Chapter 36 Lust
I kept my head bent over the chopping board, struggling to focus on the task of slicing these pears as thinly as possible.
The way Finn had taught me to.
But the thought of all he just told me kept me overwhelmed.
I was on the verge of a sexual relationship with a creature who had so much power.
I kissed a creature with so much power.
According to Finn's account, Draki created about two dozen Ashbounds when his queen first died.
In full dragon form, he breathed fire onto complete humans till they were elevated into immortals. They maintained their human appearance and abilities, but they can't procreate.
Their immortality was also finite. They will slowly burn out over centuries. And during their lifetime, his mind ruled them. These creatures have lived to please him.
“Oh.” I gasped, almost cutting myself. Finn bent the knife sideways as he pressed into me from behind.
I could not resist leaning into him, feeling the heat from his chest burn into my back.
A shiver surfed down my spine as he caressed the sensitive skin of my neck with the tip of his nose.
“The meeting is less than an hour away.” I tried to concentrate, to maintain a grip around my resolve to stay away from him. “The food has to be ready.”
“We’re making it.” His hand covered mine now, turning the knife again so both our hands could chop the pears together.
“Finn,” I held my breath. “I am scared. We’re going too fast.”
“Trust me. If we go at your pace, Daine may have to come assist in cooking this meal.”
His hand was a blur, moving faster than my eyes could follow. Just like I used to watch the chefs back home do when I was a little girl.
The only difference was my hand was moving with his, in danger of losing a finger if I breathed the wrong way.
“You’re fearless.”
He chuckled. “I’m a chef, baby.”
Thrill ran through me at his last word. “That’s not what I meant. You are not scared of him. You speak about him like he was a normal person.”
“You’ve slept beside him. Did he seem abnormal?”
“Finn.”
He made no response. And I felt the easy humor dissipating as quickly as it had appeared.
I wanted to ask why he hated Draki so much when it was clear the Dragon felt otherwise about him. I’ll go to war for Finn.
They have lived together for over six years in this house. It was hard to believe he had no idea how Dragon felt towards him.
“Why do you hate him?”
Finn moved away from me now, clearly irritated. “I don’t hate him.”
I waited.
“He’s just so damn cocky.” He spat out. His eyes flashed, but his cheeks were just as flushed. “He’s so bloody arrogant, annoying, and selfish. Goddamn selfish.”
“Oh.” I stared, speechless.
The attraction was apparently mutual. Finn had a huge crush on him.
I swallowed, desperate to drown the sudden strange feeling in my chest.
Finn glanced at me then. I jerked my head away.
My hand shook as I picked up another pear, peeled and gutted. I laid it on the board and started to chop.
“Lys.”
I pressed my lips tight, feeling no right to this strange emotion. They were all hot, shared a roof, and had a traumatic past experience. Romantic feelings in these sorts of situations were inevitable.
I mean. I have been here just a few days and already…
“Finn.” I gasped as he grabbed me and hauled me onto the island top.
I should leave. I should stop him. This was so wrong.
But his lips were everywhere, brushing my cheeks, burning a trail from my neck to collarbones, dipping into my cleavage.
A pulse of heat hammered against my core. Every nerve ending came alive.
“Mm,” I curled my arms around his neck. My legs parted on their own like they had been itching to do since I moved to this house.
“I’m theirs. They will not like it.” I managed a weak protest.
“Boo-fucking-hoo.” Came Finn’s insolent response. His anger at Draki was evident in the hand that ran up and clutched my breast.
I gasped. He squeezed and started to knead.
My breath shortened as I squirmed on the table.
The cotton fabric of my vintage romper had no grip on the smooth marble surface of the island. And my body slipped over and over. Every bump against him sent even more sparks flying, made my spine arch and stoke the fire that his hungry lips set to my skin.
He pinched my nipple through my cloth, and my head fell back with a moan.
“Yes,” His lips caught mine. There was a possessiveness in them that wasn’t there last night. Those full pouty lips demanded access.
Where the Dragon’s kiss was dominant, not asking because he expected me to give. Finn asked, roughly.
And the more I gave, the more he took, space, thoughts, my breath.
One warm hard snaked into my shorts and my eyes flew open. I glanced down at where he had pushed through the opening around my thigh.
“Oh.” I jolted. His nail was fingering the lace of my panties now. Our gazes locked, hearts beating in sync to mutual lust.
This would not be his first time seeing me naked. Not after diving into the lake, totally nude, the other morning. But this…
I licked my lips, nervous. His free hand came up, gentle now, and cupped my face.
“Just now, Whatever made you…”
“I’m not jealous,” I said immediately, and he smiled, a slow, teasing smile that said he was not buying that.
“Jealous isn't the word I’d have said. But,”
“What would you have said?” My eyes closed to the feeling of his thumb slowly caressing the skin just behind my ear.
“Inseure?”
My eyes snapped open.
Standing between my legs, he moved even closer till he was staring up into my eyes. For the first time since we met, our faces were at a level.
“Whatever meaning you read into my words…” he paused, and my heart kicked. And a stinging burn spread through it.
In the few days I'd known him, Finn was anything but avoidant. He was honest and never went in circles with his words.
This attempt to find the right words hurt more than if he just outright told me that he was in love with the Dragon.
But he gave me no chance to dwell on my hurt. His fingers were moving inside my shorts. “Did you wear a romper on purpose?”
My thighs twitched. “No,” I whispered. “No, I didn't."
He leaned in till our lips almost touched. “Say it.” he breathed. “Tell me to continue, or I’ll move away right now,” his lips latched onto my neck.
He was a vampire, and my artery must be irresistible to him. But oddly, I was not scared.
I moaned when his fingers stopped just against my entrance. Waiting. Ready.
My lips parted to say yes. To tell him to take me. Beg him to slip between my pussy and soothe that strange ache that was now making my body shiver against his.
Come upstairs. Now!
I shivered, and pulled away from Finn.