Page 14 of The Pactbound Angel (The Soul Mirror Duet #1)

With a deep breath to steady myself, I rolled off the bed.

Taking his hand, he helped lower me to kneel in front of him.

My fingers wrapped gently around his cock.

It felt almost silky, and the heat from his skin was incredible, as though he were feverish.

My mouth inched closer. Taking one last look up at his reassuring face, my eyes closed just as I enveloped his cock with my lips.

My tongue flicked to facilitate a swallow.

When he groaned, I licked again to see if that’s what caused his reaction.

My experiment was successful and rewarded with another groan.

I moved my tongue over the tip, then lowered my mouth down his shaft.

My mouth filled with saliva, and I began to gag.

He must have noticed, because he whispered, “Breathe through your nose and relax your throat. It will help.”

Leaning back to remove him from my mouth while lowering my hand, I took another deep breath. He brushed his fingers on my throat and under my chin, almost like a massage. “You’re doing very well. Remember the sensations you experienced on the bed.”

Memories of his mouth taking my finger, sliding in and out with gentle suction, were clear in my mind.

Determined to try again, the flat of my tongue over the crest at the base of his tip.

The ridge of it felt satisfying against my tongue.

Raising my hand to his cock again and encircling it with my fingers, the tips overlapped around him but just barely.

Gentle at first but with a rhythmic squeeze, I used my thumb to travel up and down a vein I had found.

Hard and soft at the same time.

He murmured, “Yes. Like that. Good.”

My lips slipped over the rest of his cock that my hand didn’t cover, sucking, licking, and nuzzling with my tongue that same crest as before. I pressed my thighs together when the greedy pulsing returned in earnest. A hiss made me peek up at him.

He stared down at me, his jaw slack with his elongated canines showing.

Though unable to hear it, his rapid breathing caused his chest to undulate.

It wasn’t the verbal response I craved, but it ignited me to try harder.

I desperately wanted those groans. My spurred enthusiasm made my pace quickened.

A vibrating moan escaped me without thinking.

He gave a quick, breathless instruction, "Use your tongue more,"

Immediately, my tongue flickered along the underside of his cock, and he let out a huffed breath. "Just like that. Good girl."

The heat flared into a raging furnace but no idea as to why.

I blinked.

I could feel wetness running down my inner thighs.

And blinked again.

When I leaned back, his cock sliding from my mouth, he violently shuddered. “Did you just call me a good girl?”

He seemed composed when he replied, “I did, yes.”

“Oh. Is that normal?”

My expectation was he would be exasperated or angry, and my expectation was wrong.

Instead, he gifted me another smile.

“Very good, Lady Nathalia. Never be afraid to ask questions. The answer is that some enjoy praise. That phrase, in particular, can be very effective. Did you like it?”

Fuck yes. “Yes.”

His smile widened as his hands went into my hair, messing the strands. “You were truthful.” He gripped my hair in a tight hold, and my lungs filled full. Leaning down, his breath brushed my lips as he whispered, “Good girl.”

I was wrong. I died and went to Celestia instead.

He straightened, and my lips wrapped around him again, working my tongue in flicks and wiggles.

His breathing quickly became audible, speeding up and deepening.

Each harsh breath sent me spiraling, each puff of air a reward.

Something within me knew this was important, and I sucked gently while my hand ran up and down the shaft of his cock.

The intense throbbing turned torturous, and I groaned in frustration.

He tried to mutter something with a strained wheeze, but I couldn’t make it out.

When hot liquid pumped into my mouth, the taste of salted caramel coated my tongue.

I squealed in surprise and almost pulled back, but the taste kept me there to get as much as he would give me.

I gulped him down until his breathing calmed.

My head lifted to look up at him, out of breath myself.

“You have good instincts," he said, regaining his regular rate of breathing by the third word.

"I have an idea of what we can focus on with future lessons using these first tools and techniques.

" His gaze turned serious. "I want to make sure you know what that feels like, to hold that feeling in your mind for next time. Ideally, it would be on your mind from time to time in the moments between this time and the next. Here, please stand.”

My shaky legs tripped over the pillow under me, and he kicked it aside before wrapping his arms around me in an embrace.

Not expecting a hug, of all things, I lifted my hands to wrap around his bare waist and pressed myself into him.

The comfort I’d felt around him earlier came back doubled.

Skin to skin, with his pyretic body next to mine, the instinct to curl into his lap like a cat was almost overwhelming.

Settling for merely a lean into him, I felt him smile against my shoulder before he released me.

“You did well, Lady Nathalia.”

One last look at him was all I allowed myself before getting my gown from the dresser.

There was quiet between us, as we dressed.

Fidgeting with my dress, I pretended to inspect it because I didn’t know what else to do.

My thoughts were jumbled, speeding from one memory to another.

His hands. My lack of control. His tongue.

That desperate need. His smile. The taste in my mouth. His cock…

After what seemed like forever, the silence made me speak.

"Any lessons on how to talk afterwards? Or is it awkward because we do not know each other that well?

" I bunched up my dress to slip it over my head before smoothing the silk on my waist and hips.

"Not to suggest you are cold, Master Ramiren.

You are a far warmer figure that I could have hoped for. Both emotionally and… physically."

He put his arms into his shirt sleeves, then placed the garment over his head.

"I think figuring that out will come naturally as we get to know one another.

I don't think there's a lesson that can account for every possible combination of people.

If there was, I suspect someone would be giving those lessons and making a king's ransom in the process.

The only certain way to dispel any discomfort and awkwardness is practice.

I'll be available for more of that as often as you need. "

"When will I be able to undress you myself? Or is that later? I think I'd like to learn that sometime. If we start out with my pleasure, I believe you are depriving me."

Wait. Am I actually flirting?

Ramiren looked surprised, but he sounded pleased. "If you'd like, you can undress me yourself as part of our next lesson."

I lifted and freed my hair from the back of my dress.

With no doubt I looked unkempt, my hands ran through my hair in a feeble attempt to tame it.

Fitting my feet into my shoes, I finally replied, "I thank you for your availability and dedication to helping me. Speaking of which, what precisely are you getting out of this?” Besides a necklace.

Besides any pleasure he may derive from it.

At his head tilt, I clarified. “I suppose I’m asking, why help me? Why agree to this pact at all?"

“Ah.” He nodded in sudden understanding.

“In addition to the price you agreed to for the pact, I get pleasure out of this as well. It is equally important that I keep how it feels in mind to be sure that I know how to give it.” He stared at me before speaking, clearly enunciating his words as though he wanted this point to sink in.

“Enjoying both the process and the moment-to-moment experience is not only okay, it is normal and natural. For both of us."

Magically-imbued jewelry and a refresher class, as expected. What the hell else did you expect him to say, you nitwit?

My gaze fell. "I understand." My hand went to the doorknob but did not turn it.

"I can memorize almost any song I wish, and have, so I am quite familiar with poetry and the poets' attempts to capture what happens in the bedroom.

" I looked back at him over my shoulder, feeling both elated and disappointed somehow.

"Woefully inaccurate, I'm sorry to report. " Finally twisting the knob, it opened.

Behind me, I heard the frown when he spoke, “I see.”