The guest chamber was a cocoon of soft shadows, the lamplight flickering over polished wood and silken sheets, casting Lila's pale nightdress in a glow that made it cling to her like a second skin. The faint scent of lavender hung in the air, mingling with the sharper edge of her perfume—sweet, spiced, pulling at Jace's senses despite the game he was playing. His heart thudded, not just from her touch but from the tightrope he walked, pretending the draught had dulled him while his mind raced to untangle her intentions.
What's your angle, Lila? he thought, his body sprawled across the bed, limbs loose but every nerve alert.
Her calm, careful fingers stroked the last button on his shirt, releasing it with a faint click that rang across the still room. She slid the fabric open, exposing his chest, her nails grazing his skin—light at first, then harder, leaving faint red lines that stung in the cool air.
Jace's breath hitched, a real slip he covered with a low, slurred mumble. "Mmm… candles flickering… too bright…" His voice was thick, feigning haze, but his pulse roared as her touch sent heat pooling low in his gut. Stay sharp, Jace. Don't lose it now.
Lila stepped back, standing just in front of him, her silhouette framed by the lamp's glow. Her eyes locked on his, sharp and unreadable, as her fingers caught the hem of her nightdress. With a slow, deliberate tug, she pulled it up and over her head, letting it fall to the floor in a whisper of silk.
The moonlight caught her bare skin—pale, smooth, the curve of her hips and the swell of her breasts stark against the dim room. Jace's throat tightened, his facade nearly cracking as his eyes traced her, desire warring with suspicion. Is this a trap or just you? he wondered, forcing his gaze to stay glassy, unfocused.
She moved back to the bed, sliding beside him, her body close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from her skin. Her hand found his, guiding it with a gentle but firm grip to the heat between her thighs.
Her fingers pressed his against her clit, slick and pulsing, and she let out a soft gasp, her hips shifting to meet his touch. Jace's chest tightened, his own arousal throbbing as she moved his hand in slow, teasing circles, her breath quickening.
"Like this," she murmured, voice low, almost a purr, her other hand slipping inside his trousers, finding his cock already hard and straining.
"Fuck," Jace muttered, the word slipping out before he could stop it, his body betraying him as her other hand slid beneath his trousers wrapped around his cock, stroking slow and firm. The sensation was sharp, electric, her grip just tight enough to make his hips twitch. He leaned into the act, letting his head loll back, mumbling nonsense—"Stars… spinning too fast…"—but his mind was razor-sharp, cataloging every hitch in her breath, every subtle shift in her expression. She's playing me, but gods, it feels too good.
Lila's hand guided his faster now, her fingers slick with her own arousal, her gasps turning to soft moans as she pressed herself harder against his touch. Her hips rocked, chasing the rhythm, her skin flushed and glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. Jace could feel her trembling, so close to the edge, her nails digging into his wrist as she pushed his hand harder against her clit. Then, abruptly, she stopped, pulling his hand away, her chest heaving, breaths coming in sharp, desperate pants. Her eyes were dark, pupils blown, but a faint smile curled her lips, like she was savoring the control.
She didn't pause long. Her hand slid up, guiding his to her chest, pressing his palm against her breast, squeezing gently. Her nipple was hard under his fingers, and she let out a low, throaty sound as he squeezed back, instinct taking over before he could stop himself.
Shit, focus, he thought, but his body moved anyway, thumb brushing her nipple, drawing another gasp from her. His facade was fraying, his "drunk" act slipping as her touch pulled him deeper into the moment.
Lila leaned down, her hair brushing his chest as she tugged his trousers lower, freeing his cock. It sprang up, hard and aching, and she let out a soft, wicked laugh.
"Look at you," she murmured, her breath hot against his skin as she climbed over him, straddling his hips. Her fingers wrapped around his cock again, guiding it to her clit, teasing herself with slow, deliberate strokes. The slick heat of her against him was maddening, each brush sending a jolt through his body, his hips bucking slightly despite his effort to stay still.
She teased at her entrance, sliding his cock along her folds, wet and warm, her breath hitching with every movement. Jace's hands gripped the sheets, knuckles white, as he fought to keep his act together, mumbling,
"Too… too much wine…" But his body was screaming, every nerve alight as she pressed him closer, then slid him inside, just the tip at first, her tightness gripping him like a vice. She paused, gasping, her hands braced on his chest, nails digging in as she rocked slowly, taking him deeper.
Jace's mind spun, torn between the game and the raw need coursing through him.
What's she after? he thought, but the question drowned in the heat of her, the way her body moved against his, deliberate but desperate. His hands found her hips, gripping hard, no longer pretending as he pulled her closer, a low groan escaping his throat.