Chapter 25 – Sera
Chapter Twenty-Five
SERA
The late morning sunlight almost blinds me as I tip my head back to down Alex’s tonic.
It goes down smoothly despite the grassy flavor.
There is also a honey sweetness that soothes my throat.
I’m not entirely sure I believe Alex has more, and perhaps I’m selfish.
I would give anything to keep the vision of my mother jumping off the tower from replaying in my mind.
My head has been pounding with the conflicting stories bouncing around.
If Alex is right in his assumptions, this tonic should help me process whatever the queen laced the tea with along with her compulsion so I can finally think clearly again.
“I need to lie down,” I whimper, swaying a little in my seat.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
Before I can say anything else, Alex swoops me up and carries me to my bed. His arms are warm and strong, and I hate how small I feel yet also safe, protected. I cannot need him. I cannot want him. It will only end in pain.
Alex lays me on the bed and pulls my leather slippers off. The sheets remain turned down from the night before, as I never had a chance to lie in it. Damned curse.
The bed is heavenly. Alex pulls the lightweight blanket up to cover my body, and I grab his arm, not fully knowing what I’m thinking, but—
“Stay.”
“What?” he asks, his brows flying up.
“Please. Stay.”
“As you wish.”
The bed shifts under his weight as he sits to remove his boots and vest. I scoot over to make room for him, trying to ignore the sudden flutter of nerves somersaulting in my belly. His body radiates a comforting heat when he slides in next to me, and my exhaustion hits me like a boulder.
“Thank you,” I murmur, closing my eyes.
“Whatever you need, just ask,” he says.
I want to ask him to hold me, but that is surely more than I dare. What the hells are you doing, Sera? This is a bad idea.
Before I can continue arguing with myself, I fall into dark oblivion.
A large, warm hand is splayed across my middle.
It burns through the fabric of my clothing and sends heat shooting all the way down to my toes.
Damn. The firm, hard body behind me feels so good, so right.
I want to rub my rear along the erection digging into it.
Gods, it’s been too long. It would be so easy to slide his hand down my stomach to where I need him. Wetness pools at the thought of it.
Hells. I am in so much trouble.
I squirm just a little, and Alex growls into the back of my neck. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Spitfire . . . unless you want to have a little fun?”
His words send a thrill through me. Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Maybe I could get him out of my system and move on. All this tension between us needs to go somewhere.
I move more purposefully, and he groans, pulling me closer, hand dipping treacherously close to—
Wait. What am I doing? It would only solidify the bond between us, which would make things more dangerous for him. I can’t. I really want to, but I just can’t.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper and roll away from him to my side, his fingers blazing a trail of heat as they slide off me. I squeeze my eyes shut for just a moment, and fresh air dances over my feverish skin from the open window. What in the hells is wrong with me?
“No, it’s my fault. I fell asleep and must have gravitated toward you,” he says, his voice tight.
I lie on my back, staring up at the ceiling. I’m not ready to look into those hazel eyes and find regret there. “It’s fine. You did nothing wrong. I just can’t.”
The bed moves as Alex repositions himself, and I dare a peek at him. He’s also on his back, his arms behind his head. His shirt has come untucked, and smooth brown skin peeks out. I want to touch him so badly. Damn the gods and this bond.
“Why?” Alex asks.
How do I explain this in a way that won’t destroy him? I have absolutely nothing to offer, especially not with this damned curse plaguing me. We don’t work. The gods must be toying with us.
“It’s a bad idea.” My response is so lame, even I don’t believe it.
Alex turns his head to face me, and I couldn’t look away if the realms depended on it.
“I won’t push you. I just don’t understand.” He fists the sheets between us, flexing his hand, and it sends a pang of desire through me.
“I don’t know how to explain,” I say.
His nostrils flare, almost as if to say liar. Desire sparks in his eyes, and he says in a deep, gravelly voice, “Do you know what I wish I could do?”
Oh hells. I shouldn’t take part in this game. It’s dangerous, but I’ve already denied myself his touch. What could it hurt to play? A little.
“What do you wish you could do?” I whisper.
His lips curl into a devilish smile and he keeps his eyes trained on mine, making the moment so intimate, I almost can’t breathe.
“I wish I could have oh so slowly loosened the laces on your shirt, just enough that I could touch your silky, smooth skin.”
My clothes are suddenly too tight, and I reach for the laces he just mentioned, tugging at them. Alex watches me intently, and I don’t miss the way his breath hitches as I give him what he wants the only way I can.
“Then what?” I ask.
“I’d run my fingers up your abdomen until I could cup your incredible breasts. I’d squeeze one and roll my thumb over the rosy tip. Would it harden to a peak? What kind of sounds could I wring from you with a simple touch?”
The heat in my core burns hotter, and I feel myself growing even more slick at his words. My hand follows his instruction and slides up, up, up until my nipple pebbles beneath my thumb and I bite back a moan.
“Of course, I’d have to show the same care and attention to the other one,” he continues.
His eyes haven’t left mine, and it’s too intense.
“I’d run my nose along the expanse of your throat,” he whispers.
“I don’t know why, but the thought of biting .
. . marking you is all I can think about.
” His hand flexes in the sheets again, and I clench my thighs together.
He tracks the movement, and his deep chuckle rumbles right through me.
“So perfect,” he praises. “Now, after I explored the wondrous expanse of your breasts, I’d want more. ”
“More?” I ask, breathily.
“Always, more,” he breathes. “The laces on your pants are too tight, so I’d need to work on those . . .”
My hand slides down, and I tug on the laces. Alex licks his full lips, and I want to kiss him so badly, it hurts.
“What would I find, Spitfire? Would you be wet and ready for me?”
My fingers slip into my pants, and I can’t hold back the moan as I slide them through my wetness.
“Fuck,” Alex growls, clenching the sheet even tighter.
“What would you do if I were wet?” I gasp.
“I’d run my fingers through that slick heat and circle that sensitive bud . . .”
I groan, following his instructions to the letter, closing my eyes, imagining my fingers were his.
“Then I’d stop.”
My eyes fly open. “Why?”
Alex smirks. “To tease you, Spitfire. Maybe I’d slip one, no, two fingers inside.”
I stare at his hand and raise a brow. “Two?”
“You could take it.”
His filthy words send another rush of heat through me, and I moan as I plunge two fingers deep inside, but they aren’t nearly enough to fill me the way I want to be.
“Sera,” Alex growls, and my eyes flash back to his, the longing and desire within almost tipping me over the edge. He shifts uncomfortably, and I flick my gaze to the considerable length straining his pants. Oh gods, why must I be the reasonable one here? Why can’t this happen?
“Alex . . .” I pant, hating how needy I sound.
“That’s it,” he coaches. “Then I’d slip back out and tease you in light circles.”
I follow his instructions and writhe on the bed, needing more. My breaths start coming faster, and Alex lets out a throaty chuckle.
“Press harder.”
Gods yes. That’s what I need.
The sheets rustle, and I look up. Alex has moved closer, close enough that his breath feathers against my skin, but he doesn’t touch me. Oh how the foolish part of me wants him to though.
“My mouth would be all over your lips, your neck, your throat. I want to swallow your moans and feast on them.”
“Seven hells,” I pant.
“What do you need, sweetheart?”
“I don’t know.”
“Three fingers, and don’t stop.”
I slip another finger in and use my thumb to continue those torturous circles. The pressure is building, and I’m on fire. Everything is throbbing and pulsing, and the overwhelming want is more than I can bear.
“I’m so close,” I moan.
“Let go. Come for me.”
Alex’s words unleash something, and with just a little added pressure, I find myself careening off the precipice, my orgasm hitting me in thunderous waves that wrack my body.
“Easy there,” Alex teases. “You’re starting to smoke.”
My eyes fly open, and I realize my magic is far too close to the surface. The sheets have started to singe.
“Damn, Alex, that mouth of yours . . .”
Lingering tremors of pleasure course through me, and then I’m lax and languid, completely undone by my release. I pull my fingers from my soaked center, but before I can get up to go clean them, Alex reaches out, his hand circling my wrist.
There’s something hungry in his gaze. “Please?”
I should say no. I should really say no . . . but I’m feeling foolish, so I nod.
Alex takes my fingers into his mouth and sucks once, twice.
Gods, I could almost shatter all over again.
His low moan sends a fresh burst of heat through me. “Ah, Spitfire, you taste like honey and embers,” he says while gently putting my hand back down.
For a moment, we’re frozen in time. I am completely exposed despite being fully clothed, and Alex, he has me completely undone. Unspoken words weigh heavily between us.
“Sera—”
“Uh, do you need . . .” I don’t even know how to phrase it, but I’m sure he needs release after that stunt.
“Don’t you worry. This was never about me.”
This man . . . gods this man. I hate myself for wanting more, for wanting him.
“Are you feeling better?” Alex asks.
I nod, grateful for the diversion. “The visions have stopped and my mind appears to understand her story wasn’t the whole truth.”
“Thank the gods,” Alex breathes.
The early afternoon sunlight pours through the windows, reminding me that, as much as I’d like to, we can’t laze away in bed all day. We need to make a plan.
We stare at each other in silence for another moment before I push myself up. “I should probably change.”
Alex gives me a smile. “Are you hungry? I can ask for some food to be sent up.”
My stomach rumbles at the thought, and I nod. “Yes, please.”
Slipping out of the bed, I make my way to the bathing chamber attached to my room.
As much as the bond screams not to, I need to wash Alex’s scent off.
I can smell him on me just from our close proximity.
It goes against all my baser instincts, but it’s for his safety.
I should never have let him suck my fingers.
Could I convince him to bathe? I frown. I don’t need him to be any more suspicious than he already is.