Chapter 399: Getting to Know Each Other (R-18)
Late morning, the camp outside was alive with birds and critters scratching for food. The tent still smelled of sweat and sex, pitched by the river where they’d planned to wash off once daylight came. Inside, Cassian and Brigid lay tangled, knocked out from spending too much of their energy last night.
Brigid’s eyes blinked open first. She was naked, cheek pressed to Cassian’s chest, her leg thrown over him like she’d passed out mid-climb. She had no idea when they actually stopped. The last thing she remembered was begging him to pound her harder, too wrecked by pleasure to track the time as he kept going until she blacked out.
Now, awake, the heat in her face crept up. She couldn’t believe the things she’d said, the way she’d clung to him, the way she’d let go without shame. She’d told men before to take her rough, to fuck her without holding back—but last night was different. This time she hadn’t just said it; she meant every filthy word, and she’d enjoyed it more than she wanted to admit.
She tried to slip off him quietly, not wanting to deal with the awkwardness of waking him—but too late. Cassian’s eyes cracked open, his hand already sliding down to her leg draped across him, pressing it against the hard length straining under her. He squeezed her thick thigh and smirked, "Good morning..."
Brigid’s voice came out small as she hid her face against his chest. "Good morning..."
Before she could bury herself deeper, his hand caught her chin, pulling her head up. His mouth was on hers in a rough kiss before she even realized it.
The kiss deepened until he was dragging her over him, making her straddle his lap. She didn’t fight it—awkward or not, she gave in, pressing her mouth to his while her hands framed his face. His palms gripped her ass, kneading, dragging her down on him.
She broke the kiss, breathless, and muttered, "Last night was amazing..." Words she’d tossed at other men before—but this time they slipped out unfiltered, and she meant it.
Cassian grinned, spreading her cheeks with both hands. Her skin was tacky with sweat, the stickiness of last night pulling apart under his fingers until the cool air hit her raw. "Of course it was," he said smugly. "You were with me. Now—" his fingers pressed harder, "—want me to make your morning just as amazing?"
Though it was tempting, she shot him a glare. "Nah... I’m fine."
Cassian’s pride took a hit. He’d thought he’d performed well enough—not enough to make her addicted, maybe, but at least enough to leave her wanting more. Now, as she pushed his hands off her ass, leaving him feeling a bit deflated, she got up.
"Now get up. Let’s head to camp," she said, her tone sharp. "After seeing those demon spawns you fought last night, we must be close to the cult’s camp. No more wasting time on nonsense."
The morning’s pleasure vanished quickly, replaced by jagged thoughts about the demons. Questions gnawed at her as she stared toward the forest.
Most of them revolved around Cassian—how he could consume the dark god’s energy the creatures were made from. A few centered on the bigger picture: how were these things even here? As far as she knew, not a single one had left the temple since the species war two millennia ago. Not that they could—so what had changed to make this possible?
One possibility made her pulse quicken. She stepped out of the tent naked, dipping into the lake, and whispered to herself with a mix of awe and anticipation: ’Is the Lord Silias finally descending?’
She was lost in thought, imagining her lord descending into the mortal world, finally breaking free from his cage—when suddenly, her breast landed in Cassian’s hand. Fantasy shattered.
"Ugh, seriously?!" she snapped, flicking his hand away. "I had sex with you last night, didn’t mean you get a free pass to fondle me whenever you feel like it."
Cassian feigned offense, puffing out his chest. "We’re about to spend weeks, maybe months, together, sharing secrets that could get both of us killed," he said, smirking. "Better we get... close. You know, really know each other."
Brigid glared at him, crossing her arms to cover herself before stepping into the river and dunking her body. "Oh yeah? Great way to bond," she said, voice dripping sarcasm. Then, dipping her face under the water, she added, "Fondling my breasts isn’t exactly how I define ’getting to know each other.’"
Cassian stepped closer, sliding his hands around her waist. "To know each other," he said, voice low and teasing, "means knowing each other’s bodies too..."
brigid glared at him again but didn’t flicked his hand away this time as she sighed and said, "Fine," she said, her tone sharp but teasing. "If you’re going to keep fondling me, you might as well help me clean up. Last night... you made a real mess of me."
Cassian grinned, not hesitating for a second. He grabbed her, plunging her into the river and rubbing her down with the water, scrubbing away the sweat and sticky remains from last night. His hands lingered over her breasts and ass, teasingly exploring as he leaned close.
"Should I use my mouth too, or are hands enough?" he asked, pressing a teasing lick to her neck.
Brigid let out a surprised moan, jerking slightly. "Ahh... just hands, you asshole!"
Cassian chuckled at her reaction but obeyed, moving to clean her breasts and down across her stomach. Then he asked casually, "Those winged goblin things last night... demon spawns, right?"
Brigid nodded, eyes narrowing as his hands slid lower, brushing over her lower stomach. Heat pooled in her chest as anticipation mixed with lingering excitement.
"Can you tell me more about them?" he asked, fingers teasingly entangling in her bush, slick and messy from last night. "I remember you said... they’re part or essence of some god? Is that god... your Lord Silias?"