The freedom to cover her face with both hands was definitely new. His chuckle was felt as well as heard while he licked and sucked at her nipple. He slid his hand into the parting of her skirt, and he paused, pressing his forehead against her collarbone. “You aren’t wearing anything else.”
She swallowed. “The skirt catches if I wear anything under it.”
His fingers were pressed against her, and she was slick. She could feel it. He slipped a finger into her, and she froze at the unfamiliar feeling. Sure, she had toys but nothing that moved along the front wall and searched out that particular spot. Her breath caught in her lungs as he ran the pad of his finger over that inner spot, and she twisted against his hand, pushing at his shoulders. She opened her eyes a tiny bit, and his eyes were crimson as he watched her ride his hand.
She held onto him when she bucked, and the nearly painful tension expanded and encompassed her body.
It took four slow seconds before she relaxed against him, and he curled her up against him. He kissed her and smiled, withdrawing his finger from her and sliding it into his mouth before his eyes flickered back to silver.
It took a few tries before she could speak, and she whispered, “Why do your eyes change?”
He shrugged. “He wants a better view.”
She remembered the hot look in the scaled features, and she swallowed. “Oh.”
He stroked a hand down her back.
Styra swallowed and glanced toward the table. A slightly melted fruit dessert was waiting for them on the table. She chuckled. “Will you let me reach the sweets?”
He leaned forward, still holding her, and gathered her cup and the tiny spoon. It was gone in seconds, and she sighed sadly as she looked at his normal-sized dessert. The fruit mousse had been very good.
He touched her chin and tried to lift it for a kiss, but her gaze was fixed on the mousse.
He chuckled. “Do you really want it that bad?”
She focused on him. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
He reached for it and took the cup and spoon, handing it over to her. She wiggled happily and ate two bites, sighing in enjoyment. “Thank you.”
Yr-el blinked. “That is it?”
“Yes. I know when things are enough. I also know when they are not enough.”
He smiled. “What about me?”
She looked away in embarrassment. “More than enough.”
He chuckled and took the dessert from her, eating it with raised brows. “It is good, but you are sweeter.”
She blinked.
“And creamier.”
Her hands slammed over her face again. That was not an analysis that she had ever faced.
He leaned over and set the glass back on the table, running his hands over her back until she peeped out from between her fingers.
“One more course, and then, I would like you to come to my rooms so I can personally examine your injury. I haven’t had a chance to properly check the levels of damage.”
She was taken aback at the sudden change from seduction to analysis. “Oh. Um, okay. I can bring up the med scans.”
He smiled. “That will be helpful.”
She pulled her dropped dress up and held it up to cover her. Thankfully the other side of her dress was still in place, so with a little bit of tugging, she was able to arrange it into a cover that didn’t need to be monitored while she was sitting still.
She tried to lean toward her seat, but he casually settled her with him sitting cross-legged and her nestled between his thighs. She was facing the table, and he had his arms wrapped around her. She wasn’t in danger of getting away.
She settled against him and relaxed. It was quite a trick considering the erection she could feel under the layers of fabric between them. They sat in silence until the staff member came in to remove their dessert cups and leave a tea set behind.
She closed her eyes at the scent and smiled, leaning for it and then being brought up short by his arms. She huffed. “Can you just let me pour?”
He reached out and pulled the table to them. “I like you where you are.”
Styra snorted as she reached out to pour the two cups of minty brew. She handed one to him and then took the other for herself. She leaned back against him and sipped at the tiny cup. “Thank you for this evening. It was... nice.”
He chuckled. “I am glad.”
She sipped at her tea, and he sipped at his.
“So, back to your accommodations after this?”
He squeezed her gently. “Yes.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Sitting surrounded by him was incredibly soothing. She held her tea carefully and looked at the smoothed skin of her arm. All these years and all she needed a stunning drake and a few minutes of agony to fix it. It made her a little nervous for what was going to happen when he worked on her blast scar, but if she could actually eat a meal, run, or even exercise and breathe at the same time, she would just grit her teeth and wait for the lack of issue on the other side.
She could deal with a little—or a lot—of pain if it meant she would be able to move and behave like the rest of the crew at the entertainment center. Mr. Blue had hired them all as children and raised them together. Her injuries had stopped her from joining in the more boisterous training, so Mr. Blue had helped her compensate by aiding her in writing scenarios where she was the drake or she was running or she was flying under her own power. She could be anything, and she could do anything, as long as it was inside a scenario.
She touched the heavily embroidered fabric of the wrap skirt that Yr-el was wearing. It radiated the heat from the body underneath it.
She set her teacup down after she finished it, and he put his next to hers. “Shall we go?”
Styra nodded, and he helped her to her feet. As he rose to his feet, she split the sleeve that was dangling uselessly, tied it in a knot, and managed to reclaim her dignity.
He nodded at her solution with a smile and took her hand in his. He walked out of the restaurant with her, and the staff bowed as they passed. That was different, but as she knew most of the staff from their time in the entertainment centers, she didn’t make eye contact. Knowing their personal kinks was a burden that those who worked at the entertainment center had to bear.
As they walked through the station, Yr-el pulled her close to him. The hotel was near the entertainment center, which was great for going to work the following day if she didn’t need to go back to her quarters and get her passes.
The hotel staff bowed and didn’t crack a smile at her as she passed. That was different. Normally, they were up for a grin and a wave.
Styra looked up at Yr-el, and she wondered why everyone was so petrified of him. He was a lovely person who was kind and considerate.
They stepped into the lift, his hand tightened on her waist, and his eyes flashed red. Oh. Right. The drake.
Chapter Six
Styra looked around the luxury suite and studiously ignored the bed that had been neatly turned down.
Yr-el unbuckled the straps on his chest, and she didn’t ask why he wore them to begin with. He looked and her and smiled. “You can come in. I won’t bite. Not yet.”