CHAPTER 81: _STOP TEASING

(Warning: Empire Level Spice coming in hot!)

Elian’s POV

*****

His shirt came off within seconds, his lips still locked with Lucian’s.

The latter slowly unwrapped his left arm from his waist, slipping it down his pants and trailing his fingers down his ass crack, causing Elian to shiver.

Elian’s moans and breathing were ragged, his hands gripping Lucian’s shoulders for support.

"You sure we can do this in time for the tech experts’ report?" Elian rasped, panting heavily as he blinked at Lucian.

But the Alpha Prince’s grin was almost predatory, his grip on his ass tightening until Elian felt like he was going to pull the skin off.

[That’s gonna leave a mark...]

"Oh, we’re going to be in here much longer than that," Lucian whispered, his lips brushing Elian’s provocatively.

The latter wasted no time taking the invitation, wrapping his arms around Lucian’s neck and kissing him like life depended on it.

But to his annoyance, Lucian pulled back yet again, a low chuckle escaping him as if he knew Elian’s frustration was part of the game. His right hand snaked around to Elian’s lower back, pressing them so close their hips—and erections—aligned perfectly.

The heat pooling in Elian’s abdomen was unbearable, thrumming through his body in molten waves.

[Reminder: The pill that could save you from turning into a puddle of horny goo is still in his pocket. And no, I’m not helping you get it back.]

Traitor.

Lucian’s left hand left its warm exploration only to tug lazily at the front of Elian’s pants, not pulling them down but just enough to feel the tension they caused.

"Say it," Lucian whispered, silver eyes glinting under the chandelier light.

Elian licked his lips. "Say what?"

"That you want me to keep going."

[Oh, honey, as if your body language isn’t screaming it already.]

He swallowed hard, forcing his gaze steady despite the heat threatening to unravel him. "Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t."

Lucian smirked and leaned down until his breath feathered over Elian’s ear. "Then let me convince you."

The Alpha Prince’s mouth trailed from his jawline to the sensitive spot beneath his ear, his teeth grazing lightly. Elian’s knees buckled, and only Lucian’s arm kept him upright.

"You’re insufferable," Elian muttered, shivering as that wicked mouth pressed lower, over his throat, nipping and sucking in calculated rhythm.

"You love it," Lucian replied against his skin, his voice rich with amusement.

[Correction: You hate it, but also yes, you love it. You mortals are confusing.]

Elian’s nails dug into Lucian’s shoulders as the Alpha Prince’s hands moved in perfect sync, one cupping the back of his neck possessively, the other slipping fully inside his pants now, palm wrapping around his dick.

Elian’s hips jerked involuntarily. "Lucian..."

The Alpha Prince hummed in acknowledgement but didn’t stop, his mouth moving over Elian’s collarbone in a series of slow kisses.

Every nerve ending felt hypersensitive, like Lucian’s touch was both fire and relief.

"You’re shaking," Lucian murmured, brushing his thumb over the dip at the base of Elian’s spine. "Is that fear... or anticipation?"

[It’s both. Equal parts ’oh no’ and ’oh gods yes!’]

Elian didn’t dignify that with an answer.

Instead, he grabbed the back of Lucian’s neck and crushed their mouths together again, his tongue slipping past the Alpha’s lips in a desperate bid for dominance.

Lucian let him have it — for about three seconds. Then he took control back effortlessly, tilting Elian’s head and deepening the kiss until his mind felt scrambled.

When Lucian finally broke away, both of them were breathing heavily, their foreheads resting together.

"Take off the rest," Lucian ordered softly, his eyes flicking downward meaningfully.

Elian raised an eyebrow. "Bossy."

"But quite effective," Lucian countered with a smirk.

Elian took his sweet time, his fingers sliding over his own skin as he pushed his pants down just enough to tease, letting the waistband rest dangerously low.

Lucian’s gaze tracked every motion like a predator watching prey.

[Congratulations. You’re now in the "slow striptease" phase of bad decisions.]

When Elian stopped just shy of revealing too much, Lucian’s low growl rolled through the space. In one swift motion, he hooked a finger in the waistband and yanked them down further, forcing Elian to step out of them entirely.

The air in the room felt thicker now, every breath charged with something electric.

Lucian’s gaze dragged over him slowly before he smirked.

"Perfect," he murmured, as though he were cataloguing the view for later.

Heat flared in Elian’s cheeks despite himself, and he hated that Lucian noticed.

The Alpha Prince closed the distance again, one hand gripping Elian’s chin while the other roamed freely, mapping every line of his body with infuriating patience.

Elian’s breathing hitched when Lucian’s palm pressed firmly against his inner thigh, dangerously close to his dick but not close enough.

"Lucian—"

"Yes?" His voice was dark, filled with desire.

"Stop teasing."

[Plot twist: He will not, in fact, stop teasing.]

Lucian’s grin widened, and instead of obeying, he slid his fingers up painfully slow until he brushed exactly where Elian wanted him... and then withdrew just as quickly.

A frustrated sound escaped Elian’s throat before he could stop it.

Lucian’s eyes darkened with satisfaction. "There it is."

He backed Elian toward the plush grey sofa, guiding him down until he was sitting. Then he braced one knee between Elian’s legs, leaning over him like a shadow made flesh.

Their lips met again, but this time Lucian’s hand tangled in Elian’s hair, tilting his head while his other hand resumed its infuriating exploration.

Every time Elian tried to deepen the contact, Lucian slowed it down again, a calculated dance meant to drive him insane.

[Warning: You are one whisper away from begging. I’ll keep a counter.]

Lucian’s mouth moved to his chest, nipping along the line of his ribs, then lower, leaving trails of heat.

"Still think we should be done before the tech experts call?" Lucian murmured against his skin.

Elian’s laugh came out breathless. "At this point, I don’t care if they storm the room."

[Attaboy.]

Lucian chuckled darkly, his hand finally slipping exactly where Elian needed him and this time, he didn’t pull away.

Elian’s head tipped back against the sofa, a low moan breaking free as Lucian cupped his dick, fingers rubbing his tip.

"Better," Lucian murmured. "Much better."

And when he sank lower, lips trailing a path that made Elian’s vision blur, the only thought left in his mind was that maybe — just maybe — letting the Alpha Prince win this round wasn’t the worst mistake he’d ever make.

[Well, you didn’t technically beg... yet.]