Chapter 24

LUCIEN

I hadn’t planned to be so honest, but here I was, pouring my heart out to her. And it was all because of Ira Andretti.

After coming back to New York, I’d immediately contacted the man I paid to shadow Nicolette. When he’d told me she was at a restaurant with a man, I felt jealous. But I’d just wanted to be sure she was safe.

But when I’d seen that the man was Ira Andretti, I saw red. I knew immediately that he was the man behind the poison and the Zaxonian silver theft.

Ira Andretti was an envoy for the kingdom of Foressa. And he was in New York.

I didn’t want to tell Nicolette about this until I found out the man’s real intentions in this world. Though I knew his intentions toward her. So I had to claim her first.

I’d told myself it was to keep her safe, but I knew it was more than that. And not just to get her into my bed.

“I… What if that’s not what I want?” Nicolette was flustered, but she wanted to play.

I stepped closer. She stepped back and pulled her hands away, then stepped back again, right hand on the railing.

“You wanted it the other night.” I stepped forward. “Remember?”

Her cheeks turned crimson and she took two steps back. “I was drunk. That doesn’t count.”

I smiled and stepped forward, and she stepped back, but her back found the wall.

A thought must have occurred to her because she then gave me a smug smile. “Wait a minute,” she said. “Since I remember, that means I won the bet. Right?”

My smile grew at her words. She ~did~ want to play. Then my cock grew thinking about it.

“I guess it does.” I leaned in close, my mouth an inch away from her ear, and whispered, “So what do you win?”

I leaned back and let her think. Then, without breaking eye contact, she set her purse on the ground and slowly lifted her skirt.

And that was my cue. I pounced and once again claimed her mouth with mine. Her lips were still closed tight and she groaned in surprise at my speed.

I yanked her hair to elicit a gasp from her. And when her mouth opened, I slid my tongue in eagerly, tasting her sweetness.

I then pulled my head back to let her breathe.

“Dari-en,” she gasped.

I once again watched her face as I rubbed my hand over her cotton underwear. She was already wet, and it made me smile. Time to play.

“Tell me why you left me.” I kissed her neck and focused my fingers on her clit.

She sharply inhaled, then said, “I…had work to do…here.”

“No other reason than that? Not because you were afraid?” I pinched her growing sweet spot.

She gasped and closed her eyes. “Mmm… Maybe. Maybe I was afraid. A little.”

“Tell me why.” I began gently flicking her clit, still over her underwear, while kissing her neck.

“You’re from another world. With magic. You’re a king. And you have so many secrets.” Her words were mixed with gasps and moans.

I stopped and pulled my hand up. She opened her eyes and looked at me, confused at why I stopped.

“That all comes with the package, desime.” I scanned her face for the reaction I wanted. I got it in a slight nod. “Do you want to leave me now?” The immediate fear I felt after asking shocked me.

“No.” She shook her head. “I want to stay. And I want you to make me cum.” She smiled.

I smiled and brought my fingers to her lips, stroking lightly. When her mouth opened, I pushed three fingers in, and she sucked on them. I pushed them in farther, causing her to gag.

Then I pulled them out and quickly found her clit. This time under her panties. I began sliding my fingers over it, back and forth, her saliva the perfect lubricant.

“Oh God, Darien!” She threw her head back and gasped.

Her clit swelled, and I moved my hand faster. “Are you attracted to me?”

Her breathing shallowed. She nodded her head. “Yes.”

My hand moved faster. “Do you want to be mine?” The fear returned, but it was quickly driven away.

She turned her face toward mine, pressed her forehead against my chin, and stopped breathing. Then, she screamed out her pleasure, squeezing my shirt with one hand.

I stopped stroking her when she lightly pushed me away and leaned her head back against the wall. She was glowing and I committed the sight to memory.

When her breathing returned to normal, she opened her eyes and smiled. But she hadn’t answered my question, and I had to know.

My heart fluttered as I asked again, knowing pleasure wouldn’t be there to cloud her thoughts. Knowing her answer would be the truth. “Desime, do you want to be mine?”