Kiss of the Betrayer (A Bringer and the Bane Novel)

by Boone Brux

  Now she knew why those encounters had fallen flat. Love. Everything was different now. She wanted to give Luc everything. No more hiding. No more doubts. No more denial. With him a lifetime of happiness was hers for the taking.

  Jade stepped away to stare at him. Chiseled planes and carved muscle flexed with his every movement. There was no doubt about his arousal. His erection pushed against the front of his pants. She wanted to see him—all of him. Girlish modesty had no place tonight. She wanted to touch him. Know the scent and taste of his skin. Feel his weight as he covered her, driving into her, filling her.

  Jade knelt. She gingerly pinched one of the laces holding his pants closed, and pulled. His fingers threaded through her hair, brushing it away from her face. She glanced up. His stare burned and the heaviness of each breath he took sent a rush of power through her. He wanted this. During her years living among men, she’d often seen women use their mouths to bring men pleasure. Until now she’d never understood why they did it when the act wasn’t done for money. Heat pooled between her legs at the thought of giving Luc pleasure. Hopefully, this was something no other woman but her would ever give him again.

  She pushed his britches down, freeing his erection. Like the rest of his body, it was perfection. The smooth, glistening head beckoned to her. She exhaled, bringing her lips as close to his cock as she could without actually touching him. His penis flinched and his hands tightened in her hair.

  “Jade.” Luc said her name like a plea.

  She melted at the sound, her body needing to please him and her mouth needing to taste him. The very thought of Luc above her sent snaps of heat racing along her skin. She shifted, moving against the desire building between her legs. Her lips parted and without urging, he arched into her.

  Moist heat surrounded his cock. Luc watched Jade’s mouth slowly take him in and then pull away. The rhythmic movements of her head made him harden even more. Sweet Sainted Ones, but the girl had a mouth made for love. The impulse to thrust nearly overwhelmed him, but he restrained himself. She may not be ignorant in the ways of a man and woman, but she was still rather innocent, of that he was certain. Becoming too demanding might scare her. Besides, they had all night and he had every intention of keeping her awake until the wee hours of the morning.

  With one hand she held him in place, working the length of his shaft with her tongue. The other hand circled around his leg and scraped upward, lightly dragging her nails along the backs of his thighs. A shiver spiked up his spine and he gripped her head, giving a subtle push into her mouth.

  A low moan of pleasure escaped Jade. She released his shaft and reached around his body to knead his cheeks. The pace of her mouth quickened, her hands controlling his movements as she pushed and pulled him in and out of her mouth. Sparks tickled the base of his cock and spiraled up his shaft.

  Too soon.

  With gentle pressure, Luc eased his hips back, detaching Jade’s mouth. She looked up at him. He could see by her expression that she thought she’d done something wrong. A wicked smile crept across his lips.

  “You’re too good.” He helped her to stand and drew her to him. His erection pressed against her stomach. “And I’m about to shame myself by finishing too early.”

  She slid her arms around his neck, her breasts flattening against his chest. “And that’s bad?”

  “Ask me that…” He brushed the white, blond swath of hair from her neck and bent to place a kiss below her ear. “After I’m finished pleasuring you.”

  Her body quivered under his touch. “Finally, a reasonable plan.”

  Luc scooped Jade up and laid her on the bed. Smooth, tan skin glistened in the pale golden candlelight. She arched toward him, sliding her hands over her head to stretch like a cat. She was desirable without trying, even when she had been dressed like a boy.

  He reached for the foot she glided along her leg and crawled onto the bed. She watched him draw her foot to his lips. A coy smile played at the corners of her mouth and she gasped when he first kissed, and then licked her big toe. She yanked, but he didn’t release her.

  He traced the tip of his finger up the center of her foot. “Ticklish?”

  She squealed and nearly levitated off the bed. “Please, stop.” She sat up and tugged against his hold. His finger hovered above her foot again. “Please, Luc.”

  “I like the way you say my name.” The way she pleaded stirred his desire. He bent and pressed a kiss on the inside of her foot and then rested her ankle on his shoulder. “I think I’d like to see you beg for more.”

  His hand slid up the inside of her thigh, his body following. Jade fell back against the bed as Luc soldiered forward, his finger inching dangerously close to the blond curls between her thighs. Her green eyes widened and her mouth opened as if anticipating what he might do next.

  He lowered himself, planting moist kisses along her inner thigh. When he reached her sex he stopped. Stiff limbs quivered under the brush of his warm breath. Unsure whether she would rebound from the bed or coo with pleasure, he lowered his mouth to her wet lips.

  A sigh filled with feminine delight drifted from Jade. Luc slid his tongue along her tight slit, which garnered another sigh and an easing of muscles. Her knees fell open, allowing him full access. He flicked the stiff nub that hardened under his ministrations. Jade’s hips lifted toward his exploring mouth, asking for more.

  He wound his arms around her thighs and pulled her slick lips to him, holding her in place. With a slow thrust, he dipped his tongue inside her and slowly withdrew, licking and spreading her lips. Before returning for another pass, he lingered at her clit, gently skimming and sucking.

  She was sweet and untainted. Pure like a honeysuckle wine. Blush pink nipples teased him, bouncing as she rocked against his mouth. He released one leg and glided his hand up her stomach to cup her breast. Jade gasped when he rolled the stiff peak between his finger and thumb, plucking it with the same rhythm he licked and suckled her. She writhed against him, twining a finger in his hair and pulling his mouth more firmly against her.

  The action nearly made him lose control. His cock tightened painfully. He released her breast and reached to stroke himself, cupping his balls and massaging. Sweet mother, he needed to be inside her, but not until she climaxed.

  He released his cock and focused his attention on the small section around her clit. He slid a finger into her tight sheath, continuing to stroke her with his tongue. Her hips arched and bucked.

  “Yes.” Small pants replaced actual words. “A—ga—in.”

  He dipped a second finger inside her and licked. In and out. With each thrust Jade replied in kind, riding his hand and mouth, guiding him with a firm grip in his hair. Her sheath tightened around his fingers and her body arched. A muffled scream ripped from her throat, but she grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her face.

  She was so beautiful. The way her body glistened with a fine sheen and ripples of pleasure danced across her skin. Her firm hold turned into a steady push against his forehead. He held onto her thighs, but Jade threw the pillow aside and pushed up on one elbow. With surprising strength, she propped one foot against his shoulder and pushed.

  He let her go but gave her a devilish grin. “Sensitive?”

  She fell into the pile of pillows at the top of the bed where she lay trying to catch her breath. “Yes, and you continue to torture me.”

  “Torture?” He crawled to her across the bed. “I’ve never heard bringing a woman to climax referred to as torture before.”

  “You’re rather ruthless.” She drew her knees together. “And unforgiving.”

  He crept up her body, hovering above her. In an attempt to get away, she pressed further into the mound of pillows, but he had no intention of ending this glorious torment. “Should I tickle you some more?”

  Jade tightened into a ball, her eyes rounding with comical fear. “No!”

  Trapped beneath him, she was at his mercy. He lightly circled her nipple with his fingertip. “Perhaps
I should kiss you again.”

  Her shoulders relaxed and her back arched toward his tracing finger. He strummed this thumb across her nipple. She bit her lower lip and inhaled sharply. With swooping circles, he spiraled his finger down her stomach. He noticed the way her muscles tensed. Instead of prying her legs apart, which he’d never had to do with another woman and he’d be damned if he’d start now, he glided his hand along the top of her thigh and up his cock.

  She watched his movements, her tongue absently sliding along her lower lip. He held the head of his penis and stroked himself.

  “Or perhaps I should give you more pleasure.” His gaze captured hers. “With this.”

  With a slow inhale, her chest rose. She dipped her chin, glancing at his cock and back to his face. She shifted, her legs relaxing to lengthen along the outside of his calves. “Perhaps you should.”

  The intensity of her stare reassured him that she knew what she wanted. For a split second he wondered who was playing the seducer and who was being seduced. With a few simple words, she had him rock hard with need.

  “Not like this.” He ran his hands up her hips and rolled her over. With a gentle tug he lifted her to her hands and knees. As he draped his body over her back, his erection pressed against her behind. “Like this.”

  She didn’t deny him, though he could tell she was unsure what to do from her rigid posture. In an effort to relax her, Luc straightened and ran his hands along her back. She was so beautiful, creamy perfection. He worshiped her body with his eyes and hands, caressing her outer thighs, along her ribs and up over her shoulders.

  He positioned himself so his cock rubbed against her sensitive flesh. Gently, he guided her legs wider, opening her to him. Jade looked over her shoulder, her gaze curious and heated. He brushed the head of his penis against her opening. She pushed back. Placing one hand against her lower back, he slid inch by glorious inch inside her.

  His jaw clenched as he fought to control the tight ecstasy that closed around him. She pushed against him and wiggled. Sweet Sainted Mother, if she continued like that he’d never last.

  Pride poked at him. He wouldn’t let his lust end their encounter early. Again he stroked her, this time separating her lips. With his other hand, he cupped her breast and rolled her nipple between his fingers. She moaned, bending at the elbows to lower down to rest on her forearms and her legs slid further apart.

  He pushed into her, working his length in until his hips met her cheeks. He closed his eyes, letting his head loll to the side while he enjoyed the erotic feel of him deep inside her. Unlike the other times he’d been with women, making love to Jade healed him. The touch of her skin, the quirk of her smile filled the part of him that had died so many years ago.

  With inhuman patience, he pulled back to the head, holding for a second to enjoy the way her hot velvet fisted around him and massaged the sensitive spot at the tip of his cock. More quickly than he’d intended, he drove into her.

  Jade straightened her arms and arched her back. She ground against him, gyrating her hips. Sparks of pleasure raced up his shaft at the sight of her uninhibited display. He pulled out and thrust again.

  “Do you like that?”

  She turned her head and gazed at him from over her shoulder. Her eyes burned bright with unshielded desire and a touch of mischievousness. “I’m undecided.”

  Vixen.

  He gripped her hips and drove deep, pulling out and thrusting back in before she had a chance to recover. He reached around her and rubbed her clit. The nub hardened, begging to be stroked. Slick moisture coated his finger as he worked her.

  Tingles turned to waves, his climax building too fast for him to control. Jade’s voice rasped through the euphoric haze rolling around him.

  “Luc, I can’t—I’m going to—” Her words cut off.

  Her hands balled the duvet and she rammed against him, matching him thrust for thrust. His body shook with the effort to control his own orgasm. He wanted them to come together. That revelation suddenly seemed more important than anything else in his life.

  He bent over her, bracing one hand on the bed at her hip and slid his finger to where he entered her. Added pressure and swirling his finger back up to circle her clit had Jade moaning and bucking.

  “I think you like it.” He caressed, swirled, and flicked again, trying to keep the orgasm that raged for release at bay a few seconds longer. She was so close. “Let it go, Jade. Take your pleasure.”

  She panted, rocking and grinding against him. Luc pulled out and drove back into her with rapid-fire movements. At last her body seized and shuddered. A hoarse cry erupted into the duvet as Jade pressed her face to the bed and rode her wave of delight.

  The sight of her writhing body sent Luc over the edge. He surged one last time, dropping his control and letting the desire take him. His climax rolled through him like a sand storm rushing across the Alba Plains, blanketing him with wave after wave of heated pleasure.

  Shudders racked his body and his legs became weak, unable to support him. He fell across Jade’s back and together they slid to the bed, him still inside her. Neither spoke, their heavy breathing the only words possible and needed.

  How long they lay there he didn’t know. Afraid his weight might be crushing her, he rolled to the side, slipping out of her to lie on his back. Dark wooden beams stretched across the ceiling. He watched tiny flickers of golden candlelight dance along the rafters. He blinked to bring the world back into focus.

  Jade lay quietly, her head facing away from him. He propped up on one elbow and reached to brush her hair away from her face. Her eyes were open, their green intensity staring at the far wall. Luc scooted closer.

  “Jade?” Cold dread rippled along his skin. Had he hurt her? “Are you all right?”

  She said nothing for several seconds, amplifying his anxiety. In a low, flat voice she finally said, “I can’t feel my legs—or my arms—” She turned her head to look at him. “I’ve never, ever, ever experienced anything like that.”

  Relief washed through him. She rolled to her back, but her arms still lay limply at her side. Luc scooted across the few inches separating them and threw his leg over her.

  “That’s what happens when you do it right.” He bent to place a kiss on her rosy nipple. “You’re welcome.”

  “And you’re arrogant.” She pushed his leg off of her and slowly sat up. “I’ve had better.”

  “Liar.” He draped his arm around her waist and tugged her to him, placing a kiss at the crook of her elbow. “Maybe we should have another go if it wasn’t that good.”

  He pushed her back onto the bed and climbed on top of her. Jade squealed and tried to wiggle out from under him.

  “Are you trying to kill me?” She placed her palms against his chest, but the effort was ineffective.

  “What a way to die.” He nuzzled her ear and cupped her breast. The tip hardened under his touch. “Your body tells me you want more.”

  She gave an unladylike snort, but wound her arms around his neck. “They do the same thing when it’s cold.”

  “So you’re telling me you’re cold?”

  She scowled at him. “Freezing.”

  He knew she was lying, but her stubborn streak would never allow her to surrender so easily. Luc rolled off her, grabbed the edge of the duvet and dragged it over them. “Better?”

  She snuggled against him. “Much.”

  The minutes ticked silently by. Her eyes were closed and her chest fell with an even cadence, making him think she had fallen asleep.

  “Do you know what would make this perfect?” She opened her eyes and looked at him.

  There wasn’t one thing he could think of that would make this moment better. He furrowed his brow.

  “Convincing Rell to be healed.” She turned and mimicked his earlier action, draping her leg over his. “Will you come with me?”

  “Now?” The last thing he wanted was to leave the warm bed and Jade’s naked body.

  “I
won’t be able to sleep unless I try one last time.”

  He gave her a languid kiss and pulled back to look at her, grinning wickedly. “Like I said, I have the perfect cure for sleeplessness.”

  “I will love you forever if you grant me this one favor,” she said in a singsong voice.

  His smile faltered. “You love me?”

  The mood in the room turned serious. She curled an arm under her head and trailed a finger through the patch of blond hair on his chest, keeping her eyes trained just below his chin. The seconds ticked by as he waited for her answer. He had bared his soul but had not expected to hear the same from her. After all, she’d hated him for so many years, but he was determined to win her forgiveness, even if it took a lifetime.

  Her eyes turned upward to his face. With an absent movement, her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. “I think I’ve loved you for quite a while, but wouldn’t admit it to myself.”

  The words he wanted to say seemed to lodge in his throat.

  She shifted against him, scooting higher to look directly at him. “Say something.”

  He gave a slight nod and swooped down, rolling Jade to her back and pinning her to the bed. His lips captured her mouth in a searing kiss. Now everything was perfect.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Rell’s arms dangled through the bars of the cage. Each movement she made caused her metal prison to swing like a slow pendulum. She glared at Jade, her lip curling in a sneer. “You smell like sex—and Le Daun.”

  The euphoric haze that had lingered after her and Luc’s lovemaking dissipated. Jade tilted her chin and straightened her spine, but didn’t reply to Rell’s accusation. Her sister no longer had control over her. She’d make her own decisions and her own mistakes.

  “It’s like that now, is it?” The demon leaned forward. “What do you want, then?”