Page 38 of Summer’s Seduction (Sinful Seasons #2)
MORPHEUS
“ I thought we were going to dinner?” Larkspur asked, glancing around as I led her toward the dance floor. She looked like a goddess, like my most desperate dreams of her had come to life. The wisps of black fabric draped across her body hardly covered the shape of her breasts, her nipples hard and peaked against it, and the slits along her thighs reached clear up to her waist.
She was bare beneath the shadow of a dress. Others here were thinking it. I knew they were, just like I knew Lucius had seen my goddess enter the ballroom with a chimera at her side and an entourage of female warriors at her back, with my scent—my blood racing through her veins and my come filling her core—and they had immediately wanted her.
Maybe that’s why I wanted us to dance. To listen to the music and get lost in happiness before the reality of war and bloodshed came crashing back.
“There will be feeders later,” I said, raising her hand to my shoulder as I settled mine dangerously low on her back. Gods below, this dress was torturous.
“Feeders as in people?”
Larkspur’s dark brows pinched as she glanced toward Artemis and the others clustered on the side of the room, looking decidedly uninterested in fitting in. A part of me had expected their reluctance, but after Egerius’s personal tour of the city and the rack of gowns to choose from, I’d hoped they’d like it here. Or, at the very least, play the part until after we secured the key.
I nodded as the music began, guiding her through a series of turns and twists. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
She shook her head as we spun, looping around other couples before rejoining on beat. Her brows drew together as she glanced over my shoulder, catching sight of Egerius as the song ended and another began.
“All feeders are voluntary,” I breathed, leading her through a series of fast-paced twirls. Careful to keep our conversation low, I continued, “I know it’s a lot to take in, but Egerius practically raised me. He’s saved me from a beating on more than one occasion, and despite being my father’s commander, he’s disobeyed a direct order to punish me on more than one occasion.”
Larkspur’s eyes bounced from Egerius and back to me, indecision clear across her face. “What’s with the cloaks?”
My lips tilted up to the side at the unexpected question. “They mark your status for dinner. Black means you will not be fed from.”
Egerius had assured me he had black cloaks sent to Artemis, her huntresses, and Larkspur, along with dresses to choose from. Seeing as this was only one stop on a long journey, I’d expected everyone to remain in their warrior tunics, but I’d been pleasantly surprised to see Larkspur indulging.
“And red means…” her voice trailed off as the song ended, but we remained on the dance floor with couples clustered around us. Her cheeks were flushed and her pulse thrummed in the soft groove of her neck.
Leaning down, I licked over her fluttering heartbeat, letting my teeth scrape with the promise of more to come. “Red means you’re open to being fed from.”
I needed to speak with Egerius about the key. I should’ve been talking to him right now, but I couldn’t make myself leave Larkspur’s side. Not when her burning green eyes looked at me like she’d rip off the black cloak and don a scarlet one just for me.
“You would look stunning in red,” I rumbled, dragging my thumb down the center of her bottom lip. My nostrils flared as her thighs clenched, catching her sweet desire swirling around us.
With a groan, I gathered her in my arms, flitting toward the edge of the room. I settled us in the shadows, trusting the volume of the music and the oversized chaise in front of us to give us the most privacy we could get in a crowded ballroom.
I pressed Larkspur’s back to the stone wall, her chest heaving as my palms landed on either side of her face, caging her in.
“Would you wear a scarlet cloak for me, Larkspur?” I breathed, leaning down to drag my nose up the length of her neck. My cock twitched as she shivered beneath my touch. “Could I cover you in blood if I promised to lick every drop of it off your body?”
A needy whimper scraped her throat as she reached for me, pressing herself against my hardening length. I tangled my hands in her hair, tugging on the curls at the base of her neck hard enough to make her gasp.
My mouth was there the next instant, claiming hers as she parted her lips. She tasted like hope and sin—like the closest thing to Elysium I’d ever reach. She was an unexpected burst of color in an endless gray existence, and I knew without a doubt that I’d do anything for her.
“I love you, Larkspur.” The words left my lips as our breaths mingled, each exhale of hers breathing more life into me. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything.”
I pressed a soft kiss to her mouth, nipping on her plump bottom lip.
“I love knowing I’m the reason your lips are swollen.” Her breathing hitched as I pressed another kiss along her jaw, my hand drifting down. “That your body craves me just as desperately as I crave you.”
“Yes,” she breathed as I slipped my hand beneath the thin fabric of her dress, finding her thighs bare and slick with need. She was close already, with me barely touching her.
A deep groan rumbled through me as I teased her wet pussy, sliding my fingers over her but not entering. She arched her back, pulse racing as she glanced around the filled ballroom, even as she tilted her hips for more.
“Morpheus,” she said, her words a wanton and desperate plea.
I gripped her chin with my fingers, lifting her gaze to meet mine as my other cupped her pussy. “And I fucking love the way you say my name, little monster.”
I thrust my fingers into her as my palm ground against her clit. Normally, I’d take my time, but we’d already started to gather attention despite being in the shadows. One orgasm would have to do for now, but I intended to make it up to her tonight.
“Come for me,” I commanded, curling my fingers just the way I knew she liked. I captured her mouth with my own just as the orgasm tore from her, drinking down her needy little moans as if I could live off of the sound of her pleasure alone.
When she could stand on her own, I pulled my fingers from her trembling thighs, inhaling the scent of her come before licking each one clean. Her eyes grew hooded as she watched, her small fangs snapping free as if she would take me right here. I wouldn’t stop her.
With one last lick, I grinned. “Delicious.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but Artemis is sorta pissed.” Cyrene’s soft voice cut through the haze of desire. Larkspur swallowed, following Cyrene’s line of sight.
Arete and Hebe looked disgusted, the two huntresses shaking their heads and avoiding my gaze as Camilla and Megara were trying hard not to laugh. But the scowl etched across Artemis’s face could kill.
“She said if you two were just going to fuck, then she’ll get the key from Egerius her way.”
Larkspur’s cheeks deepened as she shook her head. “That won’t be necessary. Morpheus was just about to talk to Egerius.”
I lifted a brow at her pointed stare but nodded along. “I was,” I said, turning my attention to Cyrene. “But the night would go a lot smoother if everyone at least tried to blend in. Not wearing the dresses is one thing, but convincing him to trust me will be easier if he doesn’t think I’m plotting to overthrow my father.”
Larkspur’s spine stiffened. “I thought you said we could trust him.”
“We can. But there’s no need to invite complications.” The two of them stared at me with narrowed gazes, unconvinced. I rolled my eyes. “Just pretend to be enjoying the party. Have a glass of wine.”
“Huntresses don’t drink,” Cyrene answered coolly.
“Dance, then,” I amended. “Try to look like you want to be here. I’ll see what I can do to claim the key before the night’s end.”
Couples in black cloaks had already broken off from the frenzy of the dance floor. The metallic tang of blood mingling with the scent of Larkspur’s sweet pussy lingering on my fingers made it nearly impossible to turn away.
I drew Larkspur in for one last, deep kiss, memorizing the sound of her little whimper as I drew back with a grin. “Tonight, you’ll stay with me.”
She nodded, her cheeks flushed and eyes dark.
“Let’s go,” Cyrene said, looping her arm with Larkspur’s and dragging her toward the others.
I watched her float across the marbled floors, noting each person who turned to stare at her, scenting what I’d just done to my sweet, little monster. Everyone knew she was mine. And that I was hers. It was right there, in the red ring around her eyes put there by me. In the sweet smell of her arousal clinging to my body.
This was my home, more than any placeever had been. I should have felt relaxed, and I mostly did, but there was an undercurrent of unease watching Larkspur walk away from me.
I locked eyes with Artemis from across the hall, her silver gaze swirling with promises of destruction if I didn’t start moving. I held up my hands, mouthing, ‘Okay, okay.’ Turning toward the sea of dancing bodies, I searched for Egerius and willed myself to ignore the growing pit of dread settling in my stomach.