Inhaling deeper than I have previously permitted myself to do in her presence, I scent the truth of her words in her arousal.
My hellfire core ignites, sending heat to every part of me. The rumble I emit now does not come from a place of anger. Carnal desire, the burning need to explore and honor every inch of her, burns inside me. “You cannot know how intensely your desire affects me, Lilah.”
“Then you’ll have to show me.” She slides her hands upward, gasping when her fingers cross the edge of my shirt and onto my neck. My chin. Jaw. Ears. Brow. “You really are so hot. I mean that in every way, and they’re all good.”
When her hands reach my horns, I can resist no longer. Barely restraining a roar, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her tight against me. “One hundred and three days, Lilah. That is how long I have craved you.”
Her hands still their stimulating ministrations, and she blinks up at me, lips parted. “You kept track of the days?”
“Your presence brings radiance to my existence. How could I not count every moment of such a gift?”
“I was going to wait until our date to do this, but that’d just be wasting more time.” Using her grip on my horns, she gently tugs my face down until our lips are separated only by a breath. “Do you want to kiss me?”
“I want to do everything with you,” I say, then taste her for the first time.
She is so soft, so willing, opening for me at the firm press of my mouth against hers. Starved for this woman for so long, I slide my tongue inside, savoring every warm, wet space, groaning as the sweet flavor of her breath dances on my tongue,then travels across our connection to run wild throughout my entire being.
The control I have maintained cracks and I slide my hand down her back to her round bottom. Cupping it, squeezing it firmly, I growl into the union of our mouths. Between us, my cock presses hard against the inside of my pants, desperate to find its home inside her soft, voluptuous body. Only my desire to give her everything, all the things I cannot while we are in this place, is stronger than the fiery longing low in my core.
I force myself to break the kiss, holding her close and sliding one hand through her hair. “Each day, I have wanted to do this,” I say, watching the silk slip through my fingers. “You are even softer than I imagined. And the taste of you,” I trail my tongue along her lips, “I did not think it possible to crave you more than I have.” The last strands of her dark hair leave my fingertips, then I trace the outline of her lovely face before cupping her chin. “Tell me I will be permitted to taste every inch of you.”
“God, yes. Or devil, yes? Whichever. Whoever.”
“When I taste you, there will only be us, Lilah. Givemeyour permission.”
She licks her lips, the pupils in her glassy eyes expanding until only the thinnest ring of brown remains around them. “Amazra, yes, I give you permission to taste every part of me.” The breathiness of her voice gives way to a smile as she eases backward from my arms. “After our date, when you escort me to Dak and Rosetta’s wedding in the square? That’s what I planned to ask you before you blew my mind with your romantic declaration and knee-buckling kiss.”
“It will be my honor to accompany you.”
“Perfect.” Smiling wider, she moves to the counter and picks up the roses. “So are these.” She brings the blossoms to her nose, closing her eyes as she inhales.
Pleasant though it may be, no fragrance can compare to hers. There is no scent on earth more perfect than the essence of my Lilah.
“I’ll see you tomorrow for my breakfast honey scone.”
“I will be waiting,” I say as she opens the door, then steps out into the late-day sunlight. Glowing, as she always does, until she disappears from view.
Twelve
Rosetta & Dakgorim’s wedding day
AMAZRA
When Lilah pauses as we reach the perimeter of the town square, her gaze alternating between me and the many rows of white chairs set out for today’s ceremony, my chest and midsection tighten. A physical sensation I should not experience, having no internal organs. An emotional response I have developed because of the woman holding my arm. She has changed everything.
Including, perhaps, her choice.
“If you have changed your mind, I will understand.”
Her head cocks, her dark lashes fanning sun-kissed skin as she blinks. “Changed my mind about what?”
“Asking me to accompany you to this event.” Though we arrived in advance of the stated time on the invitation she showed me, many guests are already in attendance, some milling about and socializing, others having taken their seats. “You could have your choice of anyone, Lilah.”
“Being with you isn’t a choice. You’re the only one I’ve thought about since the moment we met. If you didn’t feel the same way, I’d be here solo. I think…”
“What do you think?”
“I think I might be solo for the rest of my life,” she says, positioning herself in front of me. “Because I literally can’t imagine being with anyone else.”
