Page 36 of Their Trials

Changing the subject of my thoughts, not wanting to dwell in them at this moment, I spoke, my voice husky from sleep, “Good morning, sunshine.”

He chuckled, turning toward me, a hand going to my hair, which hung loose around my shoulders. He ran a large hand through my dark green strands. “Good afternoon, Killer.”

His smile faded as he watched his hand play with my hair, his eyes unfocused as he fixated on the slide of his fingers, seeing them but not. Butterflies started fluttering in my gut at the intimate moment, my heart clenching at the reverence that slowly entered his eyes as they studied the way it slipped through his fingers. He had no idea what he was doing to me.

My lips parted as desire started to coil inside me, but I wasn't ready to ruin this moment by leaning in to claim his lips. Finally, his eyes met mine. I could see desire and something more. Something I'd never had before. I wanted what he was offering, but I was also terrified of what it would mean. I wasn't sure I was ready for that, but I also couldn't deny this attraction to him any longer.

He'd been so loyal to me, giving me everything I'd ever asked for and more. He brought me joy instead of letting the circumstances crush me under their weight. He never failed to make me smile when all I wanted to do was rant and rave at the shit that relentlessly tried to ruin me. His steady presence at my side, always, proved to me that he wouldn't run away. At least, not if he had the choice.

I didn’t want to stay hidden away from the world anymore because of fear. Destiny was hunting me down, whether I was ready for it or not. What we had faced in the maze had proven that much. Now, I just had to make the choice of facing it down on my own or confronting the changes with his support beside me all the way.

Slowly. Oh, so very slowly, he leaned toward me, giving me the chance to stop him, the chance to keep myself at a distance. His eyes watched mine, bouncing as they tried to take in every expression and thought on my face.

He was offering me the world, his heart. It was waiting for me, if only I had the courage to reach out and take it.

As if sensing my decision before I’d even known I had made one, his lips pressed into mine, lingering for a moment, savoring it. I leaned into him, pressing my lips more firmly against his, encouraging him. His tongue pressed against my lips, slipping inside when I opened at the unspoken request for entrance.

I moaned softly at his slow exploration of my mouth, his tongue dancing with mine as the kiss deepened. His hand ran lightly along my bare arm, causing goose bumps to appear and making me shiver. The touch was so light, it was barely there. It was nothing and everything all at once.

I leaned further into him, needing more of what he was offering me, finally ready to fall over that edge with him to face the uncertain future. Together. His hand stopped at the nape of my neck, his thumb running along my jaw as he deepened the kiss further.

He guided me to lay on my back as he rested on his elbows above me, pausing to study me. “You're so beautiful, Rhowyn,” he whispered in awe, studying my face as if it held the secret to life.

I'd been told I was beautiful before, but this was the first time I'd ever believed someone. I swallowed at the emotions that threatened to choke me, not wanting to ruin the moment with tears. Still, one leaked out, and he caught it with the pad of his thumb, rubbing it into my skin. “You deserve the world, Rhowyn, and I hope you'll find me worthy enough to let me get it for you.” He continued to whisper, more tears falling over the edge and tracking down my face.

I nodded, unable to speak as joy and unspoken fears swelled inside me. “Why the tears?” he asked me gently.

“I...” Trying to explain to him the emotions that even I didn't fully understand was like trying to fly without knowing how.

“It's okay. I'm not going anywhere,” he assured me, kissing the tracks of my tears. Never before had anyone consoled me.

“I'm not used to someone looking at me the way you do.” I started, trying to explain why he was touching me on a level that was so much more than just the physical. He was reaching deep inside me, holding my soul and heart in his hands. “No one has spoken to me like you do and made me truly believe them.” My voice broke at the end, and I inhaled, trying to restrain the sob that wanted to escape me.

He frowned at my admission, his sorrow at that truth evident in his face, which showed his every thought, every emotion. I searched it, waiting for his response, glad that I couldn't see any pity there. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply before opening them and looking at me. His brow furrowed, and his grip on my neck tightened. His thumb still caressed my cheek and jaw, still soft and supportive.

“Never again will you ever feel that way. You deserve to be worshiped like the queen I know you are.” His words were firm, brooking no argument.

I started to argue with him, my mouth opening to protest that I was not worthy of being a queen, but he shushed me, his thumb now resting on my bottom lip. On this, he wouldn’t be swayed. “No. You are my Chosen. My Queen. It's my duty to ensure that you discover this for yourself, but until you can believe, I will believe for you.”

He held my gaze, his vow breaking something inside me. I didn't deserve someone like him, but I was too greedy to let him go now.

Seeing my acceptance of his words, his thumb pulled down on my bottom lip slowly. Sensually. His eyes watched my lips, intent on what he was doing. Heat shot straight to my core as my pussy clenched.

“Now, let me worship you, my Queen.” He kissed me then, different than the other times he'd done so. He kissed me like it would be the last thing he ever did. His actions backing up his words.

He moved from my mouth, his weight now on both hands, hovering above me as he kissed the tracks of my tears. Starting with my closed eyelids, moving down my cheek until he'd reached my ear, he whispered, “You are beautiful,” before moving to my neck.

He sucked on the skin, not quite hard enough to leave a mark, but it was enough to have me squirming under him. I went to wrap my arms around him, needing to feel him under my hands, but he was having none of it.

“No. Let me show you how beautiful you are. How lucky I am to be with you,” he said firmly, gathering both of my wrists in one hand and dragging them above my head and holding them in place. My breasts rose with the motion, thrust upward and drawing his attention.

“Mmm...” Humming with satisfaction, his free hand cupped my breast through my tank top. The touch was gentle and firm in contrast to the rough fabric that scraped along my skin, my nipple peaking with the sensation.

He watched his hand as he moved a finger to circle it around my nipple, teasing me. “So beautiful.”

I tried to arch into his touch, needing more from him. As I did, he pulled his hand away and arched a brow. “Patience, Rhowyn. This will take time. Nothing less than what you deserve.”

Wanting to squeeze my thighs together to relieve the magnificent tension he was building in me, I was again denied by his hips planted firmly between my legs. He held himself above me; the only thing touching me was the hand holding both of mine. Smiling at my obvious frustration, he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

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