Chapter 36

Lilitha scrambled to her feet.

Mateus was quiet, dark eyes boring into hers, horns shining within his dark mane. She looked around for Carmella, but she was nowhere to be found.

“What the hell kind of game is this?” she hissed.

When Lilitha looked back, she saw the uncertainty in his face. The fear in his eyes. He was wearing his cloak, hood down, the front open, revealing his huge broad chest, his thick muscular torso. Then there was his necklace—his necklace of ears. Lilitha swallowed.

She turned her eyes back to his face—and couldn’t stop staring. Her heart was thundering in her ears. She remembered how he’d carried her through the trees when she was sick. The rabbit he’d caught her. How nice he’d been. Not since their first encounter had he hurt her—not like Damon. Not like her father.

She stumbled. And it was like her hips were pulling her toward him. Carmella’s voice rang in her ears: ~It isn’t fair that you have denied Mateus his lot.~

Lilitha half fell, half sat into the Diablon’s lap. He was so warm, and his heart was pounding. He was nothing like she thought he would be. She had imagined him groping, eager, taking, but he was none of that. Not even close.

Lilitha was panting. She felt so hot she was dripping sweat down her arms. She pulled away to thrust off her cloak. She glimpsed Mateus’s surprised, expectant look before sagging into him again, her cheek pressed into his shoulder. His breath was warm upon her neck. He was clumsily rubbing her back. He didn’t seem to know what to do—and neither did she.

“I shouldn’t be doing this,” Lilitha said and she brushed her wet eyes against his cloak. “I’m a bad person. Apparently, I’m a slut too.”

He stopped rubbing her back. Gently, he pulled her away. “You’re a Diablon. It is normal to love each other.”

She stared back into his glittering dark eyes. She thought of Damon and her father and turned her face. Taking her chin, Mateus turned her face back. He stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers.

“At least the swelling is better. Still sore?”

Lilitha shook her head.

“I hate that the foul human did that to you.”

“You know about that?”

“I spoke with Damon. I had to be sure.”

Lilitha swallowed. “You didn’t hurt him, did you? The human?”

“No. But only because I knew you wouldn’t want me to.” He looked into her eyes. “As foolish as it is.”

Lilitha frowned.

“You need to smile more. I like it when you smile.”

Somehow, Lilitha ~did~ smile. A ~real~ smile. “I like your smile too.”

Then they were kissing. Very softly. Very tenderly. The barest of tongue. How could something so big be so gentle?

She reached down to take up his hand. It was so huge against hers, twice her size. But he was careful as he curled around his fingers. His smile turned a little lopsided. There was a flush in his cheeks. When she took his other hand, she felt it trembling.

Letting him go, she slid her hands over his shoulders beneath his cloak. Mateus helped push it off. It puddled onto the ground and into his lap. Then she pressed herself into his chest, Mateus folding her into him. Closing her eyes, she wrapped her arms around his waist, turning her face into his neck so she could breathe in his scent. He was panting so fast the air kept catching in his throat. He licked his lips with a growl. He was trembling all over now, as though struggling to keep control.

Lilitha slowly moved her hands up his back, feeling the hot dampness of his skin, the powerful muscles, the tension in his shoulders. She was just about to press her lips to his chest when her cheek brushed his necklace of ears. She jerked back.

“Here,” Mateus said and ripped it off.

Lilitha kissed his nipple. He craned his head back with a gasp, grabbing at her head, hair falling away, horns pointing to the sky. Then she pressed her lips to his collarbone, his shoulder. He cupped the back of her head as she planted a small kiss upon his chin.

She stopped to look into his eyes. He swallowed and gazed back. Then Lilitha pulled off her tunic, and he stared at her breasts as though he’d never seen a pair before. Hands shaking, he touched them.

“How you’ve tortured me,” he whispered.

“Mateus,” she said. It felt strange to say his name in such a way, felt strange in her mouth, sounded strange in her voice. “Hold me like you did Carmella.”

Grinning his pointed teeth, he brushed the hair away from her shoulders, her white skin almost blue in the moonlight. He traced his hands along her shoulders, down her waist, her hips, taking in all her curves, then leaned in to press his lips upon her shoulder. Shifting in his lap, Lilitha tucked herself into him, arms wrapped under his arms, legs curled around his waist. Pressing her head against his chest, she sighed.

He ran his fingers up and down her back, sending little zaps of pleasure along her spine. Lilitha closed her eyes, shutting off her mind, allowing her body to take over.

She clung to him, unmoving, unsure. Mateus tightened his arms around her, as though waiting for her to make the first move. He was panting, his heart was pounding against hers, his body was taut and shaking. When she did nothing, he gently pulled back her head and ran his fingers through her hair. His eyes were dark, eyelids heavy with passion. He kissed her on the cheek, on the jaw, on the throat. Then he kissed her full on the mouth, and Lilitha kissed back. He was less tender this time, more furious and passionate.

Clasping her against him, he moved his lips down her neck, to her breasts, his horns bumping against her shoulders. She could see the tip of his tail swaying behind his neck, its tip glinting in the moonlight.

Then he pulled back and looked into their laps. Lilitha was gripping onto his penis. It stood past her belly button, filling her grasp. Filling ~beyond~ her grasp. Lilitha licked her lips. His whole body was shaking against hers. A bead of sweat was trickling down his jaw. She stroked her fingers up and down his shaft, getting to know him, trying to get comfortable.

“That’s enough,” he panted, gently seizing her wrist.

“How did you want to do this?”

“Any way you want. Just—” he swallowed and gasped “—any way you want.”

“Lie down.”

Mateus did so, gripping her thighs as she straddled his hips. His eyes were wet and large. Another bead of sweat trickled between his nipples. Leaning over, Lilitha kissed it away.

She sat back up with a deep breath. Grabbing his erection, she raised herself over him. His tip opened her up. She lowered herself with a grimace. Then lowered herself a little more, only to stop with a gasp.

“It hurts,” she said.

“Want me to do it?”

She nodded.

Grabbing hold of her hips, he pulled her to the ground beneath him. He hovered over her, forearms and knees on either side of her body, dark hair falling in a tangle around her face. He reached down and dipped the tips of his fingers inside her.

“I’m ready,” she whispered.