“I’m sorry… she said what?” I asked, doing my best not to let the irritation and creeping anger seep into my tone. It wasn’t this messenger’s fault that he had been waiting two hours to tell me how my gift was received, because I was too busy to take a break… and now his news wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
“She said, let him know I received it and I’m grateful.”
“Those exact words?”
“Yes, Sire.”
With a disgruntled growl, I dismissed the messenger and turned away.
Rake and the others were all gathered in clusters around the room. The Gammas had been sent off with instructions and now we waited to see if ou
~ JESSE ~ Cazz’s brows drew down sharply over his nose and his eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, you don’t know how to feel about it?” I looked back and forth, up and down the tunnel. I hadn’t planned to have this conversation with him so soon. I’d been busy hunting down my new friends. But Cazz’s appearance had frightened Wylde, who thought he was going to be angry with her for talking to me while she was supposed to be working, so I didn’t call her back when she darted away. I knew I could find her later. The truth was, feeling that sudden tug behind my ribs, that call that could only be him, had excited me—then stepping into the hallway to see Cazz prowling towards me had been thrilling. He was hunti
~ JESSE ~Cazz was right. My heart did pinch. For him. My heart went out to him. I wanted to gather him in and hug him and pat his chest and soothe him, and promise him that it wasn’t his fault. But the way he bristled, it was very obvious that he had exactly zero interest in my pity.“I am royal. I do not have the luxury of any relationship for the sheer joy of it,” he seethed.Dear Lord, this poor man.So much of how he dealt with me—and with others—was becoming clear.
~ CASIMIR ~ Jesse was still talking. Something about connections being about a lot more than just having sex. No kidding. There was all kinds of play and anticipation that could improve the bond between a pair when both wolves were engaged. I had always prided myself on never compelling an orgasm. I may have eased the path for females into my bed, but once they were there… Well, I learned fast, and applied myself to learning them. I had had no complaints. But my mind was only half on those thoughts—they flitted through, barely registering. Because I was too busy analyzing the bond to really hear her or want to argue. There was something strange going on in her, something I had never sensed before and I was struggling to identify what it was. A warm, solid strength—but not from her. As if the bond itself was growing thicker. But that was the wrong word… The bond was growing more… resilient. Interesting. As she continued speaking earnestly, her pretty brows jumping up and down, h
~ CASIMIR ~ “Promise me you won’t hurt me, Cazz.” “Kitten, I’m going to give you nothing but pleasure so that the next time we’re together, you’ll remember. And you’ll ask for more.” Her heart raced even faster, but there was a simmering heat in her too. “Okay then. Okay. Show me.” To answer, I took the curtain rope and wound it twice around the bedpost, then yanked it tight, before folding the long end in half and reaching for her arm. Jesse’s eyes widened, but she gave me her hand, extending it so I could loop the fabric around her wrist in quick efficient tugs that ended with her wrist knotted expertly in the curtain-rope, positioning her hand higher than her head, but still able to move the limb up and down so it wouldn’t grow too tired. Then I turned her to face the foot of the bed and reached for the curtain on the other side. When I looped that around the opposite post, Jesse watched me nervously. So I slipped up behind her, warming her back with my body as I extended her
~ CASIMIR ~ For a moment I stood there, gathering my self-control. She was beautiful—open and trembling from her orgasm, her skin flushed and warm, her breasts rising and falling with her heavy breath. I stroked her slowly, but with full palms, playing hands up and down her body, kissing her neck and shoulder. I was preparing to change our position… But first I had to steady those weak knees, make certain she was ready to take her own weight again. When she’d found her feet again and her legs were no longer shaking, I began stroking her body again—though staying away from anywhere too sacred. I didn’t want her overstimulated. “Are you going to untie me now?” she asked hesitantly, turning her head though she was still blindfolded. I chuckled, filling both hands with her breasts and giving her peaked nipples a gentle pinch. “Not yet.” She sucked in a breath and arched into my touch. “But… I can’t touch you.” “Yes you can,” I said, my voice deep and rough with growing desire. “Use
~ CASIMIR ~ I had to hold her thighs tightly, sliding and teasing rapidly with my tongue until her breath rushed out of her and her knees tightened against my jaw. “Stop! Stop!” she hissed, jerking and bucking. I chuckled and pulled back far enough to speak. “That’s only two. We’re still—” “Cazz, please… please…” she panted. “I want to touch you.” “Soon, Kitten,” I rasped, fighting my own battle then. The scent of her was rich and heavy in the room and my body was urgent. Demanding her. I’d wanted women before, but there was something about her—each time she gave up her own will, each moment she trusted me… the power that coursed through me grew. And the need for her increased right along with it. She was trembling, shaking in my arms, her skin flushed and rosy. Her hands gripping the restraints. With whispered reassurances that she was safe, I lifted her enough that she could unhook from my shoulders and lower her legs, then helped her stand again on knees as unsteady as a newb
~ JESSE ~ My entire body hummed, pulsing in time with my heartbeat that was pounding rapidly, thudding in my ears and thrumming in my skin. I’d never felt so alive—or vulnerable. It was a strange and heady mix. I wanted to be there with Cazz. There was something different in him today. Because of the night we’d had last night? Or because we were doing… this? I didn’t know and that bothered me. But when he took off the blindfold I was reassured because his eyes were bright and his expression awed. He stared, drinking in the sight of me. With my hands bound, he pawed all over me, teasing, tasting, making every inch of my skin tingle. It was incredible. He sat on the end of the bed with his knees wide. He had pulled me to stand between his feet and for a while he’d just been playing and kissing. But the truth was I’d come twice, but I still didn’t feel satisfied. I wanted him. I wanted him inside me. I wanted his kiss on my mouth. I wanted him to hold me—and I wanted to hold him. A
~ JESSE ~“Cazz… please,” I hissed through my teeth minutes later, my head sinking back as I fought to speed him up, but he resisted.He chuckled mercilessly—and breathlessly—holding my hips tightly and keeping the steady pace, lifting and guiding me, thwarting all my attempts to force him to move faster, digging my heels into his back, pulling him with my legs. But he was too strong.He was fighting for control, though. I could see it. Feel it in him. His hold on the bond had slipped and I was feeling him clearly—I could measure the rising tide of his pleasure—which only increased mine—his determination to hold himself back, and his battle with the call of something primal in him that wanted to give me exactly what I wanted.But so far, he was winning that fight.Both our bodies were slick with sweat, and the only sound in the room that was louder than my ragged breath was his. As we moved together I could feel the glittering promise of another orgasm blinking on the horizon, but I’d