Page 82 of Elemental Affections

“Because I know some things will never change. I always will be a son of Rhell,” he said, thumb stroking over her hand. “I’m afraid that I’ll let work push you away again. Saving Rhell will always feel like my duty, and I don’t think I can ever let that go.”

Even with the Accord in place, the promise of resources and committed research, even with his own acknowledgment that he wasn’t alone in the fight to save his homeland, Ezzyn was still … himself. It was endearing and exasperating at once, but Dae had learned that about him a while ago. His drive was matched only by what she’d once thought was pride but now understood as the many fears he carried all tied together.

“I don’t want to hurt you again,” he said. “But I don’t know how to love you the right way. How to choose.”

“Why not both?” Dae said. “I don’t want you to give up your duty—I want you to make room for me, too. Stop thinking that you have to fix everything alone.”

For all her outward confidence, Dae was scared, too. A little. Ezzyn worried over loving her the right way, but what did she know of what such a thing looked like? How one did it and knew that their choices and actions were good ones.

She thought of her parents and how much their lives had changed, old passions abandoned for something less tangible. They were still together, both in marriage and in their social lives, yet the intimacy Dae remembered was gone. The memories of a happy family she had were faded around the edges, seemed more like dreams than past reality.

There was Calya, who loved her job and the sense of worth she derived from it, but romance? Love? No. Even if she reluctantly encouraged Dae to seek it, believed that her older sister had found it, love was rife with opportunities to disappoint.

And, how would Dae know? She’d spent years stuck to Brint, resigned herself to a desolate future. One couldn’t call what they’d hadlove,but Dae had been in the wrong kind of relationship for so long and done nothing to save herself until the end.

But … she had. In the end, shehadescaped that sham of a relationship. Put herself on the path to forge a real one. And wasn’t worrying about loving someone the wrong way, that awareness of doing harm, wasn’t that a sign of something right? The kind of empathetic gesture she wanted in a partner? Dae was as much in the dark as Ezzyn when it came to this venture.

Nice to be on equal footing with a Magister level prince.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, either. My past history with this kind of thing hasn’t been great,” she said with a sad laugh. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in love. I only know how I feel with you. It won’t be perfect. You’re still going to try and carry the world and I’m going to lose my godsdamned mind about it sometimes. But … try, with me. Isn’t that all we can ever do?”

Ezzyn’s hands went to her face, cradling her between his warm palms as he met her eyes. “I will never hurt you, not intentionally, ever again.”

She leaned into his touch. “Big promise. I like the sound of that.”

“I’m in love with you, Anadae.”

“Good.” She tilted her chin up. “Because I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you, too.”

Ezzyn’s head lowered until his mouth lay just out of reach. “Pretty sure? Sounds like I need to convince you.”

Dae pressed her lips against his. “Please do.”

Ezzyn deepened the kiss, one hand sliding down her neck, over her shoulder, gripping her side. He pulled her closer, only the damned desk was in the way. Nothing a little scoot and slide couldn’t—

“I don’t hear screaming or crying so I’m assuming you two are— Hey! This is a place of business!” Eunny stood in the doorway, hands on her hips.

Ezzyn ducked his head, the picture of contrition, while Dae laughed.

“Unless one of you is paying the other for that”—Eunny waved her hand in their direction—“get out here and vote on which snacks Auntie Yerina should serve for the solstice party.” She turned around without waiting to see if they followed.

Ezzyn offered her his hand. “Shall we?”

Dae went on her tiptoes to give him another quick, more chaste kiss. Then she laced her fingers with his and pulled him toward the door.

Epilogue

Warmthspreadoutfromher center, sweet tingles slowly filtering into her sleepy mind. Dae’s lips parted with a soft moan. Wakefulness stole over her, shepherded along by a hand stroking her most sensitive parts, touch gentle yet sure. Teasing her open for the velvety tongue that followed. A soft mouth closing over her clit, eliciting a shiver to run down her spine.

Dae moaned again as the pressure increased, her core tightening as the sensations ramped up and up. The orgasm spilled over as her eyes blinked open. She clenched around the fingers curled within her, drawing out each wave of pleasure. The mouth at her center continued with its sweet teasing, gentle licks and sucking until she trembled again with a second, smaller climax. She went limp on the bed, a mewl the only form of speech she could manage.

Ezzyn kissed a path up her body until he could claim her lips. “Good morning.”

Dae stretched, letting out a long, relaxed sigh. “That was nice.”

Ezzyn rubbed his thumb over her clit, making her twitch with sensitivity. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”

“I could get used to it.” Dae paused, looking down at herself. The front ties on her night slip were undone, exposing her breasts. Of her panties there was no—

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