What he saw was her tongue, slipping between the red folds of her lips. He felt the varying strength of her grip on him. And best of all, he saw it when she grinned up at him. There was power in her expression, a realization that he was at her mercy.
His hips were thrusting into her fist, his breath was a ragged pant, and his thighs quivered with need.
“Explode,” she said. “Now.”
There was such command in her tone that it shocked him. No young virgin should know how to order a man’s release. And yet, she did. While he plowed into her fist, those two words tipped him over the edge.
He released with a fire so hot, lightning burst behind his eyes. And he kept pumping while her fist grew slick with his seed.
“Oh!” she whispered as she watched him erupt. “Now I understand.”
Did she? Doubtful. But at least she was a little more prepared.
“How long does that go on?” she asked as he continued to pump.
“Not much longer,” he panted.
Then his body gave way and he slumped back against the tree trunk, letting his gaze rove over her flushed face, her pointed nipples, and the sweet nectar he imagined between her thighs.
She smiled. “How soon can you do it again?”
He chuckled as his legs flopped open wide. “Fifteen minutes or so, but you will have to encourage it. Most men need to sleep for a bit.”
“Oh.” She frowned, clearly thinking hard. “Do I caress it again? Is that how—”
“No, you will have to do something else. It is too sensitive right now.” Though the way she was studying him seemed to bring new life into his dragon. He did love an inquisitive mind.
“Then how?”
There were so many ways to answer that. So many things he wanted to do with her.
“You must get me to kiss you.”
“What? How?”
No virginal outrage in those words. Just simple curiosity. And clear excitement at doing something so daring.
He let his head drop back as he savored her eagerness. “You must make we want to take you again,” he explained. “And that begins with a kiss.”
“But how do I make you want to kiss me?”
The better question was how could she stop him, but he didn’t say that. He was too happy with her eagerness at the moment.
“Give me a moment to think,” he said, drawing out the anticipation. Then he straightened up, seeing that there were things he had neglected.
They were both a mess. He used the edges of his pants to clean himself and her. It was crude, but he had nothing better. And while he cleaned her, he savored the refined length of her hands and the surprising strength in her fingers. He caressed her callouses, knowing that she was a refined lady who had no doubt spent years studying how to hold a brush in a way that made the most beautiful strokes.
She seemed to enjoy what he did, allowing it, despite the crudeness of the fabric.
Then she grew impatient. “How do I get the emperor to kiss me?” she pressed.
Bringing the emperor into the conversation killed the moment. He had been pretending that she wanted him.
“That is a complicated question,” he said, stalling for time. “I cannot answer it—”
“You will tell me!” she said, and though there was command in her tone, there was also uncertainty. She sat in front of him with her hand wet and her cheeks flushed. She was aroused and unable to satisfy herself.
Sweet heaven, she was fascinating!