Page 58

The man stood slowly and glanced at Ophilia. "Should I call in the wardens?"

Ophilia stared back at Xeda, then shook her head. "No, that won't be necessary. I think you should probably leave." She said something to him under her breath, and the man only nodded, then swiftly made for the door. He passed by Xeda with a small smirk on his face, but Xeda could still smell the fear on him as he quickly disappeared. Xeda let him go, letting the door shut behind him.

Now that they were left alone, Xeda slowly moved across the room, keeping his sights only on her.

"What happened?" Ophilia asked, her body tense, face a little pale, clearly shocked by his reaction.

"I didn't much care for the gift," he said.

Ophilia straightened, her face now turning pink. "I'm sorry, Xeda, I thought..." She shook her head. "I didn't want to embarrass you."

He bared his teeth. "A little late. But I blame Kaxek for that."

Her brow furrowed. "Zachary, told me he could help."

Xeda growled, starting to pace the room. "I don't want their help."

"I was trying to help too," she explained. "Xeda, I just wanted to—to make things better.”

He stopped and looked at her. “You really do, don’t you?”

She took a step toward him. “What can I do? Tell me, Xeda, what do you want?"

He looked at her, pain settling between his thighs, making his legs shake. He stalked closer to her and reached out, letting his talons brush along her neck, her shoulder, then down her arm. Then he gripped her wrist and gently pulled her closer. His tail slithered across her back as if it had a mind of its own. As if needing to possess.

With one swift move, he led her hand to his chest, then down his stomach. "Touch me."

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

Ophilia

She watched as her hand, grasped in his, moved down the center of his chest, then his stomach, her fingers trailing over the sleek red scales that were thinner there than those along his arms and legs. Her heart leapt into her throat, gasping as he brought her hand lower.

She let him guide her, stunned by what he was doing. "Xeda," she whispered.

"Please," he growled softly. He led her over to the edge of his bed, then still holding onto her wrist, he began to untie his kelva pants. Quickly, he had them off and kicked away. Ophilia's eyes drifted down and saw his cock already freed from its sheath. The shaft was fully extended and curved upward where she could see a set of sleek ridges along the thick base. "Please," he said again, begging her to touch him.

Her eyes moved back to his. He really wanted this. And not just from anyone, she now knew. The sinking feeling she’d had all day now lifted and swelled.

She let him move her hand down to the base of his cock, letting her fingers trail over the slick shaft. A hiss of breath escaped him followed by a low guttural groan. Her gaze flicked back down, and she took hold of him firmly. He in turn loosened his grip on her wrist to grasp the back of her neck, holding her in place.

"That's it," he hissed softly, groaning again as she let her hand slide against him, slowly working him. "That's good." His legs trembled and his tail, she noticed, began to slide its way up her body, moving across her chest and along her neck, the tip gently trailing just under her chin, making her tilt her head back. She parted her lips, letting out a slow breath as her heart raced. Her expression made something snap in him. His nostrils flared and his pupils dilated, his fangs slipping from his upper lip as he sucked in a breath of air through his teeth.

She felt him throbbing in her hand, his seed pumping out to spill on to the floor. His face twisted as a growl ripped up his throat.

She let go of him but didn't dare move away as he held her still. His teeth were bared in a sort of twisted smile as his mouth came down and bit her throat.

He didn't break the skin, but it was enough to make her yelp in surprise. He drew back and glared at her. "Ah, I forgot. Such soft skin." He trailed a talon across her collarbone teasingly. This was so unlike him. It was like he was drugged up. Or drunk. Drunk on his need. This heat had really messed with him badly. The relief he showed only told her how difficult it had been.

"Xeda," she said carefully. "Are you really sure this is what you want?" She knew how he felt about her kind. Even if she wanted this too, she worried this was only some effect of his heat and nothing more. That after he calmed, he wouldn't even be able to look at her.

He fixed her with an intense, almost lazy expression. "I wouldn't have come here otherwise." His sharp fingers moved across her shoulder and, with one flick, tore the strap of her dress. His other hand kept a hold of her neck, her hair tangled in his fingers. His eyes narrowed on her. "And how curious I am," he said in a low voice, "to know what you feel like."

Her blood rushed to her face, her body growing warm. Slowly, she peeled away her dress and let it fall to the floor.

He stared at her with half closed eyes, studying her with his hungry gaze. Not the look of indifference she might have expected or the look of disgust she feared.

She swallowed hard, letting reality sink in and trying to be honest with him and herself. "I don't know if I can fit you," she said. "It's been a while and you’re..."