I moved my hand to the side of his face and arched, pushing my breast toward his mouth. He enveloped it, sucking greedily.
With me holding on to his neck, he freed one of his hands and reached between my thighs. His firm touch rubbed right where I needed it, building me up higher. I gyrated against it, utterly out of control.
“Sir? Sir!” The voice was incessant, and I vaguely recognized it.
I also wanted to kill the owner so he’d fuck off.
Nyfain licked and flicked my nipple as he rubbed the seam of my pants, working me. Building.
“Master, sir. Sir!”
Nyfain pulled back with a growl, my nipple popping out of his mouth. He clutched me possessively, as though there was danger from this third party and he didn’t intend to let it reach me.
“Sir.” Hadriel was waving from the edge of the field. “Sorry to interrupt, but sir, it’s time to go.”
It took a moment for Nyfain’s eyes to clear. His eyebrows dipped, and he blinked rapidly. When his gaze swung back to me, it was accusatory. He pushed me away as he pulled back. He glanced down at my feet, checking to make sure I wasn’t trampling the everlass.
“I told you to keep a tight hold on your animal,” he snarled, his face flushed.
Cold washed over my previously fevered skin. I shivered with the change, pulling up my binding. My nipple throbbed against the fabric, still shooting pleasure through my body. Tingling from his hard, delicious suction.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I pulled my shirt so it looped around my neck again, now stretched out. “Which of us has ever even met their animal? You’re the one with experience. This is your fault, not mine.”
“Stay away from me, Finley. I’m not a nice man. I will destroy you.” He walked toward Hadriel.
“Stay away from— I wasn’t the one with my nipple in his mouth,” I yelled, the sting of rejection tight in my chest.
This was a good thing. Him pulling back and walking away was good news. I should’ve been the one to do that. I should’ve pushed him away almost immediately.
So why did it feel like I wasn’t good enough? Like I was dirty?
I walked farther into the everlass to quiet the mad thoughts. My animal was messing with my head. That’s what was happening. For some reason, she had taken a liking to that dickhead, and she was taking me along for the ride. His animal was pushing him, too, I guessed. But that man and I just did not get along. For one, the fucker had imprisoned me. Granted, yes, he could’ve killed me and didn’t. And sure, it was technically within his jurisdiction to pass judgment and execute a punishment. But people were dying left and right, and I’d only trespassed in that field to save my family. What sort of asshole would imprison someone for that? It was nothing but a power trip.
Second, he simply was not likable. He was brooding and angry and tough to get along with. If he wasn’t pissing me off, he was trying to force me to do something. Um…no thanks.
So any feeling of rejection was just ridiculous. I needed to pull on my big-girl panties and let logic rule. My animal was cut off, and as soon as I could figure out a way to further suppress her, I’d do it.
The pang of remorse and guilt that followed that thought was unexpected. Fuck it all, I just couldn’t win.
“So, how’d it go?” Hadriel asked in a singsong voice with a grimace. “Get those plants sorted?”
My face burned with embarrassment. In the moment, I hadn’t thought about people watching. I wouldn’t have cared.
“You didn’t turn away, did you?” I asked as I sat down to the lovely spread of food on the bright pink and orange blanket.
“Turn away? Love, please, you must be kidding me.” He sat down with me. “I couldn’t look away! I didn’t know if he was going to bang you or break you. It was wonderfully tense.”
“Hey.” Leala batted his shoulder. “What are you doing? That’s for her. You’re not supposed to sit with them.”
“She’s not a them, first, and I will let her eat it. But you heard the master; I’m supposed to keep her safe…somehow. If she gets into trouble, he’ll kill me.” He smoothed his hair back. “So I’ve got that going for me now. It’s like…I think my life can’t get any worse, and then bam. Here’s a shit sandwich, Hadriel. Enjoy your lunch!”
I stared at him incredulously. “When did he tell you to keep me safe?”
“Just right now when he went away. I’m to let you find a garden that you can grow your herbs in. And I’m to watch over you. If you get into trouble, he expects me to call him immediately.”