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I want to taste him, too.
Crawling toward him, I set my hand against his rock-hard abs, and push him backward. Taking the hint, he lies on his back and welcomes me into his arms, enveloping me in a cage of muscle. I press my lips to his, tasting my own arousal on his skin.
I could kiss him all afternoon and never tire of it, but right now, I want something more.
The moment I break the kiss and back myself down his body, his eyes turn suspicious. Stalking me. Must be how his prey feels when he hunts, because the way he’s watching me, I’m expecting him to tackle me at any second.
Kissing my way down his stomach, with the patches of hair tickling my skin, I finally arrive at the top of his pants and sit back on my heels. When I reach for the button of his denim, he strikes out, his palm swallowing mine in an attempt to stop me.
“I can’t.” The husky tone in his voice betrays his words.
“I want to taste you, too, Titus.”
“Thalia … you don’t understand. When Alphas get aroused, it’s like trying to stop a freight train.”
“Who says I want to stop?”
“I do. I will not have you, no matter how badly I want it.”
“Why? You know I’m not a virgin, so if you’re trying to protect my virtue, there’s no need.”
“Your virtue is important, but not the reason I refuse.”
My mind slips back to the conversation we had, about his bonding with the other woman. “Is it … is that you don’t feel the bond with me that you had with Cali?”
His stomach flexes beneath my hand, as he sits up and runs his hand over my hair. “I feel everything with you. The wind on my skin for the first time in a long time, and the breath in my lungs. My heart pounding inside my chest whenever I’m near you. My muscles tense with rage at the thought of someone hurting, or touching, you. Pain with every tear you cry. Make no mistake, I feel more with you than I ever have.”
“Then, why do you refuse?”
Brows furrowing, he lowers his gaze. “If, by chance, you became pregnant with my child, you would die giving birth.”
“How can you be--”
“I’m certain of it. Cali suffered the injections so her body could accommodate an Alpha child. You’re not equipped.”
“Titus. I’m pretty sure losing Will’s child was inevitable for me. I was told as a teenager that I had a uterine abnormality.”
His frown deepens, and I can practically see the question swirling behind his eyes. “How were you expected to carry out the duties of a Daughter?”
“My mother was the daughter of the only midwife in Szolen. She lied to them about it, and no one questioned her. She told me the possibility rested in God’s hands. I had two years to produce a child, and if I didn’t, I was given a sort of honorable discharge from the Daughterhood. Basically, she wanted me to become a Daughter, no matter what.”
Even discharged Daughters got to live in fancy houses and enjoy the privileged life, after all.
“Even so, I’m not taking the chance with you, Thalia.”
“I’ve never … climaxed with a man until you. I want to return the favor. I want to taste you, too. Please let me do this. For you.”
Conflict burns in his eyes, and I imagine a war between opposing forces inside his head right now. To ease his conscience, I push him hard, and I’m certain it’s his own weak resolve that allows it, because there’s no way I could move this man so easily. He’s rock and steel, stitched together by determination and a whole lot of stubborn will. Eyes on me, he lies back against the sand, keeping his head lifted, no doubt to watch me.
Straddling his massive thighs, I unclasp his jeans and tug them down to spring his impressive cock free. Watching him stroke it from a distance failed to portray its enormity, as I study it from a much closer perspective.
How the hell am I going to fit this thing into my mouth?
I swallow a gulp, staring down at the hard flesh that stands upright, just waiting to impale something. Like a mighty sword.
“You don’t have to do this,” he says, maybe catching a glimpse of the calculations dancing about in my head.
“Shut up.” Working up the saliva in my mouth, I lift up to my knees. Like the lock on his slave band, I understand the mechanics of this. I’ve just never performed it before. Clearly, Titus has more experience in the art of oral sex, but I’m a quick study.
