Page 22 of The Demon King's Unruly Mate

She laughed, the sound sending a shiver down my spine as her cheek pressed into my palm. “At least you’re honest.”

“I try,” I promised. “Even when it’s inconvenient.”

“Like now?” Her breath ghosted across my thumb. “When you’re thinking about kissing me again?”

Fuck it.

CHAPTER SIX

TALIA

The gold in Kaz’s eyes darkened as his thumb made another pass over my lower lip. For a heartbeat, he hesitated, the honorable mercenary warring with the male who’d claimed me as his mate.

Then he was on me.

His mouth crashed against mine, hot and demanding. I gasped, opening for him as his tongue swept inside, tasting of whiskey and smoke andhim. My fingers tangled in his short hair, pulling him closer as I arched up from the bed.

Kaz growled, the sound vibrating through my chest. His hands slid down my sides, gripping my ass and lifting me further onto the mattress. My back hit the sheets as he followed, his powerful body covering mine, pinning me beneath him. This was possession. This was claiming.

This wasreal.

And exactly I wanted, I realized with startling clarity. Not just the physical pleasure, but his grasping hands and panted breaths, the feeling of being wanted so desperately that honor and restraint crumbled to ash.

His lips broke from mine to trail fire down, down, down to the sensitive spot where my pulse hammered against my skin. His tongue traced patterns there, teeth grazing just enough to make me writhe. I moaned, tilting my head to give him better access.

“You drive me fucking crazy,” he murmured against my throat. His hands slid under my blouse, calloused palms rough against my stomach. “Do you know that?”

I smiled, arching as his fingers found the underside of my breast. “I’m beginning to suspect.”

It wasn’t just the bond driving us together. It was the understanding that had grown of shared scars and stubborn goals. The realization that perhaps we weren’t so mismatched after all.

He kissed me again, slow and deep, stealing what little remained of my thoughts. There was only him and his wicked, wonderful mouth, the heat of his body pinning mine against the mattress.

I melted into it, giving myself permission to enjoy this moment outside of courtly politics and royal games. Outside of past wounds and future burdens. Just me and my mate, losing ourselves in each other.

His hands slid down my sides, finding the bottom button of my blouse and quickly working his way up as I worked my way down. I arched into his touch, helping him strip the garment away. The cool air against my heated skin made me shiver, but Kaz’s hands were fire, trailing heat wherever they touched.

He sat back on his heels, eyes darkening as he took in the sight of me in my lacy black bra. The hunger in his gaze made me feel powerful in a way no crown ever could.

“I’ve thought about this every night since I left,” he growled against my lips.

“Show me,” I challenged, my fingers finding the buttons of his shirt.

He caught my wrists, pinning them gently above my head with one hand. The other tipped my chin up, forcing me to meet his molten gold eyes.

“Not like last time,” he murmured, trailing a finger along the edge of the lace of my bra. “This time, I plan to take my time. I’m going to savor you, Talia. Every. Inch.”

He punctuated each word with a kiss to my lips, then my jaw, then the hollow of my throat. Another between my breasts, his tongue tracing the edge of my bra. With one hand still holding my wrists, he used the other to unclasp the front hook, exposing me to his hungry gaze.

I shivered, caught between the desire to assert control and the pleasure of surrendering to his touch.

Control can wait,I decided as his mouth closed over my nipple, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my core.For now.

Kaz released my wrists to cup both breasts, thumbs circling the hardened peaks as his tongue laved and teeth gently scraped. I threaded my fingers through his hair, holding him to me as my back arched off the bed.

“Beautiful,” he murmured against my skin, moving to lavish attention on my other breast. “So fucking beautiful, my queen.”

“Kaz,” I gasped, my tail wrapping around his thigh. “Please.”

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