She took the flower, working in the balm with her fingertips, slow and gentle, careful not to hurt him. She worked the gel-like substance across his back. When she got to his neck, his head lolled forward. His breathing softened, now more controlled. He was clearly enjoying the sensations. Her touch.
“Is it helping?” she asked, her voice not much more than a whisper.
“Very much,” he replied in an equally soft tone. “Tell me again what that voice sounded like.”
“Feltlike, actually?—”
She cut off as her fingers ran over something hard on the back of his right shoulder, about an inch in diameter. Looking closer, she saw it was an octagonal shape and smooth and shallow, but not skin. Not ink,either, though the color was almost identical. When it caught the light, it glittered.
“What is this?” she asked, seeing four more evenly spaced across the shoulders and upper back. She traced the others, feeling a current within her fingers.
His reply was so low she barely heard. “Obsidian.”
His court. Where he was an assassin and an errand boy and apparently a captive, and she would be a plaything. Maybe a dangerous toy.
She pushed the reality of their situation away. She was too exhausted to think about it. To worry about it. She needed rest. Sleep. She needed a fucking break, and she’d only get it if she hurried this along and finished up.
22
“Okay.” She finished his arm and plopped down next to him, holding up her hands to look at the gel-like substance coating her fingers. The bowl still had a bit of the amazingly bountiful flower left. “I guess we have some to reapply should we need it.”
She looked up to ask if it would be safe for humans, but the words died on her lips when she met his eyes, so deep, so beautiful. Vibrant, like the memories he shared. Like his humor. The red circling his iris was gone, only burnished gold remaining. The soft glow illuminated his handsome face and lush, full lips.
Thank you. His mental voice was a whisper, but it still relayed his heartfelt sentiment. His gratitude.
“You saved me. It was only right that I help you.”
I got you into this in the first place. I put you in danger by forcing you into the catacombs. Into thewylds. You could’ve let me suffer. You could’ve held off and only stepped in if I would actually die. You should’ve, probably. Instead you risked your life to ease my pain. You constantly surprise and amaze me, Daisy. You think of yourself as black-hearted and morally bankrupt, but you’re not. You’re good at your core. You are the best of your kind. The very best.
She was frozen for the second time that night as he leaned forward slowly, his deep gaze opening her up inside. Her stomach fluttered. His eyes were hooded as he neared. She swayed, pulled toward him like a magnet. Her eyes were trained on his lips. He reached for her with his good hand and gently cupped her face in his large palm.
Their lips met softly at first, tentatively. Exploring. Their mouths moved together, savoring each other’s tastes, the electric feel of their touch. Slowly, it deepened, the intensity growing. Passion mounted. His hand slipped down to the side of her neck. She lightly touched his jaw, his stubble scratching her skin.
A spark ignited. The world outside faded away. Her breath quickened, mingling with his. His tongue met hers, dancing at first, then a slow, purposeful thrust.
Her hands fell to his chest, meeting his warm skin. His slipped around to the back of her neck, pulling her in a little harder. Their kiss turned fervent. Her palms dropped farther, as did his hand. Her hunger for histouch grew. She wanted his weight to settle over her body. Wanted?—
He stiffened. Then she felt it. A pulse. Subsonic movement, a push from unseen forces.
He pulled back, the gold running around his pupils catching the light and sparkling like a real substance. A small crease formed between his eyebrows.
She started to shake. She couldn’t help it. She couldn’t stop it. He looked down at her body, seeing it.
“You didn’t see that thing charging,” she said in explanation, embarrassed.
“Don’t—” He placed a hand on hers where it had stopped in the middle of his stomach. He gave a smile, of all things. “The last thing you want to be is embarrassed about this reaction. I’ve seen battle-hardened warriors piss themselves when that thing comes around. It takes a team of powerful Celestials to bring one down. Few usually escape when it sets its eyes on them. And you had to brave it all alone.”
“Ah, but…” She shrugged, grinning, trying to get around the magical fear that had again taken hold of her body. “You were standing by.”
He barked out laughter and then groaned, leaning forward into her. “More likeleaningby. By the time I reached my feet, I didn’t know how I’d take a step without passing out. Thankfully, you were able to save yourself.”
She threaded her fingers through his hair, tucking a strand behind his pointed ear. Her fingertipssoftly drifted down his cheek, over the stubble. His forehead rested against her shoulder, his hand still over hers.
“How do you feel now?” she whispered, wanting to tilt his head up and taste him again.
Hearing her thoughts, he straightened, and she could tell the movement took a toll.
“Not great,” she surmised as his gaze stamped her lips.
