He kissed her neck while his right hand moved up her body and caressed around her throat. His left hand squeezed tighter around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest, and reminding her how strong he was. Already, the heat from his body was radiating through hers. She was utterly helpless to move unless he decided to release her.

“But you’re still going back to Azurem,” he said.

“I don’t want to.”

“Then tell me what you want.”

Magda knew what she wanted. Her emotions for him had only been building over the past few days, and Magda felt an overwhelming force pulling her to him. She wanted to be with him and only him right here and now.

“I want you,” she answered.

“Are you sure?” his voice was barely a whisper. His body was rigid against hers, holding her in place so that his hips felt the curves of hers. “I’ve wanted you too.”

“Since when?”

“Since I almost lost you,” Ravi said. He kissed her again, moving his hand away from her neck. He gently pulled down the sleeve of her dress as his lips grazed her bare shoulder.

Magda steadied her breathing.

He continued, “The way I would make you feel if you let me…”

“Tell me.” Magda cut him off. She wanted to hear him say it.

Ravi released her, and Magda turned around to face him. As she met his intense gaze, he leaned in closer, putting his hands on either side of her on the windowsill, restricting her movement.

He said, “I would kiss you all night long, holding you close to me and never letting you go.”

Magda’s entire body shuddered. Even his words were building anticipation inside of her. Her entire body flushed with heat, and her legs threatened to buckle.

“...and I wouldn’t let you sleep for a second.”

Magda couldn’t take it anymore. She stared intently at his lips, hoping it would communicate an ounce of her longing.

In an instant, his lips were on hers, and Magda opened her mouth further. They kissed again, starting out slowly with one tender kiss after another. The raw taste of his mouth on hers and the tingling sensation on her lips took Magda to another place. She allowed herself to fully relax, forgetting everything it meant to be a Guardian, and her entire body melted into his.

Magda and Ravi crashed together, and his tongue was slick around hers, extending deep into her mouth. For a second, Magda pulled away slightly, lingering on his lower lip, before going back for more.

His hands found the back of her thighs through the dress, lifting her up onto the windowsill, while she clutched his shirt to pull him closer. Then he moved closer, standing between her legs.

Ravi gripped the back of her neck, pulling her into him and forcing her mouth to stay on his, while Magda did the same. She continued the impassioned kiss, every muscle in her body burning with frenzied emotion. Magda’s palm spread across the back of Ravi’s neck, running her fingers through his tousled hair, and entrapping him against her.

With every kiss she was more stimulated, and with every flick of Ravi’s tongue, an unfathomable urge left her wanting. As they continued exploring each other’s mouths, she could sense his increased arousal, for he moved faster on her lips, and pulled her tighter to him.

Soon, the lust threatened to consume her entirely. She moved her hands to the bottom of his shirt, before sliding her hands underneath it and feeling the smoothness of his skin. Under her touch, she could feel the lines of his muscles, and she let her fingers linger before she wrapped her arms around his back.

Ravi equally explored her body. His touch invigorated her, but all that Magda wanted was to feel nothing between them.

Magda furiously moved her hands to the bottom of his shirt. “Take this off,” she ordered.

Ravi pulled away only for a second, to assist her with yanking the thin fabric over his head. He tossed the shirt to the side, letting it splay against the ground.

They locked eyes, and this time Magda truly looked at him. He was beautiful, with his brown skin and tousled hair. His bare chest revealed the contours of his muscles and the gleam of moisture on his skin in the starlight.

He said sweetly, “Even though you’re leaving Flaustra, I want us to feel like we have all the time in the world.”

The fire inside Magda was now in a full blaze. “Well, for some reason it feels like time has stopped,” said Magda, moments before Ravi’s mouth found hers once again.

CHAPTER 44