Page 153 of Tempt

“Good morning,” he says aloud, then pulls back to sign, ‘Is it morning?’

Our nights aren’t as long as Earth nights, and I wonder if it’s messing with his internal body clock. ‘Yes. Morning. I have work.’

He pulls a face, and I feel a pulse of annoyance, and something else. Fear. I get a flashing image of Jyrion in his mind, the prince standing in the doorway of our cottage.

‘You can turn him away. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,’ I remind my VySytheh.

He taps his fingers to his temples gently. ‘I know. But I want to help. And I think Jyrion is more complicated than most people think.’

My brow furrows. ‘Explain.’

I am afraid for Luca. I do not want him to think there’s anything redeemable about the prince. He is cruel and ruthless and vicious. He will not hesitate to be kind to get what he wants, and he will not hesitate with fangs and claws when he is ready to strike.

I do not know that he is capable of love or bonding. There is something in him that is broken. Or, perhaps, something in him that needs breaking.

‘I saw bruises on him,’ Luca signs, his expression almost careful. ‘Sometimes he seems afraid. Truly afraid.’

‘Please don’t let that fool you into thinking you are safe with him,’ I beg.

Luca shakes his head and kisses me again, then pushes into the bond. Never.

There is a rich, heady truth behind that single word. It’s impossible not to believe or trust him. And the fact that he is scared of Jyrion makes me feel better. It lets me know that he will approach with some caution.

I could not leave him alone if I thought he would be reckless.

Luca kisses my neck, then he slides off my lap and stares down at me. ‘I want to feed you my cum before work. Come back to bed?’

That is a very quick, very easy yes.

I let him guide me to the bed, his mouth meeting mine in a sultry kiss as he grinds up against me. He is insatiable, perfect. Mine.

I do not want to leave him today. I want to stay here with him, sucking on his cock and letting him suck on mine. I want to watch him sleep, want to trace each line of his body with my fingers and tail.

Luca’s mouth pulls away from mine, his lips wet from my spit, and I can’t help but let my tongue run along his lower lip, feeling it quiver at my touch. My hands drag up his abdomen and pluck at his pierced nipples, making him whine.

“Eissa,” he moans, my name a beautiful melody on his tongue.

His eyelids droop, and he pushes me backward, scooting up my torso until that small human cock is at my mouth.

I do not hesitate. I wrap my tongue around it and suck, listening to his sweet crooning cries as he finds pleasure in my mouth.

The taste of him soon erupts on my tongue without warning, and I milk him until he’s pulling off, his hand wrapped around his base, his chest heaving.

I smack my lips together, taking in every last drop, and then touch him tenderly. He sighs happily and flops down next to me, one leg thrown over my thigh, his hand reaching out to touch my thundering hearts.

I don’t want you to go, but you must.

I don’t want to leave, but he’s right. I cannot leave Rathyn waiting. It is important enough for him to reach out. So he must have information that he can feed me.

I linger a little too long but eventually sneak away when Luca falls back asleep. I caress his soft skin with my eyes before making my way out of the house and through the portal.

I expected I might see a Vyastil in my office when I arrived, but I did not expect to see three Vyastil princes. Jyrion is facing my desk with Izar on his right and Vyrian on his left. Izar looks annoyed and tired, while Vyrian looks uncomfortable and confused and keeps trying to catch my gaze, though he never holds it.

“Your Highnesses,” I say as I walk around my desk. Because they are standing, I do not sit. “How can I assist you?”

“As you are one of the top council members and well aware of security protocols and portal use,” Jyrion says, flicking his ears with an arrogance only a prince can have, “I would like to know why there have been several attempts by the Vorthex to open unauthorized portals, outside of our agreement with them.”

I blink at him. “I have never been privy to Vorthex portal use. That agreement has never crossed my desk. I believe the king and queen⁠—”