Page 121 of Kneel Before Me

The moment deepened. They both knew the rules had changed between them, that the boundaries Daphne had set in place when they first met were breaking. The crest had obliterated what was left of her walls, and Daphne did not know how much longer it would be before they fell. Still, she hesitated. What she’d felt while they were dancing was still true—there was no future for them. At least, not one she could picture, not one where they would be accepted into each other’s worlds. She couldn’t imagine that getting involved with a human was encouraged behavior in basilisk culture. She wanted to ask more questions, to seek clarification.

But Kronos’s body was warm against hers, and his fingers were on her back, brushing gently up her body. Perhaps there was no future for them. Perhaps it didn’t matter.

“You do not understand what it is like to have you on top of me,” Kronos whispered. He was still stroking the string of pearls. The motion sent a shiver down her spine.

“You don’t understand what it’s like to have you under me.”

Slowly, Kronos’s hands slid down the curve of her waist. He gripped her hips, pulling them open even more. Her wetness was soaking his trousers.

“You’re doing it again,” Daphne whispered.

He rose his eyebrows. “Doing what?”

“Tempting me.”

His hands stilled. “Am I truly tempting you?”

“You know you are.”

He shook his head. “I know nothing when it comes to you.”

“I know nothing when it comes to you either.”

“That is not true.”

“Then tell me something.”

“Such as?”

The air was too warm. Daphne gestured at the lingerie. “Tell me about this.”

“What do you wish to know?”

“Where did you get it?”

“I made it.”

Daphne raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you were so skilled at beadwork.”

Kronos let out a soft chuckle. “That is not what I mean.”

“Then what do you mean?”

He paused. Deep, fierce desire flashed in his eyes. Daphne was almost afraid of it.

“Shall I show you?”

“Yes,” she answered before she could stop herself.

The air grew even warmer as he shifted beneath her, sitting up so they were at eye level. He didn’t say a word. Yet Daphne knew something was happening by the way his pupils were rapidly expanding. Then she felt the heat.

The pearls were rippling—moving—traveling over her skin as if they had a mind of their own. They skimmed over her breasts, gathering around them and tightening. She gasped as they squeezed her. It was as if Kronos’s hands had done the motion. As soon as pressure was applied, it alleviated. The pearls moved again, rolling up her sternum and wrapping around her neck. The garment had split; the strands that connected the bottom were breaking, creating two distinct sections of pearls.

Daphne’s hands gripped Kronos’s shoulders for support. She did not understand what was happening; she had never seen magic like this before. All she knew was that the hot pearls felt glorious against her skin. It was like getting licked by a thousand flaming tongues at once.

“How?” she gasped. “How can you do this?”

“It is an ancient magic,” Kronos said, equally out of breath. “Only basilisks are capable of it. I cannot explain it.”