Page 55 of Serpent In White

Our eyes stay locked, for just a moment, though it feels like hours, and I hear him, only for me…

I’ve been thinking about you, too.

My breathing shallows, and he tugs his lower lips between his teeth, bringing a delicious ache to my balls. I shift in my seat, and he clears his throat, flushing up a storm as he scurries off, leaving me to stew in the sexual tension we’ve somehow managed to create together. I don’t know where it came from, or how it got here, but it’s burning me where I sit.

We all dig into our food and Lauris is talking to me about something solstice festival related, though I’m barely paying attention. I feel bad, and I know I shouldn’t ignore her, but I can’t help it. Every time Abdiel comes into the room, he flashes me with these little looks, innocently fluttering his long eyelashes, licking that tasty-looking lip, cheeks visibly blushing through his creamy complexion.

I’m fucking enamored. And as he’s refilling drinks around the table, he’s all I can hear.

Sexy… He’s so damn sexy. God, stop thinking this, Abdiel. He can hear you. But I can’t help it… I haven’t stopped remembering what he looked like in that lake. His beautiful body, his warmth and his strength and the way his voice sounds in my head. I just wish I could… I wishwecould…

Abdiel, please, I growl at him with my mind, and he flinches, almost dropping the pitcher in his hand as he gapes across the table at me.You’re driving me crazy.

I’m sorry…He swipes his lip with his tongue, then stalks away, mentally scolding himself.

I don’t want him to feel bad, but I can’t help the grin that forms uncontrollably on my face as I chuckle and shake my head, gaze falling to my lap in hopes of disguising it. The boy seems smitten, and it’s makingmefeel smitten.

This is crazy.I’mcrazy. I shouldn’t be entertaining this at all. I don’t really know the kid, and there are so many reasons why we shouldn’t be flirting, but I can’t help it. His innocence really turns me on more than I ever thought it could.

Drake said he’s a virgin. I don’t want to think about how he knows that, but the more I’m observing Abdiel, the more inclined I am to believe it.I wonder if he’s ever even been kissed properly…

I haven’t,his voice startles me out of my thoughts, and I look up to see him trying to cover up a smirk, pouring water for Lauris at my side. I struggle to remain subtle as my eyes slide up to his, brow lifting with my intrigue.

His thoughts tell me,I’ve never been kissed… at all.Then he bites that damn lip again, and I’m going out of my mind.

How on Earth is that possible, my precious young servant?I lift my drink and take a slow sip, eyeing him over the rim of the glass.I could eat you alive.And then I suck my lip between my teeth, giving him a taste of his own medicine. I can practically hear him shivering.

Abdiel’s paying so much attention to my mouth and so little attention to what he’s doing that it’s Lauris’s startled shriek which brings us both back to reality when we realize he’s overflowing her water glass.

“Oh, shit. I’m so sorry!” Abdiel stutters as Lauris backs up to prevent the water soaking the table from rushing onto her lap. “Let me clean that up for you.”

Kiara and Gem are giggling, and I have to cover my mouth with my hand to stop from having a chuckle myself.He’s so damn cute. The poor thing, all flustered.

Abdiel rushes back over, Gina right behind him, both of them hustling to clean up the water.

“Don’t worry about it,” I tell them in an easy tone while I scoot over and tug Lauris’s chair closer to me. “No harm.”

Abdiel gives me a grateful look framed by permanently pink cheeks, and I can’t help but wink at him.

Please…He whines in his mind.This night has been embarrassing enough as it is.

I chuckle to myself as they retreat to the kitchen, and we finish eating. I’m barely aware of what I’m putting in my mouth, though it’s certainly delicious. Chicken and wild rice with fresh salad.I wonder if Abdiel made it…He’s a great cook, that I know about him.

Once we’re done with a dessert of hazelnut gelato, another favorite, I excuse myself from the table. I go to freshen up, which results in me pacing around my bedroom for fifteen minutes. The desire burning inside me to spend more time with the kid is undeniable. I hate denying myself. And I have to do it all the damn time.

Denying myself has become an unfortunate presence in my life, and I despise it. I don’t want to do it anymore.

I deserve happiness, don’t I? Shouldn’t I be allowed to spend time with someone interesting? To have a nice evening that doesn’t revolve around mind games or faking…

If Abdiel wants to spend time with me too, well then who am I to say no?

Making a snap decision, I leave my bedroom and head back downstairs. Listening closely to the sounds in the kitchen, I can tell they’re about done cleaning up. And all my wives have long since adjourned to wherever they’re spending the rest of the night.

So maybe this could work…

I wait in the study until I hear Abdiel going into the restroom, and when he comes out, I reach around the corner and grab him by the arm, pulling him quickly with me back into the study.

The look on his face is priceless. Nothing but nervous at first, until he realizes it’s me. And then I can hear his elation, glad that I haven’t gone to bed or forgotten about him. It floods me with heated excitement.