Tempting Auzed: The Clecanian Series Book 4

by Victoria Aveline

  Zed used the controller to shade one half of the lounger. She gasped and shot her gaze around like a startled bird. “The shield we have around us does what you’re describing. I have it set to fifty percent, which should prevent us from burning while still enjoying the light. I can leave half of the lounger shaded, if you want.”

  She jumped up, spread her arms wide, and lifted her face to the warmth of the sun. “No! I can hang out in the sun without worrying about anything? Amazing!”

  With an exaggerated sigh, she collapsed onto a plush floor-level cushion as wide as a mattress. A faint breeze ruffled her dress, and her upper thighs came into view.

  After a small lurch, the platform began to move, gliding into whichever spot the male had chosen. Alex propped herself up on her elbows and watched as they slowly floated over the treetops.

  “Would you like a drink?” He tore his gaze away from the luscious curve of her thigh and opened the stocked refrigeration cabinet.

  “Maybe just a juice or water. I drank a lot with Meg yesterday.” She’d laid back down and draped a forearm over her eyes.

  He set her water down next to her and retrieved two yubskanis for himself, downing the first in a matter of seconds. Auzed had decided he’d be having many today. He could relax, dammit, and he’d prove it. They had two days left together, and he was determined to try and have a good time. How long would it be before he had an opportunity like this again? A day of sunshine and laughter with a beautiful female who was interested in him? Never, that was when. He would never have another opportunity like this.

  Wiping his mouth and allowing his mind to wonder how her delectable cunt would taste mixed with the sweet yubskani, he relaxed onto a cushioned chaise across from her. The view of her basking in the sun, her bronze skin shining in the rich afternoon light, was a vision he’d never forget.

  As the first hints of alcohol hit his system and relaxed his muscles, he understood why some people enjoyed doing nothing.

  Nothing, if done with the right person, was like a balm for the soul.

  ***

  Alex had no idea how long they’d been floating before the incredible luxe lounger finally came to a stop, but when she looked up again, the view before her stole her breath. They’d traveled to the edge of the forest, and the shores of a vast turquoise ocean spread out before them. Small neon-green islands dotted the crystalline waters here and there. They seemed close, but it could’ve been an illusion. The sky was an electric blue, so bright it almost hurt to look at.

  Replacing the bulky sunglasses she’d been given, Alex flipped to her stomach and rested her chin on her hands, gazing out past the glittering pool inset in the lounger to the ocean beyond. Too bad she hadn’t brought a swimsuit. The sultry air was the perfect temperature for swimming. She lifted the amber-colored bottle Auzzy had placed next to her and blinked. It’d been sitting out with her for a while now but was still cold to the touch. Taking an experimental sip, she found the water inside was somehow icy despite the blazing sun shining down. Now there were magically always–cold water bottles too? Could this sky yacht get any cooler?

  Alex grinned ear to ear and stretched like a cat in a beam of afternoon light. Her body felt heated from the inside out the way it did whenever she laid out at the beach. As if she were becoming one with the hot air around her. The sweet smell of the flowers below tickled her nose and reminded her of her favorite body oil back home. Mmm, vanilla sugar.

  She glanced over to Auzed and caught him polishing off yet another yubskani. Was he trying to get drunk? Absently, she wondered what he’d be like when intoxicated. Quiet? Angry? Touchy-feely? Alex herself was a happy drunk and would talk the nearest person’s ear off if given the opportunity.

  “It’s hot,” he rumbled, standing and curling his fingers under his shirt with clear intent.

  Alex took a preparatory breath to no avail. When he slipped off his shirt, revealing the flat planes of his chiseled chest glistening in the bright sunlight, the stifled gasp that rose to her lips clogged in her throat. Before she could recover from the vision of a half-naked demigod strutting before her, he began to undo his pants. Her brain stuttered off.

  He turned away from her to take in the view, seemingly oblivious to her interest. Alex bit her lip and watched him slide the loose black pants down his hips, letting them pool by his ankles. The gorgeous and pronounced curve of his lower back led to his perfect muscular ass and then down to thick thighs.

  He was hot. Both figuratively and literally. She could see the sheen of sweat running over the hard ridges of his back. Bet if I touched him, he’d be slippery.

  Now completely naked, he stretched his bulky arms to the sky, his muscles coiling and bouncing with his movements until she couldn’t take it anymore. If she didn’t stop looking at him, she’d jump him right here in plain view of whoever passed by.

  “Aren’t you worried someone will see you?” she called with her head turned away toward the much-less-impressive view of her water bottle. The thudding of her heart picked up speed in time with his approaching vibrating footfalls. Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t look.

  “I activated a privacy shield. No one can see…or hear…in here.”

  The way he let his purr linger on the word hear had her sex growing instantly hot. For some reason, though, she was frozen. Glued to the cushion, her heart racing in her chest and her mind swimming. Was it the right time?

  She wanted Auzed. Even the recollection of his solid, naked body from a moment ago had her feeling far too empty in too many places. But a spike of fear took her by surprise.

  Would sex change things? They were supposed to head to Tremanta the day after tomorrow. Since the beginning, she’d made sure to remind herself their flirtation was temporary. Somewhere along the way, she’d naively convinced herself that if she kept their expiration date in mind, her feelings for him would never blossom past the point of no return. But the way her heart was racing now had her questioning how effective her mindset had been.

  “What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get back to Tremanta?” she asked, both hoping and fearing the hint would push him away.

  She started as heavy steps traveled past her head, then away from her. When she peeked through her lashes, she found he’d waded into the bright-blue of their pool and was splashing water over his broad, defined shoulders.

  Alex bit her lip. God, this was torture. She forced herself to look away. Flipping to her back, she flung off her glasses and shut her eyes against the bright light. There, now I can’t look.

  “I’d like to see my siblings. I’ve only been gone for a week, but…”

  It feels like a lifetime, Alex finished in her head.

  A bubble of resentment that’d been festering left a bitter taste in her mouth. She may never see her sibling again. It wasn’t Auzed’s fault, but envy that he was about to return to his perfect life with his family and his job and all that was safe and familiar to him coursed through her all the same.

  “If you could have anything from Earth right now, what would it be?” His question was obviously an attempt to shift to a lighter topic, and she didn’t mind.

  The fact that he could sense her unease without her having to say a word wiped her sour thoughts from her mind and made boiled honey drip down her scalp.

  “Mmm. A warm tortilla with butter. Best snack in the world. Or hot Cheetos. Or Sour Patch Kids. Or a million other things.” She twirled her mother’s ring around her finger. If she really could have anything from Earth, it would be a photo album, but she wasn’t going to dampen the mood by giving a real answer.

  “Chee-toh,” he murmured experimentally from somewhere overhead.

  The echo and ping of an empty glass hitting the pool edge hit her ears. Another yubskani down. Without thinking, she tilted her head back and shielded her eyes to look at him upside down. Big mistake. Big. Huge.

  Auzed had sprawled himself on a shelf only covered with a few inches of water. He reclined perpendi
cularly to her on his elbows, the alcohol in his system making his posture lazy and pliant. The turquoise water lapped around the muscles lining his ribcage and highlighted the light, luminous color of his skin and the glittering markings curving and crossing all over his body.

  With his head turned to her, he roved his gaze over her upturned face and down the neckline of her dress. Similarly, her attention latched on to the rigid length between his bent tree-trunk-sized legs. She licked her lips, remembering the feel of him in her mouth.

  A low rumble from his chest told her he’d noticed, and like a shot, she looked away. He was far too appealing for his own good. A hard, protective Auzed was one thing. The rough-hewn stone he often encased himself in called to her and made her feel safe. But this relaxed, tenderized sun god with his wicked, curving grin and halo of light hair glowing golden in the sunlight was something else.

  She imagined this version of Auzed would leisurely bury himself in her core, pumping in and out of her in unhurried strokes until the cloudless sky grew dark and became speckled with unfamiliar stars. Heat bloomed in her sex, making her clench her thighs together.

  “Thank you for this,” she said, stretching her arms overhead. Sweat had begun to bead on her forehead, but she knew what would happen if she got into that pool with him. “I didn’t realize how much I missed the sun. I can’t remember the last time I laid out like this.”

  It amazed Alex that her voice was as casual as she’d wanted it to be, when the thud of her heart and the pulsing between her legs clamored for focus. Awareness of him blanketed her mind, though she was no longer looking at him. How could a person be so turned on and so rattled at the same time?

  The slow swish of water filled her ears, and she squeezed her eyes more tightly shut. The sound of dripping water echoed on the firm, glossy floor as loud as hail to her ears. They both knew where he was headed and what he wanted. Electricity crackled all around, prickling her scalp. She didn’t even attempt to hide the panicked, shaky rise and fall of her chest. She let him see it.

  The bright light shining on the other side of her lids vanished, and she knew he was standing over her, blocking out the sun. Small drops of water splattered onto her exposed skin and sizzled off her heated body. All her senses were laser focused on Auzed. Without looking, she knew what he was doing. The shifting air currents between their bodies told her he’d knelt.

  The scent of him—crisp from the cool pool water yet retaining that underlying spice that was all Auzed—grew stronger. A drop of water fell onto her neck and trailed along her collarbone; she swallowed thickly. The heat was suddenly oppressive. She couldn’t seem to get enough air in. Was she even breathing?

  When scorching lips coated in chilled pool water slanted over hers, she sucked in a ragged breath, filling her aching lungs. He parted his lips and slid his delicious tongue against hers, slow and sweet and deliberate, making her toes curl and a desperate whimper ring in her chest. He swallowed the sound, rasping a low moan of his own and taking her mouth with a greedy hunger.

  Without releasing her lips, he shifted above her. A rough knee between her legs wrenched her thighs apart, and he settled himself on top of her. One of his large palms slid up her inner arm still raised above her head, and his thick fingers threaded through hers, stretching them wide.

  His body weighed her down, and cool water seeped into her dress between them. Droplets from his hair trailed along her temples and jaw, making her shiver despite the heat radiating from his smooth skin. No longer hindered by rational thought, Alex came alive underneath him. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her dress riding up to her hips. His warm erection pulsed at her entrance still covered by her panties.

  Giving in to this drugged lust may prove stupid in the long run, but she no longer cared. All she could feel was him worshipping her with his lips and his tongue. They were here together now. She was his, and he was hers. And she was greedy. She might not be able to keep him forever, but she could have this perfect day. She’d regret it more if she didn’t give herself to him now than if she’d held back for the sake of her heart. A part of it was already his anyway.

  Chapter 21

  Alex moaned and rocked against him as he ran wet kisses over her neck. Each kiss seemed to be placed with intention and consideration, as if he knew exactly where to press his tongue and teeth to make her shiver with pleasure. He was so damn competent.

  The only thing that kept her from feeling completely inadequate was the occasional tremor that ran through his body and left a growl rumbling in his throat. He was hanging on to his control, but just barely. Could she push him over the edge? Did she want to? His methodical teasing was so wonderfully powerful.

  Inhaling a ragged breath, he lifted off her and jerked his chin at her torso. “Take off the dress. I don’t trust myself to do it.”

  An electric bolt built in her nipples and shot down to her clit at his rasped command. She fumbled in her haste to get the dress off. When it was halfway over her head, he yanked the underwear off her bottom so forcefully she wouldn’t be surprised if they’d ripped.

  She’d just slipped the damp fabric off her shoulders when his mouth came down hot and heavy on her sex and his firm tongue lapped in time with his deep groan. Alex couldn’t catch a breath between her surprised gasps of pleasure. Her hips twitched in time with the firm passes of his tongue as he drank her in. He pulled her against his mouth so tightly, his finger dug into the tops of her thighs as if he couldn’t get enough of her taste. She’d have bruises there, but a wanton part of her craved them. She’d be able to look at them for days to come and remember him naked and devastating under the bright Sauven skies.

  Eyes rolling back, she sagged, melting into a puddle on the floor, and gave in to the overwhelming sensation of Auzed between her thighs.

  With every lick, he stoked the blaze burning within her. He growled against her and clutched at her hips, seemingly unhappy about something. In a move that rent the breath from her lungs, he expertly flipped their bodies so she was perched on her knees above him, her thighs on his shoulders while he lay flat on his back. A moment of insecurity at the vulnerable position gave her pause.

  She’d never received oral sex in this position. Was he really sure he wanted this? She had her answer when he impatiently wrapped his forearms around her hips, hands plastered to her low belly, and buried his tongue inside her. A moan tore from her throat, and she had to drop onto her hands, unable to hold herself upright any longer. She rocked her core against his tongue, and he growled his approval while suckling her clit.

  Removing one hand, he buried two fingers inside her, making her lurch forward. Her body trembled all over, and her vision blurred around the edges. Her orgasm, steadily building before, now thrummed just under the surface.

  Blinding ecstasy sparked over her skin when he purred, the vibration shooting straight to her core. As her orgasm rolled through her, white hot and violent, she tried to keep herself lifted. Her forearms shook with the effort.

  Auzed dragged his hands over her ass in a firm caress as she continued to shudder against his mouth. Finally, when the world came back into focus, her body finally melted. She angled forward so she wouldn’t collapse on him and sprawled onto her stomach instead. Lids heavy and breaths coming out stuttered.

  Behind her, Auzed flipped back to his knees and slid large, rough hands down her back, applying pressure as the heels of his palms dipped into the curve of her spine. He leaned over her limp form, his thick erection settling against her ass, and pressed a kiss to her ear. “I’ll have you now, Alejandra,” he rumbled, sending shivers down to her toes and a blast of liquid heat to her sex again. Her core clenched as if shouting its agreement for her, since she was a bit too slow on the uptake at the moment.

  Beyond words, she nodded and tried to rise to her knees. With a firm hand on her shoulder and a thumb at her nape, he kept her in place. As if she hadn’t just experienced the best orgasm of her life, her body revved to life once again.

/>   ***

  Auzed positioned his knees on either side of her thighs and took a moment to drink in the sight before him. His throbbing cock, flushed and swollen from watching her take her pleasure, settled in the glorious cleft of her ass. Her taste still lingered in his mouth; her cries echoed in his ears. But her scent—her sweet, warm arousal wafting off her every time he touched her—did more to muddle his senses then the many yubskanis he’d gulped down.

  She tried to watch him over her shoulder, her lids heavy and her pupils dilated with lust. When she arched her back, attempting to move again, he pressed her down to the ground of the lounger with one firm hand clasping her hip and one on her shoulder. If she kept doing that, he wouldn’t last long at all. He needed to be in control of this.

  He’d lick and stroke and master her body until not even the idea of another male sparked interest. Then she’d have to come back to him. Maybe he could convince her to refuse to participate in the marriage ceremony. She could go on seeing him in Tremanta, and he could have whatever bit of her he could get. It was beyond selfish, but he no longer cared.

  No one mattered to him more than Alex, and at long last he agreed with the avaricious roars of his Traxian half. He ran his shaky fingers along the beautiful dip of her spine, and raw ferocity spread through him. She felt like she was his, though she wasn’t.

  He seemed to matter to her, though. Really matter. Her eyes lit when he entered a room. Her breath caught when he kissed her. She actively worked to make him smile. And he found himself doing the same. What more connection could there be between mates? He couldn’t even imagine.

  Unable to reach anything else, she wriggled underneath him and slipped her hand over the one pressed tight against her shoulder, making his chest tighten.

  With his other hand, he gripped his length and positioned it between her soft, rounded thighs, locked together under his spread knees. Alex clasped his hand on her shoulder more tightly as he slid between her legs and prodded her entrance. He stilled, letting her feel just the tip of him. She released a frustrated sound and tilted her hips, trying to get closer.