Page 229 of Split or Swallow

She sat up straight.

“You can’t fuck me, Leo.”

“I assure you,” he said as his hands—both of them now—worked to unlace her dress. “I can.”

“No,” she grabbed his wrists, pinning them against the back of the carriage. “You can’t.”

They stared at each other, both breathing hard. Leo’s hair was disheveled, his cheeks tinged with pink. Tem was sure she looked similarly windswept.

“And why not?” Leo asked.

“Because I said so.”

“That’s hardly a reason.”

“It is, actually. And it’s the only reason you’re getting.”

“Tem,” he arched his head back in exasperation. “Knowing you has been the single most torturous experience of my life.”

Tem pressed her lips to his exposed neck, murmuring her next words against his skin.

“You’re the one who asked me to torture you, remember?”

“I’m rather regretting that now.”

“How about a compromise?”

“What sort of compromise?”

“I’ll take this off—” she released his wrists and pointed at her dress, “—and I’ll finish what I started—” she pointed at his cock, which was still hard, “—but you can’t touch me.”

Leo let out a bark of laughter.

“Hardly a compromise. That’s simply more torture.”

Tem shrugged.

“Or I can go inside and you can finish by yourself. Your choice.”

Leo’s mouth twisted.

“Wicked, wicked girl.”

Coming from him, she knew it was a compliment.

“Do we have a deal?” Tem insisted.

Leo rubbed his hand over his face. “Yes, fuck.”

“Good.”

Before he could change his mind, she left her spot beside him on the bench and knelt on the floor of the carriage. Leo’s temperament changed as soon as she was on her knees. Hunger flared in his eyes—pure, animalistic craving the likes of which she’d never seen on him before. His cock, which was already hard, became noticeably harder. Leo leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs, watching Tem with possessive focus as she slowly pulled her dress up over her head.

The moment she was naked, something crackled into existence. Tem felt the energy in the carriage shift—as if a bridge had opened between them. Leo’s gaze travelled slowly over her body, and Tem let it. His eyes traced down her neck, lingering on her breasts before following the curve of her waist. Then finally, they landed on the center of her. He licked his lips.

Why not give him one more gift?

Tem slipped her fingers gently between her legs.