Ruby Shadows (Born to Darkness #3)(49)

“Gods, you’re lovely,” he murmured when I finally got settled between his thighs.

“Thanks, but you don’t have to keep saying that,” I said, crossing my legs at the ankles demurely. “I mean, it’s not like I can back out. We have to pay the Sin Tax.”

“I am not complimenting you with any ulterior motive in mind, Gwendolyn,” he said dryly. “I’m simply telling you the truth—a truth you do not yet realize. Someday you’re going to understand how truly beautiful you really are—you’re going to see yourself as I see you. And then there will be no stopping you.”


“Wouldn’t that just be peaches and cream?” I said lightly. “And how exactly do you see me?”

“You’re like a butterfly, poised to spread your wings,” he murmured, brushing a strand of hair away from my face to kiss my cheek. “You mortals…your lives are so short yet in that brief time you shine so brightly. I want to help you spread your wings and fly.”

“All right.” If my voice came out a bit breathless, it was because he was so close and his warm breath felt so good against the side of my vulnerable neck. His broad, muscular chest was against my back and his arms were holding me close, his hands caressing my sides and thighs and breasts. I felt completely surrounded by him, enveloped in sensations. The heat of his big body…his spicy scent…the soft fur of the bedspread rubbing against my bare ass…every pleasure seemed heightened…every touch more intense.

“I want to make you feel good,” Laish murmured in my ear. “Want to touch you and make you come long and hard tonight.”

“You…you do?” I uncrossed my legs and felt my thighs drifting apart. Already I was beginning to anticipate the pleasure he would give me. I knew it was wrong but I wanted it so badly. Wanted to be held in his arms and touched and taken…at least up to a point. My nipples felt tight and achy and between my thighs I was already wet.

“I do,” he growled softly, kissing my neck and plucking gently at my nipples until I moaned and writhed against him. “But first you must learn to touch yourself.”

“I…wait—what?” I turned my head to look at him, wondering if this was some kind of a joke. But the look in his ruby eyes was deadly serious. He really meant this. “I told you, I tried,” I said, frowning at him. “I really did and nothing worked. So can’t you just…you know…do it for me?”

“I could but I won’t.” He gave me a slow smile. “If I did, how would you learn to help yourself in the future?”

“But I tried,” I repeated. The way he was touching me…kissing my neck…caressing my breasts…stroking my nipples…was making me feel incredibly hot and aroused. The thought of trying to touch myself and getting no result was so damn frustrating. Why couldn’t he just keep going?

“You’re going to try again tonight, mon ange,” he murmured sternly. “But this time I’m here to help you. I’ll even get you started…here.”

One large hand slid between my thighs and cupped my bare *. He’d done this earlier when we paid the Sin Tax at the river Styx but now there were no panties to get in the way and no one watching. I couldn’t help moaning as I felt my * pressing against his palm and the heat of his hand against my most sensitive area.

“Feels good, no?” Laish asked softly.

I nodded. “Y-yes.” I wanted him to do more…to open me and touch me as he had threatened to do earlier. Wanted him to make me come.

But to my great disappointment, he removed his hand.

“Why did you do that?” I asked, feeling frustrated. “It was just beginning to feel good.”

“It can feel just as good with your own hand,” he told me. “Try it, Gwendolyn…cup your hot little * in your palm.”

I blushed at his naughty words but did as he said, sliding my hand between my thighs to hold myself as he had done.

“Okay—now what?”

“Now open yourself,” Laish directed in a low, commanding tone. “In fact…I want you to watch.”

He pulled a small square mirror out of the air and propped it up between my thighs. To my mortification, I could see my own hand clearly cupping my *.

Touching yourself—you’re touching yourself and it’s dirty. Touching leads to trouble! whispered a judgmental little voice in my head.

Laish seemed to know what was going on inside me.

“It’s not bad or wrong,” he told me softly. “I just want you to see how beautiful you are—all of you.”

“I just…” I withdrew my hand. “I don’t know if I can.”

“Watch, then Gwendolyn. Let me get you started.”

He slid his hands down my hips and let them settle briefly on my inner thighs. I had a moment to think how erotic his light tan skin was against my warm brown and then he was caressing my outer * lips, stroking slowly up and down with just his fingertips at first.

“What…what are you doing?” I whispered brokenly. “I thought you were…were going to touch me. Show me how to touch myself.”

“How can I show you when you don’t know what you like yet?” he asked reasonably. “Before I can show you anything, we must find out together what works for you. What makes your soft little * hot and wet and ready to come.”