The Taming

Road of Immortality

Elsabet, already curled in his lap, pressed her supple lips to his mouth. He made a surprised sound, pulling away from her.

"What's wrong?" She asked, confused.

"I've no wish for our kiss to be one in which I taste like the one that was so cruel to you."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "After all your proclamations of desiring me, you refuse me now?"

"I don't feel I've a choice." His face was written with pain. His grip on his self-control waning.

"Have you some wine?" She asked thoughtfully.

"I can get some from the kitchens."

"Then do so." She whispered against his lips.

He groaned low in his throat. "Woman, if this is a test, I'll surely fail..."

"It's no test. But you must hurry, before I change my mind." She purred. Warm breath brushing his face and the scent of wildflowers filling his senses.

"We cannot do this, I'm not sober." He objected.

What the hell am I saying? Find the bloody wine!

"So...You shouldn't take advantage of me because you've drank too much?" Her brows furrowed in confusion.

"I feel I'm ill-equipped for this argument."

She blinked at him.

She's right. Shut up. Rising, he lifted her by her narrow waist to set her further onto the edge of the bed. Noting his hands almost entirely wrapped around her.

Rising to his feet, he exited the room. Boots clicking against the wooden floor.

He suddenly felt remarkably steady. Within minutes he was in the kitchen opening the pantry to skim the bottles. Finding the dustiest one in the back of the shelf, wrapped in dense parchment, he retrieved it. Returning to Elsabet's chamber with two glasses dangling from his fingers.

He spun the glasses to right them atop the round table. Pouring a portion for each of them.

Lifting his own, he raised it in her direction. "This is the last thing I should be consuming tonight."

"It will sweeten the tongue." She gave him a prolonged look that heated his blood.

Making him rumble low in his throat as he felt scales moving under his skin. Come here, Sweetheart...

"Don't tempt me Elsabet."

"That's exactly what I'm doing." Her eyes were hooded as she slinked to him.

"Pardon me, my head is a bit..." He gestured to indicate his mind falling out.

"But how did we get from there." He pointed to where he'd been kneeling with her in his lap before. "To here."

"I need something to remind me I'm not there anymore." She caught the back of his neck. Setting her glass aside as she stood on her toes to touch their lips again.

"Woman you fracture what little resolve I have."

"Then let's dispatch it, shall we. Let me feel in control. Give me the power to control this moment."

He eyed her. Understanding dawning.

She needs a distraction. That's what she was really saying.

He dropped his glass. Catching her in his arms. He didn't fully understand what was happening but he'd have had to have been a fool to waste her affections now.

She's right about that.

She kissed him like she'd been starving.

And if he had to guess, that was likely how he kissed her too.

There was a sort of blessed gratification in knowing that for the next few hours, she was his.

He found the string binding her filmy silver wrap. He loosened the strings and pushed the front hems open. Baring her lovely body. And a delicious expanse of creamy skin.

Every inch of her was perfection from the pert upthrust breasts to the narrow waist and flat abdomen down to her fuller thighs and the hint of her rounded buttocks. But it was her huge blue eyes that drew him in. Beckoning him to fall deeper into her arms.

He didn't want to put her back in the bed where she'd been having nightmares, so he caught the corner of a fur.

She gripped his wrist. "What are you doing?"

"I was going to put it on the floor. So, you didn't have to go back in that bed right now. Not after-"

"I want to." She cut him off. "I want you in my bed. I want you to banish all my nightmares. Right there. In that bedding."

His brows lifted. "If that is what you want."

She caught his hand. "It is."

"Show me, Sebastian. Show me all the ways you are different. You are...Special."

That was a challenge he'd rise to in any state.

He positioned her beneath him but as she parted her thighs to give way for his hips, he dropped his shoulders down. Lying on his belly so he could settle his mouth over her center. He dragged his tongue along the tempting crease there. Tasting her. Tasting her stress, her joy, her worry. Every flavor of her day resided there in the hollow running through the center of her. She was sweet and she was sorrow. His hands roved the insides of her thighs. Working up toward her hips and along her stomach. Caressing over every lovely inch of her until able to slip over the mounds of her breasts. His thumb traced the fold beneath. Learning the outline of her flesh.

He fed on her sweet fluids. Tracing that opening with the tip of his tongue before following her crease upward to lick the tiny nub which had her moaning and writhing like a wanton. H

Her reaction was deeply exciting. Making him hunger for more.

He grew more aggressive, wanting more of a taste. He lathed her crease and swirled his tongue around the button that had her wiggling. Then down to her entrance where he slid in the merest inch before retracting. Then stretching it to press deeper.

She whined in raw pleasure. Moving her legs further open and winding her fingers through his hair encouragingly. The difference in how she reacted to when he slid his tongue into her center versus when he teased that delightful little button were distinct. But both were erotic and sensual.

He had every intention of spending a good deal of time tonight honoring both.