Chapter Thirty-Four #2
They hadn’t eaten since they entered the catacombs, which according to Kade and the clock was more than two days ago.
It was close to one a.m., too late for dinner, but surely Khalida would be hungry.
Half tempted to knock on Khalida’s door, he discarded the idea—he didn’t think he could handle any more questions about their past. He would just send her food, and she could choose to eat the offering or not.
It was the coward’s way out. He picked up the tablet and texted an order to the villa staff for both him and Khalida.
If he was lucky, the food would arrive before he got out of the shower.
Talik walked into his bathroom, heading straight to his marble shower as he stripped his clothes off and threw them into a haphazard pile. He was going to relish burning them afterward.
He turned the water to scalding. If he couldn’t scrub the memory of Ninhursag from his skin, he was opting to scorch it away with hot water.
Adjusting the showerhead, he stood under the onslaught, trying to forget about what had occurred in the catacombs—forget how Khalida had looked at him with a hint of hope and something else.
The subtle tingle of the consort mark was almost second nature to him now.
He stared at it, trying to remember what it was like when Khalida was not around.
How empty it had felt in comparison. It had only been a short time since they had been thrown back together, but everything had changed.
He turned off the water and stepped out as he grabbed a fluffy gray towel.
Moving toward the basin, he dried himself before wrapping it around his waist. He didn’t want to think of all the bone dust and dirt he would have ingested by accident as he rinsed his mouth.
And a second time. It was a taste he never wanted to experience again.
After drying his hair, Talik grabbed a wide-tooth wooden comb and detangled the long strands before it succumbed to becoming a bird’s nest. Done after a few minutes, he leaned forward and wiped the steam off the large ornate silver mirror; he touched his stubble, the rough hairs prickly.
He angled himself to show his back. The mark from the knife was gone, and there was no other physical evidence of his ordeal.
Except for the feeling that somehow Ninhursag had marked him and burrowed beneath his skin.
And no matter how much he scrubbed, he couldn’t remove it.
The need to tell Kade and Khalida was all-consuming as he raked his mind, trying to work out how to communicate without Ninhursag knowing.
He grabbed his cell and tried to type out the god’s name.
But all he got was a bunch of random letters together and a throat that felt like he had tried to swallow fire. Fuck.
Your scent has changed.
Kade’s words burned into him. The hunter had done nothing else, had not treated him any differently, except for letting him know he had changed.
And that Kade was watching him. The hunter was smart.
Talik just needed a way to let Kade know somehow that Ninhursag had a stronghold on him, without endangering Khalida’s life. Or Kade’s.
His stomach growled again, louder this time.
He heard the bedroom door open slowly, but he didn’t bother to rush out. At least he’d had the foresight to order himself some food. He splashed some cold water on his face before he pulled his hair up into a damp, loose bun before returning to the bedroom.
Yellow eyes blazed in the darkness.
“Couldn’t keep away from my charm?” Talik asked as he flicked on the lamp next to his bed, giving him a better view of his intruder, who was quietly closing his fridge. His food must have been delivered. “Or practicing your stalking abilities?”
Khalida smirked as she leaned against the opposite wall.
Dressed entirely in black, her silver-blonde hair hung in two braids over her shoulders.
She had traded her uniform for black tight jeans, boots, and a dark long-sleeve midriff sweater that showcased her toned brown stomach.
There was no sign of her swords or knives.
“My eyes are up here.”
Talik shrugged and purposely took his time as he lifted his head. He was a fucking glutton for punishment for wanting what he couldn’t have.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
She raised an eyebrow at his words.
“You appear unarmed, so I assume it’s not to stab me.”
She took a couple of steps, breaching the gap between them, but stopped just out of his reach. “Not tonight, at least.”
There was a hint of desire emanating from Khalida. It was mixed in with her normal scent of peonies and amber. The heady smell was intoxicating.
Talik swallowed, not moving from his position, careful to remain casual, despite the beginnings of a raging hard-on. Glutton for fucking punishment, he reminded himself. “Careful, Kiki, you may give me the wrong idea.”
She scowled with no real heat. “You know I hate that name.”
His cock hardened.
She chewed her lower lip. He almost came from the sight, but by some miracle, managed to control his body.
Taking a step closer to him, she tilted her head. It would only take a second for him to reach out and push her up against the wall and have her beg for him. And it took all his willpower to not move. He didn’t know what game she was playing.
Or if he was back in the dream, and this was just another illusion.
Talik shook with laughter. At least he knew it wasn’t the dream. Perhaps another twilight zone or parallel universe.
“I feel like I am at a disadvantage. You being fully clothed and me only in a towel.”
Tsk-tsking, Khalida took a step closer. “Originally, I came here to talk.” She flicked one of her braids over her shoulder. “But I think I have changed my mind. I do owe you a kiss.”
There was no mistaking the desire in the room, hers or his.
His erection was getting painful. The soft towel was too much for his sensitive skin, but he didn’t budge, waiting for Khalida to continue. He would not make it easy for her. She had to be one hundred percent sure she wanted this without his influence.
Talik swallowed again as he tried to maintain what little control he had over his body. “Do you?”
She pressed up against him, arms encircling his neck as her lips brushed against his.
Soft, warm and inviting. A switchblade kiss, pleasure and pain. And like a fool, he could never say no to it.
“Are you going to kiss me?” Khalida asked.
It was both a request and a command.
A whisper that ran through him, igniting the desire he could barely contain.
It made him forget everything else except for the here and now.
How she felt against him as her hard nipples rubbed against his chest. He could smell the wetness between her thighs and wanted to feast on it, to taste Khalida. She was like an addiction to him.
He grabbed the thick braid closest to him and tugged hard enough he forced Khalida to look up at him.
Her eyes widened with desire as her heart raced.
The sound was music to him. So coldly beautiful.
The iciness that normally surrounded her had thawed and left a raging inferno that would not be contained.
He could almost feel how wet she was despite the layers of clothing between them, knew that if he touched her, he would feel her dampness through her pants.
Khalida loved to be in control of every single moment and decision—sex was the only time she was ever submissive, and only when it suited her.
Talik fucking loved it. This was a small part she had only ever shared with those she could feel vulnerable around, and how precious it was. “Are you going to ask me nicely?”
Khalida licked his lips and shook her head. A hint of mischief flashed across her face. “I think it’s time you begged for me.”
She pushed him against the wall. He went willingly, the coolness a welcome feeling against the warmth of his skin.
After kissing his neck, she slowly grazed his collarbone, teeth scraping the sensitive area as she traced a hand down his front, her nails danced along his skin. Marking him as hers. Even if it was only for the night.
Cum beaded the top of his cock, his balls tightening with anticipation. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back, trying to take in all the feelings.
Khalida’s hand continued lower as she trailed kisses along his stomach, licking his skin and lightly nibbling him with her teeth. His stomach clenched as all his blood rushed south. The towel dropped to the floor.
Khalida let out an appreciative sigh. He made the mistake of looking down as she licked her lips. His cock grew painfully harder.
“You were right. I have missed your cock.”