I watched her dress herself in that very gown when she thought I was still asleep two mornings ago. But seeing as she has me wrapped around her perfect fingers, I comply.
There’s an ease in her movements, a lightness I haven’t seen since being back. I pushed her away, keeping her from the darkness that now stains my soul. But I’ve shown pieces of it to her,and she didn’t run. She didn’t look at me with the pity I feared, didn’t look at me as if I was broken.
Even though I am. I’m not whole like I was before—there’s now a crack in my armor.
But Lunaria still wants me. And I’ll always want her.
How could she think I’d view her differently if she lost her magic? She’s so much more to me than the power she harnesses. Though I suppose I did the same to her, thinking she’d view me differently if she knew what I went through in the Vale.
We’ve both been working against each other instead of together, ignoring our issues rather than facing them head-on.
That stops now.
“I’ll gladly help you,” I finally answer her, watching her eyes soften. “With anything you ask of me.”
Anythingshe asked of me, I would give her.
She knows it. I know it. And still, our dance begins.
I reach for her hand. A tall mirror in the corner of the room catches my attention, and I smirk. Silently, I tug on our joined hands until she follows me over it.
She watches me with an intense fascination as I position her in front of the mirror and stand behind her. With my eyes on hers in the reflection, I work to undo the ties at her back.
“A little too good at that, aren’t you?” she teases.
I untie the final criss-cross that lands just above the base of her spine.
“We both know there isn’t a soul in any realm that compares to you, Lunaria.” As much as I love to tease her, I hope she feels the seriousness in my tone. “You’re my last—my forever. Don’t forget that.”
My fingertip plays along the back of her neck, and her eyelashes flutter closed as I run it down her spine.
When I lightly push the dress off her shoulders, she tries to turn around, but she doesn’t know what I have planned for her—goddess, the things I wish we had time for tonight.
I walk her backwards—my clothes still on—and press herlips to mine. My fingers thread through her hair, and I keep walking her until she’s pushed against the window. She hisses when her spine meets ice-cold glass.
The sun has set, but an oil lamp flickers dimly alongside us—enough light for someone to see in.
I pull my lips from hers and trail a line of rough kisses all the way to her neck, stopping just below her right ear.
“Should I shut the curtains, little princess?” I murmur. “Someone might see.”
A moan slips out of her as she shakes her head, which is answer enough. Only she must not think so, because she rasps, “Let them watch.”
Surprise tears through me like a tidal wave, sending a rush of heat skittering south. The momentwatchleaves her mouth, my mouth is on her neck. I need to taste her.Feelher.
My lips burn to be against her skin.
Her palm presses against my chest while her other hand grips my shoulder, pulling me closer.
“Kiss me, Graylen,” she demands.
So I do.
My tongue slips into her mouth, teasing and testing. I kiss her until the world begins to melt away, and all I know is how desperately I need to be inside of her. Heat sparks between us, sparks of my flames dancing from her skin to mine.
Each time it licks against her flesh, she gasps and arches her back into me—pushing her breasts against my chest. She writhes, naked, between me and the window, and knowing someone could see her this way sparks a feral need to mark her as mine.
Fuck it.
