Chapter Twenty-Eight #2
Tem shook her head. She’d had just about enough of these infernal basilisk traditions.
Could they not do anything normally? Everything was a ceremony or a tradition or a special process that required a thousand impossible steps.
Everything was complicated and impossible.
Tem was tired of the course of her life being determined by a group decision.
If she couldn’t decide who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, then what was the point of living at all?
Perhaps death was preferable to such a lack of control.
“This is ridiculous. I don’t want any part of it.”
“You feel that way now,” Adelaide said gently. “But you may find that the basilisk side of you demands to join.”
“What happens if I refuse to participate?”
“It would be unheard of,” Adelaide admitted. “But it will not matter whether you choose to participate. The tournament will go on.”
“How?”
“The tournament is an avenue for your heart to make its choice. If you choose not to participate, the choice will be made for you.”
Tem wrinkled her nose. “And how, exactly, will it be made for me?”
“The twelve contenders would all fight for you,” Caspen said quietly. “To the death.”
***
The next few days passed in a blur.
Mating season was over, but that did not mean it was quiet underneath the mountain.
Buzz about the tournament spread quickly; Tem couldn’t go more than a hundred feet in any direction without hearing someone whisper about her or Rowe, or both.
Much to her surprise, the general consensus seemed to be excitement.
Tem supposed she could understand that; anyone not in her position would have quite the show to watch in the coming weeks.
But for Tem, this was the worst thing that could be happening.
The tournament would determine who had her heart—something Tem herself did not know. And she was not ready to find out.
As if the tournament was not enough to worry about, Tem dreaded the next Sunday-night dinner.
She found herself intermittently flexing her fingers, the pain from the wires still fresh in her mind.
Tem had no idea whether the blood she’d given was enough to properly feed the villagers, but there had been no news from Gabriel, and hopefully that meant that, for the time being, it was.
Caspen was gone all the time now.
For some reason, Tem thought he might remain by her side now that the tournament loomed before them.
They hadn’t been able to touch each other since their marriage was contested, which meant they hadn’t had sex either.
Instead, Caspen was constantly out hunting, whether to keep up his strength or simply avoid his circumstances, she did not know.
Perhaps it was too painful for him to be near her and not touch her.
But it was painful for Tem too, and she was in no mood to be alone.
By the time Saturday night came around, she was sick and tired of being lonely.
Tem groped for him with her mind, pressing against his presence as soon as she found him.
Caspen.
Tem.
Come home.
I am hunting.
But I miss you.
I miss you too. But I am also hungry.
She sent him a vision of them together: his head between her legs, his mouth on her center, showing him what he could eat instead. Equal parts arousal and agony swept through Caspen. Tem knew he wouldn’t be able to touch her. But she wanted him anyway.
Come home.
His presence grew in her mind, tightening around the base of her neck. And what will you do if I come home?
Anything. Tell me.
Anything?
Yes.
I want you in our bed by the time I return.
What else?
I want you on your back with your legs open.
And then?
I want you soaking wet and ready to come. Can you do that for me, Tem?
Tem blushed so hard, it became difficult to concentrate. She could do that for him. And she would like it. So she said, Yes.
She lay on her back, just as he’d asked. She was wet already, and the moment air hit her center, she became even wetter.
Touch yourself.
Tem did so.
She dipped easily into her wetness, playing first with her clitoris before slipping her fingers deep inside.
Tem concentrated on how it felt, focusing on the slick sensation, imagining Caspen was doing it instead.
It was hard to believe she’d spent so many years doing this alone in her bedroom, and now she was doing it in the chambers she shared with her husband.
Tem had spent so many nights in this bed, all of them with Caspen inside her.
She thought about those nights, the way they’d moved seamlessly, crashing into orgasm again and again, together.
Not a day had passed under the mountain when they hadn’t had sex, and Tem hated that the days were passing in the opposite way now.
She needed Caspen like she needed air. She needed his body and his cock and his hands all over her.
Nothing she did to herself would ever compare.
Deeper, Tem.
Tem went deeper. He was almost back; she could feel his presence growing in her mind as he got closer and closer. Just when Tem couldn’t bear it any longer, Caspen walked in.
Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him.
His shoulders were dappled with rain, dripping down his torso and tracing the ridges of his abdomen.
Tem wished she could lick it off him. Just the sight of him was enough to bring her to the brink.
His eyes were solid black, any trace of gold completely gone.
If the circumstances were different, he would fuck her—he would fill her.
But not this time. This time he crossed to the bed, grabbed his cock, and began to stroke.
It felt like their first time in the cave together—when Caspen had touched himself to the sight of her and Tem had done the same.
So much had happened since then. Tem had grown immeasurably, and so had Caspen.
They were married now, and they were bound together by blood.
Now, when Tem looked up at the man she loved, she saw everything she’d had a thousand times before and she only wanted it more.
Caspen was a king, and Tem his eager subject.
It was an honor to witness such majesty.
Look at you, doing as you are told.
Tem bit her lip. She would do anything for him.
So good. So beautiful.
She would be beautiful for him.
Both hands, Tem.
Tem used both hands, opening herself for Caspen, making sure he saw everything he deserved to touch. She wished dearly that this could end in sex. But if this was the only way she could have him, they would have to make it worth it.
Deeper.
She went even deeper.
Caspen’s cock was hard in his hand, unyielding in its rigidity. Tem would never get used to making him this way. It was a privilege and an honor she couldn’t comprehend, and she only hoped she was worthy of it.
Faster, Tem.
Tem went faster.
Again. Just like that.
She was desperate now. Desperate for him.
Again.
His commands were militant. Ruthless. But Tem didn’t care. She wanted it this way, wanted Caspen to feel in control. She wanted to give him this, since she was unable to give him anything else. It was her pleasure to obey.
Do not come until I tell you to.
Now that would be difficult. Tem wasn’t used to timing her climax and certainly not when she wanted it so badly. She immediately held her breath, somehow hoping that might help her resist. But nothing could stop the wave that built insistently in her core, pushing her toward inevitability.
Please, Caspen.
Not yet.
Please.
No. Behave.
Tem writhed on the bed. It was agony to deny herself this.
But she wanted to do as Caspen said; she wanted to behave.
Before Tem could release her breath, Caspen was upon her.
His knees pushed the mattress down on either side of her.
He leaned down, positioning his face right above hers so they were looking each other dead in the eye as he growled.
Tem heard the hunger in that growl, felt his lust for her in her very bones.
She kept her eyes wide open as he straightened, shifting forward and holding his cock by its base.
Open your mouth.
Tem did so, like she had so many times before.
One stroke. That was all it took for Caspen’s cum to pour onto her waiting tongue, slipping down the back of her throat. Tem swallowed, but Caspen wasn’t done. He leaned back, flicking his cock across her neck and letting the rest of his release splatter onto her skin.
Now.
Sweet relief coursed through Tem. It took just one caress of her clitoris to take her straight into orgasm.
She rode the wave gratefully, savoring the pure ecstasy that accompanied release.
Caspen watched her proudly, his body still towering above hers.
Tem knew he needed this, needed to see her submit. And she was happy to do so.
It was horrible not being able to touch him, and she knew it was even worse for him to resist her.
But this was all they could do for now—all Tem could give him was a show.
And that’s what she did, sliding her hand once more between her legs.
The other she raised to her mouth, licking her own wetness from her fingers.
Caspen stroked his cock as she did it, making himself immediately hard again.
It took everything in Tem not to sit up and take him into her mouth.
Instead, she said, I wish I could taste you.
And I you.
I want you all the way down my throat.
His hand moved faster.
So did hers.
I want that too.
When you win the tournament, what’s the first thing you’re going to do to me?
Caspen’s mouth twitched. Touch you.
And then?
Fuck you.