“Hmm,” was all he said at first as we moved on to the next image.
“Would you like to be tied up like this, beautiful? I wouldn’t even need the rope,” he whispered.
I swallowed hard and tried not to show how flustered the thought left me. We were playing a different sort of game these days, though the win condition was similar:Who would break first?
“Hmm,” I replied, mimicking him yet again.
“Oh, I am going to fucking ruin you when we get home,” he hissed beneath his breath.
When we get home.It must’ve been a slip of the tongue, really. It was easier to say thanmy townhouse, oryour apartment, orthe studio. That was all.
“Don’t tempt me with a good time,” I said.
“Why not? I’m so very good at it…” Kieran trailed off, running his fingers softly against my exposed shoulders.
In response to his touch, I leaned back against where he still stood behind me. After taking a careful glance to confirm we were still alone, I very intentionally ground my ass up against his groin. I heard his sharp inhale at the same time I realized that he was already hard.
Insatiable.
“Who’s under duress now?” I teased, pressing my palm up against his cock and rubbing slowly. My pulse quickened, though I kept a straight face on the off chance that somebody walked in on us.
Kieran groaned softly under his breath.
“Godsdamnit, Arken…”
That only encouraged me to attempt to subtly dip my hand beneath the waistband of his pants and feel him up further. I felt his rough, calloused fingers encircle my wrist gently before clamping down like a human shackle.
“Your place or mine?” he asked roughly.
“Whichever one is closer.”
“Gods,” Kieran gasped as I traced the pulsing vein beneath his jawline with the tip of my tongue.
He had all but dragged me back to his townhouse after I had touched him in the gallery, his pace so brisk that it had beenan effort to keep up as he kept hold of my wrist. Technically speaking, I think it had been my apartment that was closer, and he had just enjoyed watching me squirm with anticipation.
“Have I mentioned that I’ve wanted that smart mouth of yours on me since the first godsdamnedmoment I set eyes on you?”
My ego purred at the confession, and I smiled, lips still pressed against the warmth of his skin, where I could practically feel his pulse racing beneath the surface. He was so reactive to my touch, and I could hardly contain what euphoria that was awakening within me.
“What, in the Wyldwoods?” I asked, running my fingers through his hair.
These raven-dark strands were much silkier than I’d ever imagined.
“Before,” he confessed, his breathing growing more and more ragged with every touch. “I was in the Wyldwoods that day, looking for you.”
My heart fluttered for a moment and I paused, curiosity piqued.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Don’t you dare stop,” he demanded, both hands squeezing at my hips as I had him straddled on the couch—where all ofthishad started in the first place.
“Explain yourself, then, Vistarii,” I murmured, leaning back down to trail more kisses up the side of his neck.
“I had seen you a few days prior,” he began, lips brushing up against the shell of my ear. I shivered.
“You had your head buried in a book, on your way to the Biblyos or something. I was intrigued,” he explained. “And devastatingly attracted to you.”
I rolled my hips at that, grinding into where I could feel him hard and ready underneath me.