Chapter Nine
Adrian had ignoredthe Blackbird’s first request—he’d never been particularly good at obedience—but, alternating with his own, her fingers were now gripping him where she could do real harm.
Compliance seemed in his best interest.
What was more, her gently scolding tone and perfect, governess-y accent had caused an involuntary clench in his lower body. As she’d noted, he already had a glistening tip. He was dripping now.
Mortifying.
He groaned beneath his breath.
Mortifying, yes.
And yet, with the feel of her breasts against his side, her long hair wafting willy-nilly, tickling his torso, and her hot breath fanning his aching member as she asked questions in that refined voice, and his own, practiced stroking, he was in a state of fevered longing like he’d never felt before.
The heavy, burning sensation spread to his thighs. Heat radiated up into his abdomen. Tiny, urgent zings left him panting. Honor and instinct were at war within. With littleeffort, he could rip of his blindfold, flip her onto her back, and do as he wished.
Take her now. She wants it. She’ll like it.
Lies,his better self answered.
He forced himself to breathe, to observe, to assess.
His body was now demanding release at any cost—he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth—but a moment, a moment just after she’d fallen to pieces in his arms branded his soul. He’d been overwhelmed with warmth.
Her eager forays into pleasure left him feeling tender toward her.
Protective.
Her impassioned, unselfconscious cries had given him the insensible urge to hold her until her shivers subsided and her breath returned to normal. Hold her as if she were someone important to him. Before she’d skewered him with the wordtolerable.
Devil take it, he’d almost told her he didn’t wish to seek his own satisfaction.
Which was made no sense.
They were barely acquainted. She’d was using him for education, just as he’d used her and the others for distraction.
Used. He frowned.
Perhaps, even with the care he’d taken, he did have reason to be ashamed.
Gently, she squeezed his intimate parts. “Blackbird,” he groaned.
“Does that hurt?” she asked, her voice husky with curiosity.
“Not in a bad way.” Especially not now that her fingers were circling the lower half of his cock.
He forced himself to concentrate—to give her the education she’d come to his bed receive. “To answer your earlier question,to be aroused and not find release is uncomfortable, but not as bad as some men would have you believe.”
“Men lie? I’m all astonishment.”
Her sarcastic tone made him snort. On occasion, she could be an unexpected delight.
She trailed her fingers lightly along the shaft. Those fingers, he remembered. Long and delicate. Lady soft.
“I wouldn’t worry if you were in pain,” she continued. “You seem to know how to take care of yourself.”
“Fair point. Have you ever”—he cleared his throat—“taken care of yourself?”
