Chapter twenty-four
Everly
“What was that?” I whisper, trying to make sense of what I am feeling.
It's as if a powerful magnetic force has firmly clasped onto my heart, pulling me toward Maxon. A surge of sensations accompany the inexplicable yet undeniable tug. As if awakening from a slumber, something within Maxon has come alive, his mere presence becoming electrifying, his aura pulsating with a vibrant energy that seems to emanate a radiant glow.
Maxon’s violet eyes are burning so brightly it’s almost too much to look at. He seems to be trying to figure something out. His hands squeeze my waist and pull me closer and I’m fully aware we are still both completely naked, standing at the edge of the water. The air crackles with a charged intensity, filling my senses with a tingling sensation. I can’t tear my gaze away from him, captivated by this peculiar and enchanting experience that has left me both intrigued and slightly unsettled.
“Maxon . . . ”
“I don’t wish to scare you,” he replies, letting me go and turning to tug his pants on, before scooping up his shirt.
I frown at him, my confusion increasing, tightening my chest. Why won’t he just tell me? I’m already in a world I don’t understand, and I refuse to be kept in the dark about things I need to know. The air feels heavy with unanswered questions, and a sense of unease settles over me.
Maxon tugs the tunic over his head and I’m almost sad to see that muscled chest disappear, but he looks just as attractive clothed.
“You won’t. I feel the safest when I’m with you. For some reason, I trust you.”
There is a noticeable fire in his eyes as they abruptly shift to meet mine. A deep, guttural growl rumbles from his throat, causing me to shift uncomfortably on my feet.
Is he mad at me?
“I’m not mad at you,” he growls.
My eyes widen. I did not say that out loud.
Maxon runs his hand through his long hair before picking up my tunic and stalking toward me. He slips it over my head and holds it so I can slip my arms in easily. Beneath his intimidating exterior, the unseelie prince of darkness has a surprisingly soft demeanor.
Maxon lets out a grunt as he bends down to retrieve my pants. Can he . . .
“Can you read my thoughts?” I question, though I’m afraid of the answer. God, it would be mortifying if he could.
“I cannot read your mind, but I can read your emotions as if they were my own, so I candecipher them.”
“Have you always been able to read me?”
Maxon shakes his head, sitting down to lace up his boots. “No.”
“No?”
“Not until a moment ago.” Maxon replies, standing. “Let’s go.”
“But, what was that? That feeling that moved between us.”
“I think our souls touched.”
“What?” I balk.
Maxon stalks forward and I’m in too much shock to move. His warm hands cup my face, tipping it back. He presses his lips to mine, his mouth hungry and urgent. My heart is beating so hard in my chest I feel like I’m going to pass out. And yet the touch of Maxon’s hands on my face, at once gentle and possessive, grounds me in the present moment. The warmth of his touch radiates through my skin, seeping into my very being. Every nerve ending comes alive, pulsing with desire.
As our lips part, there is an undeniable sense of vulnerability that hangs in the air. The intensity of our connection is evident, and a new bond has been forged. Uncertainty still lingers within me, but I cannot deny the wonder that pulses through my veins.
At this moment, I am terrified by the prospect of Maxon being able to read my emotions.
“Don’t be frightened,” he whispers, placing a soft kiss on each cheek.
My eyes flutter closed at the tenderness of his touch, and contentment fills my chest as I reach up, gripping his wrist and looking into his eyes.
