He shivered and swallowed audibly.
The cool vine slid in a gentle dance through my hands, its movement tickling my palms. The flowered tip pressed gentle kisses to each of my fingertips, tiny suctioning kisses. I remembered how incredible they had felt on my body last night when we’d bonded. I traced my fingers along the vine edge and felt it vibrate.
“Is this all right?” I asked, looking up at his face.
His eyes focused on my hands as though he were in a trance. He didn’t seem to hear me. A mischievous impulse made me pull his vine to my mouth, wondering if he tasted as good as he smelled, and whether a kiss would snap him out of his daze.
I focused on his eyes as I traced my tongue along the petal edge of the flowered tip of his vine.
His body jerked.
Smiling inwardly with delight, I wondered how far I couldpush him. I slid the entire tip into my mouth, tongue caressing the center of the flower, and sucked lightly.
He tasted even better than the drink he’d given me last night.
His eyes rolled back in his head, and his knees buckled as he collapsed.
I gasped and dove to catch him, managing to direct his fall onto the couch. His head landed on the cushion.
“Xylo! Are you okay? Xylo?”
For a moment, there was no reply, then he stiffened with a grunt and struggled to a kneeling position.
My eyes filled with tears. I hadn’t meant to hurt him with my playful tease. Climbing off the couch, I knelt beside him and placed my hand on his mossy shoulder.
“Xylo, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you!”
He flinched as I squeezed his shoulder.
I jerked back and stood, blindly feeling my way to the bathroom as the tears overflowed. A hiccupping sob escaped me as I tried to dash the tears away. I collapsed on the edge of the tub, trailing my fingers in the water and cried.
How could I have been so stupid? We were only just getting to know one another... I should’ve asked first, but I hadn’t meant to hurt him... and now, he wouldn’t even talk to me... flinched away from my touch.
I hiccupped again, then peered at the tub, noticing the soothing comfort of the water for the first time. I shucked my clothes, dropping them in a heap on the floor, and slid into the bath. It felt divine, and my sobs slowly eased as I let the water cradle me in its warmth. I curled up next to the waterfall on a ledge I found beneath the water, and leaned toward the spray, allowing the falling water to wash the remaining tears from my eyes.
I was afraid to reach out to him—fearful I messed something up between us when he was the only person who trulycared for me. Perhaps I was taking everything too fast. I was overwhelmed by the enormity of what I might have lost, angry at myself for not thinking before I acted, not taking the time to ask him if it was okay. My breathing quickened as I struggled not to begin crying again.
A large splash and two strong arms wrapped around me, startling me. They pulled me into a hard chest, one hand stroking my hair as the other slid around my waist.
“Shhh, Selena! It is okay. Everything is fine,” Xylo whispered into my hair as my sobs returned anew at his tenderness.
“What do you mean? How can it be? I hurt you!” I wailed against his chest.
Xylo sat down on the ledge and pulled me onto his lap, nestling me into the secure seat formed by his waist petals. His vines wrapped around my legs, securing me closer to him.
I closed my eyes, embarrassed and upset, and struggled to get my emotions under control.
He ran his fingers through my hair. “What do you mean you hurt me?”
“You collapsed! You wouldn’t answer me, and you flinched away from me.”
His body shook with laughter, vibrating through me, and I stared at him in surprise and a little hurt.
“You mistake the situation, Selena. Our vines are extremely sensitive. They do not only produce venom—they also taste by touch and can absorb any fluid. When you slid my vine inside your mouth, the warmth and taste overwhelmed my senses. I passed out from pleasure, not because you hurt me.”
“But why’d you flinch when I touched you?”
His laughter ceased.
