Is he putting the moves on me?I am acutely aware of our proximity and have that awkward feeling of not knowing what to do with my face and hands again so I try and play it cool by leaning my elbows on the rock ledge behind me but, in doingso, I nearly expose myself, so I quickly drop my arms again, splashing us both. He chuckles and wipes his face with his hand but his expression goes from playful to serious in a second.
“I never wanted you to be our prisoner. I had been waiting my whole life for the woman I have been sharing visions with to appear, and when you finally did… I failed you. Just like I did with Oleander. I do not agree with how my father handled the situation and I am trying to remedy that. We wanted to keep you safe but all we have done is push you away. I am here now, for you and for my sister. I will protect you both, Nuria.” I feel he is being earnest but it is hard to concentrate when the way he says my name makes my toes curl. I want this, whatever it is. I want to be close to him, it may just be a welcome distraction from everything but I don’t care.
I take a chance between us, feeling courage bolstering my actions as I stand, allowing my breasts to breach the surface. His eyes can’t help but dart down, lingering for a moment on my necklace, before meeting my gaze once again with irises full of flame. A cloud of steam rises from the water, momentarily shrouding him from my view but in the next moment he is standing right in front of me, looking down and dripping cool water on my chest from the tips of his hair.
He lifts his hand to touch my face but hesitates, his brows knit together and he goes to pull back, as if second guessing himself, so I reach out my hand and place it on his chest. We do not break eye contact as I peel off his soaked shirt, he lowers his hand to help with the other arm.
Damn,he is chiseled in all the right places. My gaze trails down to the lines near his hips that angle down into the water, hiding what I can feel my body pull towards. He has a large scar on his left peck that I trace with my fingers before looking back up to him with questioning eyes.
“My father,” is all he says in explanation before taking my hand in his and kissing my palm before placing it around his neck. My breath hitches at the delicate brush of his lips on my hand, an unexpected tenderness from this man of fire. He trails his hands down the side of my body with a feather light touch that makes me shiver before landing at my hips, all the while holding eye contact.
Shit, that’s hot. Benji was always so bothered by eye contact which made what we did feel wrong, but I won’t lie when I say thatthisamount of eye gazing is a little bit intimidating. I break, looking down to his chest and swallow, hoping he doesn’t see my insecurity.Are we really doing this?
He leaves one hand on my hip, firmly holding me in place, as his other hand trails back up my spine, before gently grabbing the hair at the nape of my neck to tilt my head up to him, making me meet his eyes once again. The cool, wet strands of his hair brush my cheek as he leans in, his lips just barely brushing against mine. I close my eyes, waiting.
“We’ve been here before and you denied me. What do you want, Nuria?” He pulls away just a fraction.
I open my eyes to see the flames in his irises burning bright and hot, pleading for my permission, but my words and breath are lost to me at such close contact so I grab onto the back of his neck and pull him down into a burning kiss, answering his plea.
It is a hard, greedy kiss that leaves me feeling engulfed in his flame. He tightens his grip on my hip and pulls me even closer and I lose all control, twining my hands through his thick locks, pulling him down for more. Our tongues meet in a searching flicker and I gasp at the ecstasy such a small movement can send through my body, careening down my spine and settling low in my belly. I can feel him through his trousers but his height has his need pushing into my stomach instead of the spot where I want him most.
As if reading my desires, he hitches my legs around his waist and backs me up against the pool’s edge, giving me the most tantalizing pressure.
“Embrys,” his name escapes my lips, sounding like a prayer.
I slide my hand down his chest, then abs, making my way to his trousers and fumbling for his belt but he grabs my wrist and pulls away from our kiss.
“Not so fast,” he growls, restraining us both. His skin feels almost painfully hot to touch. I am so used to how Benji used to make love to me, hard and fast, taking it slow does not come naturally.
He unhooks my feet from his back and places my legs back down, hiding my sex below the water. He leans in to kiss me again, but this time much more tenderly, taking his time, as if committing the shape of my mouth to memory. I nip at his bottom lip trying to coax him back into the all-encompassing fire we had from before, he growls again and rests his forehead on mine, gripping my hips, steadying himself. I’ve never been thankful for my curves before but the way he grabs hold of me makes me see the soft, sensuality of my body in a new light.
“Patience, Nuria.” I pull away to look in his eyes and give a little nod, panting a bit from my longing but trying to be good and show restraint like he is.
“You won’t burn me. I trust you.”
His gaze ignites. I can feel a tight knot of energy form between my legs that craves release and whimper as he reads my desire again, giving me his knowing half smile.
He slowly trails his hand down the outside of my thigh then torturously brings his fingers back up the inside, making slow, tantalizing circles, until he faintly brushes me where I need him the most. I gasp at the contact and he growls in response, sinking his teeth into my neck as he sweeps his fingers back and forthover my sensitive spot, causing me to cry out at the immense pleasure and contrasting pain.
I bunch my hands in his hair and can’t help my hips from moving in rhythm with his skillful fingers,just as I had dreamed they would be.
He nips his way up my neck, giving my earlobe a little bite before bringing our lips together again in a fiery kiss that burns deliciously. Our tongues intertwine and he swallows my moans as he brings me to my climax, holding me tightly against his chest as I cascade over in shivering glory. I break our kiss to cry out at the culminating wave, and take a few deep breaths before opening my eyes. I feel as though the breath has been stolen out of my lungs as I gasp in the thick, steamy air.
When my vision clears I look over his shoulder and am immediately pulled out of my bubble of ecstasy when I notice three brown ducks floating in the water, looking right at us. I burst out laughing at the absurdity and the duck in the middle quacks in response, which in my mind, sounded as if it was saying,awkward…
Embrys releases me and whirls around which scares the ducks, causing them to flap away into the tunnel, spraying us as they go.
“Divine Mother!” Embrys shouts, blocking the spray with his arms.
We look at each other and both burst out laughing. Embrys grabs my hand and pulls me back into his arms, looking down at me with an ear to ear grin. I feel all glowy and warm, basking in the light of his smile.
“Will you join me in our bed?” he asks and my heart stutters at the implication ofouranything. I can feel my pupils dilate and my pulse quicken again at the suggestion. “We should probably just sleep, Nuria,” he chuckles as he leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek.
Who could sleep after that?I blow a breath through my lips at the suggestion as he steps out of the pool in his soaking clothes and grabs my dress for me, holding it out so I can step out as well.
“How are you going to dry yourself?” I question as I step up and grab my dress to hide my nakedness, even though we just shared such intimacy, I still feel shy.
“Fire wielder, remember.” He opens both palms and steam raises off of him in a sudden cloudburst and he is left with completely dry looking clothes.
