Page 10 of Maneater

“Are my decisions not worthy of your respect, Odessa?”

“They are.”

“Then explain your behavior.”

My voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m disappointed, that’s all. By next week, your decision will be unchanged. And I’ll still be here.”

Gadriel gave me a pointed look, then pulled me closer, positioning my body until the back of my head rested against his shoulder.

“Was I not clear that there was to be no further discussion on this?”

“You were,” I answered.

“It’s unlike you to challenge my orders.” His hands began to roam slowly over my body. I could feel the tension building in him as he turned my face toward his and kissed me. “However, I’ve reconsidered your incessant request.”

My heart skipped. “You have?”

“Would you like to hear my decision?” he asked, voice brushing against my ear.

My body tensed. “Tell me,” I whispered.

“Is it truly your desire to come with me?”

“Yes,” I replied, too quickly. I didn’t bother hiding the desperation in my voice.

Gadriel nodded slowly, almost as if savoring the moment. “Your devotion to me is… deeply gratifying, Odessa.”

Both of Gadriel’s hands slid from my waist up to my chest, his palms cupping the softness of me.

He touched me with a desire that made heat rise beneath my skin.

One hand trailed down, his finger brushing a path along my navel, and I instinctively parted my thighs, surrendering to the current he always seemed to summon from me .

“You’ve been so attentive to my needs,” he murmured against my ear.

I drew in a sharp breath as his fingers slipped inside me, two of them, moving with a coaxing pace that made my grip tighten on the edge of the tub. His other hand remained on my chest, kneading possessively, grazing the sensitive peaks and drawing soft gasps from my lips.

My body began to rise and fall in time with his strokes, the tension inside me tightening, climbing.

He seemed to measure his rhythm by the sound of my breath, those helpless moans rising from somewhere deep within.

And then, just as my hips quivered against him, he quickened, pushing me toward the inevitable.

I cried out and collapsed back against his chest, trembling.

Without a word, Gadriel shifted us, turning my body until I straddled him, my legs wrapping around his waist.

“Such an eager lover,” Gadriel murmured, voice threaded with heat.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, my body pressing flush against his.

My core slid against the length of him, and I let out a soft breath as my hips began to roll in slow strokes.

His eyes darkened as I moved, teasing us both with every shift of my hips.

Gadriel’s hands gripped my backside with firm urgency, guiding my rhythm, urging me closer.

My chest brushed along his torso, and the friction sent a delicate thrill rippling through me. Soon, I felt him press at my entrance, stretching me inch by inch until I gasped at the fullness.

Gadriel watched me, enraptured, his features tightening with pleasure as I moved atop him. His hands kept their commanding hold on my hips, lifting and lowering me with increasing hunger. When his mouth found my chest, he sucked, his tongue swirling in a way that made my back arch into him.

The pressure coiling within me began to rise again. I increased my pace, desperate for release, but Gadriel halted my movement with a sudden, possessive grip .

I stilled with a cry of protest, but he held me fast, his control firm even as he panted beneath me.

“Get up and bend over,” he commanded, breaths heavy.

I rose without wait, stepping out of the bath, the warm air wrapping around my damp skin.

My raven hair clung to my back and shoulders, plastered to me by a mixture of steam, water, and sweat.

Silently, I moved toward the edge of the tub, placing my hands on the cool porcelain.

I leaned forward at the waist, offering him the view he craved.

Behind me, Gadriel emerged from the water, droplets trailing down his form. The heat between us hadn’t lessened, if anything, it simmered hotter.

The prince rounded the tub and came to stand behind me. I felt his eyes trace every inch of my body before his hands settled firmly on my hips. A moment later, he entered me with a low, satisfied groan, and my body responded with a shiver of pleasure.

Gadriel’s movements were demanding, each thrust driving deeper as our breathless sounds filled the bathing chamber.

The slap of skin and the rising tempo of our moans echoed through the steam-filled air.

I gripped the edge of the tub, my knees threatening to give beneath the growing pressure inside me.

He tangled a hand in my wet hair and gave a sharp pull, lifting my head until my throat arched upward. A soft gasp escaped my lips as the movement sent a rush through me.

“Gods, you’re marvelous,” he murmured.

My teeth sank into my bottom lip, muffling the moans that threatened to spill from me as Gadriel drove into me unrelentingly.

The sensation was overwhelming, intoxicating to the point that my breath came in short, desperate gasps.

Behind me, Gadriel clung to the moment equally, his grip on my hips tightening as if he could possess every inch of me.

Each thrust sent heat spiraling through my core until my legs trembled, helpless against the wave of release building within me. I could feel him growing inside me, his need evident in every movement.

He released my hair and took hold of my arms, drawing them behind me until they crossed at the small of my back.

With one hand, he held them firmly in place, with the other, he clutched my waist. His final thrust was deep, and I felt him release inside me, claiming the moment with a groan that echoed against the tile walls.

My legs trembled beneath me as Gadriel throbbed, spilling deep inside.

Both of us were left panting, our chests rising and falling with the weight of our exertion.

He kept my hands pinned behind me a moment longer, his palm still firm against my lower back as he gripped me one final time before pulling away.

Once he let me go, I reached for the edge of the tub to steady myself, the cool porcelain grounding me as I caught my breath. Slowly, I cleaned myself and slipped back into my robe, tying the silken cords with unhurried fingers, though the knot felt tighter than usual.

Behind me, Gadriel stepped closer.

“You are stunning, Odessa,” he murmured, trailing a finger gently along my cheek.

I offered him a smile that was careful and poised.

“I’ll miss our time together,” he said, his voice touched by a softness that was rare in him.

I paused mid-breath. “Gadriel, what do you mean?”

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my lips softly.

“My favored,” he whispered. “What you wish for will not be granted. Leya will be coming to Torhiel.”