“I forgot just how impatient you are,” he said, voice choppy from laughter. The familiar sound enveloped me, filling me with a comforting warmth. Clearly enjoying my anticipation, he allowed another painstaking moment to slip by before he stepped into me, his warm breath caressing my ear. I suppressed the shiver that wanted to run down my spine, almost forgetting the mystery that lay idle in my hands. “Now,” he whispered, then stepped away.
I opened my eyes and found an oblong object wrapped in a dull gray cloth. Carefully, I rolled the fabric away from the item.
A sharp breath filled my lungs as it finally revealed itself. I looked at Eithan with wide eyes, then down at the dagger resting on my palm. Tears obscured its beauty, and I looked up, catching Eithan’s gaze. He stared back at me with uncertainty, as if waiting for me to respond before he knew what to feel.
Still stunned, I tucked the cloth away and examined the dagger. It was…exquisite. Its balance was flawless, and the shape of the handle melded to my grip. Adorning the bottom of the hilt was a sizable, sphere-shaped gem of deep sapphire blue. The rich color faded as I raised the stone to the sun, and it fractured the light, casting tiny, rainbow-colored specks in every direction.
Lowering it back down, my fingers delighted as they explored each delicately etched swirl and detail that journeyed from the base of the handle to the tip of the midnight-black blade.
I’d never seen such extraordinary craftsmanship before. It must have cost a fortune. Eithan couldn’t afford it. The dagger was beautiful, but it was too much.
Prying my eyes from the dagger, I met Eithan’s gaze. “Eithan, it’s… I… You shouldn’t…”
A half-smile tugged at his lips as he closed the gap between us. “I showed the blacksmith the size of your hand,” he said, taking my idle palm and placing it on his. “The stone was my grandmother’s, and it has always reminded me of you—how its colors shift in different light, like your eyes. And with the dowry coming in…” he trailed off.
My heart sank as I realized the dagger wasn’t merely a birthday present but doubled as a farewell gift—a token of our friendship and love.
“Thank you,” I breathed, the quiet words nearly swallowed by the soft rustling of the meadow.
Eithan pulled me into his warm embrace, and I drew in a steadying breath to dispel the heaviness surrounding us. I didn’t want today to be consumed by thoughts of his imminent departure—the one I’d recklessly refused to acknowledge.
I looked up at him and forced a smile. “Thank you,” I said, a little stronger this time.
Eyes locked on mine, Eithan’s fingertips traced the contours of my face before his thumb and forefinger coaxed my chin upward in a silent command. Rising to my toes out of pure habit, I met the familiar touch of his velvety lips. Soft, gentle, reassuring kisses pulled me into the moment with him. My heartbeats quickened as his tongue slid across the rim of my mouth, asking for permission, for more. I welcomed him in, unable to stop myself. The caress of his mouth, the strokes of his tongue against mine, had my body coiling with desire.
As Eithan’s hands began mapping my torso, I blindly tossed the dagger toward our bags and wove my fingers through the silkiness of his burnished auburn hair.Stars, how I’d missed this.Eithan let out a low moan and his exploring grip firmed on my hips, drawing me against the bulky evidence of his desire.Oh gods, save me,I silently pled, knowing my restraint was about to shatter as a burning frenzy began consuming my every thought.
I didn’t want gentle caresses and wordless goodbyes—I wantedmore of him, all of him. I reached for his length and wrapped my hand around the thickness that waited for me beneath his garments.
“Fuck, Ny,” he rasped against my mouth before nipping at my bottom lip.
“Eithan,” I moaned, half for him to take me, half for him to stop.
He pulled back just enough for our eyes to meet, and I saw the same warring emotions within him that plagued me. A heartbeat later, his mouth crushed against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and Eithan caught me as I sprang up and locked my ankles around his torso. Grip tightening, he lowered us to the ground.
Straddled beneath my thighs, Eithan faced me, our chests rising and falling with heavy breaths. Tucking a wayward strand of hair behind my ear, Eithan continued trailing his fingers back until he took purchase of my bound hair, tugging gently to expose my throat. I closed my eyes and placed my hands behind me, giving in to him. Leaning in, Eithan traced the sensitive skin at the base of my neck as he kissed and nipped and sucked his way downward.
I took in a shaky breath as his warm hand navigated its way under my garments and cupped my breast, then rolled the tip of my peaked nipple between deft fingers, lightly clamping. A deep, longing sigh escaped me, and my hips instinctively rocked against his. Eithan tugged a little tighter in response and sucked the side of my neck before releasing my hair and locking his lips on mine.
How many times had we done this before, in this valley, release washing over us? But as Eithan drew out desire with every touch, my body crying out for him, I sought any thread of restraint that would anchor me to reality—for the primal feeling rushing through my core, readying for him, was about to consume me, and I wouldn’t be able to stop.
With great effort, I tore my lips from his. “We can’t,” I rasped.
His tongue slid up my neck, and I arched into him, my core burning for his magical tongue to be occupied much, much lower.
“Eithan,” I breathlessly pled.
He didn’t stop. And I didn’t want him to. Yet, I placed a hand on his chest, garnering a fraction of distance.
My body continued to obey his touch, not my thoughts, as he pulled me toward the path of no return. Damn, I wanted,neededhim. But we’d sworn to each other to abstain—he was betrothed now, and on the brink of leaving. It wasn’t fair to her, or us.
But curse the gods for that burning desire threatening to consume my resolve, my sanity, my ethics.
Eithan finally broke away, and I instantly ached from his absence. His gaze met mine, understanding as I did that this wasn’t right. His shoulders drooped, and the heartbreak in his eyes almost made me reconsider.
He leaned in, and I relinquished the small distance between us as he rested his forehead on my chest, the steady rise and fall of his body matching the rhythm of his deep breaths as his firm hands held me.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice carrying an apology that extended past that moment.
