Page 15

Her voice is so soft I almost miss it, a fragile whisper lost in the rustle of the sheets. I lean closer, my scales brushing against her bare skin. “What did you say, my sweet?” I murmur, gentlylifting her chin so I can see into those wide, vulnerable eyes of hers.

She hesitates, her gaze flickering away before she speaks. “I said, you must think I’m a low-class woman.”

My brow furrows, the ridges of my scales catching the dim light filtering through the yacht’s windows. “Why would I think that?”

She lets out a shaky breath, her fingers twisting the edge of the blanket. “Because I gave it up on the first date. My body, my virginity…”

The word hits me like a shockwave. Virginity. My golden eyes widen, and for a moment, I’m frozen. Of all the things I expected, this wasn’t it. I’ve seen her blush, her stammering attempts at flirting, but I didn’t think—no, I didn’tknow. My voice is softer now, almost reverent. “Taylor…”

She flinches, misreading my tone. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. I just—I didn’t want you to think less of me.”

“Think less of you?” I nearly laugh, but it’s not humor that fills the sound—it’s disbelief. “Taylor, look at me.” I wait until her eyes meet mine again, her cheeks flushed with shame. “You are magnificent. Every inch of you. And what we just did… that doesn’t make you less. It makes you more. The Precursors—the gods who shaped us—they gave us these bodies, these desires, for a reason. Denying them? That’s not holiness. It’s a waste.”

She blinks, her lips parting as if she’s about to argue, but I don’t let her. My thumb brushes over her lower lip, silencing her before she can speak. “Liking sex doesn’t make you unclean. It doesn’t make you weak or low-class or anything else you’re worried about. It makes you alive. And you, Taylor, are more alive than anyone I’ve ever met.”

I can see the tension in her shoulders easing, the rigid set of her jaw softening. “You really mean that?”

“Every word.” My voice is firm, leaving no room for doubt. “You are a masterpiece, Taylor. And I’m honored that you chose me to share this with.”

For a moment, she just stares at me, her eyes searching mine as if she’s looking for any hint of insincerity. And then, slowly, a smile tugs at the corners of her lips. “You’re not what I expected, Alonzo Ramone.”

I grin, my teeth sharp and gleaming in the low light. “Good. I’d hate to be predictable.”

When I lean in to kiss her, she meets me halfway, her lips eager and unhesitating. Her hands find their way to my shoulders, pulling me closer, and I lose myself in the taste of her, the warmth of her body pressed against mine. She’s not hiding anymore, and neither am I.

CHAPTER 7

TYLER

My fingers trace the ridges of Lanz’s scales, the texture unlike anything I’ve ever felt—warm, smooth, yet with a subtle firmness that makes me titter. His chest rises and falls under my touch, the raw strength coiled beneath the surface, like he’s holding back a storm. My hands drift lower, exploring the hard lines of his abdomen, each muscle defined, almost sculpted. But when I near the waistband of his trousers, I freeze. My fingers hover like I’ve stumbled into forbidden territory.

Lanz’s hand snaps out, and he grabs my wrists. His grip is firm, controlled, but not painful. I can feel the heat of his palm against my skin. I look up at him, those golden eyes locking onto mine. He doesn’t say a word, just guides my hands downward, pressing them against the heat of his arousal. My cheeks burn, but I can’t pull away. I don’t want to.

“Take it out,” he says.

My eyes widen, and I swallow hard. My fingers tremble as I fumble with the button of his trousers, my mind racing. I’ve never done this before—never even come close. But with Lanz, it’s different. He makes me feel bold, like I’m not the girl whoblushes when someone says the word “sex.” I’m someone else entirely.

I manage to undo the button, my fingers brushing against the hard length of him through the fabric.. I glance up at him again, searching his face for reassurance, for something.

“Keep going,” he growls, his voice rough, sending a shiver down my spine.

I bite my lip and slowly unzip his trousers, the sound impossibly loud in the quiet of the room. My hands are shaking now, but I don’t stop. I can’t. I’ve never wanted anything so badly in my life.

Lanz doesn’t make a sound, but I can feel the tension in his body, the way his muscles coil tighter as I free him. My breath catches when I see him, and for a moment, I’m frozen.

“Touch me,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper, but it might as well be a shout.

I reach out, my fingers brushing against him tentatively, and he lets out a low groan that sends a rush of heat straight to my core. My cheeks are on fire, but I don’t stop. I can’t.

“You’re doing so good,” he murmurs, his hand coming up to cup my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek.

My heart swells at the praise, and I feel a strange mix of nerves and pride. I’ve never felt like this before—like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. And for the first time, I don’t feel like the shy girl who hides in the corner. I feel like I’m enough.

Lanz’s hand slides into my hair, his fingers tangling gently but with a firmness that flips all the right switches inside of me. His golden eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe.

“Take me into your mouth,” he says, his voice low, commanding, but with a softness that makes my stomach flip.

My heart is racing, pounding so hard I’m sure he can feel it. I glance down at him, marveling at the way the light catches the ridges along his shaft, the heart-shaped crown that looks almost too perfect to be real. My fingers tremble as I reach out, brushing against him, and he lets out a low groan that makes my cheeks burn.