“Perhaps not at that exact moment.”
His expression turns serious as he looks down at her, his eyes darting to her lips. “And now?” His voice is soft and low, sending chills all the way to her bare toes despite the warmth of the sun beating down on them.
Her heart pounds along with his, and she gently reaches up to brush his dripping golden-brown hair behind his ear. His caramel eyes bore into her, and an ache deep within fills her core.
An ache for him.
With the softest touch, she slips her fingers behind his neck, and that’s all the encouragement he needs to close the distance between them. His lips graze hers, cool against her hot flesh, and her hands begin to tingle.
Mother and Father warned her that might happen. But she balances her intruding fire magic with her water magic, keeping most of the heat at bay.
“Elowyn,” he whispers, and she wraps her arms around him, holding him close as his lips claim hers in a tender kiss.
When he pulls away, he draws her to his chest, where she clings to his neck, burying her face in his damp hair.
And then everything fades away once more.
Arisannastaresattheceiling in her new chamber, trying her hardest not to think about the elf sleeping next door.
Her elf.
Is he sleeping? Or is he lying awake thinking about her?
That’s absurd. He’s probably sound asleep while the heartbinding waits to whisk them away to their heartlanding.
She just needs to close her eyes and not think about him or anything else. Then she’ll blink and be with him on the train.
If only it were that easy.
What if he’s not sleeping, either? Perhaps she could check on him. Just to see if he’s awake.
And then what would she tell him? If she suddenly appears in his chamber at night, he might assume she wants to...wants to...
Stars above.
It would be a reasonable assumption.
Would he send her away? Not that she wants to...bond. At least, not tonight.
Someday, though. She is his wife, after all.
Thoughts of his brilliant green eyes and pointed ears fill her head. His hair, dark like a moonless night. His solid chest with the way his leather shirt stretches across his muscles.
Does he sleep without a shirt?
A groan escapes her lips. That’s not helping. At all.
She could just check on him. He’s probably sleeping, anyway.
And if he is awake? She can just tell him the truth. That she couldn’t sleep, and she wanted to...what? Find out if he slumbers shirtless?
She groans again. What’s wrong with her? Why the sudden obsession with Cerian’s muscled torso?
Just because they’re married now...
Why is she even sleeping in here?
Not that she’s sleeping. Or doing anything remotely close to sleeping.
