"I'm not going to touch you," he whispered. "If I touch you, we'll never leave Manaus and we both know we cannot stay here."
I nodded, my eyes not leaving his erection. It jerked.
"Do what you must, Thisavros. But do quickly. The longer we stay, the more chance of the Gi finding us."
My eyes reluctantly flicked up to his. "Where are we going to go?"
His face softened, he'd been holding himself rigid, probably in an effort not to reach for me. But the concern in my voice affected him too greatly.
"To start with," he whispered, "away from here."
"Anywhere but here," I offered. He nodded.
The future was definitely uncertain, and once we walked out of this hotel, with its carefully placed Pyrkagia shields, we'd be vulnerable. Who knew when we'd get the chance to taste each other again.
"On your knees," Theo commanded, in a sexy, deep voice.
"I thought I was in charge," I argued.
"Oh, Cassandra," he murmured, his lips lifting into a sexy, smug smile. "I'm going to show you just how much you are. Now," he growled, then huskily whispered, "On... your... knees."
I was on my knees in front of him before he'd finished the command.
Me, in control? Not a freaking chance.
Chapter Twelve
Maybe This Will Be Fun After All
"For the love of Aetheros, Casey. Lick it!"
A huff of a laugh burst up my throat. I'd been staring at Theo's erection for some time, enjoying the droplets of moisture as they ran down the thick, raised veins on either side. Each time a drop of water landed on the flared head it jerked, and Theo groaned. He probably thought my hesitation was due to inexperience, and I admit, there was a flutter of nerves inside my belly. But it was a delicious mix of anticipation and desire. I wanted to taste him, and my body's natural needs were outshining any reservation I had because of my lack of know-how.
I licked my lips greedily.
"Minx," he muttered. "Suck it."
My hands lifted to his hips and fingernails dug in, making Theo inhale a sharp breath of air. I blew slowly across the surface of his heated and distended flesh, letting my body dictate the pace.
"Casey," he pleaded, a sound so wretched I'd never expected to hear Theo Peters use it.
My eyes flicked up to his. He was watching me, gold brimming his eyelashes, heat - Pyrkagia heat - reaching out to caress my body and urge me on.
"Are you using your Stoicheio, Theo?" I asked, reasonably. My voice steady, but a trembling had started through my frame.
I was determined though, to delay giving him the contact he desired where he desired it most. A natural borne instinct to tease, which I hadn't even known I had until now.
"I never said I wouldn't touch you with my Stoicheio," he explained, voice straining. "I had been inferring I wouldn't touch you with my hands." He made a show of slapping his palms against the tiles at his side, in case I didn't get his meaning.
I raised an eyebrow at him and felt his touch, through his Fire, as it caressed down over my breasts, my stomach and delicately stroked the flesh between my thighs. As though it was his finger, his tongue, not just the manifestation of his elemental power.
This was new, and decidedly wicked. I closed my eyes, rocked my hips and moaned. Theo must have thrust his pelvis forward, because the next second his arousal was butting up to my parted lips.
"Open wider," he rasped.
I flicked my tongue out instead, tasting his pre-come, making him moan in delighted shock.
"You're teasing, Casey," he pointed out correctly, returning his sex to my mouth, and then making the broad tip stroke across my lips with a sideways sway of his hips. "Two can play at that game," he added, just as his Stoicheio flicked my little nub, then somehow managed to rub.
My head fell back, my lips parted on a moan, and then his 'touch' was gone.
"You want more, vixen. Then take me in your mouth and suck hard."
My head fell forward and I lifted heavy eyes up to his. This was a Theo I hadn't yet met. Hungry, demanding. He wasn't sheltering me from his fervent desire, he was letting me taste the real him. And seeing if I flitted away, like a little bird, and hid in amongst the trees. A small moan of arousal escaped my lips. He groaned. The look he gave me told me just what he wanted to be doing right then, and it would have definitely involved his hands touching me.
"We're wasting time," he pointed out in a whisper. He shook his head, looking saddened. "Sweet little Gi, you distract me with such delicious ease. We need to leave here, find somewhere safe to contact Aktor and decide what we're going to do next." I understood what he was saying, but his ability to turn off the lust and return to matters of dire urgency, was infuriating to say the least.
So, what was a girl to do?
I leaned forward, eyes still locked on the tormented ones of his, and licked the length of his shaft.
"Casey," he warned, shaking his head still.
"Hush," I chastised. "I'm concentrating," I added, in a mimic of his earlier words.
His fists curled against the tiles and I slipped the rim of my mouth over the tip of his sex, and then sucked as I brought him in deep.
"Oh, Aetheros," he murmured, rocking his hips slowly, matching my movements, increasing the depth he went with each thrust. "Spread your legs," he ordered, already breathless. "If we're to do this, it must be fast."
I nodded, made him growl with the unexpected movement, and renewed my efforts, trying my best to get him to lose control under just the touch of my lips and tongue and teeth.
Pyrkagia swirled inside the small shower stall, stroked down my back, fisted metaphysical hands in my hair and held me still. Theo pumped himself into my mouth, taking back control the only way he was allowing himself to right then. But the fact he was doing it at all, let me know I had won. His hands fisted so hard at his sides on the shower wall tiles, his knuckles had turned white. He was groaning and muttering words in Greek as he succumbed to my touch. I don't think he realised what he was doing. He'd fallen into the moment so completely, that the water had turned to steam. Heat engulfed us, and with a small amount of my attention, I searched inside to ensure it wasn't from me.
Miraculously I was containing my Stoicheio, but Theo was not.
Knowing I did this to him, made him lose control to such a degree, felt heady, powerful in a way my Elements did not. I gladly let him hold me still with his Pyrkagia, I moaned with abandon as he thrust again and again across my humming lips. His moans mixed with mine, as he let his Stoicheio reach further, down my back, over my rounded butt cheeks, stroking lovingly across each curve, and then moving on further to start a rhythm of its own between my moist folds.
"Casey," Theo murmured, increasing his pace, softly banging a fisted palm against the tile with each urgent thrust. "You are fantastic," he breathed. "Utterly beautiful."
My eyes came up to his face, finding him watching avidly as his hard length pierced my lips, breached my mouth.
"Mine," he rasped, making me feel him everywhere. Making my muscles clench and an orgasm begin to build inexorably. "Come for me, sweet little Gi," he murmured, as his Pyrkagia coaxed me closer and closer. "Come for me as I spill for you." He groaned, his eyes closed, his hold in my hair firm, but also tender, even as his palms slapped the tiles at his sides.
It was a strange feeling, knowing he wasn't touching me with his fingers or hands, but he was touching me everywhere it counted. I loved the sensation of him losing himself in my mouth. I loved the sensations he was creating between my legs; deep, down inside. I loved that he was driving me as crazy as I was driving him.
I was determined to get him to relinquish that last little hold of himself. Unsure exactly what I was demanding, but knowing I craved it all the same. A small spark of my Fire directed straight into his heart and he spasmed, cried out my name in surprise and then cupped my chin with his hand and pulled himself free.
He'd touched me, with his hand. He'd lost that last contr
ol, but not in the way I had intended. A mewl of protest spilled from my lips, over the tingling loss of sensation he'd left in his wake.
"Shhh," he murmured, then voice slightly rasping, he said, "It's too soon for that, Oraia."
He hadn't forgotten my inexperience, and for a moment I wasn't sure if I should be angry at his protective instinct or pleased. Theo would never push me too far too soon, but I knew when he deemed the moment right, he would push me. I lifted shy eyes to his face, and was rewarded with a searing look of utter hunger.
"Like this for now," he husked, reaching for my hand and guiding me to his straining erection. He wrapped his hand over mine and started to stroke. Squeezing my palm around his circumference, showing me how hard he needed to be held.
I started panting again, breathless with awe and my own need. He groaned, bucked his hips into our hold and then after only a half dozen pumps, exploded with an ecstatic roar of release. I was utterly mesmerised, and totally turned on.
When he finally released his hold on my hand where it wrapped his slowly softening length, he returned his fingers, shaking, to under my chin, lifting my face back up to his. His eyes blazed gold and he rasped, "How the hell could I be so fortunate?"
Then he was on his knees, his lips on mine, his hands - real hands - fisted in my hair, as he kissed me with utter devotion. Letting his Stoicheio finally finish what it had started, stroking, flicking, rubbing and then consuming me, as the orgasm crashed and rolled and carried me away. For several blissful moments I was floating, surrounded with Fire, caressed from the inside out.
My eyelids flickered as I came back to awareness, cradled in the circle of his arms as his lips trailed light kisses across the curve of my neck.
"Utterly beautiful," he murmured against my skin. "Do you see now, Cassandra? How much you control? How much of me you own?"
I nodded, panting for breath still, clinging to him for fear I'd float away again.
"About as much as you control me," I finally murmured, receiving a chuckle from deep inside his chest.
"That is what being Thisavros means." He kissed me again, ran hands through my wet hair and over my sensitive skin. "I'm in heaven," he murmured against my lips, lifting me to my feet smoothly, and then beginning to spread liquid soap all over my body. His heated gaze watched as the fine hairs on my skin lifted, and my frame shook with tiny trembles.
He looked fascinated as he washed me. Totally absorbed in what he was doing and how it was affecting my body. Completely lost to the moment, even though it was simply a moment to show he cared. To clean me, with me returning the favour and cleaning him. Nurturing each other, loving each other in a non-sexual way, but sensually nonetheless.
We towelled off in silence and then with robes on again we returned to the main room. Taking in the disarray of the sheets on the bed, the smoke marked ceiling and scorched furnishings.
"Not even twenty-four hours together again and we're destroying the place," Theo quipped, as he delved into his suitcase and began taking clothes out to get dressed.
He surprised me by having an outfit for me to wear. Obviously he'd not thrown my small wardrobe of clothes out after I'd left Auckland. He presented me with my familiar yoga pants, singlet top and hoodie, all in black. Not necessarily appropriate tropical wear, but mine. All mine. I hugged them to my chest and dipped my nose in amongst them, smelling Aktor's laundry detergent. A smile graced my lips when my eyes came up, meeting the amused hazel of Theo's.
"It's all I could grab on such short notice."
"It's perfect," I replied, grabbing the underwear he'd also provided and getting dressed quickly.
I hadn't realised Theo was just watching me, wonder and that ever present hunger in his eyes.
"You have grown so much, little Gi," he murmured, when I raised questioning eyebrows at him. "You would never have gotten dressed so casually in my presence before."
I offered a smile and small shrug. "Some things don't seem so important anymore," I admitted. Then suddenly thought to add, "But don't think I won't still make you work for it."
He threw back his head and laughed, mirth flashing in his eyes as he slowly slipped the robe off his shoulders and made a show of stripping what little he had on for me.
"Will this do as payment?" he queried, seductively.
"Theo Peters," I chastised. "Do you wish us to get out of Manaus or not?"
He continued to laugh as he picked up speed, dressing in a more normal fashion. I returned to the bathroom and brushed my hair out, searching through his toiletries for some moisturiser for my face. I heard the main door knock again, making me frown at who would be on the other side of it. I couldn't find the cream I wanted, so with defeated eyes stared at myself in the mirror, wondering if I passed the Isadora test. Knowing I'd fail in comparison to her well put-together image.
I sighed, straightened my shoulders and walked back into the room.
And immediately came up short at Isadora in trim linen pants and a fitted blouse, wedge-heel sandals and sunglasses. But that's not what made me stop in my tracks. She had a brown long haired wig on, and when she removed her glasses, her eyes were dark blue. Gi wannabe.
I snorted. She turned an imperious arched look at me.
"Something the matter?" she queried.
"You don't even look Gi," I pointed out, a little snottily. She did bring out the worst in me.
"And you do?" she shot back.
"Dora," Theo warned.
"Isadora," I corrected through gritted teeth, making her smile triumphantly.
Theo let out a frustrated sigh. "This is going to be a very testing day."
"Only if you forget to call her by her full name," I growled.
"Your Gi has grown claws," Isadora murmured, almost a purr in itself.
"You have no idea, lady," I shot back.
"Casey," Theo warned now. My eyes flicked to his and he shook his head. Just a small movement, but it relayed so much. He didn't trust her. He didn't want her to know I was Pyrkagia now too. That I was Aether.
I gave him a beaming smile, which made him shake his head for a different reason. I was quite happy to keep Isadora in the dark, and more than happy to see that Theo didn't blindly trust his ex-lover.
Take that, bitch!
I blinked at the unusual-for-me sentiment.
Everyone shuffled slightly on uncomfortable feet, until Isadora decided to get the show on the road.
"So, has your pet regained her strength enough to travel at last?"
Pet? My hands fisted and Theo took a step forward, his eyes blazing gold and sending a message to Isadora I don't think she wanted to see.
"My Thisavros has recovered nicely. Thank you for your concern." He emphasised Thisavros, which made it forgiveable that he was talking about me as though I wasn't there. I understood his message, even if Isadora chose to ignore it.
"Well, while you've been amusing yourself, Theodoros, I've been catching up with a few of my informants."
"And what have you found out?" he asked, ignoring her jibe at what she considered his hobby.
"The Basilissa is no longer in the Gi fortress."
I sank onto the side of the unmade bed, not even caring that Isadora had seen it and could work out how it had gotten that way. News that the Basilissa hadn't just sent her Guards after me was not good. I concentrated on breathing, until tension eased from my frame when Theo's hand started to rub gentle circles on my back.
Isadora pouted.
"What else?" Theo asked, not taking his concerned eyes off my face.
"Two Gi Guard regiments are also missing since the day before yesterday."
"How many in a regiment?" Theo asked, voice low and level.
"Usually twenty-five for a Scout regiment, but these are the Queen's Guards. Highly trained, extremely efficient. So, a dozen per regiment instead of the normal amount."
"So, twenty-four Guards in total on our tails. Plus the Queen," Theo surmised.
"Eighteen," I corrected, ab
sently.
"Excuse me?" Isadora demanded, as though my speaking was an indiscretion right then.
But Theo talked over her. "Of course," he said with burgeoning pride. "You took out six the first day of your escape."
"Really," Isadora remarked, sounding unimpressed. "That would be with the help of your Gi doctor. Just how did you win him over, Cassandra?" she queried. "Offer him a little something on the side?"
Theo growled, gold flashed, but it was my Stoicheio which reached out to slap that smug look off her face. Theo pounced on my mistake. With a sweep of his arm he pushed me back on the bed, making me lose my concentration.
Then placed himself between me and Isadora, and shouted, "Enough!"
His own Stoicheio filled the room, masking mine and washing us all in its heated Fire.
"I may be exiled from Pyrkagia right now," - What? Exiled? Someone hadn't divulged all their secrets, had they? I stared daggers at his back, for all the good it would do me. - "But I am still your Prince," he added, in a feral growl. "Do not test me Isadora Petros."
Silence met his statement, thick with the weight of unsaid words. I glanced around Theo's stiff frame and watched Isadora stare him directly in the eyes. Defying him openly for a moment. Letting him know we needed her, more than she needed to kowtow to royal titles.
But then she slowly lowered her head and with a small nod said, "Your Highness. Forgive me."
Theo nodded in return and turned back to me. His eyes held mine, letting me know what he'd risked by throwing his position in her face. We were on thin ice and we needed Isadora's guidance to avoid capture in Gi land. I had to improve my attitude. I had to work on my control when angered by her smug, smarmy smirks. I couldn't let Theo step in like that again; covering for me. One more time and Isadora would lift that defiant, superior pointed chin of hers and stomp away.
We needed her.
I sighed, my eyes no doubt letting Theo know exactly how I felt about that.
He offered a small smile, then with a brief touch of his fingers to my cheek, turned back to the room at large and said, "Well, I guess we should get going. Any ideas on which route you plan for us to take?"
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