Page 44 of Season of the Witch (Toil and Trouble #3)

thirty

Tia gripped onto Henry like he was a life preserver, sinking her hands into his shirt and holding tight as his lips moved over hers. It was lazy, intense, tasting instead of devouring.

She tugged harder, trying to dial up the speed.

“Not this time,” he said against her lips. “This time we do things my way.”

She opened her eyes and glared. “No.”

“You wanted a distraction.” He dipped his head, laid his mouth on her skipping pulse. His tongue flicked out and she gasped. “You didn’t say what kind.”

“Well, I want fast.”

“Sorry, negotiation window closed thirty seconds ago.” He kissed up her neck, pausing at the spot behind her ear that made her shivery.

He released the doorjamb and clasped her hips, backing up to the bed before spinning her to face it.

“Take off your dress,” he whispered in her ear, sending more shivers across her skin.

Fine. No man could go slow once a woman was naked. Sending a hot look over her shoulder, she crossed her arms at her hem and slowly pulled the dress over her head. Her heart pounded at the way his gaze blurred, his hands tracing bare skin as he brought her back against him.

His body was hard and hot, achingly familiar, and she battled back the feelings that tried to overwhelm her. Instead, she moved her body in a teasing figure eight, brushing deliberately against every sensitive part until she heard his breathing go uneven.

“Get on the bed,” was his next order.

“But I’m happy here.” She yelped as his teeth closed gently over her shoulder.

“You don’t get to be in charge this time, Celestia,” he murmured against her skin. “Get on the fucking bed.”

Her legs trembled at the silken order. Maybe it was weak, maybe it was wrong, but she slowly did as she was told, crawling onto the mattress before twisting around.

His face was tight with desire, pupils blown as he watched her.

“Good girl,” he rasped. “Open for me.”

She waited a few seconds until he sent her a warning look.

His hands clenched at his sides as she let her legs fall open, her panties already damp.

“Fuck,” he swore. “You’re so beautiful.”

His praise sank into her and she tried to ignore the warmth that filled the emptiness. “Are you going to join me?” she prompted.

His chuckle surprised her. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and leaned against one of the bedposts. “You can’t help yourself, can you?” He trailed his eyes over her, the only sign of his arousal his flushed face and the bulge no jeans could hide. “I see you, Tia.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

He moved faster than she’d anticipated, circling her ankle with a hand and jerking her effortlessly to the edge of the mattress so her legs were dangling. The careless show of strength sent an explosion of butterflies into her belly.

He leaned down, bracing himself on one hand. With the other, he tapped her nose, smiling darkly at her resulting frown. “It means you’re going to have to get used to compliments, baby. Because I plan on worshipping you for a while.”

“Big words,” she scoffed, hiding how they’d made her toes curl. “Always words.”

A small pinch between his eyebrows was his only reaction. “I want you to agree to three things.”

“Tell me what they are and—”

“Scratch that,” he spoke over her. “You’re going to agree to three things.”

Her eyebrows winged up. “I am?”

He trailed his free hand down her neck, her collarbone, to the curve of her breast. He never took his eyes off hers and she fought not to react. It was impossible when he pinched her nipple through the lace, her back bowing in a physical gasp.

“One,” he said with a dark laugh, “you will do everything I say.” He rubbed her nipple between his fingers, watching as she tried to argue through the haze of pleasure. “Two, you won’t try and rush me.”

She bit her lip as he left her nipple to trace a path down her stomach. He toyed with the hem of her panties.

“And three?” she questioned breathlessly.

“Three.” He dipped under the hem, eyes intent on every ripple and shudder as he toyed with her clit. “You’re going to love every fucking moment of how I make you come apart.”

She could barely breathe, gripping his forearm as he expertly worked her until her body was thrumming.

“I’m waiting,” he challenged as one strangled moan left her lips.

“Henry.”

“Give me the words.”

She hated him. And she loved it. “Fine, you bastard. Yes .”

He left her then to her cry of outrage, only to work her panties off her legs, lowering in front of her.

“Look at me,” he murmured, smoothing his hands up her thighs as she watched. As she trembled. “I’m on my knees for you, Tia.”

She shuddered. Her hand twisted in the covers and magic rippled out to play with the rug, both results of his head lowering to her center.

He started teasing, tasting, annoying the hell out of her as she shifted, trying to get him to move faster. He stopped, lips shiny when he peered up. He pinched her inner thigh gently. “Rule two.”

“Fuck,” she spat and flopped onto the mattress.

“Good,” he praised, before settling back between her thighs.

He was rougher this time in reward, sinking his tongue deeper and squeezing her clit, just as she liked.

The pressure built, twisting so tightly it hurt, sweat pooling at the base of her spine.

Her feet moved restlessly on the carpet, her hands tightened and twisted in the covers, but it wasn’t until he lightly closed his teeth on her clit and shoved two fingers into her channel that she bucked against his mouth and came.

He snarled and crooked his fingers, both of them heating against her inner muscles. She shuddered as her pleasure fired with them, lost to the glittering, spinning dark.

When she went limp, he slowly removed his fingers and circled her swollen clit. When he tapped it, electricity launched up her spine.

“I don’t think I could ever forget your taste,” he rasped. Before she could point out he had, he brought his fingers to his mouth and sucked them clean.

The sight made her clench on nothing.

He rose to his feet. His erection must have been painful by now, the bulge almost obscene.

A little sweaty, Tia went up on her elbows as she looked at it. “Regretting your game yet?”

“Nope.”

“You sure?” she crooned. Sitting up, she cupped him, pleased when he quivered, when he gripped her wrist. She looked up through her lashes. “My mouth would make you feel so good, Henry.”

“I know,” he agreed, pressing her hand harder against him. His shoulders trembled before he peeled her away. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? But I told you, you can’t rush me.”

“Maybe I would like it,” she said, ignoring the last bit. “Maybe I’d love it.”

“Maybe I’ll let you. Later. When you beg.”

She rolled her eyes, amused and aroused at the same time. “I don’t beg.”

He leaned down and took her mouth. She tasted herself on his tongue, an erotic intimacy. When he lifted away, her pulse was pounding. “Sounds like a challenge to me.”

Oh. Fuck. The words echoed through her entire body as he pressed her back with one hand between her breasts.

Time spun out in a haze of deep kisses and hot touches.

Literally burning, his fingers trailing what felt like flames over sensitive skin, followed by his equally hot mouth.

He left no part of her untouched, like he was making a new memory for every one he’d lost. And he whispered praise as he went, not letting her fully escape into the void.

“So gorgeous,” he groaned against her breast. “So responsive.”

And she was. She had no idea how exciting this would be, giving up control to him just this once, but her body trembled and bucked under every new exploration.

It didn’t take long until his chest was heaving, breaths rough and raw as he sank three fingers into her. She was so wet, he slid in easily and they both groaned. He teased her clit as he worked her roughly, pressing a soft kiss to her belly as it quivered on the verge of orgasm.

And he paused.

Her eyes flew open. “Don’t stop .”

His face was drawn tight, eyes glittering, sweat dampening the hair at his temples. “You can take it.”

“Fuck you.”

“Soon. When you beg.”

“Fuck.” It was all she had to say as she sent her own hand down.

He caught her wrist. “Ah ah ah. Only my fingers will get you off tonight. Only me.”

“Bastard.” She squirmed, aching for friction. “I need to come.”

“Soon.”

“I’ll make you come if you let me.”

His throat bobbed and he blew out a breath. “Nice try.”

Her magic coiled, thrashing. She let out a strangled shriek and felt her heart thudding against her ribs as he stroked her wrist. Only when her breathing calmed, did he start again.

And again.

And again.

By the fourth time, she needed to come so bad, her nipples were on fire and her center was knotted tight. “Henry,” she gasped as she quivered everywhere. “Fucking hell, I need…”

“Ask me,” he ground out, sounding an inch from losing it. His fingers worked her faster, harder, and she let out a groan of pleasure. “Beg me.”

Still, she hesitated.

His eyes flashed to hers, the pale green intense against the blow of black pupil. “ Trust me .”

She couldn’t think, not when his fingers were inside her and thrusting, his thumb squeezing her clit, his eyes, Henry’s eyes , watching her.

Her heart trembled at the emotion she thought she saw.

She curled her fingers into her palms, nails biting deep as she took the chance. “ Please .”

The noise he made was part relief, part something she couldn’t describe.

He removed his hand and she made a sound of protest, cut off when he practically ripped his jeans open and shoved them off with his boxers.

His cock sprang out and he picked up a condom he’d retrieved who knew when, palming it and rolling it on.

He covered her to claim her mouth, one hard, deep kiss, before he spun them both so she was on top.

“Take me,” he commanded, hands grasping her hips.

She thought he might have done it as a concession, a way to make her feel more in control after all, but she didn’t focus on that. Instead, she maneuvered backward, lifting up onto her knees and positioning herself above him. She didn’t want gentle. Didn’t want slow.

But he did.

So fighting the urge to slam down, she took her time, sinking onto his cock, feeling every inch of him stretching her. She was gasping by the time he bottomed out, hands flat on his tight abdomen, which rippled as he battled to control his breathing.

Like this, he felt bigger, more swollen, or maybe she was. Whatever, it felt un- fucking -believable.

She let her head tip back as she rode a slow rhythm, heart bashing around her ribs. Pleasure screamed inside her veins like the rush of her own blood.

“Fucking hell,” he gritted out. His hands dug bruises into her hips. “You’re going to kill me.”

“You’re the one—” she shuddered, biting her lip as he hit a spot inside her that made the curtains shake “—who said to go slow.”

“I’m a fucking idiot.” He pinned her with a feral stare. “Move. Faster. Now.”

“Wouldn’t want…to not follow the…rules of play.”

“ Fuck. ”

Before she registered what was happening, he’d sat up, using his abs in a distracting way. He gripped her nape and hauled her in for a kiss, ending with a harsh nip. “Fine,” he snapped. “On your knees, then.”

Either she moved or he moved her, but suddenly he was slamming into her from behind.

She cried out; maybe she screamed as she went to her elbows.

He didn’t let up, only pounded into her again and again.

She sank her nails into the covers, had to push her face into them before she let the entire Hall know what they were doing, since they hadn’t reactivated the soundproofing spell.

Her orgasm powered down on her, denied too long, and the sheets barely contained her noises as her inner muscles clamped onto him. She came on a black wave of pleasure and magic that swept out in a chorus of thumps and broken glass.

He grunted his satisfaction, one strong forearm wrapping around her to keep her upright as he continued to thrust, again and again, until finally he came, too.

They were both sticky, sweaty, when he padded to the bathroom. When he came back, she still lay facedown, boneless.

She felt too good to move.

“Tia?”

She made a noise of acknowledgment.

“You can go down on me now.”

“Fuck off,” she slurred.

His chuckle was warm and she startled when his hand slipped into hers. Her heart, just back in its normal rhythm, kicked. But she didn’t pull away.

Instead, her fingers curled around his.