“It is a good plan, Leela.”
“It’s the only plan.”
He reached out to cup my shoulder. “It has been an honor having you as my rider.”
My throat grew tight because we’d had barely any time at all. But I nodded mutely, blinking back tears.
“Now go. Be with your twin flame. Do not waste this night walking the camp hoping to ease the pain of others. There is nothing more to be done here. Take the time you have left to connect with your soul mate.” He looked over my head, and I turned to follow his gaze, spotting Araz standing several feet away, his arms loose at his sides as he watched me.
I felt Pakshiraj retreat and crossed the camp to Araz. He took my hand in his, reaching up with the other to wipe at my cheek. Yeah, I was covered in grime from the battle, but so was he.
“I want to be alone with you,” he said softly.
“Then let’s go to our tent.”
“No. I want to be truly alone. Will you let me take you somewhere? I may not be able to use my godly power around the mountain, but I can use it to transport us to a sanctuary for a while.”
I nodded. “I’d like that.”
He wrapped an arm around my waist, and the world misted away.
We materializedin the cavern beneath the lake, and my heart lifted. “Your place…”
“Ourplace.” He released me and began to strip. “And there’s water to bathe.”
My breath hitched as he exposed taut golden skin. I ran my gaze over the flat planes of his chest and the cobbled ridges of his abdomen, down to that part of him that made me ache so deep I had to stifle a moan.
I licked my lips, and a soft vibration emanated from him.
He moved closer, his body heat lapping at my skin. “Keep looking at me like that and I’ll forgo the bathing and take you right here on the ground.”
I met his smoldering gaze with one of my own, the tightness low in my belly begging me to say yes. But I was gross and sweaty, and the thought of being intimate like this made me balk.
I stepped away, a smile on my lips, and began peeling off my clothes. The air was warm here, but it heated more as Araz took me in. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, his chest rising and falling faster.
I walked past him, naked, and climbed down the stone steps into the pool. The water was warm. Blissful against my skin. I turned to watch Araz as he stepped in behind me. I dipped under the surface, running my hands through my hair and over my body. No soap, but it would have to do. I surfaced to find him leaning up against the side of the pool, the water lapping at his chest.
He held out his hand, and I joined him. Our bodies met, slick and wet, as he wrapped an arm around me.
“Better?”
I rested my cheek on his chest. “Much.”
He stroked my hair, running his fingers through the wet strands to untangle them, then twisted them into a knot on my head. “I’ll dry it for you later,” he said against my ear before dropping a soft kiss below it.
A shiver of anticipation lanced through me. “Later? After what?”
He kissed down my throat to my collar bones, hands slipping to my waist. “After I get my fill.” He lifted me out of the water and set me on the ledge. “After I taste you.” He gripped my knees and parted my thighs.
My pulse spiked as he lowered his head to my pussy. I gasped as he parted me with his tongue, biting back a cry when he sucked on my clit.
“Araz…” I gripped his hair, holding on as he kissed me there. His tongue pushed deep into me, teeth softly grazing my clit then sucking hard.
My hips bucked, and he held me firm, taking control as he devoured me. The sounds he made, hungry, wet, suckling sounds, mingled with my ragged breaths and soft cries until the world spiraled to that one point of contact, to his mouth on me and the cold fire gathering there.
I came with a shudder, years blinding me as my body rolled against his mouth, milking the orgasm. He lapped at me, groaning softly, and my heart felt as if it would explode.
The aftershocks rippled through me, too much. “Too fucking much. Please…”
