I unlaced my pants deliberately slowly and watched as her smug expression was softened by her own curiosity. She did not seem to realize she was giving away every thought and emotion, but I relished every little betrayal. Especially when she inhaled as if surprised by the sight of my straining erection. I had been concerned that she could be intimidated after what she’d endured. But there was no fear in her eyes as she stared at me with the same awe that I had stared at her. And I was relieved bythat, not just for her but for myself somehow too. Which was ridiculous because this was just to repay her for tormenting me.
Although I didn’t feel very playful as I found myself moving toward her. And she certainly wasn’t laughing as she watched me approach.
I barely noticed the heat of the pool as I waded in and then dove under the water so I could swim to her faster. Nuala snapped out of her reverie when I surfaced in front of her again and crowded her against the wall of the pool. She glared at me and put her hands on my chest as if she would shove me away from her, but there was no strength behind her palms. She leaned against the wall and tilted her head up toward me in a subtle invitation that let me know she was exactly where she wanted to be. So I gently took hold of her wrists and pulled her hands up between us to allow me to step even closer. Her fire magic began seeping out of her pores and licked across the backs of my hands in the guise of another threat. But I knew she was perfectly aware that the flames were harmless to me. Which emboldened me to lean down to nibble and suck lightly on her fingertips until her pupils were blown as she watched the flames roll harmlessly across my lips.
“You are angry. Please stop playing these games with me and share what is wrong,” I said as I released her.
Nuala frowned and averted her eyes.
“You refuse to understand, so why should I waste the energy to explain?”
I knew I should back off and give her space so we both could regain our heads. I was usually good at controlling my more domineering habits outside of a consenting tryst in the bedroom. But Nuala had clearly gotten too deep under my skin because before I knew it, I had grabbed her chin and was forcing her to face me.
I was so shocked at myself that I almost let her go and jerked my hand away, but then I saw the spark of defiance and triumph in her eyes. Not only had shewantedto get that reaction fromme, she also knew exactly which of my buttons to push in order to get it.
I was unsure whether to be angry or impressed by her as my grip tightened on her jaw, and I leaned down.
“You must know you are playing with fire, little witch. And that I do not like to be teased this way.”
Her mouth quivered with amusement as she pulled her chin away again and shrugged, completely unfazed by my assertive behaviour. Not because she was indifferent to violence because I had seen her reaction when other fey were aggressive with her. But because she trustedme.
Most other males would have simply appreciated what a great honour it was to be given such trust, but I was not an honourable male. At least not when it came to the way that I preferred to operate in the bedroom. Knowing now what she craved from me, having her trust only made me want to know how much of me she could handle. It made me want to know how far I could push her before she was begging for mercy. Would she still trust me once I had her trussed up and suspended from my yurt ceiling to be used however I wanted?
“I am a fire witch, Rian,” Nuala reminded me drolly as she turned to retrieve the soap from the lip of the pool and began to lather it between her hands. “I am not afraid of getting burned. But if you cannot handle me teasing you, then perhaps you should go over there,” she suggested with a nod toward the expanse of water behind me.
I had no interest in putting space between us if that was not her wish. And since she had not yet moved away or seriously tried to push me back, I stayed where I was.
“Nuala, I need you to answer my questions about how you are unaffected by my magic,” I insisted.
Nuala did not reply as she turned away again to set the foamy soap back on the edge of the pool. I was about to ask her why she felt the need to distract me rather than simply have a conversation. I knew she trusted me, but it was clear she did notfeel comfortable enough to discuss whatever was wrong, and I wanted to know why. But the inquiry died before it passed my lips when she backed up until her firm ass was pressed against my needy cock.
I tried and failed to muffle my sharp inhale of surprise and pleasure at the feel of her against me. I almost let my head dip down to her exposed neck where her damp hair was tugged over one shoulder. I managed to stop myself before my lips touched her skin but still couldn’t seem to bring myself to step back as she ran her soapy hands all over herself. Her every move made her soft body brush against every inch of me until I was nearly feral.
“I know what you are doing,” I choked out, my voice a little rougher than intended. “It is not going to work.”
Nuala snorted a soft laugh and turned back to face me, still close enough for her nipples to brush my chest.
“Are you sure about that?” she smirked.
Abruptly losing my patience, I acted impulsively and grabbed her by the throat to shove her up against the wall of the pool behind her. A small part of me was agonizing over whether I was scaring her, but mostly I was focused on how she laughed with eyes closed and chin tilted up.
“Is this what you are after? You want to make me lose my temper with you?” I guessed in confusion.
“Not quite,” she answered coolly, all traces of teasing gone just before her hand suddenly fastened around my hardened cock and squeezed.Hard.
I hissed, caught somewhere confusing between pain and pleasure while she narrowed her eyes and curled her lip at me. She looked so fierce in spite of the fact that my hand still fully encircled her delicate little throat.
“You. Are. Mine,” she snarled, shocking me with the vehemence of her declaration and the fire in her eyes that dared me to disagree. “I willkillanyone who attempts to lay a hand on you from now on, Rian.”
I was too stunned to reply for a moment as I processed her meaning and realized why she had been so agitated by Geera earlier. And then my temper burned off the shock, and I squeezed her neck tighter.
“You may have declared yourself mine, butIdo not belong toyou,” I assured her through my teeth as her grip tightened on me as well.
“You can deny me all you want, but if you value their fucking lives, then you will not allow them to touch you,” she reiterated firmly.
I stared at her in uncertainty of how to respond until she suddenly released her grip. I did the same for her and then stepped back so we stood glaring at each other for a moment while I came to terms with her declaration.
That she would kill anyone who touched me.
