Even now, in a moment of desperation, fueled by frustration over the fact that we’re currently helpless, she looks beautiful. I can’t get enough of her.
“That’s what he said, Petal,” I remind her, referring to Thorne’s orders before he left with Ocean.
“I’m trying to remember who put him in charge,” she retorts, giving me a pointed look, and I can’t stop the grin lifting the corner of my mouth.
“No one,” I admit, earning a huff, but I carryon. “But it’s Thorne, and if you didn’t know already, he’s a fancy fae prince and we must obey his orders,” I tease, making her eyes roll.
“That’s dramatic,” she musters, folding her arms over her chest, and I snicker.
“Of courseI’mthe dramatic one.”
She stops in front of me where I sit perched on the edge of my bed, but before I can tug her into my embrace, she whacks me playfully on the chest.
I capture her wrist in my hands, running my thumb across her delicate skin as I blink up at her. When she doesn’t immediately pull away, I take a moment to enjoy the silence, bathing in her presence.
I understand her frustration, I feel it too, but the reality is, we’re not magical. Well, technically she is, but only in the Shadow Realm, which is only currently accessible via dreams. So right here, where we need it, she’s as useless as me for what we actually need.
At least Thorne and Ocean can use their abilities to try and track the source of The Vale’s magic. It just means we have to keep our heads down here. More bodies will only draw attention to them. Besides, someone has to be on standby in case Kael returns, or worse… Jude.
Happy to pretend I’m in a blissful bubble, I squeeze her wrist gently, focusing on the present. “Why don’t you try and have a nap?” I offer, and she huffs again.
“I don’t stand a chance,” she quickly replies, and I nod.
“Do you want to watch tv?” I counter, and she shakes her head.
“I can’t relax,” she mumbles, shoulders slumping in defeat.
“You haven’t tried,” I acknowledge, and instead of the look of disdain I expect, she tilts her head back as she stares blankly at the ceiling.
“My mind is racing,” she admits, and I tug her in closer, bringing my free hand to the back of her thigh as I nestle her between my legs.
“It’s your mind, it’s always racing,” I add playfully, and that earns me a withering look, but I don’t mind. I love her eyes on me in any capacity.
Knowing I exist in the same damn orbit as her is enough to set my soul on fire, but having her attention is something else entirely. It’s almost otherworldly, but that seems like madness, given where we are.
“You’re cute when you scowl,” I tease, bringing her hand to my mouth. I ghost my lips across herknuckles and she shivers, but manages to keep her lips set in a thin line.
“Don’t try and sweeten me up,” she grumbles, and I grin.
“That’s not possible. You’re already sweet enough,” I reply, earning another eye roll.
“That’s cheesy.”
“You thinkthat’scheesy?” I state with wide eyes. “I can give you cheesy if you like.”
Before she can confirm or deny wanting the level of cheese I have to offer, I pull her in even closer, knocking her off her feet as I roll us onto the bed.
The squeal that rushes from her mouth is enough to spur me on, and I launch into a tickle attack. Her strained laughter fills the room as I jump from her thighs to under her arms, but pinching at her sides, repeating the motion a few times until we’re a heap of limbs, wheezing with laughter as we try to breathe.
Adrenaline courses through my veins when we stop, delight making me feel lighter than ever, and the feeling is only made stronger by the fact that I can see the same joy in her eyes.
I want to eliminate the distance between us, slam my lips against hers and taste the sweetness ofher smile against mine, but we’ve had enough moments that serve as a distraction between us. I need her to see there’s more to us than that. I need the next time to be heartfelt and important, like a connection of two lost souls anchoring themselves to one another to make sure they weather the storm.
“WatchSpidermanwith me,” I breathe, my body groaning in protest as my cock strains against my boxers.
Elodie’s eyes widen. “That’s not what I was expecting you to say.”
Me either.I don’t say that, though.
