AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In one fluid motion Flora reversed her position on the couch, landing on her knees and gripping the back of the couch. Her eyes popped open, and she glared a hole in his chest. “That’s the only experience on my mind since your venom made the space between my legs a throbbing mess.”
Her heart beat wildly in her chest, and Draven knew he had to get her to calm down before the venom took her heightened emotions and made the situation worse.
“Take a deep breath.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and furrowed her brow. “Draven.”
“You agreed to listen.”
“Fine.” She inhaled an exaggerated breath and released it as dramatically as possible. Luckily he found it endearing, though he wasn’t above taking her over his knee to remind her of their agreement. In fact he’d rather enjoy it. She might too.
“Again.”
This time she relaxed her shoulders as well as the death grip she had on the couch and allowed herself to calm. After a few more deep breaths her heart returned to a steady beat.
“Now,” he leaned back against the edge of the foosball table behind him. “What else do you want to experience, Flora?”
“I want…” She paused, a far-off look in her eyes, and Draven got the distinct impression no one had ever asked her what her wants truly were. “I want to drive a car, probably too fast, and sing karaoke at a bar like they do in the movies. I want to wear shorts and leggings and an oversized sweater and never have to wear a fancy dress again unless it’s my choice. I want to curse without feeling guilty and not have to worry about my virginity being the defining factor in my worth. Wait… do you know how to make spaghetti from scratch?
“I do,” he nodded with a grin. It was one of his favorite dishes as a pup so his mother taught him to make her signature dish, spaghetti Bolognese. A recipe passed down through generations of Italian women.
“I might like to learn how to do that too.” A smile stretched across her lips, and she practically bounced on the sofa. “But only if we get to use one of those pasta makers. The fancy ones that flatten your noodles for you.”
Damn. Humanity looked good on her. The way her face lit up as it found joy in even the smallest things was all that mattered. And Draven knew in that moment he would do anything to keep that light in her eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“So when do we start?”
“We just agreed to this; I’ll need at least the night to get things together.” He tipped his glass back, finishing the contents and set it down.
“You don’t need to gather things to fuck me.” She paused briefly, before adding. “At least I don’t think you do.”
Draven swallowed hard, the burn of the whiskey mixed with the shock of her statement forcing a cough from his lungs. “Already starting with the cursing, I see.”
“Go big or go home.”
He shook his head and pushed off the table, stalking toward her. He stopped when he stood at the back of the couch. “I’m not fucking you tonight, Flora.”
Flora expelled a frustrated huff and ground her thighs together. It took everything in his power not to jump the sofa, push her to her back, and bury himself between them to sate her. But that wasn’t what she needed from him. Not really. She wanted to feel empowered in her choices, and he’d give that to her. In turn, she would find strength in both herself and her humanity.
“I didn’t say I wasn’t going to help take the edge off. I promised to make your body sing.”
Her head tilted to the side and furrowed her brow.
“Have you ever pleasured yourself, Flora?”
The pink he liked so much tinged her cheeks as her eyes widened before darting to the ground.
Draven reached up and caressed the side of her cheek before tipping it up so her gaze met his. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“We were taught, some might say threatened, that our bodies were to be saved for August and our marriage. It wasn’t until recently, when I realized I was never going to be chosen, that I started to explore myself.” She closed her eyes, but a deep growl from him had them shooting back open and greeting him with a defiant glare. “I don’t see what the big deal is about it, though. Yes it feels good, but it’s not earth shattering like people describe sex. I don’t need my own hand to fix this problem.”
“Then you aren’t doing it right.”
“And I suppose you are going to teach me?” she scoffed with a cocked brow.
“That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
He didn’t give her a moment to think, scooping her up against his chest. She let out a shocked squeak, and he tightened his hold as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He wondered if she could feel his heart hammering in his chest.
