I meet his eyes, letting one leg fall open to give him access. His nostrils flare, and his pupils dilate.I am ready.
Slowly, his hand moves up my body, brushing against curves and planes of my skin. I close my eyes and focus on the sensations, savoring each touch. Then he presses a finger against my slick entrance, and I gasp in pleasure.
He stops.
"Look at me," he urges. "I want to see your face when you realize what you've been missing."
I look up at him, needing for his hand to return to its previous spot. This is better than what I felt before. Much better. When he slides a finger inside of me, I choke. Then he begins rubbing my apex with his thumb, coaxing out sensations I didn't know I could feel. I'm full, just from his large finger. That ache that's been building is tightly bunched up inside of me when he puts in another finger.
He groans, whispering something in Enduar that sounds like the word for "delicious." I don't have time to dwell because his touch is like lightning, and my heart beats faster and faster as I give in. I whip my head back and cry out as I reach my climax, the pleasure rolling through me in wave after wave.
After everything fades, Teo holds me close to his chest, his heartbeat echoing through his chest and mine in perfect unison. His lips brush my hair as he speaks. "You can try to run away, Estela, but I'll always bring you back to me. You belong here, in my bed. And I belong between your legs."
The words linger in the air like a promise, and I lay my head against his chest, my heart swelling. I'd finally experienced something I'd never felt before and I wanted more. Not just from Teo, but from life in general.
I'm glad I stayed, and I'm glad he is healed. I looked up at him, my eyes full of questions. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead and smiled.
"When you are ready, let me be your first lover," he murmurs. "Let me show you what pure pleasure feels like. There's no pain in this room, my star."
I exhale and lean forward, only for the crystal on the side of his bed to light up. I know that means someone is calling him away.
The moment is shattered. When his gaze returns to me, I look away. I straighten the robe, and he doesn't stop me when I stand up. The urge to touch him is too strong. My fingers meet his neck and his eyes flutter closed. “I just need to check your bite wounds,” I say.
He doesn’t respond as I peel back the bandage. The wound has already started to turn pink, and there is nothing but crusted flecks of blood. I think of the crystals filled with black that Liana and I took out while he was healing, and I am grateful whatever darkness was in him is out.
“You are fine,” I say, stepping back.
“Would you like to eat together later?” he asks, brushing his large fingers over my hand. I can’t help but think where those fingers were moments ago. “We have much to discuss.”
I nod slowly, and he gently removes his hand. I take a few steps towards the door, my heart aching for more.
“Be safe, Teo," I say, looking back at him one last time.
He smiles at me, and my heart soars as I open the door between our rooms and leave.
Chapter33
Dioptase
TEO
My room smells of Estela. Not just her arousal, but her soft, sweet human aroma. She is in my nose, wedged into my mind, and running through my veins.
I need more, but she is not ready. So the torture continues. And yet, it would be a lie to say that we are stuck where we started. She has changed towards me. It is a blessing.
For that, I can be nothing but grateful as I pull on fresh clothes and move to the bathroom to wash off the sweat and grime from before. When I open the door, I’m hit with another wave of her and I can’t breathe.
All my youth, I was told that having a mate was the ultimate gift in life. That it would bring a sense of completeness, of fulfillment. But in reality, it only leads to a never-ending yearning for more. Here I am, hooked on Estela, addicted to her smell, her taste, her touch.
While I stand over the metal basin filled with spring art, I look in the mirror. I’ve seen better days. My eyes go to the wound on my neck, which has already started to heal over. Estela had done well healing it—the scar will be smooth. But then I look at the glowing mating mark on my neck and remember that Estela had looked on it with possessiveness—her thoughts had been cast freely toward me—and pictured biting it. I groan.
I dampen a cloth, and I revel in the hot water as the towel slides over my skin, trying to wash away the thoughts of her.
Once finished, I step out of my suite, facing the real world and the weight of what happened yesterday, and hurry toward the throne room. When I walk inside, I’m greeted by Vann, Liana, Svanna, and Salo. Their faces are somber, and both Vann and Salo look as though they didn’t sleep.
The wise woman takes one look at me, and her frown deepens. “Where is Estela?”
I blink. “I believe she is in her room?”