Chapter One #2
Khalida expected him to gloat. Or worse, walk away. Except something flared in his dark gaze. Suddenly, she was lost in the sensations, his soft whispers demanding her to come with enough ferocity that she forgot everything else.
She would hate herself later. Right now, she focused on the clenching of her stomach as need and lust continued to build. Until everything else was forgotten. Straining against Talik, she needed more.
“Talik,” Khalida breathlessly whispered as she dug her nails into his arms.
He didn’t need to remind her to say his name.
It was all she could think about as she chased the crescendo, her body taking over, falling back into the perfect harmony they’d formed centuries ago.
They’d been so young, so foolish. Their chemistry had painted the stars and colored their world.
She threw her head back and closed her eyes, letting the waves of pleasure roll over her as all other thoughts perished.
A deep chuckle vibrated through her. “That’s a good girl.”
***
KHALIDA
Khalida came down from her orgasm, painfully aware that she had crossed a line she had told herself she wouldn’t.
She’d had a bad week. Finding out everything she’d known about Atlantean history was a lie and nearly dying would do that to her.
Needing a physical outlet was normal for her.
She just usually chose the fight rather than the fuck option.
Now she was regretting her life choices. At least her choice of partner.
He stood in front of her with a smirk on his face. Talik Njoror, the ex who should have stayed in her past.
His watch beeped, but he disregarded it as he watched her.
She shoved at him, needing the distance between them.
This time, he moved. Fixing her uniform, she stared over his shoulder, focusing on the large water fountain that was the crowning glory of the courtyard.
The spectacular garden was even more impressive, with the rising sand dunes that surrounded the Arx.
A perfect oasis in the middle of the desert.
“Are you going to keep ignoring it?” Khalida asked. The damn beeping should have occurred five minutes earlier. It was growing more annoying. “Khalida. That is my name. Not any other nickname you have come up with.”
Talik looked unchastised as he studied her. “No thanks for the orgasm, Khalida?”
Khalida sharply pulled her zipper up to her neck, trying to ignore the wetness between her thighs and how her skintight uniform made it impossible to ignore. She was grateful it was matte black. “I’ve had better.”
Talik’s eyes twinkled like obsidian glass, but he didn’t take the bait. Instead, he wore a stupid smirk and raised a dark eyebrow. “You need to fix your hair.”
Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself that violence was not the answer.
It may spark temporary joy, but it wouldn’t change the situation.
Random silver-blonde strands stuck to her face and were out of place.
She turned her back to Talik and quickly undid her waist-long braid, her fingers detangling the curls, before she put it up in a high ponytail as she mentally pulled herself together.
The sandstone wall was suddenly interesting, but she wasn’t a coward and couldn’t stare at it all day.
Just one time. No repeats.
Bracing her shoulders back, she turned and slowly looked him over.
His identical matte black uniform clung to him, highlighting his muscular form.
How he had the time to exercise and stay fit between all the parties and events he attended, she had no idea.
She continued to follow the lines of his body, a half smirk on her face as she caught sight of Talik’s erection.
It looked painfully hard. She ignored the flutter of warmth raging through her.
If she couldn’t stab him, she could at least hope he got blue balls, despite the orgasm he had given her.
She smiled. All sharp teeth. “I’m not the only one who needs to fix their hair.”
At some point she must have grabbed his hair—the strands were normally in an artful bun—but now it looked like someone had held on for the ride, and annoyingly it suited him. And she hated that she had lost herself in the moment long enough to do that to him.
Just a warm body, she reminded herself. Then again, sex had never been the problem between them. She pushed down the thought. The past was the past, and after this interlude, she was going to stay very far away from Talik.
The beep grew louder. Talik sighed as he looked at the message.
It drew her attention to the simple black ring he wore on his pinkie finger. Surprise filled her. He still had the damn thing. She forced it down before she gave herself away. He tapped the screen, showcasing perfectly manicured, short black nails. A look of annoyance crossed his features.
“As always, Khalida, it was a pleasure.” He flashed her an infuriating grin. “If you want to have some more fun, you know where to find me for the next two days.”