s no way she’ll accept that I’m living here and that we’re not doing anything. She’s already bugging me for details that I refuse to give her.”
My grin was slow. I bet I knew what kind of details Rani asked for. The only kind that could get my bond to turn that exact shade of red.
“If she thinks I’m lying, I don’t know what she’ll do.”
I grimaced. Ez already had a theory about that based on how fiercely Rani went after him for details when Eryn disappeared.
“Probably tell the dean I kidnapped you or something.” I frowned. “We’ve kissed before, more than once. Do we really need practice or do you just want to take advantage of me?”
Heat flushed through the bond as she broke eye contact. She coughed, trying to clear her throat. “Those kisses quickly spiraled into something else. Something I don’t want to do in front of other people.”
“Not into voyeurism, got it.”
She smacked my arm. “You know what I mean.”
I did. We came together like fire and gasoline, especially when tempers flared. We barely controlled ourselves the few times we kissed, and only because so much was going on at the time. Now? Who knew how far we’d go.
“So, you want to practice kissing but tame it down? Do I have that right?”
One nod. Just that slight sign of permission and I pulled her to me and covered her mouth with my own. A gentle pressure, nothing too demanding. Slow. That was the key to control. My lips brushed hers a couple times, and she sighed, melting into it.
“What’s acceptable?” I asked and trailed fingers up her arm. “Can I touch you here?” My thumb brushed over a nipple on its way to cradle her jaw.
She gasped, and I took it as an invitation. My tongue swept inside her parted lips. Claiming. Dominating. She fought back; her little tongue tried in vain to set the pace but eventually gave in and followed my movements. I broke the kiss before her gentle submission broke all my restraints.
“What about here?” I nibbled on her neck while one hand snaked around to grab her ass.
I flexed my hand, kneading the firm flesh and hoping my touch left a mark.
That ass was mine. With a growl, I pulled her closer, practically onto my lap, and bit down to hold her still when she squirmed.
She straddled one of my legs, panting and wiggling as I marked her neck.
I let the delicate skin free with a small pop.
“Heavy petting isn’t too scandalous. Right?”
Her mouth crashed into mine, lips demanding my attention once more.
I let her set the pace for a time, enjoying how she came to life under my touch.
Where she ground into my leg was damp and hot, and still, her excitement grew.
Her hips rolled and pressed down, triggering the moan she’d been holding back.
Gods, she was perfect. I could listen to her breathy sounds forever and die a lucky man. Her kiss grew more frantic as she reached for her release. I didn’t want to stop her, but there was a purpose for this. Reluctantly, I backed off, grasping her hips and stilling them.
“That’s our breaking point, I think.” She stared at me, lost in a pleasure-filled daze. “If you start writhing against me like that, we’ll swiftly find ourselves giving a show.”
And what a show it would be. I’d guarantee fireworks. She blinked those emerald eyes, and I stroked my knuckles down her cheek as they slowly cleared. Her blush returned. Embarrassment and lingering arousal flooded her side of the bond, and I found it an oddly satisfying mixture.
“Let me know if you need more practice,” I told her with a smirk. “As for tonight, I think I need a cold shower.” And to take my dick in hand.
I left her on the couch and went to take care of my own release.
Maybe she’d join me, and I could help her finish.
Or maybe she’d take care of herself. Either way, I felt like a winner tonight.
My little bond liked kissing me, even knowing who I was.
There was hope for us yet. I didn’t bother blocking the happiness trying to escape down the bond. Let her feel it.