The dress was becoming heavy. I felt I was weighed by lead.
“Arkady, help me with something,” I beckoned him, reaching to the back of my neck, looking over my shoulder to see if he understood. His hands steadied on my shoulders before moving my mop of hairaway from the dress clasps. The touch was warm against my skin, even the gentlest graze.
When the fabric loosened on my shoulders, I waded away, lowering my body fully under the surface to slip it off. The water made my underthings sheer, floating like ghosts under the murky water.
The moon rippled in the reflection, obscured as Arkady swam through it.
His hand touched my waist, then my hand. The newly bloomed water lilies bobbed in our wake, and as the water stilled, the night came alive again.
The frogs whistled and crickets chirped. The water was warmer now, or at least I was used to it. I was so entranced with my surroundings that I nearly forgot he was here, watching me this whole time.
He pulled me in close, a slow dance like swans circling.
Even in the dark, the green of his eyes looked as if they were grown right here within the garden. Nothing could compare to the softness they held now. I knew, in this moment, that the intimacy was no illusion of mine.
“We’ll get caught,” I whispered, but it wasn’t the first thing I wanted to say.
“Just let me steal a few more moments.” His forehead rested against mine.
“Thief,” I teased as we sank a little lower in the water to keep the breeze from chilling us. “At least steal something less fleeting.”
He let go of my waist and hand, cupping my face between his palms. His brow taut, his voice stern. “There is nothing of greater worth when the world is in my hands.”
My lip trembled. I could blame it on them turning blue from the cold night air.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning into his kiss.
His hands on my cheeks squeezed as he leaned back in the water. The grip was desperate, a grounding reminder that it was real. Hebacked us into the shore of the pond, turning and setting me down between the towering cardinal flowers.
The sharp breeze sent a tremor through my body, limbs bitten by cool air. My clothing stuck to me, dripping wet.
Arkady crawled over me, kissing my lips several times like he couldn’t resist stealing another before moving down to my neck, my chest, between my breasts, fingers pulling the wet fabric.
I glanced up to the tall stalks of the cardinal blossoms swaying against the dark sky. A shiver overtook me as I glanced around.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered, “no one will find us here.” His breath hot against my skin, his hands smoothing up my calf, then over my knees, as he pushed up the soaked petticoat.
I didn’t tell him to stop, just watched, crossing my arms over my chest.
“No, that won’t do,” he said, pulling me up and reversing our positions.
“I’m cold, please.” My hands pressed against his chest, my shivering thighs straddling his hips.
“Let’s warm you up, then.” He leaned up, hooking his arms under my legs and yanking me up to sit right on his chest.
“Wait a minute!” I squeaked, my fists balled in my undergarments now, but even with my pleas, he maintained a smirk. I didn’t know how he expected me to act with his face nearly between my legs.
He nudged me forward again.
“What are you doing? You’ll suffocate!”
He ignored me, yanking my hips forward. His hot tongue flattened between my legs, and I nearly keeled over in shock.
“Wait!” I whined, followed by a moan when he sucked hard, holding my hips down on his face.
My breath shook as I exhaled, the warmth melting me as his tongue danced across every sensitive place he could find until he ventured farther within. A wet slurping sound made the heat rise from my thighsall the way to my cheeks. My hand slapped over my mouth to contain my moan, fearing we’d be discovered—especially inthisposition.
Soon enough, my thighs were tired from tensing, and I hesitated to relax, wary of my entire weight being on his face.
