“That just gets you hotter, doesn’t it? You’re practically naked and dripping for an O’Malley.” He smirked. “Not so pure now, are you?”

“I was never pure. Not with you.”

“I know.” His jaw went tight. “That’s what I loved about you. You only gave that part of you to me.”

Before she could fully process his words, he dipped down and dragged his tongue up her center. She jolted. “Cael, you can’t.”

He paused, but he didn’t move away. They were both breathing as if they’d just run a long distance. She could feel his harsh exhales against her clit. Each one sent a wave of shivers through her body. She felt feverish and needy and not at all herself. God, she’d forgotten how it could be with him. No, that wasn’t right. She’d made herself forget. She’d had to, for her own survival.

Finally, he said, “Do you want me to stop?”

She might laugh if she could draw a full breath. No. Never. When she finally managed to speak, she had the right words, the ones he’d accept. “Cover my mouth.”

Cael’s green eyes flew to her face. “What?”

“You know I can’t keep quiet when you have your mouth on me.” She wrapped her fingers around one of his wrists and brought his hand up to her face. “Cover my mouth,” Eleanor repeated.

He held her gaze as he pressed his palm more firmly to her mouth. “Hold your dress up.”

She scrambled to obey, yanking her dress even higher and spreading her legs wide. Cael chuckled darkly against her center. “So eager. Always so fucking eager to play the slut for me.” He inhaled deeply as if drinking in her scent and then his mouth was there. The first lick was perfectly controlled. Even the second. But on the third, he lost it.

He growled and then he shoved his tongue into her pussy. She moaned against his palm, and that only spurred him on. There was no finesse, no control, but even though it had been a year since they last touched, they’d been lovers before that long enough that he knew exactly what she needed. He always knew what she needed.

Cael played with her until she was panting and shaking and gripping her gown so tightly, it would undoubtedly be irreparably rumpled when they were done. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but him shifting up to rub her clit gently with the flat of his tongue. Pleasure wound through her, tighter and tighter, until it was so acute, it was almost painful.

And that’s when she heard the voices coming down the hall in their direction.