Eve winced at the slight burn as the spell surrounding them broke. Concern marred his face. She glanced between their bodies and saw the red tinge coating his sex just as Reynner looked down. Heat flooded her face that he would see evidence of her virginity. She tried to sit and sucked in a breath at the discomfort. She made to slide away from him, but he caught her hips.
“Where are you going?”
His slightly husky voice sent another round of shivers sweeping through her body. “I need a swim.”
He shook his head and stroked her cheek. “No, Eve. The water’s freezing, and you’re sore.”
But that’s what she wanted. The icy water would soothe her discomfort. “Reynner, please, I have to—” she broke off and gasped, shock knocking her sideways when he parted her legs and licked her.
“Wait!” She grabbed his hair, tried to tug him away. “You can’t—”
“I’m not leaving, not while you’re hurting. My saliva will heal you.”
Thatshe didn’t know. Absolute mortification took hold as he put his mouth on her again, but her embarrassment soon gave way to pleasure. Her body shook uncontrollably while he worked her with just his tongue. She panted, her fingers tangled in his hair, as she crested and fell. Her soft moans merging with the rustle of leaves in the peaceful morning.
He waited until she’d calmed down, then pressed a gentle kiss to her tummy and rose to his feet. “Stay here, I won’t be long.”
Eve stared into the canopy of trees above her, unable to watch him go, her brief moment of happiness evaporating. The sun shone through the leaves, dappling her and the area around her with speckles of light. Lying in this peaceful paradise wasn’t going to change the truth. The interlude, no matter how beautiful it was, was over. Besides, the grass made her skin itch.
Eve pushed to her feet and brushed the crushed flowers and bits of grass from her back and bottom. The sweet, tantalizing fragrance teased her nostrils, one she’d always remember and treasure of her time with Reynner.
She searched for her clothes and realized the tenderness between her legs was only a slight discomfort now. Finding her things a short distance away, she dressed.
Eve walked out of the trees and scanned her surrounding, but couldn’t see Reynner anywhere. She sat on one of the several boulders lining the river and waited. Eyes closed, she raised her face to the sun, its warmth soothing her. The spray from the waterfalls drifted like mist over her. Licking the cool drops of the water from her lips, she tasted Reynner and relived the beautiful memories he’d given her.
But he didn’t like her touching his wings. She rubbed her temple, a memory bled through her mind—his nightmares when she’d touched him the night he got hurt. That awful demoness who’d captured him…laughing, deliberately stroking his shoulders or so she’d thought. It had been too dark to see clearly. She hadn’t realized then that they were the inner arches of his wings.
Dear God, no wonder he kept them concealed. He’d said they were sensitive, now she understood why. He became aroused.
“Eve?”
At the quiet sound of his voice, she opened her eyes and forced away the painful images of his nightmares. Water droplets sparkled like diamonds on his muscular chest, which she’d kissed and stroked moments ago. She prayed this wasn’t the end for them. But faced with his closed expression once again, a sharp ache settled in her heart.
It was over.
Reynner wasn’t interested in any kind of relationship. Apparently, he’d taken her word when she said all she wanted from him was a moment.
Chapter 18
Reynner took in Eve’s pale face and the fact that she wouldn’t look at him. The darkness that had eased after they’d made love surged again like a backdraft, clawing at his mind.
You are not worthy of her. Not worthy.
And judging by her tense expression, yeah, she’d finally realized the truth, too. He was all around bad news, and he’d spilled himself into her. If he could remove that shit, he’d do so.
“What’s wrong?”
Her gaze flickered to his then away. “Nothing.”
At the blatant lie, his anger crawled to the surface. He yanked her off the rock and into his arms, ignoring the tiny gasp that drifted along his bare skin like a damn caress. In a furious rustle, his wings reappeared. He pushed off from the ground and flew them back to the aerie. The fragrance of peaches with a hint of musk from their lovemaking enclosed him.
He drew in a deep breath and let the scent torment him. Even though she buried her face in his neck and locked her arms around him, her tense body made Reynner aware of the distance she’d put between them. He had to lock down his jaw so he wouldn’t yell the truth at her that she could never get rid of him, she was his mate. But in reality, he had no right, could never lay claim to her verbally. That was his truth.
The moment he landed on the balcony, she let go of him and disappeared indoors. The dampness on his chest distracted him. He brushed his fingers over it and he smelled her tears. His chest constricted.
Urias. He should never have touched her, but he couldn’t allow another near her, he just couldn’t. She belonged to him.
No, she can’t, dumbass.
