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"I can't do this," I grumbled. "I don't knowhowto do this."
Zeal stood, then turned to offer me a hand. "A moment, Chosen, if I may?"
I placed my palm in his, and let him lift me from the couch, but Zeal didn't stop there. Using my hand as a tether, he walked deeper into our suite, aiming for the bedroom at the back. In other words, he wanted privacy. I knew that was for me, because he didn't seem to have the same comprehension of embarrassment as the rest of us.
When he closed the door and turned to face me, I was sure of it. "What are you scared of?" he asked.
"You told me I have to save you," I reminded him. "If I screw this up, you die. Compassion, Perception, Inspiration, Intuition, and Ambition die with you. You made it clear that I'm your last chance, and now you're all but telling me to make it up? I'm terrified I'm going to get you killed!"
"Nari," he whispered, stepping closer to clasp my shoulders, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you that. I just didn't want to start our relationship with half-truths. I promise I will help you through the big things, but I do not want to rule your life. I simply want to give you everything you want."
"Why?" I asked. "I thought we were unimportant. You can barely remember most people's names."
"And yet I know yours," he said softly. "I know you are young. Nineteen now, I believe?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I'll be twenty in a couple of months."
"A woman," he said, shifting one hand up to cup the side of my face. "A woman so beautiful that her god cannot look away. I am not interested in being your master. You are not my puppet."
"That doesn't help me know how to deal with all of my teachers hating me," I pointed out.
"Then give them something to hate." He leaned closer until his forehead rested against mine. "You know, I brag about you to my siblings. You are the talk of all six gods. I tell them that I've found someone strong enough to walk beside me, not ask for me to guide her every step, so don't start now. I gloat about the way your eyes drink me in but your body never begs. How, for the first time in my existence, I've found a woman worthy of chasing, and one I am not convinced will give in. It's alluring in a way you cannot imagine - to have someone make me prove myself." His head angled a bit more, bringing his lips a little closer. "Be that. Walk the Path that makes your god want to beg you for attention, Nariana. Worry less about the details, and more about the temptation."
"So you want me to be strong?" I asked, but the words came out soft, almost breathless.
His lips brushed the corner of my mouth. "I want you to be proud. Doesn't matter what you are proud of, just that you are."
The velvet tones of his voice, the strength in his body? It was distracting. It was also glorious. Unable to help myself, I reached up to press my hand against his chest. It was enough to make him lean a little closer.
"Don't worry about the dildo," he told me. "The priest wanted to shame you, so use that. Temptation is about taking the opportunities you have and making them yours. That man wanted to make you feel ashamed. He wanted your fear of embarrassment. Sogive it to him.Change his focus from how deep that dick will go down your throat to the power you're letting him have, and howyouare giving it. Make him get hard before you ever get it to your lips."
"I don't know how," I reminded him.
"Which," Zeal told me, "is why you have those three men. Learn what they like, and then use it to your advantage. I promise you that passion is much more exciting than how deep something will go down your throat."
"But what if I can never -"
"Shh," he breathed. "I don't want you to be what everyone else is. I didn't choose them."
"You chose me because I can see you."
"Partly," he admitted. "The other part is because I'm not used to being yelled at, but it seems I like it. Once, you pointed out that consent doesn't count if you don't know what you're consenting to. Well, let me add to that. It doesn't count if it's forced, either, and putting you in a situation where you can't say no? What else would you call it? You are not a puppet. Not mine, and certainly not Priest Oryll's. Stop acting like one."
There was just one thing I didn't understand. "If you like that I'm strong, why did you want me to submit?"
"Because it takes no work to bring the weak to their knees. Just remember, I asked you to surrender tome. Not them. Do not ever confuse the two."
I lifted my chin just a bit, bringing our lips even closer. "And when I do the same for my lovers?"
The sound of a god growling with desire was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. "Then I will watch," he breathed. "But only when you cry my name."
And then, as fast as he'd arrived, Zeal was gone, leaving my lips begging for his breath to caress them one more time.
Chapter 4
Nariana
Imade my way back to the living room, not surprised at all to find that no one had moved. Their heads were bent together, and the conversation looked serious, but it was just soft enough to keep the words private. It also stopped the moment Amerlee saw me.
