Page 268 of Kneel Before Me

Tem’s heart was racing; it sped up every time Caspen’s eyes met hers. He relished the thought that he could have some effect on her. It was only fair considering the effect she had on him. Was this woman aware of the power she held? Caspen felt an instinctual draw to her that could not be explained, and had no desire to question. He craved the soft flesh of her body. He coveted the sweet temptation of her fear.

“You are afraid,” he said.

Tem nodded.

He stepped closer. Her heat beat even faster. “There is no need to be afraid of me.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

Caspen tilted his head. “Then what are you afraid of?”

“Failing.”

He frowned. It was not the answer he had expected. “At what?”

“At…” she started but trailed off.

“Sex,” he finished for her.

Blush crept up her cheeks. “I suppose,” she whispered.

So she was a virgin. It was hardly an issue; Caspen had taught many virgins. But for some reason, knowing he would be the first to penetrate Tem was deeply tantalizing. The last thing he wanted was to feel this way. Human women were not supposed to tempt him. But Caspen dared any of his peers to resist a scent such as hers.

She smelled of the sea.

Caspen had been many times; it was a rite of passage to visit the place where basilisks originated. There was no rational reason for this woman to smell like his home.

“Do you consider me an incapable teacher?” he asked.

“I don’t know the first thing about you.”

Caspen smiled. There was no possibility of her failure. “The princes have chosen my students for generations. Rest assured I will not allow you to fail.”

Tem’s mouth dropped open.

Caspen savored her surprise. He stepped back, splaying his hands with their palms up. “Please. Whenever you are ready.”

She did not immediately obey.

At her hesitation, Caspen clasped his hands.

“All journeys begin with a step, Tem.”

She still did not move. Her eyes were determinedly holding his, her chin tilted upward in defiance. To his complete shock, she replied, “You first.”

Caspen’s eyebrows shot up, then darted immediately together. In all his years of training women for the prince, no one had ever told him to undress before. It was unheard of. Caspen thought he had seen everything there was to see. But he had not yet seen Tem. A portion of him was offended. A portion of him enjoyed it. “As you wish,” he said.

Tem’s eyebrows shot up, her surprise a twin to his. She had probably expected him to petrify her on the spot. But Caspen was intrigued, which was no small feat, and he had no desire to kill this unexpectedly extraordinary woman. Instead, he stepped closer before pulling his shirt off over his head.

Tem’s eyes widened, traveling over his body eagerly. It was an expression Caspen had seen many times. He waited until her gaze dropped below his waist before pulling his trousers off too, savoring the infinitesimal gasp she let out when he did it. As soon as he was naked, her scent changed immediately from fear to arousal. The two were not so different; both required a certain level of adrenaline. But in Tem, her arousal was sweet, like honey, and Caspen yearned to taste it.

“Now you,” he said.

Tem did not hesitate. She unlaced her dress, letting it fall to the ground so she was standing in her underclothing. Only half of her skin was showing—not nearly enough.

His eyes held hers as he said, “And the rest.”

Tem removed the rest.