Page 142 of Soul Forge

The revelation of how truly sad Sypher’s past was sank into Elda’s soul, leaving a weight there that she knew would stay with her. She was glad – its presence would remind her just how much the Soul Forge had sacrificed. The burden he’d carried with him, the guilt it must have brought, made her heart ache for him.

She vowed to herself there and then that she would see him truly happy… even if it killed her.

Elda was still on Sypher’s lap, her head resting against his shoulder. The water was still warm, and she’d stopped noticing the wet clothes clinging to her skin. Her embarrassment at being so close to him had faded when he told her how Julian had found him. He’d intended to kill Sypher after Nova fell, only to see the state of him and realise he never hurt anyone intentionally. Julian had spent years helping Sypher recover from the trauma of what he’d been forced to do.

“We’re going to have to get out at some point, you know,” Sypher told her, breaking her out of her thoughts.

“I know,” she sighed, sitting up reluctantly. His eyes followed the trail her hands traced down his chest, stopping at his stomach. “It’s peaceful here. Nobody is trying to kill anyone.”

“You’ll get used to the constant threat of death eventually,” he quipped.

“I don’t want to get used to it. I want tostopit.” Her brow knitted.

“Unfortunately, it’s one of the perks of being a wielder, El. There’s always the possibility that we could die.”

“I don’t want either of us spending our time frightened that we’re about to fail.” She shifted in agitation, and Sypher swallowed when she brushed against him, red eyes filled with flickering fire.

“I’m not frightened that I’m about to die right now,” he answered roughly. “It’s difficult to concentrate on being frightened ofanythingwith you sitting on my lap.”

Her cheeks darkened. “Do you want me to get off of you?”

“I didn’t say that.” His hands tightened around her hips. Her heart started to tap a steady rhythm against her ribs. His eyes flickered down to the pulse fluttering at her throat, then back up to her face, settling on her lips. “Do you trust me?”

She nodded, knowing it was more than just a question. She’d never been touched by a man before, yet she knew the meaning behind his words. He was asking permission.

“I trust you,” she whispered.

“All you need to do is tell me to stop.”

He reached slowly for her waistband, giving her every chance to reject him. When she didn’t, he tugged her tunic free from her trousers and lifted it over her head, revealing the basque beneath. His attention travelled the swell of her chest, watching it rapidly rise and fall, then following the curve of her waist before his extraordinary eyes returned to her face. Even though he hadn’t really touched her, her skin prickled with electricity as though his hands were on her.

“Ederra,” he whispered. “Beautiful.” Elda’s breath hitched when his lips skimmed her collarbone, planting butterfly kisses along her throat that left a tingling trail behind. Her head tipped back, eyes closing when his mouth found the sensitive spot below her ear. A shiver slid down her spine when he sucked the skin, a soft gasp slipping from her lips. He pulled her closer, pressing his body against hers as his kisses grew more intense, leaving her trembling. An ache was building inside her.

Like he sensed that ache, his hands moved back to her waistband, tracing the arch of her waist before unfastening the clasp so his fingertips could stroke her hip bone. Her skin heated, nerves closing her throat enough to make her grab his wrist in a panic. Her brows pulled together, and she gnawed on her bottom lip.

“Sypher, I…” He cocked his head, looking up at her with a faint smile. “I’ve never done this before,” she mumbled.

His smile became more pronounced, tender, and understanding but also brimming with unbridled desire. “I know, maite. Trust me.” Sypher’s voice caressed her skin like warm honey, sending a shudder right through to her bones.

She bent her head to kiss him, letting go of his wrist and resting her hands on his shoulders to trace the contours of his muscles and scars. When he was certain she’d decided to put her faith in him, his teeth trapped her lower lip gently, eliciting a soft, breathy moan. His hands continued their wandering across her stomach, raising goosebumps as they worked their way back down to her hips.

Her back arched when he found her centre, head tipping back once more as his caressing fingers stole the air from her lungs, sparks skittering through her body and settling low in her stomach. Heat was building and rising inside her, a fire that he continued to stoke until she was sure she couldn’t contain it. Hands that had been so afraid to touch, so afraid to be in contact with another, loved her in ways she’d never imagined a person could be loved.

He still peppered her collar, throat, and mouth with deep, slow kisses, his tongue grazing hers whenever she parted her lips. Each one left her head spinning. His chest heaved, his skin hot to the touch, and when she knotted her fingers tightly in his hair, the growl that escaped him made her insides quiver.

She’d never experienced anything so intense, never imagined that it was possible anyone could make her feel the way Sypher was making her feel right then. Her body rocked against him of its own accord, hands clutching his shoulders desperately as she tried to contain the swell of sensations threatening to leave her delirious.

“Let it happen, maite,” he pleaded softly into her ear, his breath tickling her sensitive skin. “Let me hear you.” His voice, deep and hungry, cut through her restraints like a dam bursting. Pleasure crested over her in a tidal wave, dragging his name from her lips in a gasping moan that he swallowed with a passionate kiss. Her body convulsed with each shockwave his touch orchestrated, her nails digging into his skin when her body tried to shake itself apart. His free hand knotted in her hair, a low groan rumbling through him at the sound of her ecstasy.

She collapsed against his chest, dazed and panting. His hand withdrew, strong arms folding her into a vetiver-and-jasmine-scented embrace. She could feel that her reaction had aroused him, but he seemed content just to hold her until her pulse finally slowed, his fingers tracing small circles on her shoulder blades.

“For someone who’s afraid of touching people, you didn’t seem afraid at all just now,” she whispered breathlessly.

“And there was me concerned you wouldn’t like it.” He planted a kiss on the top of her head, shifting to make himself more comfortable.

“Do…do I need to…” Elda’s question was stilted, and her cheeks flamed against his chest.

“No. I’m fine, El. Baby steps. There are things I’m also not ready for. And you neverneedto do anything if it isn’t what you want.”

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