Page 126

He pet her lips with his thumb. “I do not have these.” He parted them so he could touch the point of his claw to the side of her tongue. “But I can lick you.”

That was Ingram, always looking for a solution or compromise to any problem she brought up.

As much as she didn’t want to hurt his feelings, she didn’t want to lie. “It’s not the same.”

“Can... we try?” He removed his thumb so he could place the knuckle of his forefinger under her chin. He lifted her face towards him. “I would like to try and share a kiss.”

Her lips flattened. She loosened them and nodded, parting them slightly as she tilted her face in nervous welcome.

Ingram was slow as he brought the tip of his beak closer, and then opened it just enough to give her a peek inside.

His purple tongue wasn’t wide. It was on the thinner side, and it was pointed to fit the shape of his mouth. It was moist as he slipped it across the seam of her lips, and she flinched at the strangeness of it. She wasn’t used to something so long and versatile.

Definitely not a normal kiss.

He slithered it sideways between the small gap of her lips and then past her teeth. Her surprised hum was muffled by his tongue as he brushed it against hers.

Like he could tell she was uncertain, or maybe he was as well, he was slow and gentle. It vividly allowed her to feel him exploring her tongue and greeting each of her tastebuds, as he swiped over and underneath it lightly. It kind of felt... nice.

Growing accustomed to it, she met his tongue a little more confidently, trying to brush it in return.

Emerie had always adored kissing, but this was very different. It felt odd to have a long, thin, and pointed tongue now trying to twirl around hers. Yet... a swirl of tenderness bloomed behind her sternum when he gave a quiet, satisfied moan. In its wake, shyness warmed her cheeks, ears, and chest.

The more she melted for him, for this dancing kiss, the more she realised it hadn’t been the locking of lips she’d been seeking, but that feeling to radiate within her. There was still warmth, still wetness, and his sweet groan became hers to swallow until she gave her own.

Her eyelids grew lazy as she pushed her tongue against his more forcefully – like her flat, short one had any chance of taking control against his long, windy, dexterous one.

“Emerie,” he rasped, grabbing her backside to knead it.

When his orbs changed purples, darkening, her eyes snapped open wide. She pulled back, yanking her tongue from him.

“No,” he lightly bit out. “More.”

Next thing she knew, his tongue was brushing against hers again. He also pressed more into the cavity of her mouth. She greeted it, melting for it once more, until he squeezed one of her arse cheeks in appreciation again while trying to bring her closer.

She pulled back and covered her mouth with the back of a hand. “N-no more,” she demanded with panted breaths, realising she’d begun trembling with rekindled desire. “I need rest. I need sleep.”

The sun was shining, and she hadn’t slept all night. She didn’t doubt she looked awful, likely with dark smudges under her eyes.

Ingram licked her palm since it was in the way, making it tickle. “Fine, little butterfly. I will let you rest.”

Every time he called her that, Emerie had the urge to squirm in self-consciousness. It was too big of a compliment for her to swallow.

He changed her position by slipping one arm under her knees, while the other supported her back. He also tilted to the side so his tail could slip forward and curl around her waist from between his thighs. He shuffled over to lean back against a tree not too far behind him so she could lie on top of him.

Emerie eyed the shadowy forest. “A-are you sure it’s safe for me to fall asleep here, even in the day? Wouldn’t it be best to find a sunny clearing?”

She really was alarmed by how close they were to the Veil now.

“Don’t worry, Emerie. I will protect you.”

He said that, but... “Won’t the Demons be able to smell me from a distance?”

She was a piece of bait, just ready to be eaten!

“They will not be able to smell you,” he stated. She didn’t know how that could be true, and she didn’t understand why he’d said it so genially – like he was filled with humour.

“How can you be so sure?”