Page 71 of All the Pain of Promises
With slow, careful movements, he used the sharp edge of the blade to slice open the front of her gown. The velvet and lace ripped with ease so her breasts tumbled free, baring her to him. Her nipples peaked, practically begging for his touch, for the swipe of his tongue. The fabric slid down her arms, peeling open to reveal her toned stomach, and that sparkly little gem piercing her navel.
“I told you I was abstaining from bedroom activities,” she hissed, but the erratic beating of her heart through the bond told him she wasn’t nearly as pissed as she let on.
“And so you are.” Solarius cupped both of her breasts, his thumbs swiping lazily back and forth across her sensitive flesh. He enjoyed the way she squirmed on the chair, how she arched toward him without thought. “You’re playing the harp, and I’m doing this.”
One hand trailed down to her hip, holding her in place, while the other snaked beneath the layers of her dress. His fingers inched along her thigh, slow. Cautious. Until they discovered her warm and wet, and lacking any kind of lacy barrier. His cock swelled, scraping against the seam of his pants. He wanted to show her, so she could see the effect she had on him. But her gaze was focused on his face, wild and aware, and for a moment, he worried he may have pushed her too far. But then he felt it. The faintest give of her leg as it fell open wider, granting him access.
Solarius slid one finger down her slick folds and Narissa gasped. Her head fell back, and she struck a jarring chord. The dissonant sound grated against his ears, but he didn’t care.
All he cared about was her. All he wanted was her.
He pushed one finger deep into her core, then added another. In and out, he kept his movements methodical, setting a leisurely pace. His other hand skated up her waist, brushingalong the side of her breast. The most delightful whimper escaped her, carrying a whisper of his name on her lips.
“Do you like that, Rissa love?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her chest heaving.
Narissa tried to keep plucking at the strings, but her impatience clawed down the bond. She rolled her hips, quietly urging him to increase his pace. Each time he curled his fingers, she stumbled over another chord.
“More,” she begged.
“Play faster,” he countered with a smirk, and the pale green of her gaze burned hot.
“Fine,” she snapped.
Solarius should’ve known her temper would get the best of her, he should have taken more care in riling her up. Because he never saw her next move coming.
Narissa lifted her leg, so the velvet of her gown pooled at her waist, revealing his fingers deep inside of her. He bit back a groan, knowing he could absolutely sneak another finger in and she’d take it with no problem. But she surprised him further by propping her foot up, the thin heel of her shoe poking him squarely in the chest. Then she played, her fingers moving so swiftly over the strings of the harp that he could barely track them.
Stars above, she was wicked.
But a promise was a promise.
He pumped his fingers into her, following the hasty rhythm she set. She clenched around him, her body seizing as he drove her closer to the edge. The vicious point of her heel dug into him, but he didn’t mind the pain, in fact, he reveled in it. It was fascinating, watching her writhe and grind against him, being witness to her undoing. Power hummed between them and when he worked her clit with his thumb, her leg spasmed, and she screamed his name. The blistering melody crescendoed, andNarissa vibrated in the wake of her orgasm, collapsing against the chair as the base of the harp dropped soundly against the floor.
Her skin flushed the pretty, rosy hue he loved so much, and he swore he’d never seen anything more desirable in his life. She was sprawled against the chair, legs spread, breasts out, and all of it was for him. Messy golden waves framed her face, and if he could ingrain this moment in his mind, he would. He let his eyes slowly drink in every inch of her, committing the finest detail of her beauty to his memory.
Solarius pressed a kiss to the inside of her thigh, then slowly stood.
“Don’t worry, you don’t have to participate in any bedroom activities.” He pulled the hem of her gown so it covered her legs, then he adjusted his pulsing shaft. When her lust-filled gaze flicked down to where he strained for her against his pants, he rubbed his shaft a few times just to tease her. To remind her of what she would be missing. “But remember, Rissa love. The Yuletide Ball isoutsideof the bedroom.”
Narissa’s mouth fell open in shock and Solarius laughed, tugging off his shirt as he stalked toward the connected bathing suite. The sear of her gaze burned into his back.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Narissa stood on the balcony overlooking the ballroom of House Celestine, where a sea of nobles mingled and twirled, as conversations were drowned over the delightful thread of music floating through the air.
She gripped the railing with both hands, silently chastising herself for not entering the room on Solarius’s arm. He said he would wait for her to finish dressing and preparing for the ball, but she’d sent him away, claiming it would take her far longer to get ready than him. In truth, she’d needed that precious extra time to recover after what he did to her while she played her harp. It had been more than his touch that left her reeling, the way he simply looked at her, like he wanted todevourher. She wanted him to lift her into his arms, carry her to the bed, and drive himself into her until he occupied every facet of her soul.
Instead, he’d stood up, then laughed and held her to her word.
No bedroom activities.
Narissa cursed herself for making such a foolish claim, clenching her thighs together as she considered all the ways he might make her pay for such a declaration. If he did indeed attempt to try something during the ball, then she thought it wasonly fair she take him by surprise as well. She opted to wear the pearl panties along with the new gold stockings she purchased for him. And she couldn’t wait to see his face when he made that startling little discovery.
Still, she wished she didn’t have to enter the ballroom by herself. Not that anyone would notice her, anyway. To make matters worse, Solarius had so thoroughly distracted her, that she’d forgotten to tell him about her theory regarding his mother. Granted, it was all speculation, but the timing of Hespira being in Lady Trysta’s employ around the same time as Lord Zenos’s death was entirely too coincidental.
Her gaze drifted past the brilliant blue winterblooms crawling up the pillars to where snowflakes danced along the ceiling in an enchanting display of magic. Rolling her shoulders back, she pushed away from the balcony and headed toward the spiral staircase.
