Page 42 of Black Crown

I narrowed my eyes. “Then how do you know about it?”

He chuckled, a low throaty sound, and closed the distance between us. “Because I remember how my father revered my mother.”

I grimaced. Uhh. “I’m not sure I want to play a game your father taught you. Like, just at this moment.”

Experienced, but clearly lacking in the pillow talk vicinity.

Tyrrik dipped so he was looking me in the eye. “Oh, the game’s all mine. If you don’t like anything, you tell me, and we’ll stop. I promise.” He brushed his thumb over my lips, and his voice was husky when he added, “Please?”

What do we do?I couldn’t believe I was agreeing because kissing seemed to be a way better idea. One I wasn’t going to deny myself. I stepped closer to Tyrrik and brushed my fingertips over his lips before I rose to my tiptoes.

Tyrrik indulged me with a tender kiss before pulling away. “All you have to do is tell me if you like this?”

“Like what?”

He trailed his fingers down my neck to the fold of my purple aketon, pulling the thick fabric open enough so he could trace first above and then below my collarbone. “Do you like this?”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “Yea—”

His fingers dipped lower, tracing the swell of my breast, and air hitched in my throat. Holy-Drae-babies.

“Do you like this?” he asked, stopping to look me in the eye.

His touch was fire, and I nodded, swaying closer.

“What about this?” he asked, guiding me back with his body until I was sandwiched between him and the wall.

His hand went to the tie at my waist, and he pulled the knot loose.

I wore a chemise to bed most nights, so it was stupid to feel shy about him exposing my underclothes, but the concentration with which he did it sent a deep flush into my cheeks.

He undid the tie on the other end and pushed the outer garment off my shoulders.

“You’re getting rid of our clothes?” I asked.

He didn’t answer, but two could play at this game.

I pulled the tie at his waist on one side and then the other. Pushing my hands up the smooth planes of his chest, I asked, quirking a brow, “Do you like?”

“Yes,” he growled, and the warm embers of his voice called to me.

He pushed his body into mine, dipping his head to my neck where he pressed his lips to my pulse. And then to our mate mark. I stilled as Tyrrik groaned deep in the back of his throat and applied more pressure to the mark than ever before.

I gasped, heat flooding through me at the small, dominating nip.

“Do you like this?” he asked. Before I could answer, he gripped my waist, kneading his way to my hips. “What about this?”

Is that even a question?I moaned and pushed my hips to his in response. He dipped his hand under the gathered fabric of my chemise and asked, “Do you like this?”

I swallowed, and my voice was thick when I answered, “Yes.”

He pushed his calloused hand up the side of my body, lifting the chemise over my head. “This?”

My breaths were shallow, and I nodded as Tyrrik dragged his eyes over my mostly naked body. His low, throaty growl reverberated from him to me. Aching want tugged deep in my stomach, and I moved toward him in a blur.

You are ethereal.Tyrrik traced his fingers down between my breasts, only the barest ofessentialsstill covered with my bralette. “Come,” he said, his voice rumbling between us. “Let me warm your bath.”

“Bath?” We were stopping for a bath?