Kiss of the Basilisk (Split or Swallow, #1)

by Lindsay Straube

Clearly, they were connected on an unprecedented level. Tem had never heard of anyone else bonding with their basilisk like this.

But each time they got closer, Caspen pushed her away.

What happened was not your fault. It was mine.

I lost control.

Did I hurt you? Caspen’s presence grew in her mind. It is I who hurt you. She shrugged, and she was sure he could see her. You healed me.

If this will only lead to pain, then why did you give me…a piece of you?

I should not have done that either.

Shall I return it to you?

I did not say I wanted it back. Only that I should not have given it to you. Do not assume I regret my actions. I am not someone who makes my decisions lightly.

So you don’t regret it? His answer was quiet. No.

Will you think of me?

Constantly.

If only she could ride him the way she was riding her sheets. If only he could feel just how much she wanted to give herself to him.

Tem had never seen herself like that: beautiful, fierce, a sexual being—a woman. It was incredible to see what he saw, to view herself through the lens of his desire.

Did you like that? His voice was a purr. Yes. Did you?

Of course I did.

I liked the way you did what you were told. It was not the answer she wished for. Tem wanted him to like something about her—something that she specifically had provided.

It is not my approval you should seek. You must save your heart for the prince. You know this, Tem.

I just want to know what you like about me.

His answer was a single word: Persistent.

Then if you must know, that is what I like about you.

Stop. She paused, her hand out. I may want you again. Anticipation rushed through Tem. Eagerly, she slipped the claw back inside her. It went easily; she was still wet.

Caspen had her twice more that night.

You are only doing this because you know it will anger me. Maybe that’s part of the fun. If Leo was only pursuing Tem to make his father angry, then he had no respect for her as a person.

Tem wasn’t just unprepared; she was beginning to feel like Caspen was sabotaging her.

I can remove it, if that is what you wish.

If you remove it, would you…give me another?

I would give you anything you asked for, Tem.

“Sixty seconds with you is worth an hour with Vera,” he said quietly.

“I have to eliminate two girls tonight, Tem. Why shouldn’t I eliminate you?” “Because you’d never see me again.” He shrugged. “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. I’m getting a little tired of my cock being permanently hard whenever you’re around.”

“The real question is whether you’re wet whenever I’m around.”

“Are you wet, Tem?” he whispered. Tem was.

“You tell me.”

“Fuck, Tem.”

“If I’m such a tease, why bother keeping me around?”

“If you think being a tease would turn me off, you don’t know me at all.” He always wants what he can’t have.

“I don’t need to fuck you,” she said softly, her lips grazing his throat. “I don’t even need to take my clothes off. You want me so badly, you’d marry me just for the chance to see me naked. Am I wrong?”

“You’re never wrong, Tem.”

“I hate that about you.”

He held her as if she were something precious to him—something sacred. In the sanctuary of his embrace, Tem forgot about the evening. She forgot about Vera, about Caspen, about the voice in the castle. There was only this kiss, right now, with Leo. When they finally pulled apart, the hourglass had long since run out.

“Will you keep me around?”

“For as long as you’l...

She fell asleep thinking about Leo. She woke up thinking about Caspen.

“You should only know pleasure,” Caspen murmured,

“Never pain.”

“Am I not allowed to protect you?” he murmured. “You are,” she murmured back. “I just didn’t realize you wanted to.” Caspen held her gaze. “Protecting you is only the beginning of what I want to do.”

He found her extraordinary.

Nobody could control you, Tem. But even if I could, I would not.

He wanted her more than life itself because a life without her wasn’t one he cared to live.

Mine. Only mine. Tem nodded eagerly. Yours. Only yours.