Page 83 of Of Monsters and Mazes

“How much time do I have?” She asked hopefully.

I looked out the window to verify. “Twenty-four hours.”

“Is that enough time to take a ten minute shower and still get through this sector?”

“This sector usually only takes an hour or two tops. The only obstacle we’ll encounter here is navigation, since the Minotaur doesn’t seem to want you dead.” I spoke honestly, but I didn’t lead her toward the choice I’d prefer she make right now. She had plenty of time to organically conquer this Labyrinth, but she wouldn’t make it if she stopped and gave me this chance to keep her in an isolated environment. If she walked outside right now, I’d fail.

If she stayed, she’d put me in a position that I had to take advantage of.

Trusting me was the biggest mistake she’d ever make. I’d told her as much already, but she didn’t want to listen. Now it would be my burden to bear.

“Tell Rai and Alessi to stay outside a bit longer. I promise I’ll be quick.”

“Of course.”

She rushed into the bathroom, her fresh clothing in hand, and she shut the door behind her. I waited for the sound of the water. A couple minutes passed, and I heard the sound of the steady stream being interrupted by her body entering the bath.

I waited for one, two, three minutes, then I approached the door.

I nudged it open on silent hinges, and I entered the room on untraceable steps. She had soap in her hair and her eyes were closed, and she had absolutely no sense of my approach as she washed blood, gore, mud, and leaves from her hair.

She threw her head back, smiling in perfect ecstasy, as warm water cascaded down the soft curves of her body, and the soap took everything away. That look of perfect satisfaction on her face—of relief, contentment, happiness—I’d never seen anything so beautiful in my life. What was it about seeing her relax and let her guard down that hit me so hard? It was as though her stress was my stress, but her relief was my absolute pleasure.

I took a deep breath, then I stepped into the shower behind her, letting her small body block only a portion of the stream. All I had to do was touch a finger to each of her temples, and I could put her in an unbreakable coma if I so desired. It was easy. I’d done it uncountable times before, to humans, gods, devils, and titans alike.

Butterfly started lathering in conditioner, still so enthralled by her wash that she didn’t notice me at all. I lifted my hands slowly.

I placed them on her shoulders, sudden and firm. She jumped as I spun her around to face me. Then I pulled her against my chest, braced the nape of her neck, and took her mouth forcefully and greedily.

The tension in her muscles faded as quickly as it had surged, and I walked her back to the tile wall, still tangled in her lips. That neutral flavor of her tongue and the warm water pouring down our faces was uniquely delicious, while I wanted to live in the aroma of her natural scent mixed with lilac shampoo.

My palm glided easily over her slick, wet body, as I circled her neck, then slipped down to her breasts. Each soft mound fit easily in my hand. She pulled me more tightly against her, digging her fingers into my back, and fitting our bodies together as flush as two perfect puzzle pieces clicking into place. Fully connected, the water steamed around us as our shared heat increased the temperature of the room. My touch dried her soft skin as I continued downward, rounding her hips, and squeezing her firm ass.

She pulled away from our kiss just to catch her breath. Then she spread her fingers over my chest and explored the shapes of my body, memorizing every line in my muscles like she’d be punished if she forgot a single curve or angle.

“Is this the part where you betray me?” Butterfly whispered softly against my lips, taking another kiss without waiting for the answer.

“Would you ever forgive me if it was?”

She nibbled at my lip, avoiding the question, and I obliged her by slipping my tongue into her mouth, avoiding the admission. She sucked on me to keep me there, and I stroked the top of her tongue as I slipped back out.

“You’re still my friend.” She said, as she snaked her hands down to the sharp v of my abdomen, stopping at the waistline of my jeans. “Whatever happens next, I know that much is true.” She kept our gazes locked as she undid my belt buckle. “I wouldn’t have made it this far at all if not for you. So if you have to serve Jericho, even now, after everything you’ve done for me…” Next she released the button of my fly and dragged down the zipper. “Then all I ask is that you don’t abandon me. If I end up a slave or a captive, please don’t leave me behind.”

“Never.” I said the word without thinking, and I couldn’t explain where it came from. It felt automatic, like the only way I could respond to her when she asked me something like that. I didn’t know if I was lying to her. I didn’t want to lie to her.

No, I knew that was true.

I kissed her again, only to have her sink away, dropping slowly to the floor until her knees were flush with the tile. Steam continued to swirl around us as she freed me from my jeans and took my cock in her hand. She squeezed me with rough pressure, as if noting exactly how fucking hard she had me, then with the most mischievous glint in her perfect blue eyes, she pressed her lips to the head of my cock.

She opened just enough to take in half the tip, and she lingered there, drawing shapes with her tongue, as if testing how I’d react. The visual alone nearly had me on the verge, but every teasing circle was delicious torture.

She took me in another inch, completely engulfing the end point, where she fluttered small, teasing licks on the underside of my dick. Every touch was brilliant pleasure all the way up my spine, and it wasn’t long before I was the one needing support. I braced myself with my forearm on the shower wall, and I watched this gorgeous woman taking me in her mouth.

She drew me in deeper, until she was cradling me in the full length of her folded tongue, and I was bottoming out on the back of her throat. She pulled back as she gagged, then gathered her composure and sank onto me again. If I had any sanity left, that simple move robbed me of it.

Butterfly pulsed slowly, always stopping only half way down my shaft. She couldn’t take all of me into her throat, and I didn’t expect her to. But the way she compensated with her fist around my cock, pumping in time with the bobbing of her head, I didn’t fucking need her to, either.

“F-fuck, Sela.” Words had failed me, when they never failed me before. She was just a tribute. She was no one and she was nothing. She was…