Page 88 of Elysian

He crowded against my chest. I stumbled back until I was flush against the wall. Cassiel cupped my chin. He leaned down and kissed me. Passionately. The press of his mouth was insistent against mine. His hands squeezed my waist. He broke away, keeping hold of my sides as he dropped to both knees.

“What are you doing?”

“Reminding you why you needn’t look elsewhere.”

He took hold of one ankle and drew his palm upward, taking the hem of my dress along with him. Cool air chilled my skin as he exposed me. Then he tugged my leg upwards by my ankle and pulled it over his shoulder. The door braced my shoulders. I didn’t have a chance to fight his grip when he took my other leg and hooked it over the other.

“Cassiel,” I hissed, my hands shaking as my breathing elevated. I scrambled for balance and pressed my fingernails into the doorframe to keep myself upright.

I could not escape. Again, he used pleasure, this visceral need.

“Cas—” A gasp cut me off.

He speared me with his tongue, straight inside my sex. It more shocked me than anything else. Then he began to move it.

I shoved at his head, attempting to writhe away, but his hold on my legs kept me in place. I dug my fingers into his hair and squeezed the strands.

His tongue curled up, and this angle wrenched trembles from my limbs.

“Oh, dear,” I gasped. He flattened his tongue, pressing against the bud. My entire body seized, jolting to get closer to the swell.

Cassiel angled his head, and his chin began to move as he devoured me. The manner he did this without slicing me with his fangs was skill in itself. He plunged his tongue through the folds.

I could not stop the moans. They only heightened with each of his flicks. The pinnacle arrived, and I soared, a scream wrenching free. I bit my forearm to stifle my embarrassingly loud shouts.

He never failed to turn me into a bundle of sludge. The way he managed to work my limbs should be outlawed.

While I struggled to catch my breath, he dropped my legs, slowly lowering my feet to the ground. My knees buckled, and I slapped my hands on his shoulders, straightening my legs with effort. Cassiel stood smoothly and swiped his tongue across his damp lips, flashing fangs at me. A shiver wracked my frame.

“Amara!” Liadan shouted, his voice muffled by the slab between us. A thud vibrated the door. I startled away from it.

Cassiel’s features sharpened, and he reached for the handle, whipping it open. “Address her as Lady Draven,” Cassiel corrected.

My smile turned brittle. I stepped in front of Cassiel and faced Liadan. “We will be leaving with you to meet the Resistance.”

“Both of us,” Cassiel said pointedly, hand resting on my shoulder. As much as I tried to shake his hand off, he did not release me.

Liadan raised an eyebrow, and humor lifted the corner of his mouth. “Well then.” He cleared his throat, still eyeing the Warlord at my back. “We travel only at nightfall.”

“I will gather a valise for the travel. How many dawnlight rotations will we be on the road?”

“Around three,” he answered. “We do not travel while it is light out.”

“Very well.” I rounded Liadan, and he stepped back from me, hands raised as he smirked at Cassiel.

I reached the lounging area to find the man, Morak, and Archer speaking in low tones.

“Cassiel,” I said and turned back. My nose bumped into his chest. “Please refrain from slaughtering anyone. We need them.” I met his eyes pointedly. “And we have an agreement.”

Rather, he forced me into capitulating. I struggled to swallow, turning away from him.

His smile was unlike anything he had ever offered. He knows he has won—he’s cornered me.

I turned away before I collapsed with the lead that had taken up residence in my stomach.

I had just agreed to wed the Warlord.

CHAPTER THIRTY