The Unfortunates(42)

“But I get the feeling you’re low on options.”

I am low on options, but I’m not fussed about that. What’s concerning me more, in this moment, is the pulsing between my legs that’s consuming me inch by inch. “I’ll do it…”

“No complaints?”

Strangely, I feel a piece of my soul die. “None.”

The warm, wet cloth no longer touches my flesh. In its place, I feel the rough pad of his finger glide over the lower side of my breast and just like that, he’s locked me in place. My stare falls to his mouth. His full, supple lips are so gorgeous they almost beckon me closer. In this moment, he could put his mouth on me and I’d do nothing to fight it. I hate it. I hate that at the end of the hall, Thirteen is being forced into things she doesn’t want to do and yet here I am, silently willing my Fortunate to press his lips to my burning skin. This is different than the last time he wanted to kiss me. I was afraid of him then. This time, I’m more afraid of me. I’m terrified of the feelings churning in the pit of my stomach and throbbing between my thighs. Sitting on top of him doesn’t help, either. In fact it magnifies my feelings tenfold and my fingers twitch against my thigh as I fight the urge to push them into his hair.

“Seduction is key,” he states, almost under his breath. “You need to seduce your targets, get them to do whatever you want, and then close the deal by giving them what they want.”

“And if they don’t want it?”

“That’s the power of seduction. It isn’t a choice of the brain or the heart. It’s a choice of the body.” He flicks a thumb over my nipple and I shiver. “You have to manipulate the body to do what you want.”

In a painfully slow movement, Kade swallows the distance between my breast and his face. The second his hot, wet mouth closes around my nipple, I shamelessly suck in a breath. I lean back, trying to get away from the amazing sensation. It feels so wrong for it to feel so damn good. Kade grips my back, his fingers digging into the flesh as he forces more of me into his mouth. His tongue flicks over my sensitive bud, causing arousal to frisson through me as his teeth scrape the delicate skin. Involuntarily, my back begins to arch, wanting more of his skin to touch mine. My body is alight with a fire I’ve never felt before and as a low moan falls from my lips… he stops. With a soft kiss, he pulls away. Not a second later, our eyes lock, causing my breath to hitch. He looks like sin… like the smirk on his mouth was hand painted by the devil himself. It does crazy things to me… causes my cheeks to burn bright and my blood follows suit.

“You all right, Nine?” he drawls, making my blush deepen.

“I’m fine,” I utter, still caught in his pull.

His hand snakes up my back and grips the back of my neck, holding me in place. Underneath me, I feel him hard against the apex of my thighs and without warning, he crushes his lips to mine. I gasp, opening my mouth wide enough for him to push his tongue inside. I get the feeling this isn’t about learning anymore. This is what he wants. He tastes citrusy, like strawberry and orange. I squeak as he flicks his hips and pushes me onto my back and into the cushion, pinning me under his body. I hear his shoe connect with the bowl and warm water wets my feet. He doesn’t care that he wet his pretty couch, and I don’t care, either. As the water cools, it’s a welcome sensation on my otherwise burning skin. His tongue tastes me, savours me, and I become dizzy with the intensity, but my head begins to clear the moment he pulls his mouth from mine.

“Your turn,” he says, grinning down at me.

I blink, trying my hardest to come back down to planet Earth. “What?”

Kade licks his moist lip in a way that makes my head spin one last time. “I said it’s your turn.”

I swallow, slightly embarrassed by how hard I’m panting. “For what?”

“To make me want you.”

I feel my eyes widen as all seeds of arousal slip from my body, replaced by complete fear. “You want me to do to you what you did to me?”

“More or less.” He pushes off of me, straightens his tie, and stands beside the couch.

Instantly, without his body heat crashing into mine, I feel out of place. I sit up and sheepishly pull the twists of fabric back up my arms, shielding my breasts from view.

“All right.” My hands tremble and I bunch the fabric of my dress in my fists to stop them from alerting Kade. I don’t want him to see how scared I am… I want to please him on the first go. I rise to my feet. “What do I do?”

He takes a couple of steps back and suddenly the air around me seems cold, empty. “Seduce me.”