Page 80 of Poisoned Empire

He blinked owlishly at the unexpected request. Only the tips of her fingers were touching his chest, urging him deeper into the pool. He grinned, clasped her forearm and pulled her into the water, bodies fitting snugly against each other. Her breath hitched at the insistent length of his erection against her hip. She blushed at the needy ache it inspired. Grabbing him by the horns, she pulled him in for a kiss. His tongue met hers and she melted against him, his calloused hands wandering down her back to squeeze her rear as his tail snaked around her thigh.

“You go grabbing a man by the horns, and he’s going to assume you’re only interested in a certain kind of massage.”

“If you keep talking, I’m going to assume you don’t know how.”

Brow raised in challenge, he pulled her into the deeper part of the pool. She noticed then that his claws were missing, filed down.

“Marduk, your claws…”

“They’ll be back within a day. Did you really think I’d forgo the chance to touch you?”

Setting her on a stone bench, her breasts above the water, he pulled her legs apart to stand between them. It was all she could do not to moan at how wide he spread her. One hand of his braced against the edge of the pool while the other unerringly found her core. A soft kiss coaxed her to take hold of his member. As she revelled in the velvety feel of him, he teased her cruelly with rough fingertips and soft caresses. Swallowing her cries of impatience, she wrung groans from him in turn. Marduk’s thick fingers speared her, and suddenly his attentions kept her dangling on the edge, driving her half mad as he stroked her. Lust and need made her bolder. Iliana grabbed him by the horns and bit his lip.

“Harder!” she commanded, breathless.

Kiss harsh, he acquiesced, sending her over a blissful edge crying his name. Her body limp and exquisitely sensitive, heart racing and breathless, she wasn’t the least bit bothered by the smug smile on his rugged face. Marduk gathered her in his arms and carried her to the bed. Set down on cool sheets, she stared hungrily at his straining erection. Need flared anew.

“Do you know what your second promise to me was?” she asked playfully.

Her legs dangled over the edge of the bed, and she had to crane her neck back to look him in the eye. He leaned over her, forcing her further back until her shoulders pressed against the covers. His sweet, slow kiss scrambled her thoughts. She pulled him closer, taking him in hand once again as he teased her tight nipples between his fingers. Her legs wrapped around him of their own accord, urging him to grind against her.

“I have a sneaking suspicion I know what you want,” he murmured with a playful twinkle in his eye.

When he pulled away, she nearly begged for his return. Refusing to let him get too far, she locked his hips in place with her legs. He chuckled softly, grabbed her thighs and pulled them further apart. Exposed, he began the deliberate, tortuous process of grinding his erection against her. Iliana couldn’t stop the helpless moans from escaping her lips. Though his expression was fierce, his voice was calm, controlled. She loved him for his gentleness, but she craved his fire.

“But I can’t be certain. What is it you want?”

He increased the pressure, hitting her just right, robbing her mind of reason as she clutched the sheets between her fingers. She’d been mistaken, thinking she could control this game of seduction, but she’d never enjoyed playing the fool more. Bucking her hips against him, chasing that glorious feeling, she was about to reach the peak again when he eased the pressure.

“No!” she cried, thwarted.

“You have to ask for what you want, Iliana.” His whisper drove her mad.

His horns were too far away for her to grab. She unlocked her fingers from the sheets and made to show him, but he caught her wrist and forced it above her head, shaking his head. His tail circled her thigh where his hand had been, keeping her pinned.

“Use your words.”

“You! Please!” she begged, her free hand snaking around his head, fingers sinking into his short curls.

Marduk obliged, pushing himself into her inch by glorious inch. She’d never felt so full, such delicious, exquisite friction, the ache finally sated. At least until he drew out of her, unhurried. She flexed her thighs and angled her hips, forcing him into her faster than he’d meant. Their eyes met, and Iliana exulted in the moment his control gave over to wild need. When he filled her to the hilt, he increased his tortuously slow pace, faster, harder, until they were both lost to all sense and reason, just sweet friction, slick bodies and devouring kisses. He was everywhere, devouring her in the best possible way. Her world narrowed to the feeling of building ecstasy, and it didn’t take much to send her over the edge again. Marduk followed her, his groan of pleasure sending a hot frisson down her spine. His breath was as ragged as hers. His kiss was as sweet as his lovemaking had been fierce.

“I love you, Iliana,” he growled.

Heart fluttering in her chest, her smile was inescapable.

“I love you, too.”

Iliana woke to a knocking at their door. Marduk roused, his arms having cradled her in their sleep.

“I’m sorry to disturb you Domina Roxane, but your sister, Domina Diodora, is saying she has urgent business with you,” the servant said from the other side of the door.

“I’ll be out in a moment,” Iliana yawned.

“What could she want at this hour?” Marduk grouched from beside her, burying his face in her hair.

Iliana turned to kiss him on his cheek before swinging her legs over the side of the bed. A delightful twinge gave her a slight hitch in her step as she padded silently on the cool stone floor to where a simple robe was hung. She wrapped it securely around her waist.

“I’m sure it’s nothing serious. I’ll be back soon.”

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