Page 8 of Moist!

chapter eight

LACHLAN

She’s early.

Stewing on Aedan’s less than helpful information has done wonders to ruin my mood, far more than the fact that my discomfort has only grown every minute the gorgeous curvy goddess has been gone.

I haven’t bothered to drag myself off the floor, sprawled in front of the throne like a common temple attendee and not the monster they worship

The relief that floods me when she starts to erase the distance between us is so sharp I gasp. Aedan was right about one thing. This isn’t sustainable.

Her growing closeness and the lessened pain clogging my veins as a result gives me enough time to put on a change of clothes; jeans and a red zip-up sweater.

It’s not becoming to wear suits after eleven at night.

Then in no time at all, she’s close enough that I can feel her in my bones. Her proximity. Her anticipation.

Fuck.

I’m at the hidden stone door as she raises her fist to knock.

She looks damn near edible in painted-on leggings and an oversized hoodie I can only think about dropping on my floor.

To that end, I have her back against the door frame in seconds, caging her in with my body before she can utter a greeting.

It feels like my heart is beating properly now.

Not slow and sluggish but rapid, my veins heating just from looking at her.

“Well, hello.” She smiles softly, and it rips through me.

“I’ve missed you.” I manage to keep the edge of desperation out of my voice as I respond, barely.

“I missed you, too.” Her sincerity is intoxicating.

There’s guilt eating at the edges of my consciousness, but I push it away and lean in to press my lips to hers instead.

Aedan’s words barrel in my mind, accompanied by a vicious distaste. Surely there has to be another way.

When she wraps her arms around my neck and deepens our entanglement I’m immediately slammed back to the present as my entire existence centers on my dick, demanding satisfaction.

I push myself back, holding her against the wall at arm’s length while I try to catch my breath. The hurt look that flashes across her face cuts me to my core.

“Let’s talk about mythology.” I manage the words after a deep breath, keeping my eyes focused anywhere but the deep pools of hers I’m likely to drown in.

“Mixed signals, but alright.” I flick my gaze up in time to catch her raised eyebrow and mirth-laced expression. She would mistake that as foreplay. I love that.

“Do you know the story of the Sphinx that was bested at a game of riddles?” I draw the words out slowly, my nerves starting to overtake the steeled edge that’s been leading my actions. She nods almost immediately.

“Well, in Greek Mythology, it’s said that when Oedipus solved the riddle, the Sphinx hurled herself off a cliff.”

I nod, pressing her.

“A bit more to it wasn’t there?”

She sighs uncomfortably.

“I’ve never really liked that story,” Her voice is soft, like she can sense where I might be going with this.

“Good, because I’m about to tell you what really happened.”

She doesn’t move, doesn’t tense, doesn’t give any response besides her eyes on me, urging me to continue.

“The story is never told in order, by design.” I can’t be in this hallway with her. She’s too close, and my body won’t dismiss its obsession with touching her. To keep the snapping, urgent need at bay, I take her hand and lead her back to the temple proper as I continue.

“Besting a Sphinx doesn’t kill them. If only that were the worst of it. Death would be a mercy.”

“What happens?” Her voice is barely above a whisper now.

“Besting a sphinx at their own game binds them. Like a servant.” Her brow furrows in concentration, and I assume she’s putting the pieces together. Finally, she speaks.

“The Sphinx of Thebes didn’t self-destruct in embarrassment at her riddle being solved. She did it to protect herself.”

I’m not surprised by how quick she is.

“Adra. She was bound by someone invested in the control of Thebes. Creon, I’m sure you’ve heard his name sprinkled over the myths, never hers. He used her to lock down the city. Rid it of his brother-in-law and install a sympathetic king indebted to him when rule became tedious.” I confirm.

She wasn’t wrong about our tales being tragic.

“Is that the only reason you’re attracted to me?”

Her question stuns me for a full three seconds.

“No. If you’ll recall, I was keen to have my name on your lips and my face between your thighs before you solved my riddle.”

Though admittedly, my devotion does seem quite twisted to that nature, maybe something to do with our spark of attraction before our fates entangled. Still, she seems relieved.

“Well. I’m not interested in having a magical hold over you, can’t I just renounce it?”

My jaw nearly drops to the floor.

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

I’m speaking before I can stop myself .

“You don’t understand, Hayden. You could make me do anything. Be anything. Have a pet monster at your disposal, have me raze your enemies, secure your line. Whatever you want.”

She’s shaking her head before I’ve even finished my sentence.

“I don’t want any of that traded on free will. That would make me a villain.”

I catch her other hand in mine, pulling her to face me, the bond already overriding my self-preservation.

“No one would see it that way. I’m the monster . You’d be a hero.”

Her laugh is bitter.

“I would see it that way. That’s all that matters. ‘Monster’ isn’t a linear definition, but how I define it, it’s all about your choices and actions. Not a birthright. Besides, I know how it is to be a supporting character in someone else’s life. I would never wish that on anyone.”

I can’t seem to find the words that I need.

This is not how I expected any of this to go.

It doesn’t help that with the immediate issue of my eternal freedom settled, fight or flight has ebbed away, leaving the last of my adrenaline to focus on a third option I hadn’t considered. Fuck.

If I thought I wanted this woman before, hearing her so casually act against her own best interests for nothing more than morality has rapidly turned want back to need.

“So, how do I release you?”

The matter-of-fact tone in her voice pushes through the needy haze that’s taken over my thoughts.

“I don’t know.”

She hums softly.

“Well you said fucking me would satisfy the bond…” Her eyes drag down my body, and my pulse thrums in response. “So what would the opposite of that be?”

“I was wrong about that. Since our attraction is a separate consideration, sex would be as well. ”

The words come out in a rush, but I don’t want her thinking about not fucking me. Quite the contrary.

“Matter of fact, I think we might be better equipped to think through a solution if we settle this separate consideration. Being near you makes it impossible to focus on anything but tasting you again.”

This time, I don’t bother waiting for her reaction before I pull her closer to me, rewarded when her hands leave mine just long enough for her arms to wrap around my neck again and drag me down to kiss her.

It’s intoxicating. In the extreme.

She might not intend to claim my agency, but I sure as fuck intend to claim her body.