Chapter Sixteen: The Pool

"It's-it's cold. I don't want to get in the water," I protested—halfheartedly, I must confess. All my insides were currently screaming Yes! in falsetto. Because when a man who looks like that and sounds like that tells you to get over here, you get over there, no questions asked. Still, it didn't mean I had to make it easy for him.

"This is not a negotiation, Princess. Get over here, or I'll come get you. One of these two options will end with a spank on your ass, but I am going to feel your heat on my tongue either way." He leaned back and smiled. "Your choice, Princess."

My cheeks warmed at his words. Wait. He's bluffing. He wouldn't—right?

"I'm not bluffing, Princess," he deadpanned, reading my thoughts. Right. The forest seemed to hold its breath as I made my decision. Varul watched me steadily, holding my gaze. Of course, I was the first to look away.

"Fine," I muttered and walked the short distance to the water, still clutching my blanket. I was well aware that underneath it, all I was wearing was a flimsy white cotton shift. "I'm here," I announced unnecessarily.

Varul's eyes trailed from my bare feet up to my face. I was well covered, but I might as well have been naked.

"Get in," he ordered quietly.

I bit my lip, silently weighing my options. Finally, I settled on the same lame excuse, "I'm cold."

He raised one toned shoulder in a shrug, the wolf tattoo on his pec seemed to expand. "I will warm you up."

I went hot, thinking about what those words meant. Slowly, I shrugged off the blanket from my shoulders. Varul leaned back, arms spread out and resting leisurely on the rocky land behind him, a king watching his own private show. The cold air hit my warm flesh, goosebumps rising on every inch of my skin.

"The shift comes off, too, Princess," he ordered, his eyes darker than ever before.

I held his eyes as I slowly pulled off the flimsy clothing and let it pool at my feet. I held my breath, bracing myself against the cold. I resisted the urge to cross my arms over my private areas. I'd never been this stripped before any man before. Varul's gaze was like fire that branded wherever it touched. Feeling audacious, I reached up to release my hair from the loose, rolled-up ponytail that I’d tied it in. It fell down my back in waves.

"Ethereal," Varul growled softly. That single word lit me up like fireworks on the Fourth of July. And slowly, I lowered myself into the water. I drew a sharp breath through my teeth as the water connected with my skin, cold as ice. The water swirled cold and clear, stopping just beneath my breasts.

I waded toward him. His eyes didn’t leave me. Not once. It was as though I were the only thing in the entire world worth looking at. I stopped when I reached him. His eyelashes lowered at last, forming dark crescents on his cheeks.

He pushed away from the edge of the pool and cupped my cheek, his other hand disappearing into the water to find my waist. He suddenly pulled me closer, and my hands reached out to grab for purchase on his chest. I’d never really been crazy about ripped guys, but wow. He was all lean, hard muscle and smooth skin. I mindlessly trailed a finger over the outline of his tattoo.

“Are you still cold, Princess?”

I nodded. He tutted, gently squeezing the flesh at my waist. “I did promise to warm you up,” he drawled. That was the only warning I got before his lips crashed down on mine.

He took advantage of my gasp to dive in deeper, brushing my tongue with his. My skin grew hotter. His hands gripped my waist possessively. I linked my arms behind his neck, holding on for dear life as he assaulted my senses with his kiss. Soon, my tongue began to wrestle with his, slide for slide, thrust for thrust.

He growled, deep in his throat, and held me flush against himself. My nipples grazed achingly against his chest. I felt his hard erection against my stomach. I moaned. It was a dirty affair, this kiss. Everything else faded away. Brooklyn retreated to the recesses of my mind. I could only think of him. This moment. This kiss. His hands kneaded my ass, and I grinded against him.

He chuckled. “My eager little princess,” he drawled against my lips. Then his lips trailed across my neck, sucking on the sensitive skin between my neck and collarbone. He spent a little while there, driving me mad with his teasing sucks and bites.

His patience was enviable—while I was a quivering, whimpering mess, he was as steady and focused as a grade A student taking a test. The man did say he was going to enjoy playing with me. Well, he seemed to be taking his sweet time doing just that.

His lips finally left my neck and lowered to the swell of my breasts, and he—

“Oh, God,” I moaned as he leisurely sucked and bit my nipples in turn. The heat of his tongue and the coolness of the water merged to form something mind-bending.

I’d always been a little self-conscious of my double Ds because they dominated everything I wore, and it was usually disturbing to have men leering at my cleavage. But in this moment, I was grateful for them because he was wild for them.

“Little minx,” Varul growled against my nipple. “Driving me mad with your obsidian eyes, your body and your wild tongue…”

I shivered from his words. He grazed that nipple with his teeth, bit gently, and I bucked against him.

“I am going to mark you. Make you mine…” He drew out my nipples between his lips, suckled, and let it go with an audible pop. I arched and cried out, but his arm at my back held me in place. One thing was sure: Varul was a valedictorian in nipple play. I came a little right then as he continued his sweet assault.

“I could spend all night just doing this.” He looked up at me with a grin, a devilish gleam in the dark pool of his eyes, “But I have other plans.”

I thought I’d lost all thought with just this, but boy was I wrong.