Page 205 of Split or Swallow

“Do not touch what is mine.”

A smile twisted Rowe’s lips. It was a cold smile—utterly devoid of anything but malice. He looked Tem straight in the eye and said:

“I hope he breaks you.”

Before Tem could think of a response, Rowe stepped back, disappearing into the shadows.

Tem looked to Caspen for guidance as the crowd’s collective hiss returned. He was staring after Rowe, his jaw clenched. Tem touched his face gently, pulling his gaze to her.

“Caspen,” she whispered. “Look only at me.”

At her words, he relaxed. His grip on her throat loosened; the tension left his chest. He lifted her once more, turning her again so she was facing him. Tem moved her hips purposefully, knowing they wouldn’t be interrupted this time. The wave inside her began to build as Caspen’s fingers went to her clitoris, applying pressure where she needed it the most.

Caspen— she cried into his mind, —I’m—

Before she could finish her thought, she came.

Caspen came too, releasing himself inside her as he pulled her hips quickly against his. She felt his wetness join hers, spreading over their thighs and dripping onto the sheet. There was ownership in his grip. The way he held her told everyone that she was his—that she belonged to him. Tem gave herself over to it, letting him pound into her as hard as he wanted, letting him mark her in any way he liked.

They fucked again. And again.

Every time Caspen came, he became hard mere moments later. There were times when he didn’t even bother pulling out. They had sex for hours, and eventually the bed became soaked with their cum. At one point, two basilisks stepped forward, and Caspen fucked Tem standing up while they changed the fitted silk sheet.

The crowd ebbed and flowed. Basilisks came and went, watching for just a few seconds or for hours at a time. Some of them touched themselves, and some of them simply stared. It was overstimulating to the point of distraction—sometimes Tem found herself watching them as they watched her, staring at the endless parade of beautiful, naked bodies.

Only one person stayed the entire time.

Bastian stood off to the side, nowhere near the bed. He never touched himself, although he was clearly erect. He merely stood there, silently, focused on Tem. Whenever she caught herself staring at him, she forced her gaze back to Caspen, losing herself in his eyes, which were getting blacker with every orgasm.

He was starting to transition.

There was no mistaking the scales that had begun to harden his skin. They spread slowly but surely down his chest in a dappled wave, multiplying by the hour. There was no way to stop it—no way to reverse it. They were here, finally, at the point Caspen had always feared. Caspen was becoming more aggressive—his hands squeezed her breasts, her neck, her ass. His fingers tangled in her hair, holding her mouth directly on his as he claimed her.

The stars inched along the sky above them, but not nearly fast enough. After a particularly rough climax, Caspen cradled Tem’s face in his palms.

You will bleed if we keep going as we have been.

So heal me.

No. I will not hurt you just because I can heal you.

I don’t care, Caspen.

I do.

Tem knew Caspen was worried for her. But beneath that worry was the insatiable desire she had come to recognize in him. She knew that at some point—soon—he wouldn’t be able to stop even if he tried. Tem remembered what she had seen when she’d infiltrated his mind. He was addicted to her; everything she did turned him on, and even when she was in pain, it only turned him on more, the basilisk instinct overtaking the part of him that wanted to keep her safe.

She could see how difficult it was for him to hold back—how he couldn’t look at her for too long, especially when she was on top—how close he was to losing control with every single thrust. It was only a matter of time before he gave in and ravaged her the way he really wanted to.

Just hurt me, Caspen.

No.

There’s no other way.

I will find another way.

And what way is that, exactly?