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“Yes,” Slate said. “Still.”

The implication made Ruby shiver: he was so veryinhuman. This was a Skullstalker who didn’t even realize how long humans lived. He was entirely unknown, and she was letting him push his big fingers inside her, deeper than anyone had ever been.

The heat in her core was building. Ruby dropped her head against his massive arm. Slate’s fingering slowed, and Ruby wondered if she had done something he disliked.

“Sorry,” she said, lifting her head.

He cut her off. “Are you going to come like this? Just from my fingers inside?”

Ruby’s sensitive clit throbbed. She thought about touching it, but just the idea made her wince. She’d never used it so much before.

“Yes,” she admitted. Then his fingers crooked, and she groaned. “Yes.”

Slate continued to make a beckoning motion inside her, fluttering against that spot that made her hips buck against him. Then his fingers parted, and Ruby whimpered.

He’s stretching me, she realized.Getting me ready.

That was what all this was about, after all. Preparing her to take his cock.

She cried out and came, clenching around his fingers. She could hear herself making pitiful noises, but it was difficult to care when she felt so good. Her hips flowed against him, riding out every last wave of pleasure until she was spent and quaking.

And still, Slate’s fingers remained.

She lifted her head off his arm. She was damp with sweat, her hair a frizzy mess where she’d rubbed them against him.

Ruby grimaced as she noticed she had left a patch of sweat on his skin. She wassmall, sure, but she was also so many other things he wasn’t used to. Including dripping… on him.

She smoothed a self-conscious hand through her messy hair. “That was… thank you.”

Ruby didn’t know if it was the right thing to say. But Slate nodded, his fingers sliding out of her with a slick pop that made her throb with emptiness.

He moved from the bed to stand before it. Ruby’s eyes fell to his stiff cock under his loincloth. He was at the perfect height. If she just leaned up, she could mouth at the fabric.

She bit her lip, waiting. Surely now, he would ask. He didn’t ask last time, butsurely?—

“I will leave you to your rest,” he announced.

Slate turned toward the door. Ruby watched despairing as his cock vanished from view, still heavy under his loincloth.

“Wait,” Ruby blurted.

Slate turned. She was shocked and dismayed to see the bulge was already going down. Did he only do it for her benefit?

“I…” Ruby eyed the wilting bulge cautiously. “I want to make you come.”

Slate made another trilling noise deep in his throat. “It is not necessary.”

Apparently not,Ruby thought as she watched the bulge continue to shrink. She wanted to back down, apologize for the smear of sweat on his skin, and try to find that bathroom again.

But shewantedit. And she hoped he wanted it, too. Not to mention it was the least she could do after how good he’d been to her.

“I know,” she said. “I just… if you don’t want to, that’s fine.”

Slate’s tail flicked behind him in a way that reminded Ruby of an anxious animal. Then he stepped toward her, and the flick turned to a swish. Less anxious animal, more stalking tiger.

He loomed over her. His lips parted, and Ruby wondered if those fangs would nick her if he kissed her. He still hadn’t kissed her yet, and she didn’t know if she should be expecting it. Those fangs looked dangerously sharp.

Slate pushed her into the bed.