My breath hitches when he finally lays it against me. The light pressure he applies as he guides it through the center of my breast has my body trembling.
“Riven,” I breathe as his fingers travel beneath the hem of my shirt.
A gasp slips free the second he lays his warm palm against my stomach. The touch of his skin against mine has my pulse erupting everywhere.
He crowds me closer, splaying his fingers out and slowly dragging them to my back. I tilt my neck to look at him as he leans in so close, our lips nearly brush.
“I’m going to fix you now, Thayla. And you aren’t going to tell a soul about this. Not Kyzen, not Amick, Creed, or any of your friends. You’ll keep my secret for me. I don’t want anyone to know. I don’t want to give someone the opportunity to take advantage of me again.”
My eyes widen. “What do you—”
I suck in a sharp breath as his gift invades my body. My bones liquefy and he pulls me closer, pressing us chest to chest, forehead to forehead.
His eyes blaze blue as they bore into me and I fall into the hypnotizing swirl.
There’s nothing but him, his power.
It’s inside of me.
And my power responds.
“There you go. Good little burden, let it come to me.”
I couldn’t stop it if I wanted to.
Our powers don’t collide. They don’t fight.
They dance.
I’ve heard him say countless times how his power swirls in his stomach or flaps like wings. It tickles him. That’s the exact sensation I’m experiencing. It’s like the forces are spinning around one another in my belly to the beat of their own music.
It’s not uncomfortable, dizzying, or strange.
It’s freeing.
My back bows, and a cry leaves my lips as my power shoots across my body in multiple directions. Everything trembles until Riven’s lips fall to mine. Then it all goes calm.
My power, soul, skin, heart, everything about my very being settles into a state so comfortable, it’s only natural for me to relax fully in his arms.
He holds me through the kiss, through whatever his power’s fixing.
His power is fixing mine. I’ve never felt it so intensely before.
His fingers twitch as though he’s having to force them to let me go. They slowly trail back around to my bare stomach, out from under my shirt, and he cups my cheek as he pulls his lips from mine.
“There. That should feel better.”
It takes me at least five heartbeats to think straight. “What was that?”
“Focus on me.”
“Wait. Tell me—”
“Focus, Thayla. Close your eyes. Embrace the darkness while I’m here to protect you from it. Right now your power is completely settled, so focus.”
He doesn’t give me another opportunity to push anymore. His index finger presses against my forehead.
“Focus everywhere I touch.”
