Thanatos blushed and swore under his breath, then kissed me deeply before I could tease him any further. That was one way to shut me up, I supposed. His kisses were just as delightful as they’d been the night before. Maybe even better.
“I thought of you while I stole the breath of the masses of plagued,” he whispered, heat rising in his voice. “I thought of you while conversing with peasants and lords. I thought ofyouwhen I flew the river Styx and stood before the house of Hades.”
Well, I couldn’t top that. “Did you, now? Well then, I suppose I must admit to sacrilege,” I flirted back, already breathless. “I thought of you all day, too. Oh, and in the infirmary!” I added with a giggle.
He laughed with me when he understood. “Oh, did the fool make it there?”
“It seems he’s had a terrible accident,” I said brightly, then let my voice drop to a sensual hush. “But that’s not to be believed. My sisters think he angered someone powerful.”
His wings gave a little flutter, and he fixed me with his intense, burning gaze. Passion smoldered in his eyes. “Hmm. And what doyouthink?”
My head was swimming, my body thrumming with longing. Gods, the way he was looking at me was going to make me melt. “That you have quite a dramatic way of showing your affection,” I answered through my blush. “Not that I object, of course.”
Thanatos leaned in, bringing his lips to my ear. “Well, it is not the only way I have,” he whispered. I shivered, the hairs on my arms all standing on end. Then he cradled my face and kissed me harder, pressing his lips against mine with carnal hunger.
“Oh!” My breath hitched as sweet dizziness swept over me. He slipped his hand up my thigh as he held me against his chestand eased my mouth open with his tongue. He licked along my upper lip, exploring tenderly, then tugged gently on the lower one with his teeth.
My flush deepened, my skin hot and sensitive. I felt like I was onfire. Dear gods, he felt so good. His hands on my body, clutching me to him. His lips, his tongue playing with mine. Quivering, I buried my hands in his hair and sighed softly against his kisses, losing myself in his warmth.
He moved his hands to my shoulders, stroking me, and lingered a moment too long over the pins that held my sleeves together. I knew what he wanted. I also understood now why he was still so hesitant: I’d learned atop the tower that he hated the power imbalance between us, if only because it could mask the true earnestness of my desire. Thanatos was simply toomoralto take the lead, even as his erection strained at my hip and our touches grew rougher and more helpless. So I reached up to my shoulders and undid the pins for him.
The fabric of my tunic fell down, now held to my body only by the tie around my waist. Thanatos groaned with delight and took my invitation, his hands moving instantly to cup my bare breasts. His breath came raggedly as he fondled them, his lips at my neck, softly adoring me. I’d never been touched like this before, and now I thought my heart might explode if I couldn’t get enough of him. How unfair it was thathisclothes didn’t have easy-access clasps. Surely I’d make a fool of myself trying to get that shirt off over his wings.
“Wait,” I murmured instead, absolutely drunk with pleasure. I pulled away and stood up just long enough to hike up the hem of my tunic in a fashion that was decidedly unladylike. I returned as quickly as I could, straddling him this time, and sank down gently against his raging erection. I savored the sound of his happy gasp as he shifted me into optimal position and returned his hands to my breasts.
“Fuck,” he panted. He looked more entranced than I’d ever seen him, and I couldn’t contain my delight, knowing that he was losing himself just as much as I was. Was this going too far? Oh, but I couldn’t stop. I rolled my hips, reveling in that glorious friction…and Thanatos tossed his head back and moaned. Loudly.
I had planned to wait. I had planned to be patient, and modest, and to just kiss him for a few more days before I could pluck up enough courage to sleep with him. But here I was, already topless in the moonlight, in the arms of the most gorgeous man in the world and absolutely bursting with desire. I was so feral for him already that I couldn’t help but grind on his cock—and now he wasmoaningfor me? Fuck it. I wanted that cock, and I wanted itnow.
“Thanatos,” I whimpered.
“Cyrie?” he panted back.
“I want you.” It spilled out of me in a soft breath.
A grin tugged at his lips. “Mmm. I will give you whatever you wish.”
“I wantyou. Now.”
He held my face tenderly and rested his forehead against mine. I could feel the shudder in his breath as he softly stroked my cheek. “Let me find a place for us,” he whispered.
With a flutter of his wings he pulled me to my feet and held me against his chest. He rubbed my back, then pulled away with a little groan, eyeing me as if I’d disappear at any moment.
“Stay,” he said. I nodded, and he flickered out of sight.
8
I waited there in a nervous daze for Thanatos to return for me, suddenly feeling awfully shy. This was really happening? Oh, man. I hoped I was pretty enough. I hoped I would feel good for him. Fuck, I hoped I could figure out how to even do it. This was a whole lot of hope to rely on…
But when he flickered back into the room, he pulled me gently into his arms and calmed me with soft kisses. I let out a deep breath when I felt the comfort of his body, his devotion expressed in reverent touch. It was Thanatos. I loved him. Surely we would figure this out. Wait, what?
“Want to go with me?” he asked quietly. I brushed my finger over his lips, and passion drove my fears away.
“Yes,” I breathed.
He swept me off my feet, which was lucky because I’d started to go weak in the knees. I cuddled against his chest and stroked his hair while he rearranged reality around us. Our surroundings twisted and curled, then reformed into a darker room lit by a couple of candles. And Thanatos carried me tenderly to bed.
He set me down on soft sheets, stepped out of his shoes, and joined me eagerly, scooping me back into his arms. I didn’t know whose bed it was, and I didn’t care. It could have been the floor for all I cared, because at last I could lie with him and hold him closer than ever before. Together like this, my nerves werefar overpowered by my need. I wanted him so badly, and finally we could tangle our bodies together to close the terrible distance.
