Page 40 of The Breaker of Stars

We sat in the springs for hours, counting the constellations above us and living in that bliss we’d stubbornly denied ourselves for too long. My head on his chest, his fingers in my hair, and our bodies and hearts entwined despite the barbed thorns of our past.

Chapter Sixteen

Cypherion

Those hot springs were some sort of Starsearcher magic, I was certain.

As I helped Vale from the water, and we forced clothes back onto our wet bodies, I wanted any excuse to stay there forever. And as we made our way to the small town we’d be staying in for the night, I was reluctant to leave that isolation, not knowing what waited for us in the capital.

“I suppose you’ll be happy,” Vale teased as the door to our room closed behind us. Our things were stacked neatly in the corner from when we’d stopped here earlier, but the space felt lighter. Like we’d stripped ourselves of the weighted memories we’d been dragging since Damenal.

“What?” I dragged a hand through my drying hair, tilting my head at her, a tired haze tugging at me.

Vale gestured to the room as she removed her cloak. To the two small beds on either side of the nightstand.

I barked a laugh, removing my tunic as well. Damien, I missed my leathers. “If you think there’s a chance in the Spirit Realm that we aren’t sharing a bed, you’re going to need to ask the Fates again.”

It came out like a threat, and Vale’s lips quirked up at the sound.

“You seemed so inconvenienced by it before,” she said, crossing her arms gracefully. Her hair dripped across her top, leaving sheer spots where it touched. Tempting.

“I was a fool.” I shrugged, taking slow steps toward her. “You’re not an inconvenience. Spirits, you’re not a convenience either. You’re so much more than that; you’re fate, Vale. My fate.”

Disbelief danced in her wide eyes, though, like she wasn’t certain this was it. We were real, steady after battling the pain and refusals of the last few months. But the toughest battle had been avoiding her. The way she felt like she was inevitably mine, despite the distance I stuffed between us.

I’d been balancing on a thin line trying to keep myself away from her before she’d stripped down in the hot springs. Then, physically, she’d been irresistible. But once she’d admitted what she wanted, once I heard the damn words, there was no chance of me holding back.

Realization had slammed into me that perhaps she and I did want the same things. When she’d said that she wanted freedom from Valyn, from Titus—it was the first time I understood that maybe she didn’t have to leave me.

She didn’t want to be under his thumb anymore. I didn’t know how we’d make that happen, but I’d figure it out for her.

Later. We would talk about all of those missed moments—unpack all the hurt and secrets so we could move forward stronger—later. We’d discuss what she wanted for the future, but right now, all I wanted was her between those sheets with me. And if the way her eyes were drifting closed said anything, I thought she agreed.

“Come on,” I said, taking her hand and guiding her to the bed.

“I need to change,” she argued.

“You seem to forget that I happen to be extremely adept at removing your clothes, Vale.”

“Well, it’s been so long,” she said, feigning innocence. “I’ll need a reminder course.”

“I’ve been told I’m an excellent tutor.”

Before she could respond, I tore off her top and skirt. Fresh marks were blooming across her collarbone and neck from where I’d been aggressive. I brushed my fingers across them, and she sucked in a breath.

“How tired are you?” I asked, partly joking, still studying those new bruises.

Mine, they said.

“More awake now.” At the breathless sound of her voice, I tried to catch her eyes, but they’d dropped to where I strained against my pants, already desperate for her again.

Scooping her up, I placed her on the bed. “Something else this time,” I commanded, guiding her to the pillows and working my way down her body with my mouth.

Gripping her knees, I spread them and looked down at her. “Beautiful,” I praised, running two hands up her thighs. “So fucking perfect.”

I wanted her to know how much I’d missed her when I was being a stubborn ass over her deceit.

Kissing the inside of her thigh, I ran two fingers over her center, gathering her wetness and circling her clit just barely. She squirmed beneath me. “As responsive as ever,” I murmured into her skin.

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