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“Everywhere you can see, and considering that’s an awful lot…” he trails off, his eyes sliding down my form, heating my blood. He steps forward. "May I?" Loric nods at my shoulder.
Mentally, I slam the doors, trapping everything about what comes after today behind it. If this is all I get with him, thenI want to enjoy it. With a slow nod, my cheeks flush, and imaginary hands begin to stitch my fractured heart together.
A wicked grin plays at the corners of Loric’s mouth as he deftly slides the sleeves of my dress down my arms. The sheer fabric turns inside out, hanging off my hips, leaving me exposed to his hungry gaze.
He sets the paint down then grips my hips and lifts me so I can sit on the tabletop. Those sterling eyes toggle between mine before he cups my face, gently pressing a light kiss to my lips. I chase them as he pulls back, tearing a grumble from his throat, but I fist the front of his shirt, lift my chin. Before I can kiss him back, he turns his head and trails heated kisses down my throat and over my chest.
“Why are you so damn tempting to me?” he asks, pausing at my collarbone.
“I could ask you the same.”
He smiles wide, his rough hands sliding up my body, palming my breasts. My breath hitches as he pulls a taut nipple into his mouth, biting gently, teasingly, sending a jolt racing through my core. My hands weave into his unruly hair, anchoring myself to him as desire coils low in my belly.
Loric continues his sensual assault, his lips trailing lower until he knocks the fabric of my gown away from my legs. The slit in the dress sets over my thighs, and he nudges them apart, lowering himself to kneel before me. There’s a predatory glint in his eyes as they meet mine, and my heart races, pounding into my ribs. My breaths become uneven as he leisurely kisses and licks up the inside of my thigh, then with a languid strike of his tongue, I trap the air in my lungs.
He hooks one of my legs over his shoulder, and I lean back on the table, bracing myself on my elbows. His strong hands hold me steady, gripping into my hip bones and my head falls back, too heavy to hold up any longer.
Loric pushes his fingers into my body slowly, twisting and curling while I bend to his will. His lips close around my clit and he sucks hard. The air rushes out of my lungs, my body trembling in his hands as his tongue swirls and flicks with precision. He knows exactly what he’s doing, driving me towards the edge at a reckless speed, all while his fingers press deeper into my body.
Goosebumps cover my skin as a flush settles across my face, heating me from the inside out. I’m not sure when I started to, but my hips move in tune with his fingers, with his tongue. My body is careless, unbidden, no longer following my orders as it chases the visceral need burning inside me.
Ragged breaths leave my lips and the sounds they carry are unrecognizable to me, unabashed. I try to bite them back, knowing there’s no way the canvas tent will swallow them up, but then something snaps within me. My jaw falls open, my lashes fluttering as every muscle in my body goes weak all at once. It’s all I can do to cover my mouth with my hand, breathing hard as the most euphoric feeling I’ve ever experienced takes over and I shudder in his hands as he draws out the pleasure. It's so tantalizing and torturous that I can’t form coherent words.
I lay back against the table, my hands pulling my hair out of my face. Loric moves to hover above me, his arms outstretched on either side of my head as he licks his lips.
“Was that part of the ritual?”
He smirks. “No.” It’s a simple answer, but something about it has my gut tightening all over again, sending butterflies rampaging through me. “I just really,reallywanted to taste you.”
I roll my eyes, still trying to catch my breath. My body is so blissfully numb I’m not sure I could push up off this table if I tried.
Then fingers press against my skin, the coolness of the paint making my stomach concave. I stutter a breath, looking down my body to see Loric drawing swirls. “I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to leave this tent…”
Those standing in line must have heard us. Maybe even those in the neighboring tents, and oh gods,definitelythe guy who gave us the paint. My face warms as blood floods and I hide my face in my hands.
Loric chuckles, sending a burst of warm air across my stomach. “With your head held high and a fucking smile on your face, I hope.”
I lift my hands, narrowing my eyes at him, but everything falls away when I see him smile at me. Even his cheeks have taken on a pinkish tone. “Are you blushing?”
His face falls and he clears his throat. “No.” He quickly returns his attention to the task at hand and draws his swirls. But I know what I saw and somehow that gives me a little more confidence than I had two minutes ago.
Chapter 30
Calamity
We leave the tent, stepping back out into the festival's lively atmosphere. Loric threads his fingers through mine, and I do my best not to look at those standing in line or the tent guard distributing the paint.
Loric leads the way and we meander toward one of the roads that just off the village center, but my eyes cling to the other festival-goers. None of the other maidens have their entire body painted like mine. Most have a symbol or simple swirls adorning their arms and chests, but nothing as intricate as the designs Loric drew on me. As for their potential mates, most wear masks, but they’re fully clothed. No paint in sight.
Loric covered every square inch of me. The tops of my hands and feet, my breasts,all of it.Granted, I only did from his waist up since he only removed his shirt, which is now tucked into his belt. I’d followed the same paths he drew on me, covering everything from his throat down to his hips.
I open my mouth to question it but his eyes slide toward me, though he makes no effort to turn his head or his body.
“I was being thorough.” The deep timbre of his voice seems to hum across my skin, butthoroughdoesn’t explain why he’s covered in paint when none of the other men are.
“I’d say,” I snort. “And why is that?”
“If someone looks at you…” he trails off, stealing a glance at me. “And trust me, they will. I wanted them to know every inch of you is mine, even if it is just for tonight.”
