It only made it hurt more that she could see past the words he wasn’t saying. She was always so observant, so patient and willing to try and understand those around her. It just made it worse.
“Everyone deserves to know what you did,” she said softly. “What you sacrificed to keep us safe.”
He placed his hand over hers, moving it down to his chest. “Maybe one day.”
But they both knew that day would never come. Not while Vidaris had a hold of his soul. He may have been able to travel outside of the Shadow Realm in the dream realm, but he’d never make it this far in the waking.
Daimon didn’t want to think about all the things that would never be. Instead, he rolled over, sliding on top of Evelina and bracing his arms on either side of her head. He wanted to savor every inch of her, to hold her until the moon disappeared and it was time for them to wake back up.
She wiggled beneath him, her eyes brightening with hunger. “Is this where you make me remember your touch?” she said with a smirk. “It might be hard to top earlier.”
He leaned down and whispered against her mouth, “I will never stop trying to top the time before.”
She threw her arms around his neck, bringing her lips to his. He hiked the blanket up, bringing it over her knee and past her thigh. His eyes trailed the movement of his hand, savoring the feel of her skin. She shivered beneath his touch and scooted her hips closer, but he took his time.
He wanted to sear this into his memory, to be able to close his eyes and picture her naked beneath him. He grabbed her hips and squeezed, digging his fingers into her soft flesh.
With a torturously slow pace, he pushed into her. One of hishands roved down her body, gripping her breast and basking in the sounds he could draw out of her.
Their bodies melded together as he moved on top of her. She was everything to him—what he had sold his soul for. He would become the darkness for her time and time again.
The fireplace burned brighter, illuminating the shelves of books surrounding them.
“Quit thinking so much,” Evelina whispered. “Stay here with me.”
He kissed her, drinking in the taste of her skin. “Always.”
She smiled against his mouth and he twisted, lifting her on top of him. She sat up, straddling his hips and spreading her hands across his chest. His eyes dropped to her breasts as she leaned forward, entranced by the way the firelight danced off them. He felt like he had entered the gates of Caelum, like he could lose himself between her legs and never come up for air.
He held her thighs as she rode him, their gazes colliding without breaking.
It was different this time, slower. He was eager to make it last, to watch each moan that came from her lips, to touch every inch of her before she came undone. They were both desperate at first, but now he wanted to draw every second out.
She leaned down, bringing her mouth to his. The kiss was deep and passionate, like they were making up for every missed kiss over the past three hundred years.
He came undone beneath her, squeezing her hips. She leaned her head back, her hair so long that it brushed across the tops of his thighs. He watched her in wonder as her mouth dropped open, her pace quickening and thighs clenching. She screamed his name, her hips slowing as she came back to her body.
Her eyes were closed but his were wide open. Being like this with her again—not the frantic touches against the tree—it almost broke him. To be reminded of how deep his love for her ran.
Leaving her to go back to the Shadow Realm would be torture. But he would make the deal again without hesitation.
She lay on top of him, her breathing returning to normal.
“I love you, Evelina,” he whispered, pulling her close. “I am yours, forever.”
She wrapped herself around him, her arms shaking. “And I yours.”
They talked for hours, tangled together beneath the blanket, the fireplace crackling nearby. It was mostly Daimon listening and asking about her life, eager to avoid talking about the Shadow Realm. Evelina’s happiness made it all worthwhile.
She told him about her daughter, Leda. How strong and brave she was.
“You should see her, Daimon. She sentfiveAegis to the infirmary for touching her.”
“She sounds incredible,” he said softly.
Evelina shook her head, laughing fondly. “She’s a force of her own.”
His chest was tight with grief, but he smiled through it. He could never blame Evelina for moving on—for having a family. But it hurt all the same that it couldn’t be with him.
