Soon...

His tongue changed tempo, to one his body matched, thrusting against her...thrusting...faster and faster...harder and harder... Groan after groan left her, each needier than the last.

He fisted her hair and kicked her legs farther apart, and when her body dropped, he was there to catch her with another thrust, hitting her sweet spot with more fervor.

She clung to him. She clutched at him.

When her climax came, it was swift and brutal, just the way he’d wanted it to be, and she cried out. Though he was panting, practically on fire for her, he moved away from her, severing all contact. Her knees almost buckled, and he had to stop himself from reaching for her.

The more she hungered, the more she would seek him. And the less likely she would be to leave him when it was over.

“My resistance is so weak,” she grumbled, smoothing the hair from her damp forehead.

“Or my persuasion is so strong.”

Her grin was slow, but it melted the ice that had managed to meld to his heart. “Yes. Let’s blame you. But what about your needs?” Her gaze lowered to his shaft. “What about that?”

Hot arousal continued to pump through him, clamoring for release. And though he was almost blind with need, he wasn’t giving in. Not yet. “You’ll take care of me, kulta. Don’t worry. Just not here, and not now.”

She trailed her fingertips down his length, the whisper-soft caress making it twitch in response, and making him sweat. “How will I take care of you? Where? When?”

He met her gaze. “The first time, you’ll use your mouth, and we’ll be in my suite.”

A tremor nearly knocked her off her feet. “And the second time?”

“With your body, bent over the couch.”

Another tremor shook her. “When?” Her voice was breathy. “When do I get to do those things?”

She was so warm...so willing...so difficult to resist. “After we chat.”

“But we’ve been chatting,” she complained.

Yes, but he had a very important question to ask her.

He punched a button on the console, allowing the elevator to continue its rise, to stop and open its doors. He ushered her to his suite, careful not to brush against her. One more moment of contact, and he was certain he would forget his purpose.

Bjorn lounged on the couch.

Something inside of Thane eased at the sight of his friend...only to tense back up when he noticed the male’s condition—pale skin, haunted eyes, hair sticking out in spikes, and lips cut from being chewed.

“I’m well,” Bjorn said, noting his reaction. “Don’t worry.”

“I see you’ve brought us tonight’s entertainment,” Xerxes piped up. At the wet bar, he poured amber liquid into a glass.

Thane’s most primal instincts balked. They had shared women in the past, but they wouldn’t be sharing this one. “She’s mine, and mine alone.”

“Actually,” she said, her chin going up. “I’m my own. I’m funny that way.”

Xerxes hid a smile behind the ambrosia-laced whiskey.

A tray of food rested on the coffee table, Thane saw. The fruits, cheeses, and breads he always kept on hand, now mixed with the chocolates he’d added to the order. He sat in the chair, the food within reach, and dragged Elin into his lap.

“Eat,” he commanded her.

She struggled against him, reckless in her bid for freedom.

He tightened his hold and said, “Enough, kulta. This is happening.”

“No, it’s not. I’m not going to have a snack while leaning against your erection,” she finally gritted out. “Okay? All right?”

“Not okay. Not all right. You caused it.” Far from embarrassed, he gripped her hips and yanked. When she gasped, he wound his arms around her, using them as shackles, locking her in place. “The more you move, the bigger the problem is going to get.”

She stilled instantly. He wanted to laugh.

Darling human. What was she doing to his staid world?

Both Bjorn and Xerxes watched the entire exchange with unabashed interest.

“Thane Downfall,” Elin said in a mother-to-child tone. “Did you just make a penis joke?”

“Joke? I spoke true.”

She shook her head in exasperation. “Gotta baby-step it,” she whispered. And before he had time to question what that meant, she added, “So...how did this bromance begin?” motioning to the three of them. “Oh, chocolate!” Finally, she’d noticed. She selected—every piece.

“In tragedy,” Xerxes said.

“Oh.” She melted against Thane, as if to shield him from further harm, and consumed her treats. “I’m sorry. I was expecting something epically bromantic.”

Thane kissed her temple. “Something beautiful bloomed from something evil. It was epic.”

She relaxed, and he realized the chocolate was already gone. “Beauty from ashes. That’s nice.”

“If only that were always the case,” Bjorn muttered, breaking his heart.

“It will be today,” Thane said. “Elin is going to tell us everything that was done to her in the Phoenix camp, and we are going to punish those responsible.”

She stiffened all over again. “I gave you a few details already.”

“Not enough.”

“Well, I don’t want to give you any others.”

“In this case, your wants do not matter. You will be avenged whether you’d like to be or not.”

Quietly she said, “Baby step, baby step.” Then, with more volume, she added, “Believe me, I have been. Those stakes took care of business.”

“For me. Not for you.”

Sighing, she patted his thigh. “I think it’s really sweet that you want to brutalize people on my behalf, I really do, but I’m going to take a pass on this one, and that’s final.”

Final? Hardly.

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” he said. “I’ve seen your naked body and know all your scars. I can guess the types of beatings and whippings you were forced to endure. The same beatings and whippings will be meted out against every Phoenix waiting in my cells, even those who were kind to you. If any were. You can either tell me what I want to know, and I can release the innocents, or they can all suffer the same fate.”

She twisted to meet his gaze. “You wouldn’t.”