When she sagged against the mattress, he withdrew his fingers—only to lick them clean as she watched. His erection pulsed with every stroke of his tongue.

“Delicious,” he rasped.

Eyes luminous, she flattened a hand on his pec and pushed him to his back. She rose above him. “My bad boy deserves a prize.”

Yes. Please!

Straddling his waist, she unfastened his pants. Unzipped. The appendage that had been giving him so much trouble lately sprang free. Moisture beaded at the tip.

What would she use? Her hands...or her mouth?

His hips lifted of their own accord. “Do it.”

She lowered her head, golden hair falling over his waist like a curtain. He tensed as her hot, hungry mouth gloved him, the pleasure almost pulling him from his skin.

“Please, princess.” He’d beg if necessary. He tangled his hand in her hair—to pull her off or push her deeper, he wasn’t sure. “Don’t stop. I want it. Need it.” Had never had it before. Had always dreamed...always hoped, a temptation almost as strong as Keeley herself.

She took him all the way to the back of her throat. Yes, yes, that was more... Was better than anything he’d ever... And...can’t think. He arched his hips instinctively, again going all the way back to her throat. Over and over she sucked him up and down, moving faster and faster. His blood, already on fire, was only growing hotter. His body was aching and agonized, a live wire of sensation. Everything proved to be too much...not enough...

“Keeley, please.”

My darling girl. She didn’t let up. She cupped his sac while flicking her tongue over his tip on her next upward glide. And that was all it took. With a single moment of rational thought, he managed to pull out of her mouth and turn away, pouring his climax onto the bed.

When finally he was emptied, he plopped beside her, his heart galloping out of control. Sweat covered every inch of him. He couldn’t quite catch his breath. “That was...” Everything. “Thank you.”

Must have been the wrong words because her features lost their dreamy softness. A dark blanket fell over her baby blues, hiding her emotions.

“Sure,” she said stiffly, rising from the bed to dress in the tattered remains of her clothing. “Whatever.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THANK YOU.

After everything Keeley had risked, all she might be forced to endure, those were Torin’s first words to her?

Not...Being with you is worth anything, princess.

Or...You are a necessary part of my life, Keys. Don’t ever leave me.

But, nooo. She got Thank you.

Like I’m a waitress and I just delivered his order.

She safety-pinned the straps of her shirt together. In his haste, Torin had ripped the material. And in her stubbornness, she hadn’t packed any of the clothes Hades had provided for her. She’d have to walk around looking like a slutty hobo. Not exactly a testament to her royalty.

Perhaps I’m overreacting. A wee bit emotional. Simply looking for a reason to fight...a way to guard my—

No! I refuse to turn this on me.

Torin sat up, pulled on his gloves and his shirt, and then righted his pants. The shirt was new. It read, “Lucien Came Knockin, But I Was Still Rockin.” His hair was sexily mussed and his cheeks still flushed with satisfaction. His eyes were bright, his lips as swollen as hers. He looked every inch the sated male—beautiful, wanton, wicked—and her chest ached, the bond between them crackling with tension.

She hated that he couldn’t feel it.

Time to tell him.

No, not yet. But soon.

He watched her for a long while before breaking the silence that had settled between them. “Did I hurt you?”

“In what way?”

He thought before replying. “Physically.”

“No.” She adored the rough strength he wielded. Why was that so hard for him to believe?

“Emotionally?”

Yes! “I don’t want to talk about it.” Her feelings were too raw. She’d given him access to her body—maybe even her heart. There. She’d admitted it. Went to battle for his, but might have just given up mine. There was no other explanation for the wild effect he had on her, clouding her common sense, driving her to recklessness time and time again.

Thank you.

She’d never thought she would despise those words.

He’s new to this, fighting it—with good reason. Maybe he doesn’t know what to say or how to act.

Maybe she was making excuses for him.

Bottom line: she was tired of being Miss Right Now. Available, but discardable. Willing, but merely convenient. If Torin could have had his pick of women without having to worry about sickness, would he have chosen Keeley?

After their argument...after this? She didn’t think so.

What’s so wrong with me that no man can value me?

Worth less than a barrel of whiskey.

So. Yeah. She was done. She would stay with Torin, but she would no longer attempt to win his affections. Would never again throw herself at him. Would never again allow him to grab her and kiss her and bring her to orgasm. That part of their relationship was over.

He rested his elbows on his thighs and leaned forward. “Are you feeling sick already?”

Her stomach twisted at the reminder of what might come. “No.”

What have I done?

“Keeley,” he said. Sighing, he stood.

No way she’d endure another brush-off. “Hey, no need to try to sell me water when I’m already in the pool. I agree. We’re never doing that again.”