Do I want him to kiss me? The thought makes me want to laugh. I’m here in bed with him, our faces turned towards one another, and I’m filled with such yearning and affection for him. My heart feels both full and empty. Full, because I’m with him and I know he cares for me the way I care for him…and empty, because I desperately need him to show me just how much he wants me.

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to be kissed more.

“I would love for you to kiss me,” I admit. “But only if you want to.”

“If you would like it, I would, too.” He pulls me closer to him in the bed, his gaze on me.

We’re so close now that our breath mingles, warm and inviting. I don’t think I’ve ever liked it when another lover breathed on me. They always smelled of sour wine or something worse. But with Nemeth, I like all his scents. His breath is never foul, and when I feel it against my skin, I know it’s because he’s close nearby, and it arouses me.

Then again, everything he does arouses me.

I slide a hand to his neck, stroking my thumb over his skin. He said his people rub horns. I look at the strange, sweeping cluster of horns that cover his scalp instead of hair, and wonder if he’d like for me to rub them for him, or if that’s a Fellian-only sort of gesture. “Can I touch you?”

“Now you ask?” he teases. “You know that you can touch me anywhere.”

I move a little closer, until our noses are practically brushing. “So…are you going to kiss me, then?”

“You’re impatient.” His amusement makes me flush with warmth.

“Of course I am. I’ve been waiting for you to kiss me for weeks.” The moment the words leave me, I know they’re true. I’ve been waiting for him to make a move since that first night when we cuddled under the blankets for warmth. The fact that he’s been so very circumspect is killing me. “I keep thinking you’re not attracted to me.”

His hands clench on my waist and his nose rubs against mine. “No. Never think that. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

I smile. “Should I tell you that you’re the most fascinatingly virile man I’ve ever seen?” Stroking his cheek, I continue. “That I’ve never been so turned on by wings? That I watch you exercise because it lets me appreciate every flex of your muscles? That your big hands make me breathless, just like when you pin me under your hip when we sleep?”

“You should absolutely tell me all that.”

“I would, but instead of trading compliments, I’d much rather we just kiss,” I whisper.

Nemeth moves closer, and then his mouth brushes against mine. His face is hard and unyielding, the planes of it surprisingly brusque against my face. There is no softness in his cheek, and his nose doesn’t yield when mine brushes against it. He feels carved from the stone his people dwell under, and it surprises me.

But oh, his mouth is soft.

His lips move over mine, gentle and warm. It’s as if he’s carefully tasting me, not certain he’ll like the flavor. I hold still, because I’m afraid to even breathe and that it might somehow offend him. If his people don’t kiss, will he even like my mouth on his? Mouths are incredibly intimate sorts of things. I’ve kissed men before that turned out to be unpleasant to taste, and⁠—

His lips move over mine, breaking my chain of thoughts. One small nibble at my lower lip, teasing it, and then moving on to more light, teasing kisses. His searching mouth finds my upper lip and he gives it the same light, feathery kisses as my lower lip. I’m utterly entranced, my eyes fluttering closed as he brushes his mouth over mine. “You’re soft,” he murmurs. “So very soft.”

“Soft all over,” I agree with a whisper, because it seems I can never stop flirting.

Nemeth groans. “I’d wager you are,” he murmurs, and his words are hot against my mouth. “Can I kiss you with my tongue? That’s how it’s done properly, yes?”

“Please do.” If he doesn’t, I’m going to leap from the bed, screaming in frustration.

His tongue lightly flicks over my parted lips and then he’s entering my mouth, and I moan at the first touch of his tongue to mine. How is it that a Fellian can taste so good? He tastes like sweetness and honey, and his tongue is strong and pleasant against mine as he dips into my mouth in light, teasing strokes. He doesn’t stop after a few flicks, but keeps going, and my hands curl around his neck as he leans his weight over me, hauling me against him, and his kisses grow with intensity.

Oh yes, Nemeth likes kissing.

His mouth slants over mine, and the kiss grows hungrier by the moment, his tongue more dominant.

I moan against his mouth, because how the hell did he learn how to kiss like this? He’s a natural. With every slide of his tongue against mine, it makes me ache deep between my thighs. I press against him, panting and hungry. “Touch me.”

He lifts his head and strokes my cheek with those thumb claws. “Candra…”

“I want you.” I nip at his lower lip.

Nemeth groans. He presses his forehead to mine. “I would love to do nothing more than spend all night kissing you, princess, but I think we should savor it.”

I bite his lower lip again and suck on it, because I’m not sure he understands just how badly I want him right now. “Savor…it?”

Surely I’m hearing him wrong.

“Savor,” he agrees, leaning in to lightly brush my upper lip with a kiss. “Yes. After all, we have nothing but time here in this tower, do we not?”

Oh.

I suppose he’s right. We do have nothing but endless time. It would give us something to look forward to through the endless days. I’m disappointed, but I’m also intrigued. No one has ever wanted to “savor” me before. “What do you propose?”

“That we take our time. That we save kisses and touches for bed.” He strokes my cheek and then traces my jaw, his fingertips dancing over my lower lip. Hot curls of need ripple through me, and I want to whimper a protest when he draws away. “That we make each kiss and caress count. That we savor each one for how special it is.”

My aching pussy that wants desperately to be filled disagrees, but my heart adores how sweet Nemeth is. He wants to savor me. How can I possibly say no? “You do know my past has been less savoring and more…greedy.”

He kisses the tip of my nose. “Then our actions will make this all the more special.”

I’m not entirely convinced, but when he tugs me against him and holds me close, I’m willing to savor until tomorrow.

Chapter

Thirty-Five

Sleeping next to Nemeth means a lot of twitching and him taking up most of the bed for his wings, so when he adjusts the blankets and the bed creaks, I only roll over and tuck my head against the pillow. “Is it morning?”

“Mmmhmm.”

“Just wondering.” I don’t intend on getting out of bed. It’s far too pleasant and I don’t have anywhere to be. I pat the mattress without opening my eyes. “Come back and snuggle with me.”

Nemeth chuckles and I feel his weight shift on the bed. His hand grazes over my hip, and then he lifts the hem of my sleep-gown, hiking it up my thighs. “Roll onto your back for me, greedy princess.”

Ooooh. A change of heart? I’m awake now. I roll onto my back as he asks and tug my gown up the rest of the way, until it’s at my waist. “You’re not going to find a single objection to a morning wake-up such as this.”

His big hands skim over my legs, warming them. “Gods, you’re pretty.”

I wriggle with pleasure at that. My legs are plump and pale, but I like to think they look nice. I’ve never had any complaints. “I have hair between my legs,” I point out, since he did not. “It’s a normal human thing.”

“I see it,” he murmurs. “Such a sweet little tuft of floss.”

His husky words make me clench, and I’m getting wet with anticipation. He skims his hands over my thighs again, the bed creaking…and then stops.