Page 109 of Blood Day: Part One

“No.”Not because I didn’t want it, but because this wasn’t how I wanted her to beg.

Lily was desperate to prove her worth to me without understanding that she already had. That was why I’d returned for her, why I’d brought her back here.

I already wanted her.

She had more than passed every test imaginable.

But her expression fell now at my refusal, her shoulders bowing in a defeat similar to the one I’d witnessed months ago before I’d left.

I released her hair to grasp her chin and pulled her gaze back to mine. “You’re not ready to please me yet,” I informed her gently. “But you will be soon.”

Because I intended to teach her my ways, to show her what true rapture meant.

We’d only begun our journey together months ago.

Tonight, I would take us another step forward.

Sadness filled her gaze as she released my throbbing cock. “Yes, Master Cedric.” Her voice held a note of despair to it that made me sigh.Thiswas why she couldn’t properly please me yet. She’d been indoctrinated in this world of savagery, her mind warped to a point of no return.

I’d have to break some of that conditioning to make her fully understand.

Perhaps it was cruel to do this to her mere weeks before her Blood Day, yet it was the only real gift I could provide for her—memories to warm her heart and mind on her journey to death.

“I’m not failing you, Lily,” I promised her. “And I’m not doubting your skills or training. I know what courses you’ve taken, but those classes were not designed with my preferences in mind.”

Such as willing submission, not forced submission.

“When you call meMasterin the bedroom, it will be because I earned the title.” It would be when she actually understood what it meant. And that kink might never even come to fruition between us, which was okay with me. I could handle all sorts of roles in the bedroom.

But I couldn’t have her like this.

I didn’t want a placid doll.

I wanted a blossoming flower. I wanted my Lily.

“I’m Cedric when we’re alone. I know I took that back before, but I’ve explained my reasons for that. And now that you’re mine for the next month, you can freely call me Cedric again.”

Unless someone told me I couldn’t have her.

However, the only one with the authority to do so was Prince Khalid. I doubted he would deny my request, but I’d find out during our evening breakfast.

Her blue-green eyes studied me. “I still don’t understand you.”

I smiled. “You will.”Or maybe she won’t.

It didn’t matter.

What mattered was our time left together. “Our game isn’t finished, Lily. My legs are clean, but that’s only the lower half of me.”

Her nostrils flared, her expression coming alive with renewed interest. “I… I can still touch you?”

“Yes. But I don’t want you on your knees tonight.” I stood and pulled her up with me by grasping her shoulders. “Now grab the sponge and finish the game.”

I took a step back to see what she would do.

Her eyes ran over me, her pupils pulsating as she took in my still-hard shaft.

She swallowed, her cheeks reddening.