Page 103 of Heimlock

After handing me the beer, Trinte sits down, getting comfortable. With a dramatic sigh, he says, “Wow, my tailbone really missed this.”

I lift a pillow in a threat. “Yeah, yeah, rub it in. You know, some people aren’t home enough to need a couch.”

After taking a sip of his beer, Trinte asks, “Why don’t you have furniture? I didn’t ask while you had semi-stinky armpits, but I’m dying to know why.”

He catches the pillow when I try to hit him with it. “I do not stink. And if I did stink, it’s because my caretaker sucks at cleaning me.”

Mouth twitching, he says, “Maybe your caretaker could have employed other ways to clean you.”

“Is this where you tell me you’ll lick my armpits?” I demand.

“Kyrielle, you need to listen to me carefully.” He leans forward, putting the beer on his coffee table. Dread increases my pulse at the serious expression.

He grabs my free hand, rubbing the top of it with his thumbs. Looking deep into my eyes, he says, “I will literally lick anything you ask me to. Toes, elbows, eyeballs — you ask and my tongue is there.” His focus dips to my lap. With a salaciously slow smile, he says, “Amongst other things.”

My cheeks burn because I know how that licking feels. “Wouldn’t that, uh, count as sex?”

“Firefly, I don’t know of anyone who thinks eyeball licking is sex. Even a Cyclops might side-eye that one.”

I laugh and put my beer next to his. “Shall we put this to the test?”

Trinte cocks his head. “Is this where you’re actually going to make me lick your armpit? Because I’ll do it.” He lunges; I squeal, hugging my good arm to my chest. He’s gentle as he pretends to lift the arm, tongue at the ready.

“No!” I screech. “No armpit licking, Trinte!”

He lets go and sits back, looking disappointed. “But you promised.”

Laughing, I slap his knee. “I did no such thing.”

His lower lip juts out. “So what can I lick?”

Raising my good arm, I present my elbow. “Here.”

Raising an eyebrow, he flashes a grin, then sticks out his tongue. My breath hitches as he gives it a slow, savoring swipe of his tongue. When his teeth lightly scrape the skin, I have to refrain from letting out a moan. Over an elbow? I’m doomed.

“How was that?” His voice is hoarse; strained.

Swallowing hard, I nod in approval. “Not too shabby, but there’s room for improvement. I’ll make my final decision when you’re done.”

“Oh?” His gaze rakes over me, incinerating my inhibitions. “What’s next, dear damsel?”

Pulse fluttering, I point to the back of my hand. He lifts it and, like the elbow, he gives it a thorough lick, never breaking eye contact.

“Next?”

My body begins to heat, knowing I’m quickly running out of ridiculous options. Twisting, I point to my scapula. Immediately, I know it’s a big mistake. Trinte’s body crowds mine as he leans forward. One of his arms slides over my chest, cradling my body. Warm breath causes goosebumps to explode all over my body. He gives my shoulder a slow, sensual lick, ending it with a tender kiss.

The nervous impulse to giggle almost overwhelms me because I’m about to lose my fucking mind. Maybe I should bend over to offer an ass cheek. Imagining that is also a big mistake.

“What’s next, Firefly?” he says, voice husky against my neck.

Mouth going dry, I twist back to face him and point to my knee. It’s covered by pants. Trinte’s gaze darkens as he realizes what this entails.

“You’re going to have to lose these, you know.”

My shaking fingers fiddle with the button. “You’ll have to help me.”

“Nothing would give me greater pleasure,” he says, that single blue eye sparkling like the ocean on a summer day.