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I stared at the ceiling, strung out across the bed. I was trying really hard to keep my mind blank. When any thought attempted to muscle its way in, I put up a firm wall. Nearly every thought was about Mahkah. The last few days, something was still off between us.
The god entered the room with his usual trail of mortals. He answered the last of their questions and handed different scrolls to a couple of them. When he had finally had enough, he raised his hand and dismissed them all.
His eyes landed on me, and he smiled. “You’ll freeze like that.”
I ran a hand along my bare stomach. “I took a bath. I’m trying to cool down.”
“I warned you,” he chuckled. “One of these days, you’re going to push it too far.” He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. The god braced an arm on the other side of me and leaned in close to my face. “You’re still a little red.”
I let out a heated breath. “That’s why I’m trying to cool down.”
He laughed and remained above me.
Swallowing hard, I felt my heart rate quicken. “Mahkah?”
“What to do with you?” he whispered, brushing my hair away from my face.
I sucked in my lips. He leaned in closer. Was he? No, he wouldn’t. I was just a shifter. Mahkah wouldn’t do those kinds of things, especially with a man. His hand cupped my cheek. I could feel his breath on my skin.
He was doing this because I looked warm. He was just checking my temperature. That was it. That was all it would ever be. Our eyes met. I closed mine as our lips touched.
But I wanted it to be more.
I arched into him as the god pulled me close. His tongue slipped into my mouth. This felt good. It was nothing like Aedus. I liked this. He laid on top of me, running his fingers across my skin. I shivered at the feeling. There was such comfort there. This man, I could feel the earth living inside him. The perfect balance—I felt it more and more as he touched me.
We parted, and I peered up at him, a little unsure. What did this mean?
Mahkah kissed my cheek. “They never should’ve let you near that firebird. He taught you how to be seductive.”
My mouth fell open. “Fin did not.”
The god laughed. “Are you okay with this?” He ran his thumb across my cheek.
I clasped his hand. “I sort of... well, I kissed you first.”
“Yes”—he leaned in—“you did.”
I wrapped my arms around him as he kissed me. Mahkah settled between my legs. My eyes grew wide at the sight of my member. I clambered back and looked up at him in pure dread. How could this happen?! We were kissing—that was it.
“I’m so sorry.” I covered my crotch. “I... I don’t know why. It’s never happened before. I’m sorry.” I rolled onto my side. My face was burning, and I wanted to sink into the mattress and disappear.
The god sat up on his knees. “You’re a healthy young male shifter. It’s expected.”
“It’s never had this problem in the garden—not even with Aedus. He forced me to react. This...” I bit my lip. “I don’t know what to do. How do I make it go down?”
He turned me onto my back. “I’ll teach you.”
“About mortals?” I whispered.
Mahkah smiled. “There are many lessons we can learn from them.” He pulled me onto his lap.
I clenched my jaw and sat rigid with my cock pressed between our chests.
He removed his robe and gripped my chin. “Aedus has taught you some, but I’m a man with morals. I require consent.”
Swallowing hard, I nodded. “Yes. I want to.”
With a smile, he kissed me again. “I thought so.”
His lips ran along my neck to my shoulder.
I withered in his arms as he sucked on the tender skin and worked my cock. This was how sex should be. Nothing was forced. His hand slipped around and traced my entrance. I clenched, breathing heavily.
“Relax, Terrin. I will wait until you’re ready.”
I laid my head on my shoulder and rocked my hips. He slowly stroked me while prodding my ass. A finger slipped inside. I grunted but kept a steady pace. Another finger was worked in.
“How are you feeling?”
“Good,” I murmured. “It feels good.”
He kissed my neck and stretched me wide. My legs were shaking. My body was reacting to him, not merely his element, but him.
Mahkah pulled out. “I think you’re ready.” With a snap of his fingers, a bottle fell into his hand. He lubed us both up.
I tried to calm my breathing. I had felt the hard mass under Mahkah clothes. He grabbed my hand and placed it on his erection. My breath caught. That was a lot bigger than Aedus. I looked into his eyes as he slipped my hand into his pants. It couldn’t fully wrap around it.
“Curse the gods.” I covered my mouth as I stroke him.
“Nice and slow. You’ll be fine.” He kissed me again.
He pushed down his pants and leaned back on his arms. “You control it.”
Nodded, I straddled his legs and lined myself up. The tip touched my entrance, and I let out a deep breath. Mahkah played with my cock. I carefully eased myself onto his. The pain came quickly as I was stretched wide. Little by little, it turned to a dull ache.
I stopped halfway. “It won’t fit,” I breathed.
Mahkah pulled me down to him. “With practice.” He kissed me.
My head was spinning. This wasn’t a one-time thing? I didn’t know I should be happy or scared. He looped an arm around my waist and laid me on the bed. Hiking up my legs, he started to move.
I gritted my teeth. It hurt. Every thrust a little more slipped inside, but it felt good, too. My head didn’t know which sensation to listen to. I let out a gasp as he threw his weight forward.
“Terrin.” He cupped my face and moved my hair off my forehead. Grabbing my hand, he guided it down to where we were connected. Mahkah was flush against me.
I could feel him deep within. A calmness fell over me. I felt like I was immersed in a rich earth that soothed my soul. He was doing something to help me relax—what a strange god. I smiled to myself and reached out for him. Mahkah fell into my arms and held me tightly as he pulled all the way out and pushed back in. I cried out as my head filling with different emotions.
The god’s breath became labored and the pace quickened. I arched into him. My cock was pinned between us, rubbing against him as he moved. The feeling of a need to release was building. I wanted to cum.
“Mahkah, my lord,” I breathed. “My lord. Please, my lord.”
He tightened his grip on me. I couldn’t hold it. The pressure was too much. The god slammed into me and sent me over the edge. My breath caught as my cock erupted between us. Mahkah did a few quick thrusts before slowing down. He pressed his forehead against mine. We stayed like that for a moment, connected to one another.
“You will remain here,” he said in a quiet voice. “I won’t allow you to return to the garden.”
I nodded. “I don’t want to go anywhere else.”
“Even though it’s cold?”
With a smile, I gave him a simple kiss. “I’ve come to like the snow.”
***
“SO”—I LICKED MY LIPS—“WHAT does this mean?”
Mahhak laid with his arm around me. I kept my eyes pointed out the window with my head resting on his chest.
He shifted and tapped his finger against my arm. “It’s new to me as well. I’ve never liked shifters. I’ve had a few mortal partners over the centuries, but favoritism led to fighting. One village would start thinking they were better than another. It caused too many problems.” He peered down at me. “Kind of like shifters.”
I swallowed hard. “I... well, I don’t think they’d be upset. The people—” I licked my lips again. My mouth was extremely dry for some reason. “I am your shifter.”
“True.”
Mahkah moved and lifted me up. I knelt at his side as he leaned against the headboard. I wrung my hands in my lap.
“What do you want this to mean, Terrin?”
I bowed my head. “I don’t know. This is all new to me.” I glanced at him. “But I like you.”
“You like me?” he raised a brow.
“Not like a simple like,” I tried to explain. “Not how I like strawberries, but how I like soil—the earth.”
He chuckled. “So, I’m in the same group as soil?”
My shoulders rolled forward. “My life is soil. I don’t think it’s a bad group to be in.”
The god lifted my chin. “I like you as well, Terrin.” He kissed me.
“Like you do mortals or those men with the hats?”
He smiled and pulled me into a hug.
I pushed back. “Please, don’t say it’s like meat.”
Mahkah shook his head, laughing softly. “Not like meat.”
I nodded and relaxed against him. That was good. I never wanted to be in the same group as meat. I shot upright. “But you love meat. You eat it all the time.”
He grabbed my chin and looked me square in the eyes. “I like you more than meat.”
Smiling, I bit my lower lip. “Enough to stop eating it.”
The god nodded. “Perhaps.” He ran a finger down my throat. “If you’re willing to take its place.”
I think not! I jerked back and tried to make a run for it.
Mahkah snatched me around the waist and rolled me underneath him. “You can’t run from a god.” He pinned my arms overhead. “Foolish shifter.”
I blew my hair out of my eyes and glared at him. “You’re not serious, right?”
He dipped down and kissed my neck. “Depends, am I allowed to eat meat?”
“Fine,” I sighed. “Eat whatever you want. Now, let me go.”
The god shook his head and ran his hand down my side. “Whatever I want,” he repeated.
“Mahkah.” I squirmed to get free. “Mahkah, wait. My lord, my body. It’s going to start acting weird again. Stop, my lord.”
His hand rested on my thigh. “Hmm.... Such a sweet smell—fresh soil. With the earth frozen solid, I’ve missed it. Thankfully, I have you to share my bed.” He inhaled deeply. “That firebird taught you well.”
“Fin didn’t teach me anything.” I twisted my body, trying to get free.
“Then, you’ve learned to seduce a man by yourself?” He flashed me a smirk.
“I’m not seducing anyone!” I threw my head back. “Stop,” I begged. “It’s going to act weird again.”
Mahkah released my wrists and placed a forearm on either side of my head. He looked into my eyes. “Be honest, my soil talent, do you really want me to stop?”
I sucked in my lips.
“I’ll remind you. I require consent, so...” He started to move off me.
I snatched his arm and kissed him. We parted. A smirk played on his lips.
“So, what’s your answer?” asked the god.
“Yes,” I muttered. “Whatever you want. I want you to do whatever you want.”
He smiled. “Very well.”