Page 44 of Elemental Affections

They were standing so close, palms still clasped together. The feel of his magic was warm in her mind. Pleasing and familiar. Dae’s hands were full, with the vial and Ezzyn, their fingers intertwined. But he had a hand free. Used it to cup her cheek and let his thumb stroke her lip.

Without thinking, Dae mouthed at it and tilted her chin up, seeking his mouth. His lips were as plush as she remembered. Perfectly shaped, molding to fit as his mouth slanted over hers. When Dae’s tongue teased at his before retreating, he groaned.

It sent an arc of wanting through her, straight to her core. Made her clench. She wanted to pull him closer, touch his face as possessively as he held hers, but she couldn’t while still holding the vial.

Dae jerked back as reality flooded in. Would’ve stepped away, except Ezzyn still grasped her hand.

“E-Ezzyn.” Dae blinked, shook her head, breath coming in short bursts. “You’re…”

Her boss. A prince. A world of complications she didn’t need, especially not in this year dedicated to proving herself. He was—

“Ezzyn,” he said, so quietly, his name filled with despair and desperate hope. “Let me be just Ezzyn with you. Nothing else.”

“How?” she whispered. “I don’t even know what that means. You’re so many things, I can’t just—”

“Why not?” He released her hand, drawing back until he held the tips of her fingers. “I want to be just the man with you and leave the baggage.”

She wanted to believe him so badly it hurt. “Can you?” Her words were soft, not harsh with suspicion but bleak. Wistful.

“The attraction is here, Anadae. Why not act on it?” he said. “No expectations. Nothing of the past, or the future. Just now.”

Live in the moment. Indulge in it. Such a thought went against her nature. And yet, the temptation, the desire drawing her in—why fight it? Dae had done the proper, safe thing her entire life. Done the things expected of her for so long, shelving her wants. They were adults, and as he’d said, the attraction was there. It had set up an ache in her.

“No expectations,” she repeated.

“None,” he vowed. “When one of us is done, we’re done. Mutual agreement.”

Simple. No mess, nothing drawn out. No being trapped like she had been with Brint. And she would be desired. Unlike with Brint. The memory of her night with Ezzyn, thoughts she’d kept at bay, came back to her. Of how he’d held her to him, savoring her taste. She’d been wanted. Had delighted in him just as much.

Now he offered such to her again. Freely. No expectations.

Dae let go of his hand, slipped hers over the back of his neck, and tugged him down for another kiss.

Chapter 17

Ittookashamefulamount of willpower for Ezzyn to stop himself from doing something embarrassing. He’d hoped she would agree that she, too, couldn’t deny the desire simmering between them. A lingering feeling despite how their first time had ended, the prickliness to their interactions for so long after. Even the rapport that had begun to grow in recent weeks felt fragile. None of it was enough for him. He’d told himself to be content with her friendship, and certainly life was more enjoyable now that they spoke to one another. Collaborated. Maybe there was even a mote of flirtation. But only ever a whisper of suggestion. Nothing so confidence-inspiring as to act on it. He might’ve been handling his dick to the memory of her—real and imagined scenarios—on a near-nightly basis, having given up his hopeless plan to banish her from his thoughts, but that was him. Ezzyn couldn’t trust his judgment when it came to her. He’d misread Anadae too many times, all but ruined any chance of friendliness between them. Having secured such, trying for anything more seemed ill-advised.

Then she kissed him back. Of her own volition, fully knowing it was him. No surprise, no trickery. It felt like victory. Made him want to make an ass of himself and cheer or something similarly ridiculous.

He did not. A successful spell and a lakeside kiss were lovely and all, perhaps even sweet. Had romantic flair. But with the promise of no expectations, no overthinking allowed, he wanted to do decidedly unsweet things to her. With her. Wanted to take his time, linger over the taste and scent and feel of all that was Anadae Helm.

He took her back to his housing in Belle Complex. A perk of being royalty, even if minor and defunct in most meaningful ways, was that he had a corner suite of rooms all to himself. Tastefully furnished, full amenities, and boasting a hefty sound ward. It wouldn’t break, though he intended to test its limits. Knowing that tonight he no longer had to rely on the memory of what Anadae sounded like when she took his cock had him semi-hard the entire walk from the lake.

Ezzyn resisted his baser impulses. He had plans. Intentions. Ones that were nearly undone when he retrieved the vial of contraceptive potion and new lubricant he’d bought on a whim of wishful thinking, turning around to find Anadae stretched out on his bed. She was already naked, her clothes a pile on the floor.

She sat up, drawing her knees in, a playful smile on her face. “What?”

“Just saving this image for later. You, eagerly waiting in my bed.” Ezzyn handed her the vial before shrugging out of his shirt.

“Eager?” She wiggled the potion at him. “So this is, what, prepared? Or do you need to keep a stash of these handy?”

He discarded his trousers alongside the shirt but kept his smallclothes for the moment. The sheets would end up a mess regardless, but he could preserve them for a little longer. There were other needs to satisfy first. Buds of anxiety to nip away.

A wry chuckle met her words. “Just the one, bought out of desperation and hope.” He joined her on the bed, his mouth curving into a smile. “I’ll need to get more tomorrow. See if they’ll give me a discount for a dozen.”

Anadae swallowed the potion, giving his chest a playful shove. “A dozen? Someone’s optimistic.”

“We have the weekend.” He eased her back to the mattress, leaning over and cradling her face in his hands. “I’ll be prepared.”

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