Chapter Thirty-One #3
Apollo smiled. What shape do you wish to make it?
Tem blinked. What other shapes are there?
Apollo shrugged. You can make them in any shape you choose. The one you wear was made for your cunt. But there are other places they can be worn.
Tem stared at him. What other places?
A beat passed. Then Apollo lifted her slightly off his cock so his hand could go between her legs.
But instead of touching her center, he went farther back.
When his fingers found what they were looking for, Tem immediately blushed.
Here. Apollo was touching the part of her she never thought could be used for pleasure.
He brushed around it gently before inserting just the tip of his finger and saying, Some prefer to be penetrated here.
Tem couldn’t imagine that. The tip of Apollo’s finger was already substantial—Tem couldn’t fathom anything larger possibly fitting inside. The thought scared her, but also made her curious. Before she could talk herself out of it, she asked, Is that what you prefer?
Apollo smirked. Sometimes. If you wish to experience it, I am at your disposal.
Tem did not wish to experience that. At least not with Apollo. She pushed his hand away. I don’t want you doing that to me.
Who said I would be doing it to you?
What do you mean?
Without warning, Apollo sent her a vision: him on all fours, Tem behind him.
There was something between her legs. A cock—made from the same essence as the claw—held in place by a strap.
The vision had no sound, but Tem saw Apollo moan as she entered him.
It was like nothing Tem had ever seen before.
She should tell Apollo to stop. But the vision was too tempting.
Too delicious. Seeing Apollo like that, on his knees, vulnerable and at her mercy…
it made her feral. Something inside her blossomed at the sight.
Something inside her needed more. In the vision, Apollo was close. He was about to come.
Tem wrenched her mind away from his. “Stop,” she said out loud. “Don’t show me any more.”
Apollo’s mouth went wide with amusement. “Why? You are aroused by it.”
It was true. “That doesn’t mean I want to see it.”
They stared at each other in the darkness, and not for the first time, Tem understood that she was wildly out of her depth.
Apollo was something else entirely, something she hadn’t bargained for.
It would be so easy to throw herself off the edge with him.
To fall. She had to steer herself away from the temptation.
“I don’t want to make one in that shape.”
“You can make it in any shape, Temperance.”
Apollo reached once more between her legs. Only this time, he gathered her wetness in his hand, taking it from her center and the inside of her thighs. Tem watched as her essence solidified, forming the familiar shape. Apollo held the claw out, offering it to her. She shook her head.
I have one of those already.
It is not unheard of to have two.
What would I do with two?
Wear them.
At the same time?
Yes.
Tem blushed. She was used to having Caspen’s claw inside her—she couldn’t imagine having another beside it, couldn’t imagine being filled like that. At the thought, a wave of heat came from Apollo’s mind. Clearly he could imagine it. Tem shook her head.
I don’t need another one.
If you ever change your mind, you need only ask.
That would never happen. But she would let him dream.
Tem watched as the claw disappeared before her eyes. They both stared at his empty palm.
If you do not need another, you could make one for me, if you wish.
That was certainly intriguing to Tem. But the shape of the claw inside her made no sense for Apollo. What form would it take?
Apollo took her hand and wrapped her fingers around the base of his cock. It would be a ring, to be placed here.
His cock was already covered in her cum. Tem tightened her grip, sliding her fingers down his shaft to gather what she could in her hand. Apollo watched her as she did it, waiting until her palm was full before saying, Focus on the shape you wish to make.
Tem closed her eyes. Apollo gave no further instructions, but she found she didn’t need them.
She knew exactly what to do, and the moment she set her mind to it, the object began to form.
The sensation was similar to how she’d felt when she made the golden claw necklace for Caspen—the same tingle below her freckles, spreading from the base of her fingers, the same sense that she was creating something new.
Good, Temperance. You are a natural.
Tem took the compliment with a smile. Nothing about basilisk culture came naturally to her; she actively felt like a failure every single day.
But this, at least, she was good at. She opened her eyes and looked down to see the object fully formed.
It was an astonishing thing: a gleaming, opaque ring resting in the middle of her palm.
Tem lifted it so that it caught the dim light of the grotto.
She turned it slowly, watching it shimmer as if it had its own light source.
Tem got the feeling that even if the cave were pitch dark, it would glow.
Her gaze fell to Apollo. His eyes were wide, staring at the ring in awe, its glint reflected endlessly in his pupils.
Tem had never seen him so eager—not even earlier, when she’d been on her knees before him.
Was this how Caspen had felt when he’d made the claw for her?
Tem remembered how he’d looked when she’d inserted it for the first time.
It wasn’t unlike the way Apollo was looking now: eager to the point of voracity.
She shifted closer.
The moment she did so, Apollo’s breath hitched.
Tem felt a thrill of anticipation as she placed the ring around the head of his cock and slid it slowly up his shaft.
It was a perfect fit, just as she knew it would be.
Sharp possessiveness coursed through her as Apollo let out a low, euphoric groan.
His pleasure was evident: his already-hard cock hardened even further, straining against the confines of the ring.
Tem flushed at the sight. She wasn’t even doing anything yet, and he was already at her mercy.
You can make it tighter, if you wish.
Is that what you want me to do?
Apollo didn’t answer. Now he was the one resisting. But Tem wouldn’t let him get away with it. Why should she be the only vulnerable one? Why should Tem bare herself to Apollo when he refused to do the same for her?
An infinitesimal amount of power shifted back to Tem as she said, Tell me to.
A muscle twitched in Apollo’s jaw. Make it tighter, Temperance.
She made it tighter.
It wasn’t difficult to do; all it took was a simple intention in her mind and Tem watched as the ring drew taut around the base of his cock. Apollo’s hands gripped her hips so hard that it hurt.
Why not take it one step further?
Tem knew there was one more thing she could do to push him over the edge.
She concentrated on the ring, focusing on her connection to it before sending Apollo a pulse just like the ones Caspen sent her.
Apollo’s reaction was immediate. A shudder passed through him, and he groaned. Where did you learn to do that?
Caspen taught me.
Kora.
Almost against his will, Apollo leaned forward and kissed her neck. The moment he made contact, Tem bit her lip in order to hold back a moan. Immediately, he berated her.
Stop that.
Stop what?
Hiding your pleasure.
But it was her instinct to hide from Apollo. She didn’t want him to see her pleasure. Perhaps she thought he didn’t deserve to see her that way—or perhaps she was embarrassed, somehow, that he was capable of calling such pleasure forth. Whatever the reason, Tem hid from him.
I can’t help it.
Yes, you can. You are resisting me.
That, at least, was true. Tem was resisting him, although resistance was rapidly proving futile.
Let me take care of you.
Tem couldn’t imagine Apollo taking care of her in any way, shape, or form. I doubt you’re capable of that.
I assure you, I am.
Still, she resisted.
Your reservation is endearing.
And your arrogance is infuriating.
Do not pretend you do not like it.
I don’t like it. She could barely think the words, the lie giving her discomfort.
Lying is a sin, Temperance.
Don’t talk to me about sins.
Would you rather I perform them instead?
The answer was yes, of course. But she didn’t dare say it.
Apollo’s hand reached for Tem’s. Out of instinct, she jerked away, and he raised his eyebrows in concern.
Tem hadn’t meant to do that—it was simply her natural reaction to someone trying to grab her.
She couldn’t even justify it; they’d just obliterated every barrier between them, and she had nothing more to hide.
But for some reason, it felt like what they were about to do was more intimate than what they’d just done, like they were about to cross an unspoken line.
Tem wasn’t sure if she was truly ready for that.
Apollo didn’t say a word—didn’t try to coerce her.
Instead, he leaned in slowly and pressed a single, tender kiss to her cheek.
At the gesture, something inside Tem unwound.
It was a reminder: Apollo was telling her that she was safe with him.
It was a sentiment she knew but had trouble believing.
His lips skimmed gently along her jaw and down her neck.
Tem could feel his mind, open and unguarded, filled with attentive care.
She wondered briefly if it was all for show.
Did Apollo only lower his defenses when he wanted something from her?
Tem decided it didn’t matter. He had earned her trust tonight.
Then his lips were on hers.