Page 38 of The Breaker of Stars

“Then leave if you hate me so much?—”

“I don’t hate you, Vale.”

My core throbbed at the low tone of his voice. “You don’t?”

“I fear you.” My stomach dropped, and both our hearts rioted, loud among the falls. “I fear how thoroughly you wrecked me and how, if I allowed you, you could do it again.”

Cypherion shifted, his leg between mine, and…Fates. He was hard as steel beneath the water. He continued, “I’ve tried so hard to stay away from you.” Spirits, he took up all the air. “Told us both I would be your friend and your guard until this was over. But it takes so much willpower to pretend I’m not still mad about you.”

He said about. Not mad at me. But about me.

He leaned closer, pinning me against the wall, and my heart climbed further into the back of my throat with every beat. I tasted his crisp bergamot scent on the air, fresh and alluring.

“And I am so fucking tired of fighting myself,” he said.

And when his lips crashed into mine, I didn’t even attempt to hide the relieved gasp that slipped up my throat.

Chapter Fifteen

Vale

My back pressed up against the heated rock, and Cypherion’s bare, wet skin slid against mine, heat encompassing me from every angle. His hand cupped the back of my head to stop it from slamming against the wall. The combination of that gentle thought and the way he commanded the rest of me, demonstrated that delicious care and passion he brought to everything he did.

And he kissed exactly as I remembered—like he was desperate to consume me. Lips hot and fierce as I opened for him, tongue stroking against mine both precise and firm, but hungry.

Cypherion was in complete control, and as I succumbed to him, pieces of myself that had been broken had the space to heal over. Every part of me came back to life as he kissed me deeper.

If he ever stopped again, I might crumble.

“I’m not here because it’s my duty,” he growled against my lips, his free hand roaming over my body and leaving chills in its wake. “I’m here because I couldn’t fucking bear to let you go without me. To not know where you were or if you were okay.”

“Don’t leave, then,” I pleaded.

And then, he was devouring me again, free hand pressing flat to the small of my back to hold me tighter against him and thumb brushing against the curve of my waist. Even as I kissed him, that teasing stole some of my attention, and heat gathered between my thighs. The hard surfaces of his body pressed against the softer ones of mine, his grip strong and certain around me.

I ached for him, pressing closer. His cock against my stomach instead of where I wanted it was torturous.

Wrapping my arms around the back of his neck where his Bond tattoo was inked, I dug my hands into his hair. It had grown longer since I’d met him, long enough to tie back, but I loved when it was unbound like this. I took advantage now, knotting my fingers in it.

“Spirits,” he breathed, moving his lips along my jaw and down my neck. “I’ve been telling myself for so long that I didn’t want you anymore.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” I gasped. His hand skimmed up my ribs, calloused thumb brushing the bottom of my breast.

“I’ve wanted to touch you so badly, Vale,” he admitted as his lips dragged over my collarbone, his voice rough. Everywhere he kissed was left in flaming goosebumps, sensations I hadn’t realized were possible mingling within me.

“Touch me,” I begged. “Show me.”

One hand cupped my breast as he ducked his head and ran his tongue around the other nipple. He toyed with me, eyes flicking up beneath dark lashes to catch every gasp from my lips like he’d been starved without them, those blue depths dark as a midnight sky.

“Please,” I breathed, hitching my leg higher around his hip to tug him to me. He was dangerously close to my center now, and Spirits, I wanted him. He nudged my entrance, and I gasped at the contact.

“You don’t want me to take my time?” There was a gravelly laugh in his voice.

No, I did not want to wait tonight. I wanted to take advantage of every moment. In answer, I gripped his chin and pulled him back up to me. I kissed him harder, rolling my hips against his length and my tongue across his all at once.

“Spirits,” he hissed beneath his breath, and we both looked down to where we weren’t yet joined but connected.

I forgot how large he truly was, and my breath hitched. He laughed, gripping the back of my thigh with one hand and my cheek with the other, guiding my gaze up.

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