Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Fuck, Reif was in trouble.
He agreed to this deal with Cyra strictly because it was her idea, and who was he to refuse an eager and willing female?
After all, she was positively stunning. A little more petite in height than most females he bedded, but she was in possession of smooth as glass skin, full hips and decidedly fuller breasts, and he admired the way she spoke candidly about most things.
But now she was looking at him like he hung the moon.
Her eyes glittered like polished gold as she gazed up at him and without thinking, he reached out and twirled a few strands of her fiery hair around his finger.
Despite his best efforts, he was fully aware of the fact that he may have been making a critical error in judgement.
The taste of her still lingered on his tongue, and it had taken every ounce of self control not to fall back onto the bed and beg her to sit on his face.
“May I touch you?” she asked, her gilded gaze dipping between them.
“Of course.” There was a grate to his voice, an unexpected kind of desperation.
He told himself it was because her hand was so elegant, so delicate.
And that it had nothing to do with his magic roaring to the surface of his skin the moment her fingers closed around his cock.
She jerked him once, carefully. Then again, her grip more firm, and he’d never had a more excruciatingly perfect handjob.
He grit his teeth against her tender assault.
Her shimmery red nails lightly scraped the length of his hardened shaft, and a feral, uncontrollable noise erupted through the cavernous wall of his chest. He grabbed the bedpost to steady himself, his nails biting into the rich hardwood—anything to keep from tossing her onto his bed and fucking her until she screamed for him.
Cyra jerked back. “Am I hurting you?”
“No.” He bit the word out and snatched her wrist, guiding her back to his throbbing cock. “It’s the furthest thing from pain.”
“Oh.” A pretty blush spread from the tops of her breasts, up through her neck, to her cheeks. “So, you like it when I do this?”
Again, she pumped him. Her touch was fragile yet agonizing.
“Very much so.” Reif sucked in a harsh breath. “It’s as I said, there is very little you can do that will make me uncomfortable.”
She nodded once, as though she was considering her next words. “Tell me, my lord. Do you ever plan to marry?”
He blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“You said I could ask any question.” She shrugged then, toying with the necklace of rubies she wore with her free hand, as though she was bored. “I was merely curious.”
It was not everyday he had discussions of why he was unmarried with ladies currently in search of a husband themselves, especially when both of them were standing naked in front of each other.
He didn’t think it was Cyra’s intent to somehow trap him into a marriage, as she’d been clear about her expectations up front regarding their current arrangement.
And yet…she seemed genuinely interested.
“Eventually.” He cleared his throat. “I suppose.”
Once he found someone worthy of his mother’s ring.
“I wish I had such a luxury. To marry when I wanted, instead of being forced to find a match during Midsummer just because it’s what’s expected of me, would be idyllic.
” Cyra’s hands ventured to his abdomen, her fingers tracing the dips and lines of his muscles.
His gut clenched as she swayed closer, so the tip of his cock nudged her lower stomach.
“Sometimes I like to think my future husband will have the qualities necessary to make me fall in love with him. I know it sounds silly, of course. Love matches are never guaranteed. Yet, still…”
She smiled up at him, pressing a kiss to the underside of his jaw. “One can hope.”
The gesture weakened him. Owned him.
“If you were to find a love match,” Reif’s hand drifted to the small of her back, pressing her closer to him, “what sort of qualities would you consider necessary?”
Not that he was interested in marrying her, but he was most certainly intrigued.
“Well.” She tapped her chin in thought, then prattled off her list as though she’d had it rehearsed in her mind for quite some time.
“He would need to be kind. Genuine and loyal. I would very much like for him to have a sense of humor, for I love to laugh. Trustworthiness is necessary. And if he’s handsome, then I would consider myself all the more lucky. ”
Reif couldn’t help but smile. Not once had Cyra mentioned status, wealth, power, or magic.
None of the usual standards most ladies sought when looking for a husband.
It made him realize if anyone was deserving of a love match, it was definitely her.
And without warning, the thought of another male marking her, owning her, and perhaps even snuffing out her spirit, filled him with a sense of irrational rage.
“I think…” Cyra tugged her bottom lip between her teeth and his cock jumped. “Perhaps I’d like to taste you now.”
Reif’s jaw went slack. “Come again?”
“Well, I haven’t come yet, but hopefully soon.” The apples of her cheeks flushed pink and her lashes fluttered. “How should I…that is, do I…”
Her golden gaze darted between them, and he didn’t miss the way her tongue swept across her lips, wetting them.
Sweet shores, he was going to die tonight.
“Your knees.” He choked on the words.
She tilted her head to one side. “Pardon?”
“On. Your. Knees.” It was a struggle to speak, and when Cyra lowered herself before him, her perfect mouth lining up with the tip of his cock, he tightened his grip on the bedpost. Just in case.
“Hm.” She removed a few of the pins from her hair, letting the crimson and gold waves tumble down her bare shoulders. She shimmied once, then tucked her fire-kissed locks behind her ear. “I suppose it’s no different than a lollipop.”
Reif was about to object when she took him into the entirety of her mouth.
“Fuck, Cyra.”
She simply hummed in response, driving him mad with desire.
His chest heaved as her tongue swirled, as she sucked, taking him deeper until his eyes nearly rolled back in his head.
Her cheeks hollowed, and his cock thickened and throbbed.
Magic pulsed through him, as wave after wave of longing crashed into him.
His hips jerked forward involuntarily, but she didn’t choke or gag.
She just continued to suck. Hard. He fisted one hand in her silky hair, grinding his teeth, telling himself if he fucked her pretty mouth too soon, he’d erupt before he had the chance to empty himself inside of her.
And he wanted to experience that more than anything.
But if she wasn’t careful, he was going to snap this fucking bedpost in half.
“Cyra…”
Her melted gold eyes met his, dark lashes fluttering, and with painstaking slowness, she stopped sucking his cock.
“Yes?” she asked, peering up at him, licking her lips. Her thighs clenched together.
Whether she realized it or not, she was ready.
“I think it’s time we move on to other activities.” Reif bent down and cupped her by the elbows, lifting her from the floor. “I daresay you’ve mastered oral pleasure.”
“Oh. That’s quite the compliment.” Her cheeks flushed, but then her gaze landed on the bed, and she paled slightly. “I must admit, I’m feeling nervous.”
“I would expect nothing less. It’s common to feel ill at ease or anxious. But…” He swept her off her feet, cradling her against his chest. “I consider it my duty to put all of your nerves, concerns, and fears at ease. I want you to feel safe with me. Respected. Treasured.”
Another word filtered through his mind, but he dismissed the ridiculous notion.
“Thank you, Reif.” Cyra’s palm came to rest against him and warmth radiated from her touch, reaching through him, soothing his restless soul. “I’m glad I chose you.”
And with those simple, softly spoken words, Reif Marintide fell for Cyra Firebane.