Page 228 of Split or Swallow

“That you want me.”

Tem scoffed. She began to stand, but Leo yanked her right back down.

“Say it, Tem,” his lips were an inch from hers. “Say you want me, and my cock is yours.”

They stared at each other. The air in the carriage was warm, and already smelled like sex.

Tem thought about Caspen, and how angry she was at him. She thought about how he’d lied to her—betrayed her. Why should Tem be loyal when Caspen was anything but? She was half basilisk, after all. There was a part of her—a significant part—that craved Leo in the same way Caspen craved her. Why should she deprive herself of him?

It was a good thing Leo wasn’t asking her to lie.

“I want you,” she whispered.

The smirk returned.

“Good girl. Now unbutton them yourself.”

Tem didn’t hesitate. Her fingers flew along the seam of Leo’s trousers, undoing the buttons before reaching down his undergarments and grabbing his cock. Leo inhaled sharply when she did it, and a second later, she had him fully exposed. He was completely erect—his cock just as long and pretentious as she remembered it. Tem dipped her head immediately. Leo gasped in surprise as she took him all the way down her throat.

“Tem,” he breathed.

Pride curled within her. She lifted her head before lowering it again, creating a steady rhythm.

“You’re so fucking good at this.”

Tem barely heard him. She was concentrating on how hard he was in her mouth, how significant it felt to suck on the part of Leo that made him him—how badly she wanted to take him even deeper.

Leo’s hand went to the back of her head, his hips moving to meet her. His fingers twisted in her hair, holding Tem in place as he thrust lazily up and down. He was taking his time, and Tem didn’t mind.

She let out a tiny moan when his cock hit the back of her throat.

“Fuck, Tem.”

The thrusts became quicker. It was amazing to see the effect she had on him—to see how impossible it was for Leo to control himself around her. Tem felt such power in that moment—such undeniable control—and she wanted nothing more than to keep it.

On his next thrust, she sat up, releasing his cock from her mouth and using her hand instead. Leo grabbed her chin, turning her head to his.

“Sit on my cock, Tem.”

Tem let out a soft giggle.

“No.”

“Tem, I swear to Kora—”

But Tem wasn’t listening. She lowered her head again, taking him once more down her throat. Leo’s hand returned to her hair, twisting it around his knuckles so he could hold it away from her face.

“Need to fuck you—need to fuck you so badly—need you—”

Each phrase was punctuated by the rise and fall of her head as she slid her mouth up and down, again and again. Tem wasn’t used to this much verbal accompaniment. Caspen spoke occasionally, but it was usually to issue a command or impart selective praise. Leo was constantly vocal, and Tem found she enjoyed it. It was satisfying for her to hear, in real time, how he felt about her.

“Let me fuck you, Tem, please.”

The hand that wasn’t holding her hair was roaming along the lacings of her dress, beginning to pull it off her.

But Tem was not going to fuck Leo today.

Not here, not in a carriage, not twenty yards from her cottage. Not when her body still bore the effects of the ritual. She wanted to fuck the prince in a bed—his bed—and she wanted to do it right. For now, she merely wanted to show him that she cared—that she was grateful for his hospitality, and that his obsession with her would be worth it.