Page 92 of Bonds of Starfall

Her hands were strong—angry, almost—as she teased him. Her teeth nipped his lower lip, her hands trailing down his chest, bare with his shirt completely unbuttoned and hanging free. When she skimmed her fingers over his belt, he stilled, grabbing her wrist.

"No.No, Vesperin. Not tonight. When I take you, I want it to be when we have time. Days. Because what I want to do to you? It won’t take a few hours," he promised, lips pressed against the corner of her mouth.

"I want you. I want that. But Lucien—" She broke off with a frustrated moan.

He nipped her earlobe, playing with the many piercings she had lining her delicate, pretty ears. "What is it?"

"Never mind," she said, placing a palm on his cheek and tugging his lips to hers. She ground down against him. "Is this okay?"

"More than okay, sweet girl."

She nodded, head tipping back as she repeated the action, a soft moan falling from her slick lips. Lucien skimmed his fingertip over the seam of her jeans, and she gasped. He did it again, pressing firmly. He loved to be in control. He could not help it. And he was desperate for her to give in to him, to this.

Lucien gripped the side of her neck with a firm hand, lips ghosting over hers as he murmured, fingers still moving over her, "I want you to come for me, then I want you to go finish your dinner. When you’re done, I’ll take you back to your dorm andwatch as you walk inside. Safe. You’ll go on this mission, and you will text me updates." He pressed the heel of his palm against her core. "Regularly, Vesperin."

She nodded, stuttered gasps falling from her lips, eyes shut.

"Use your words, sweet girl," he prodded.

"I will," she managed.

He smiled, pleased. "Then come."

She shattered on his lap, head falling against his chest, lips pressed to the side of his neck as she exhaled with soft little puffs of air, hips shifting lazily as she rode her high, and he worked her through it. When she stuttered a plea and pulled away, he stopped, cupping her between her thighs.

Lucien kissed the top of her head. "Good girl."

She pulled away, hair mussed from his hands and lips swollen from his mouth. "What about you?" she asked, voice husky.

"This wasn’t about me, sweet girl. This was about you, knowing that I care about you and that I have you."

Lucien held her like that for some time, eyes drifting to the watch on his wrist every so often, a pit forming in his gut with every minute that passed. Her heart was a fluttering beat as his fingers stayed under her jaw.

He stared at the city through the windows, knowing what he would have to do next.

Outside the Academy gates,Lucien wrapped her in his arms, fearing she might break. Her heart beat against his chest.

"My V girl," he muttered lowly, the words pulled from somewhere deep inside his chest. Private. She stiffened against him, but said nothing. "Lunar City… I know you can protect yourself, but are you certain of this?"

"I have to do this, Lucien. For reasons I hope I can share with you later," she said secretively.

He licked his lips, tasting her on them. Finally, she broke free from his embrace, staring up at him under the night sky. He technically wasn’t supposed to be out at this time, but he could flaunt his identification and say he was headed to the hospital on an urgent call if stopped.

Lucien sighed. "I feel like we always say goodbye."

"Maybe this will be the last time." Vesperin stepped away from him, hugging herself against the nippy night air. As the gates opened and she walked inside, she turned back to look at him. "Lucien," she called. The moment stretched on, and she shook her head. "Never mind."

The gates shut behind her with a final thud.

He watched her walk down the relatively empty path that led to her dorm until she disappeared inside. Only then did he turn to his car and get in, gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles were white.

The sound of his breath filled the car, and he unlocked his glove box, pulling the burner phone from within and dialing a number.

She answered on the first ring.

"What is it?"

"Vesperin is leaving Solar City on another mission. I thought you would like to know," Lucien said into the phone.