CHAPTER 125: PLENTY OF BITE LEFT

As their mouths melded together, the tension that had been circling them for weeks spilled over into something undeniable. Jae’s hand, already firm at her waist, slipped lower, tracing the curve of her back before coming to rest boldly where he had wanted to touch her for longer than he cared to admit.

His fingers pressed into the soft shape of her, a deliberate claim that sent a shiver running through him just as surely as it drew a muffled groan from Tirel.

The sound lit him up inside, more intoxicating than any spell or spar. She shifted instinctively against him, her body pressing closer, the grind of her hips an unspoken answer to his daring hand.

The heat of it made his pulse quicken, his body caught between instinct and restraint. For a fleeting moment he let himself revel in the truth of it, this was something he had imagined far too many times, and now it was real, alive, and burning in his grasp.

The taste of her lingered on his lips, something sharp and sweet, and he felt the dangerous pull to lose himself entirely. But before the fire consumed them both, he pulled back slightly, their lips parting though their breaths tangled in the thin space left between them.

A grin tugged at his mouth, playful and edged with satisfaction. "I’m really starting to enjoy this training," he said, his tone deliberately casual even as his voice came out rougher than intended.

Her eyes, still hooded from the kiss, lifted to his with a spark of challenge. "If you like it already," she murmured, brushing her lips almost but not quite against his again, "then you’ll like the other things I have in mind."

That made him chuckle low in his chest, the sound vibrating against her as he leaned back in. "We’ll see about that." His hand, unwilling to leave its claim, tugged her closer as he kissed her again, slower this time, savoring the way her lips parted for him.

The shift in pace left him drunk on the contrast, the first kiss had been a rush, this one a deliberate savoring.

Her mouth yielded, her body fit against him, and every detail of her presence, the warmth of her skin beneath her clothes, the faint scent of smoke that always clung to her from fire magic, the soft exhale that trembled against his cheek, etched itself into his memory like a mark that would not fade.

His palm slipped down once more, reacquainting itself with her curves, this time with more certainty. He pressed against her, not just feeling but memorizing, and when he drew back just enough to speak, his voice dropped into something warm and reverent.

"Beautiful," he whispered, his words brushing her skin as much as his breath. "You’ve got a lot of amazing features. Your fire, your grin... they’re what anyone would notice first. But your body?" He gave her butt the slightest squeeze, almost more like emphasis than touch. "That’s a work of art too. Especially here."

Tirel blinked at him, the confidence she usually wore without effort faltering just enough to let color rise on her cheeks. "Sweet talker," she muttered, though the edge in her voice was softened by the fluster that lingered. "You probably say that to every girl."

He grinned, lips brushing the corner of her mouth in a half-kiss. "It’s not my fault I’m observant... and attentive."

That drew out her laugh, light and quick, though she shook her head as if scolding him. "You’re a crook," she said, her tone a mixture of disbelief and reluctant amusement.

Jae tilted his head, pretending to consider. "A crook?" His thumb traced a teasing line along her hipbone. "If stealing your attention counts as theft, then I’ll gladly plead guilty."

Her lips twitched, caught between resisting and giving in to the amusement tugging at her. She leaned closer as if to hide it, her forehead brushing his. "You’re impossible."

"But effective," he countered smoothly, and kissed her again, quicker this time, his lips finding hers with a boyish triumph that made her laugh against his mouth.

But Jae was hardly done. His fingers, as if guided by instinct, ventured higher, grazing teasingly at the edge where cloth met skin. The subtle tug at her panties was enough to shift her breath, her eyes widening for a second as the boldness of it sank in.

Her surprise was almost too perfect. Jae laughed softly, the sound laced with mischief. "What’s this? Suddenly all that bite is gone?"

Her lips parted, a flash of indignation sparking through the flush on her face. She straightened, eyes narrowing with playful heat. "I’ve still got bite."

And without giving him a chance to retort, she leaned in and caught his neck between her lips, teeth grazing skin in a sharp, deliberate nip.

The shock of sensation ran through him like a current. Jae stilled, a low groan escaping before he could stop it. He was used to being the one pressing his mouth to a girl’s throat, the one leaving marks or teasing reactions out of them.

To have the tables turned, to feel the press of her teeth against his skin, it jolted something raw and unexpected in him. The vulnerability of it, paired with the pleasure, left him momentarily disarmed.

His hand, still braced at her lower back, tightened instinctively as if to anchor himself. She felt the shift in him, the way his breath caught, the way his heartbeat pressed harder against her chest, and for a brief instant her eyes flickered with satisfaction.

Tirel drew back slightly, lingering just close enough that her lips still hovered over the spot she had claimed. Her breath, hot against the faintly reddened skin, made him shiver.

"See?" she whispered, smug and sultry all at once. "Plenty of bite left."

Jae let out another unsteady laugh, the sound rougher than before. "Alright," he admitted, his voice carrying the ghost of that groan still caught in him. "Didn’t expect that."