Page 11 of Traveling with Gentlemen (Tempting Monsters #1.1)

THE PERFORMANCE

I stretched under starlight, smiling at the prowling strike of a bow against strings, the music of the hunt.

Voices carried on conversation cheerfully around the courtyard, the countess’s party more than satisfied with the earlier entertainment of the evening.

When Amon and I had first discussed how we might bargain against the countess's desire for him, he'd suggested that our performance be private, just for her eyes.

But in truth I was more comfortable with this crowd, with being just one more spectacle for their enjoyment.

Claws clicked softly against smooth stone, and I arched on the platform at the center of the courtyard.

Auguste, Booker, and Mr. Tanner stood to the side of the countess's throne-like seat, Auguste's head bowed to the woman, listening as she spoke into his ear.

A purr and a huff of breath skidded over my ankle, bared where my skirt was pulled back to my knees.

Auguste stood at last, staring over me and nodding once.

He had the information we'd sought, deemed it worth our bargain.

And at the signal an enormous figure leapt up onto the platform, heavy paws bracing between my spread legs, huge wings flapping and beating cool, fragrant air down onto me.

I shivered and sat up on my elbows, smiling at Amon.

He was on all four paws, his long lion’s tail switching in the air.

He was regal and stunning, and with one quick glance at our audience, I knew it was not simply the countess and I who were riveted to him.

"Hello, my love," I said, lifting one arm to reach for him.

Amon leaned in, muscular shoulders hunching and bringing his face to my palm, nuzzling into the touch.

"Are you certain, my star?" Amon whispered.

And it wasn't about the countess, or what vengeance she might seek if we reneged now that we had the information we'd come for. I simply didn't want to stop now .

"Of course I am," I said, quick and simple.

Amon sighed. "Very well. What are you wearing under that glorious gown?"

I smiled at him, laying back again and lowering my hands to the skirt. "What I usually wear."

Amon chuckled and settled down onto his haunches, wings folding and eyebrows rising in invitation. "Show me."

I rubbed my feet against his furred sides and gathered fabric in my fists, pulling up the layers of dress and lacy petticoats to a great pile at my waist, exposing myself.

To Amon, who purred and rustled his wings in anticipation.

His gaze flicked to those who surrounded us in the courtyard, narrowing slightly, and I grinned at the possessive growl that rose in his throat.

"They see nothing. They mean nothing," I murmured, lifting my knees and spreading my legs farther apart, body begging.

Amon shook his head. "They will see your pleasure. They way you possess me."

"They will see the way you please me. They will see the way you possess me ," I said.

Amon smiled at that, but only briefly. He rose up and dove forward, body bowing and wings stretching. His eyes held mine as he bent to devour me, only until his mouth latched onto my cunt, and then my eyes fell shut as I cried out with relief.

I'd grown more patient in recent months, and I'd behaved myself at this party, enjoyed the many displays of flesh and sex and torrid desire, but it had left me eager for the conclusion, for this.

I arched into Amon's starving mouth, his probing tongue, and a heavy paw shifted, pinning me down at my belly.

I moaned at the weight of him, the way it stole my breath, and my hands clutched at his hair.

Amon's tongue bristled against my sensitive flesh, burrowed into my opening as I squirmed and tangled silky locks in my fists.

His nose, now broad and feline, huffed hot air against my clit and then nuzzled into the eager bud.

He was determined, and I suspected it was as much for my pleasure as it was to hurry the performance.

"I love you," I gasped, to soothe him, and it was that declaration that stirred up whispers around us.

Amon purred into my core, the sound trembling through me and drawing a ragged cry from my lips.

His wings beat as my cunt clutched around his tongue, and the motion bucked him into me.

I repeated the words, pleaded his name, and Amon's feast grew slow and languid.

He was only thinking of me now, and he loved to torment me, to tease me.

His claws flexed, digging into the skirt of my dress, and I arched my back, pushing myself into the pressure of him.

Their sharp points caught the threads of the fine fabric and I grinned, reaching for the skirt.

I pulled hard, and the rip startled momentary silence, the shredded skirt tossed open on either side of me, spilling over the edges of the platform. Amon looked up, his face glossy, and I giggled at the surprise on his face. Behind me, in the crowd, Auguste muttered French curses.

"We were going to have to tear it anyway," I said softly.

Amon grinned and laughed and then bent again, kissing over my hips and licking around my belly button as I sighed.

His paw reached up, and he looked to me, gaze glowing, as two claws caught at my collar.

I nodded, and he growled, tearing open the front of the dress, shredding through the laces of my corset.

I laughed, the sound giddy and bright, my breasts bouncing, and Amon caught his breath, staring at the ruined gown and the faint pink scratches running down my chest.

"I'm fine," I soothed, reaching for him, tugging him closer by the shoulders.

He was magnificent as he shifted to stand over me, the experience new in this unfamiliar form. I glanced down the length of his belly and found his cock, red and curved at the tip exposing itself out of a swollen sheath, leaking arousal onto my thighs, the slick droplet scorching.

"Esther," Amon breathed.

I looked up and found doubt and worry on his furrowed brow, and my hands smoothed up his shoulders around his jaw.

"You are beautiful, my love. My sphinx." I stroked one foot up his back leg to the strong, furred hind.

His hair was thicker there, softer, and I bit my lip, thinking about the simpler teasing pleasure of running my fingers through that fur.

I wanted to cuddle him, study him, learn every inch of him.

"I love you," I mouthed to him, and the furrow of concern smoothed away.

He bent and his legs brushed against the sides of my breasts, curious and tantalizing.

His mouth met mine and I hummed at my own flavor on his tongue.

I'd interrupted his goal but I found I didn't care, not as my hands searched his frame.

Amon sank down until he was hovering over me, our skin just barely touching, and I whined and pushed myself into him, gasping at the sensation of his furred belly against my wet and aching pussy.

His face watched mine as I rubbed myself against him, breasts teased by coarse hair, hands clutching at dense muscle, fingers trailing up to brush against feathers.

"You are pleased," he murmured, brows rising.

"Yes, yes, very pleased, more than—Oh!" Amon's weight settled a little more and the friction was beautiful. My own eyes widened as he grinned, my body bucking against his. "Let me…let me…like this?"

Amon purred, and the vibration was shocking. I groaned, my arms and legs latching around his body, my hips bucking and rocking into his belly. The chatter was rising around us, but this time I caught enough to know we were the subject of the conversation.

"They're surprised, you know," Amon whispered, head ducking and mouth kissing over my shoulders.

"Then they're idiots," I gasped out, a moan quickly following as Amon nestled heavier against me, a hot wet kiss against my ass where his cock just touched.

Amon laughed. "I've never been more flattered to be an idiot."

He was surprised by how much I was enjoying myself too? Silly man.

Amon purred for me and I cried out before I could correct him, the sound shuddering down into my core and drawing out the flickering orgasm that'd been so impatiently waiting.

I rubbed my release into Amon's fur, slid my hands over his flesh, not caring if I was being too rough, too greedy with my grip.

"I love to watch you," Amon whispered as I trembled through the sliding, falling edge of my release. "If this night were entirely up to me, I would make you rub your pleasure into every inch of me, use all of me, over and over until I was coated in you."

I smiled at that thought, sagging on the platform and immediately missing the brush and bite and stroke of his fur against me.

"Later," I suggested. I wanted to climb onto Amon's back, grab onto those sensitive roots of his wings, and ride his skin to my release, like the girl on the minotaur had. Racing.

Amon bent and I stretched up to meet his kiss, gripping those wings and swallowing his groan.

That secret was for me only. Our tongues stroked one another and his tail trailed the tufted tip up and down one of my legs until I fell back to the cool surface of the platform and the remnants of my ruined dress.

Amon rose up above me, my hands and feet sliding down his legs to rest, and this time it was both of us who were exposed.

His cock was rigid and dripping, and certainly intimidating if you weren't a young woman who enjoyed the company of a certain Mr. Tanner.

But thankfully I was such a woman, and the sight of the beastly and beautiful length bobbing between Amon's back legs left my mouth watering.

"Stretch for my eyes, little star," Amon said.

I extended my arms back to the edge of the platform, my toes down to the far edge, my body taut. Amon purred and licked his lips, nodding. "Later," he whispered, just for me, and then louder for the courtyard, "Onto your belly."