Chapter 34
Camryn
Plates of pastries and bowls of fruit flanked by platters of meats and pitchers of juice line the dining table. But the room is devoid of company. On the table, I find a note.
Little Dreamer,
Eat. I will meet you in the training room when you’re done. Thank you for not showering.
I scrunch my nose. Ugh. No more eavesdropping in my head! My cheeks heat along with my core. Traitorous body.
When I don’t hear a response, I slam my hand on the table and slump into the chair. I pile my plate with food, chewing angrily and noisily. I hope he hears that.
If you’re trying to turn me off by working your mouth that hard, it’s not working.
I groan out loud, contemplating spitting out my food.
But I’m fucking hungry and I can’t let this male get more of a rise out of me.
Will you leave me in peace, please? And when I find you, the first order of business is teaching me how to mentally shield myself so I can keep your disgusting thoughts from my mind.
What if it’s you, who is in my mind?
I close my eyes and blow out a breath. Then lock me out!
I could never.
I push up from the table, ready to return to my room and scream into the pillow until my voice gives out. I’m going mad.
Sit, please. You need to eat. I will leave you be.
I hover over the table for several moments, waiting for his voice to rumble through my mind again. When I’m met with silence, I lower back into my chair and slowly resume eating.
Ten minutes of peace pass as I fill my stomach. When I rise from the table, I try to remember how to get to the training room. I’ve only been once before with Aurora, and Vespera hasn’t been around to lead me around the palace.
I chew on the inside of my cheek, wondering if I should just go exploring until I find it. But if I’m being honest, this place gives me the creeps. I sigh and think of the winged male waiting for me. I need your help.
Yes, Little Dreamer? Ready to find me?
I forgot where the training room is.
I have a feeling you’ll be able to find it easy enough. Close your eyes and focus on what you want.
I scowl. And what is that?
Me, of course.
I roll my eyes. Were you born with a head that big? I feel sorry for your mother.
Everything about me is big.
I feel the grin slither into my mind and I shake my head. I honestly don’t know how you’ve survived this long without someone killing you.
It may surprise you, Little Dreamer, but I am as lethal as I am confident.
Confident? I’d say more arrogant.
Arrogance hinges upon exaggeration, and I assure you, I don’t embellish.
I’m too distracted by Caelum to realize I am walking. I exhale, my hand gripping the railing as I ascend a stairwell.
See? Like a thirsty mare searching for water.
I’m not thirsty, you pig.
A chuckle massages my mind. Whatever you say.
I keep climbing until I reach a landing that opens into the large, domed room. I step through the archway and scan the space.
My heart halts along with my eyes when I spy Caelum leaning casually against a far wall, his arms crossed over his broad chest. “You found me.” His smug grin gleams as bright as ever.
“What do you want? A pat on the back?” I say as I stride slowly toward him.
He looks down at the polished floor before his warm amber eyes flash up to me. “I’d be honored to have your hands on me.”
I roll my eyes. “Is this the sparring you had in mind? Because it’s honestly getting old.”
He fights back a grin. “Is it now? I’m just trying to crack through that hardened demeanor of yours. I know there’s gooey goodness inside.”
I scowl. “I’m not food, Caelum.”
He uncrosses his arms and takes a step toward me. His gaze pins me to the floor. “You should be. I bet you’re delicious. Sweet.” His tongue flicks over his bottom lip.
Oh god. I slam my eyes shut as wetness pools between my legs.
When I open my eyes, Caelum gazes down at me, his focus on the apex of my thighs. I shift nervously, causing the leather to creak. “You’re disgusting.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Am I? I think the word you’re looking for is ‘disarming.’ And I think it’s exactly what you need.”
I take a step toward him, my chin lifting as I hold his gaze. “And what makes you think you know what I need?”
He closes the gap between us and bends toward my ear, his lips brushing against my skin. “Because I can smell it. You. And it is driving me wild.”
Heat rushes down my face and floods every inch of flesh. I glance up at him. “That’s quite the mouth you have on you.”
He grins. “Wanna see what else it can do?”
I swallow, wanting to say no. Wanting to turn and walk out. But I don’t. Because I let myself imagine how it could be to have his mouth on me. To feel his warm, slick skin against my own. And I want that more.
The thoughts tumble in my mind as we stand in silence. After a moment, his finger and thumb grip my chin. “What do you want, Camryn? Tell me.”
I raise my eyes to his again and notice the flecks of gold that dance around his dilated pupils. “You,” I breathe. “I want you.”
His eyebrows lift as he scans my face. “Are you sure?”
I huff. “Yes, dammit. Were you toying with me? I fucking want your mouth on me, Caelum!”
I’m about to pivot, embarrassed by my weakness. But his hand on my face keeps me in place as his other circles around the small of my back, pressing me closer to him.
I suck in a breath as his lips press gently to mine.
I stretch onto my tiptoes, desperate to be closer to him.
His hand falls from my chin to reach around to my backside.
My eyebrows lift as his hands grip my ass and he lifts me to his waist. I lock my legs around his back, feeling his hardened length bulge through his leather pants.
A moan escapes my throat, and he smiles against my lips. His tongue flicks at the seam of my mouth. I open to let him in.
My body jolts, and he clings to me tighter as our tongues slick against each other. I feel desperate but uncaring. I need this.
He pulls back and looks at me, his lips cherry red. “Do you want to do this here?”
I stare at him, panting. I nod my head vigorously, desperate to resume. “Yes, please.” I hate the plead that escapes my lips.
But Caelum only grins while he walks me to a bench behind me near the armory. He returns his lips to mine as he walks and I get lost in ecstasy. The guy wasn’t kidding. He’s good.
Caelum chuckles into my mouth, and I realize he read my thoughts. I don’t care at the moment. I only want more.
He stops walking and lowers me down. Even through my layers of clothing, I can feel the chill of the stone and shiver.
He hovers above me and moves his hands to grip the sides of the bench.
Electricity crackles in the air and I pull away from the kiss to see his hands glow, feeding warmth into the stone.
I moan as my back heats, and he grins. I watch him as his hand moves to the waistband of my leggings. His amber eyes flick up to mine and I nearly melt at their heat. “May I?”
I nod, words lodged in my throat. I nervously glance around the large open space, desperately hoping no one walks in on us.
“No one will bother us.”
I flash my eyes to him. “You sure?”
He grins. “Very. Unless they want their eyes ripped from their sockets.”
I swallow and bite my lip as Caelum’s fingers deftly work the ties of my pants.
He flashes me another heated glare before his gaze returns to my hips. I lift my ass to allow him to tug off the leather. When they pool around my ankles, he eyes my thin underwear and I prepare for him to remove those as well.
Instead, one hand cups my flesh around the material, making me moan at the sensation. The wetness between my thighs sticks to the fabric and seeps into his palm. “What a naughty woman, trying to hide this from me.”
My heart quickens. I try to focus on anything other than the shame I feel for being so wet. I shouldn’t want it this much.
Caelum’s eyes snap to mine. “You should never be ashamed of such a primal feeling and your body’s response.” His brows pull together while his hand stays between my legs, his thumb stroking slow circles over the fabric. “Has someone made you feel ashamed for it before?”
My voice is weak. “Yes.”
His jaw clenches, and a growl rumbles through his chest. “Despicable,” he says, shaking his head. “Camryn, look at me.”
My eyes slide slowly to his gaze. “Those people only want to strip you of your power. That will never happen again. Do you understand?” His voice is so commanding that I nod, even though I’m not sure I understand.
“Your sexual desire is a power that weaker people, weaker men, want to take from you. You will never allow them to take that from you again.”
I swallow, a fresh pulse of heat spreading from my core.
“Say it. Say you’re powerful.”
I stare into his intense gaze. “I’m powerful.”
His mouth twitches. “Now tell me you want this.”
I inhale sharply, my focus on his hand, which has stopped moving against the apex of my thighs. “I want this.”
He beams as his hand grasps the top of my underwear. “Good.” The next thing I hear is tearing fabric as he rips the undergarment off my body.
I yelp in surprise and watch as his gaze drifts down to the dark patch of hair between my legs. “Beautiful,” he murmurs.
He kneels to the floor and his hands grip my hips, tugging me to the edge of the bench.
I look at the ceiling as his head slips between my body and my feet that are bound by my clothing and boots.
He rests my legs over his thick shoulders.
My heated skin slides against the leather of his tunic as I lay spread before him.
I’ve never felt so vulnerable, yet so completely safe with a male before. My breath comes in ragged gasps as I feel him grin against my inner thighs. “Safe,” he whispers as he gently trails kisses along the inside of my legs.
I squirm with anticipation of where he’s heading, feeling as though I’ll escape my skin.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers, tightening his grip on my hips, pinning me in place.
The next moment, Caelum’s warm, wet tongue slicks up the seam of my cunt.
He growls. “I like that filthy mouth of yours.”
I look down at him to see him grin up at me with hooded eyes. His tongue repeats the motion, eliciting a curse from my lips. “Oh, fuck.”
His hand glides over my heated flesh and spreads me open. His mouth presses into my wetness and I sink back against the bench.
His lips and tongue suck and sweep over me as moans escape my throat and my breathing increases. That mouth …
I told you.
Get. Out. Of. My. Head. I can only think between breaths.
No. When you come, I want to feel every part of you.
Ugh, that only makes me more feral. My fingers slip through his silky hair, holding his mouth to my flesh. He growls.
His mouth continues to torture me with pleasure while two thick fingers slip into my core. I gasp at the fullness while I clench around him.
Relax.
My eyes flutter closed at his command. “That feels … so fucking good.”
His fingers pump into me as his lips wrap around my clit. Fuck. Don’t stop.
I feel him briefly smile against my flesh before continuing. Let go, Little Dreamer.
I know he isn’t talking about my hands that grip his head tightly between my legs.
When I hear his next thought caress my mind, I come so hard, stars dot my vision. You’re perfect.
My chest swells as I linger on his unspoken words, aftershocks rolling through me.
When I still, Caelum moves his head, my fingers slipping through his hair. He gently lowers my legs from his shoulders.
I lay breathless, feeling as though I’ve melded to the stone beneath me. I look down at him, his lips glistening. He gazes up at me, unspeaking.
I chew on my lip. “Um, your turn?”
His brow furrows. “No. That’s not what this is. I don’t give for reciprocation. Is that what you’re used to?”
I look away, embarrassed, and shrug. “Well, yeah. The ones that actually do that usually want theirs in return.” I look back to see his face hardened in anger.
“It sounds like you’ve had poor taste in lovers. Selfish.”
The timbre of his voice makes my heart flutter. “Sounds about right,” I whisper.
Caelum stands and circles to my face before crouching down to my level. His hand reaches out and brushes a loose strand of hair away from my face. “Don’t worry about me, Camryn. When you’re ready, you can do whatever you please to me. This was about you, and I loved every second of it.”
I swallow and search his eyes, looking for any hint of untruthfulness. But I don’t find it.
“Do you feel ready to stand?” he asks quietly.
I look down at my naked lower half, embarrassment washing over me at being so exposed.
Enough of that.
Sorry.
Don’t be sorry. You’re beautiful, and I’d stare at you all day if you allowed me.
His face is stoic as we communicate in our minds. I smirk at him. “Help me up, then.”
He grins and stands to his full height. He looms over me like a giant. “I’m not a giant,” he says. “You’re just small.”
My mouth gapes and I slap at his chest as he pulls me to my feet. “I am not! I’m several inches taller than Rory.”
“Yeah, well, your friend is small, too.”
“How tall are you?” I glare at him as I slide my leggings over my hips.
“We don’t measure ourselves like your kind.” He glances down at his massive foot, then back to the top of my head. “But I’d guess I’m about a foot-length taller than you.”
Given I’d wager his feet are at least twelve-inches long, that would make him at least 6’5”.
My eyes flicker to his crotch, noticing the bulge still present in his pants. When my eyes meet his gaze again, he grins at me and shakes his head. “Soon enough.”
Heat flushes my cheeks. “Whatever you say,” I mumble. I look around the empty room. “What about training?”
He gazes down at me. “I think seeing you wrap your hand around the hilt of a sword would make me explode in my pants. How about you take a trip to the library while I … cool off.”
I chuckle at his forwardness. “If you insist.” I give him one last glance before I turn on my heels.
“Do you know the way?”
I look over my shoulder. “I’ll just think of where I want to go. It worked last time.”
So I should expect you in my room?
In your dreams.
I’ll have you anywhere you want me.
I chuckle and shake my head as I focus hard on the library. There’s nothing sexy about books, right?