Page 46 of A Taste For Lies (The Apex Kingdom #1)

Chapter 46

ALORA

I part my lips slightly, and his tongue slips in, deepening the kiss to something edged with desperation. As before, the taste of him floods my senses. Will it be like this every time?

When his big hand at my lower back slips down and palms my ass, I forget anything but the heat of his mouth on mine. He makes a low groaning noise in the back of his throat, and the sound shoots a line of fire straight to the now throbbing spot between my legs.

He backs me up to the wall, still ministering bruising kisses, then uses his hand on my ass to lift my leg around his waist. He lines our hips up, grinding into me with his hard length. My eyes squeeze shut with the sheer pleasure of it.

“Fuck,” he pants, finally pulling his mouth from mine and trailing kisses along my jaw, down my neck.

“Fuck,” he says again when he reaches the swell of my breasts. With only one hand, he rips my tunic down the middle as easily as if it were paper. He peppers more kisses on the newly exposed skin, punctuated by little nips of his teeth. I tangle my fingers into his soft waves, holding him there.

His helpless swearing is turning me on even more, if that’s possible. Everything this male utters seems to fall like honey on my ears. He thumbs a hard nipple and I arch my back against the wall, giving him better access, letting the remains of my tunic slide off my shoulders to the ground.

My breaths are already coming in mortifyingly loud pants when he puts his mouth close to my ear and rasps, “I have to taste you. Now.”

I make a sound so needy it will no doubt embarrass me later. With both hands, he lifts and carries me effortlessly from the wall and deposits me roughly on the nearby bed. He kneels between my legs, using his knees to knock them apart, denying me the friction I’m desperate for.

“Are these clothes important to you?” His already deep baritone has gone guttural.

“Whaa—?” I’m not very eloquent after he just touched me like that.

“Are these clothes ones you brought with you from Heshan? That Eleni made,” he clarifies. A little late to ask, considering he just destroyed my tunic.

“No, but—”

He doesn’t wait for me to finish. He rips the rest of my clothes off as if he had claws, flinging the shredded cloth to the stone floor. I glare up at him, but it’s completely lost on Taran.

He’s staring down at my naked body as if I’m the goddess Faunera come to Valenrae.

Well, two can play at that game.

I surge upwards, capturing his mouth with mine, using the distraction to rip his shirt open, buttons flying. He smiles against my mouth. I bite his bottom lip in response, earning myself a low, rough laugh that sends goosebumps trailing up my bare legs. With jerky movements, I manage to pull his shirt off, then lie back to admire the view.

Gods, this male. He’s miles of bronzed skin over rock-hard muscles. I drink in the sight as I wanted to that day in the training yard, leisurely raking my eyes over his luscious biceps, down to his hard abdomen and the deep V that disappears down his pants to the impressive length straining against them. My mouth goes dry.

His smirk is all smug male satisfaction. “Like what you see? ”

Before I can retort, he’s already captured the hard bud of one of my nipples in his mouth, his calloused hand roughly toying with the other. I let out a cry, tightening my legs around his knees, trying to find some relief from the building ache between my thighs.

One hand snakes down and spreads me wide, splaying out against my inner thigh. I buck my hips off the bed, desperate for him to move that hand to where I need it. He ignores me, lavishing rough kisses intermixed with tiny nips on my breasts until I’m so worked up and desperate, I try to take matters into my own hands.

“Naughty lynx,” he chides, circling both wrists in one huge hand and pinning them to my other inner thigh. My legs are spread wide for him, my breasts pushed together by my arms, as I writhe on the bed.

His nostrils flare, and a savage hunger flickers across his beautiful face. His pupils are blown wide with lust, just a thin band of glowing silver ringing them. He leans down, running his nose lightly against my center, then breathes out over the sensitive flesh.

“Knew you’d be like this. The most delectable bouquet.”

“Taran, please.”

“Mmmm, remember, I like it when you beg. Please what, My Lynx?” A tiny part of me wants to rebel against this small claiming me as his—not the first time he’s done it—but it’s quickly drowned out when he blows another cool breath against my throbbing core.

“Touch me.” I’m whimpering now.

He rubs his stubble against the sensitive flesh of my inner thigh, and my legs tighten against his hands and my own.

“With my hand?” he muses. He releases one thigh and runs a featherlight touch where the ache is becoming unbearable. My hips buck involuntarily, chasing those fingers and the relief they can deliver.

He chuckles darkly, pushing down the other thigh with the hand still holding both of mine in a firm grip, keeping me pinned. Another couple of featherlight touches on that bundle of nerves, using just the one finger, wring a garbled plea from my lips .

“Or with my mouth?” At the first flick of his tongue, my eyes shutter.

He stills. Confused, I open my eyes. He’s waiting for an answer. I clamp my lips together, refusing, but he just brushes me again with the tip of one finger, and I cave.

“Your mouth. Gods, taste me, Taran, please.”

They’re the right words. The best words. They make him release my wrists in an instant, hooking both hands around my thighs, lifting my ass off the bed and guiding the apex of my thighs to his hot mouth.

And then he feasts.

In barely any time at all, I’m a gasping, pleading mess, my hands buried in his hair, simultaneously desperate to tug him closer and push him away; the pleasure is so intense. When he slides one thick finger inside my entrance, I cry out, squeezing my eyes shut.

“Keep those amber orbs on me, My Lynx,” he admonishes, stilling once again, letting me know he’s serious. My eyes fly open, and I keep my gaze trained on his while he goes back to his meal.

He growls in appreciation, the vibrations divine. My legs start to stiffen in his hands, my release shimmering.

I close my eyes without thinking, and he stops. Again. I open them quickly, but he’s already pulling his finger out, leaving me achingly empty.

“Don’t stop.”

He rubs his nose against my center lightly, then groans. “You are the most divine thing I have ever tasted.”

“Tare,” I pant.

“Mmmm.” Another light rub, this time with his mouth. “Say my name again.”

“Taran, please.”

“Please what, My Lynx?”

“Taran!"

"Please fuck me with your fingers, Taran?” He drives two fingers inside me, curling them to hit a spot that makes me see stars. His arms knock my legs wider as they try to close on their own against the intensity. The build starts up again, faster than before, already nearing the precipice.

“Please lick my heavenly wet cunt, Taran?” He buries his face back between my thighs, lashing me with his tongue while his fingers keep up their steady pace. My legs are shaking violently, and I’m almost scared of what’s coming.

“Taran, I…I’m—”

“Come for me, Alora,” he commands, then curls his fingers again. And with my name in his mouth and his eyes fixed on mine, I break.

I scream as the most powerful release I’ve ever felt rips through me. His mouth descends back between my legs, licking and biting and drawing out the pleasure until I’m almost sobbing with it. Still he holds me open wide, never letting me have any relief. I nearly black out before he finally slows, lapping me up almost lazily, then licking his fingers clean.

I finally let go of my death grip on his hair and press a hand to my mouth, utterly speechless. I’ve never experienced anything like that. I didn’t know it could feel like that.

He starts kissing his way up my body. Soft, tender kisses that create tiny pulsing aftershocks, especially when he pauses at my breasts and gives them extra attention.

“You.” He punctuates each word with a kiss. “Taste. So. Damn. Good. Alora.”

His weight settles over me, and he dips his head to draw my mouth into a deep, leisurely kiss. I taste myself on his tongue as it strokes mine. By the time he pulls back, I’m breathless again.

I feel raw, shaken. And also like I want him to lose control under me this time.

My fingers trace the deep V of his abdomen, then run lightly along the waistband of the pants he's still wearing and his eyes, already lit, burst into silver-gray flames.

“I want to taste you, too,” I admit, almost shyly .

He groans, then to my utter dismay, falls backwards onto the bed and lies at my side, an arm flung over his face. I make a noise of protest as his weight lifts off me.

His voice is muffled when he says, “I want that, too. You have no idea how much. But we can’t. I can’t.”

I roll over until I’m leaning half on top of him, toying again with his waistband.

“You can’t?” I drop my hand down and boldly cup him over his pants. He lets out the sexiest groan, thrusting into my hand like he can’t help himself. The sound, combined with the impressive feel of him, has my desire ratcheting up faster than I would have thought possible after the mind-blowing pleasure he just gave me.

Every time I get a taste of this male, I only end up wanting more. I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever be satisfied where he is concerned.

“It appears you can,” I tease.

But the prince captures my wandering hand with his own, bringing it up to rest instead against his face. We lock eyes, and amidst the copious lust and desire, there’s something else there. Something that makes my heart race.

His eyes flick down to my bare breasts. “You need clothes. Unless you’re ready for my stoneclaw to claim you?” He sighs deeply at my wide-eyed expression. “I thought not.”

Before I can respond, he’s vaulted off the bed, pulled on one of his signature black shirts and is returning with another for me. I hold out my hand resignedly (my own clothes are certainly in no condition to be worn), but instead of placing the shirt there, he slips it on me himself.

It’s so large, it hangs down to my knees, like a robe. He does up the buttons slowly, breathing through his mouth, avoiding taking in the full scope of my scent. When he’s done, he leans back and admires me in his shirt, a blatantly possessive look on his face.

My eyes narrow. “You like this.”

That devastating smile overtakes my whole vision. He leans forward and kisses me breathless .

“Yes,” he finally breaks off to murmur against my neck, his breath tickling my ear. “Yes, I like this.”

I can’t help my giggle. I feel his smile against my neck.

“Do that again,” he murmurs, capturing my lips and swallowing the sound.

“Do what?” I gasp out.

“Laugh. I love your laugh. Every time you laugh, I want to taste it.” His tongue strokes mine, and instead of laughter, a whimper slips out. Wrapping his arms around me, he pulls me down to the bed. I rest my head on his broad chest, and he begins stroking my hair. If I could purr right now, I would.

“What did you mean about your stoneclaw claiming me?” My infernal curiosity won’t let it lie.

He hesitates for only a moment, then goes back to raking his fingers through my hair. “I want to tell you, but I’m worried about scaring you off just when I’ve finally gotten you where you belong.”

“A reasonable fear.” My pulse is already thumping. “I can’t promise you won’t, but—I want to know.”

His arm around me tightens. His soft lips brush against my forehead, and it’s so…sweet…after the inferno of earlier.

His calloused fingertips graze a light, teasing trail along the flesh where my neck meets my shoulder, firing up every nerve ending along the way. “I’m desperate to bite you right here. My canines ache to mark you as mine.”

I swallow. “What would happen if you did?”

“I don’t know. But I’m not willing to gamble with your safety to find out.” His voice is as grim as I’ve ever heard it. “And I refuse to hurt you. Bad things happen when my stoneclaw is in charge.”

An icy chill snakes down my spine. “Has that ever happened before? During…?”

Gently, he tilts my face up to his. “You’re the only one I’ve ever felt this pull towards. My stoneclaw craves you as much as I do. I’ve slept with human women and Apex, but I’ve never been so…crazed for someone before. Nearly feral.” He whispers the final word like the dangerous taboo it is .

My irrational jealousy spikes again at his mention of other women. “Not even with Victoria?”

He chuckles, running his thumb along my cheekbone. “I never slept with her, my vicious lynx. It was always a business arrangement between us. But I also haven’t slept with a human woman since I emerged, and I won’t experiment with the person I’m most desperate to keep safe.” I frown. “You’ll find your lynx, Alora. I know you will. But until then, I can’t risk it. Risk you .”

Tentatively, I press a kiss to his neck. At exactly the point where he said his stoneclaw longs to mark me. He groans, pulling me tighter, and I feel his still rock-hard length against my hip.

“This is…the sweetest torture,” he grates out, palming my bare ass under his shirt and squeezing. I grind against him automatically, and he sucks in a breath.

I continue to trail kisses along his collarbone. “How do you think I feel? You basically said that it’s only your stoneclaw that wants me.”

He catches my chin in his fingers and raises my gaze to his. “That is not what I said.” A soft kiss, the barest brush of his lips to mine. “I said I don’t trust my stoneclaw to be careful with you.” He holds my chin for a beat longer before letting me look away. “I should let you go. If I was a better male, I would let you sail away from me to Thalassar tomorrow. But the thought of losing you…” Another sigh. “I can’t. You’ve hooked your claws too deep in my soul.”

I drag in a breath and meet his swirling silver eyes. “You’ve done the same to me.”

His answering smile sets the room ablaze. “You won’t regret bringing me with you. I promise you. I won’t ever let you regret it.”

“Are you still sure you want to? You’ll have to leave Carter and Maeve and—”

He cuts me off with a kiss. As his mouth dips down to meet mine, I throw one bare leg over his, pushing my body against him.

“I promise,” he gasps out between kisses. “ I promise.”

Our caresses grow more frenzied, wild. One big hand tangles in my hair, pulling slightly so my neck is wrenched back, my lips where he wants them. The other tugs me harder against him as I writhe against his length, increasingly desperate to have it thrusting inside me. A moan wrenches from my throat.

Until he stops us. Again.

“This is getting old,” I complain.

A bashful half-smile. “I should probably walk you back to your room. You need your rest for tomorrow. And I’m nearly tapped out on restraint.” His eyes dip down to his oversized shirt wrapped around my naked body, rucked up to my waist. The hand on my hip flexes.

“I can sneak back myself. Better they think I was with some other human lord than see us together.”

He growls, tugging the shirt down to cover my bare ass. “Fuck that. You’ll be walking with me.”

My heart pounds every step of the silent journey through the passageways back to my chambers. I don’t even want to imagine the consequences if we’re caught. My completely healed, bare leg would be the very least of it.

Outside the secret door, the prince gives me a whisper of a kiss, murmurs, “Sleep well, My Lynx,” and then he’s gone.