Chapter Twenty-One #2
His gaze held mine for a long moment, as if weighing the truth in my promise.
As if deciding whether he could be trusted.
Finally, he gave a short, sharp nod.
“Very well.”
Relief washed through me and my heart fluttered with something more I didn’t want to name. Rhydek came off like a hard ass, but any time I explained why I needed something he wanted to deny, he gave in. Even when he didn’t want to.
“Thank you.”
The words came out a whisper. His expression shifted again, that same flicker I couldn’t quite name.
As he leaned forward to stand, I sat back, tucking my hands beneath my thighs on the stone bench. I had always been the type that wanted to touch and explore something, so agreeing to keep my hands to myself would be difficult to uphold, but I was going to do my best.
Water trailed down him, dipping into the valleys between his muscles as he stood, and suddenly I was dying of dehydration.
I watched a drop roll over his pectoral before joining the stream moving down the center of his abs, the soft light of the moss around us reflecting from it and adding highlights to his dark flesh.
His tail swished towards me through the water, but Rhydek caught it like he was snatching up a fish, his kethra glowing brighter as if he were struggling to control it. My own shone, giving away my interest even if my heavy breathing and rapid pulse weren’t obvious.
The reaction was ridiculous considering I’d seen him naked daily. He’d never bothered to hide himself, even when erect, and I knew his anatomy was basically the same as a Human’s.
But I’d noticed differences, and this was the first time I was close enough to determine what they were.
The warmth in my body spread. It was almost uncomfortable, but I pushed it aside. I didn’t dare ask Rhydek to wait for us to get out of the pool, I’d melt before I risked distracting him and giving him a chance to rethink my request.
The tension in my core coiled tighter, pulling everything inward. I didn’t move, didn’t speak, for fear of him turning away at the last minute. I didn’t even breathe for a moment, time slowing as he rose and rose until the tip of him finally breeched the surface.
My heart stumbled as I dragged my eyes over him.
Overall, it really was similar to a Human, just bigger.
Comparable blunt tip, although the rim around the edge of it was a bit more prominent and not as round.
It came to more of a point on the bottom side, giving it an upside-down teardrop shape if I looked straight at it.
Which was probably due to the ridges crossing the bottom side of his shaft. I hadn’t noticed them in the quick glances I’d stolen before, but with him standing in front of me, they were obvious.
Swallowing, I reminded myself to keep my hands where they were.
His kethra curled around his hip bones and along what I would have called his Adonis Belt, extending down the sides of his length as well. With the way they flickered yellow and orange it only reinforced their similarity to flames, and they certainly seemed to make things hotter.
There was a bulge on each side close to where it connected to his torso, the knot I’d read about.
When he was near his release it would swell, and considering the girth I was already facing, the thought brought a little trepidation.
I could only hope everyone was right, that the serum had changed me enough to accommodate him.
Rhydek stood frozen as I inspected him, gripping his tail in one hand while the other hung in a fist by his thigh. He seemed to be holding his breath when I glanced up, and he was staring straight ahead as if trying to pretend I wasn’t mere inches from his erection.
His height meant it hung above my head while I was seated, and a curious look didn’t reveal anything where a Human’s scrotum was.
Aware I was already pushing my luck with both of our control, I drew in a breath to thank him and say I was done, but the scent that invaded my lungs stopped the words before I could release them.
There was the same leather and sharp pine I’d come to associate with him, but there was a richness to it. A musk that had me leaning forward before I could stop myself.
“It’s time to go.”
I blinked at his retreating back several times before my brain rebooted. I wanted to kick myself, but at least I hadn’t completely violated what I’d promised.
I’d only been thinking about it.
Rhydek paused on the walkway beside the pool and waited for me to stand, holding his hand out for me to take so he could pull me up. It was a bit embarrassing to need help, but it was better than looking like a walrus flopping on the edge to pull myself out.
Refusing to release his hand after I had my feet beneath me, I held on until he turned to meet my gaze.
“Thank you, Rhydek.”
I tried to project my gratitude into the words as he stared at me, and eventually he gave a slow nod. Forcing myself to release his hand, I had to admit I was disappointed when he turned away.
Part of me had hoped I might finally break through the barrier he held between us, but as I watched him walk to the towels, still gripping his tail in his other hand, I knew I wasn’t going to get any further with him until he no longer had a choice.
Because if what I had read about my heat was right, neither of us would have the option of avoidance any longer, nor denying how we felt once we were bonded.