Page 18 of The Pactbound Angel (The Soul Mirror Duet #1)

My scalp tingled where he touched. The caress felt intimate, soothing, though no doubt it was merely to get hair out of my face. "Oh, uhm, you make a good point. Yes, please continue.”

Yes, Nathalia. Well done. Not awkward at all.

He undressed me, as I had done to him, though he folded my clothing and set them to the side with each piece removed.

Anticipation quickly led to impatience, and his comment about hating clothing now made sense.

He guided me to the bed with a gentle hand on my lower back and asked me to lie back.

I obeyed, and he followed to my side, propping his head up with his arm bent at the elbow.

His other hand grazed between my breasts and down my belly in a slow meander, as though we had all the time in the world.

Which, here, I suppose we do.

He whispered, "Hands or mouth this time?"

"Hands, please." Much as I wanted his mouth on me, I wanted to look at him. To watch him. See his red eyes on me when I found that peak again.

I was also self-conscious regarding my hurried tent bath.

He swirled his fingertips between my thighs just as they parted for him. "Use your fingertips where it feels best, above where my hand is now." He then plunged his fingers into my...

What was it the women in the barracks called the entire area between their legs?

My mind buzzed with thought. Oh, right. Pussy.

I remembered how brazen they were with it.

But here, it somehow felt appropriate. Then he curved his fingers, and the memories floated away on the wind.

My fingers sank into swollen and sensitive flesh, this time with my dominant right hand, and the difference was remarkable.

The pressure mounted immediately, curling from my pussy, to my lower stomach, and even into my chest. Pulsing caused my walls to clench against his fingers, and I bit my lip hard to not release sooner than I wanted .

No, this I want to savor.

My hips rose and rolled of their own accord as my fingers found a small bit of flesh that practically sizzled when touched.

Is that important?

Cursing my tutors’ lack of focus on the specifics of female-specific anatomy, I rubbed there.

The familiar feelings of building heat made me let out an impatient groan.

There would be no stopping or savoring this.

Rolling my hips against the two hands pleasuring me, my breath quickened to match his pace with his fingers.

As he developed a distinct rhythm, he leaned in to brush his lips along my ear, nipping down to my neck.

A strained moan parted my lips as I turned my head to look at him.

Our eyes met, gold pleading to red for mercy.

He flicked his tongue over his lips, and I tracked the movement.

I wanted to request a kiss, even going so far as to lean in for it, but the shift tipped my pleasure without warning.

My eyes slammed shut as a keening scream emptied my lungs.

My hips buckled hard against his hand as instinct tried to squeeze every bit of ecstasy it could.

In my haze, I heard that word again. Cordani.

He stayed by me, pressing against my body long after my release. He lowered his head to the pillow next to mine, his free hand splayed across my stomach. Unsure of what I was allowed to do, I chewed on my bottom lip.

There was a beat of silence before he said, "We don't have to keep a careful distance while we're here, Nathalia. There is inevitably something about what we're doing that lets us know one another in a way many people never will." There was genuine warmth in his tone, making me relax.

The intense need to hold him, to be close as he had said, overwhelmed me until I could no longer deny it. I whispered, "Then I hope this is allowed." Rolling to face him, I wrapped my arms around him in an embrace.

He immediately chuckled softly. "Of course, this is allowed." His hand moved from my stomach to around my back, returning the embrace.

Contentment settled in me, and I whispered, “If we are to get to know each other, I'll tell you something secret.” This had never been admitted to anyone else before, but the need to share, to be close, was too much to bear. I wanted him to know me. The real me.

With a hard swallow, I continued, “Sometimes, it feels as though I’ve been sabotaged.

Somehow, I’m both privileged and unprepared for the life I would eventually lead.

” My irritation always rose when this thought came to mind.

I even heard it in my voice. “Innocence and ignorance protect nothing except those who kept them innocent and ignorant.”

His fingertips ran lazy circles across my skin as he thought of a response. "I won't claim any special insight on the subject of innocence, so my input might not come from expertise, but I happen to be a great listener in any case." His small smile was crooked, with a hint of mischief.

My shoulders relaxed as I exhaled. "I will not burden you with all of my troubles.

They may not be trifling to you, and you may be a great listener, but I still feel self-conscious.

Perhaps next time, I'll give you another secret.

Perhaps that can be my gift to you. Or my curse to you, depending.

" My smile curved into a grin that nearly cracked my face.

“If you like, I will keep them, and be honored by your trust in the offering. A secret is no small thing."

Leaning in, with the intention to kiss his mouth, my lips changed course at the last second to press against his cheek instead. "Secrets are assassins. They kill when you least expect them." I rolled off the bed and began the task of redressing.

He stood as well, and my eyes caught his occasionally flicking towards me as he gathered his own clothing.

Eventually, he sighed, “Nathalia, there is nothing wrong with asking for what you want, so long as you can accept an answer of no and voicing your desires does not hurt anyone.

I urge you to think about that. We'll be talking more about that next time, maybe over the next few lessons. "

I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so my response was a simple nod.

He finished dressing a moment after I did, and when he put the last item of clothing back on, he snapped his fingers. We were at once back in the tent, before the low table. Without missing a single beat, he took a long drink of his wine.

Picking up my own wine, as well as an olive, the salty brine of the fruit burst on my tongue. "I believe it is my turn to ask a question." I put the lip of the goblet to my mouth, thinking. "If there is one thing about yourself you would change, what would it be?"