Page 83 of Of Blood & Stone

He smiled, a confidence mixed with a gentleness in his green eyes. Slowly, she let the silk fabric fall off her shoulders, exposing her entire back. A chill ran through her skin, causing her nipples to peak. She ignored the heat burning her cheeks.

“This could sting at first,” he whispered, his voice lower than before, a kind of huskiness to it she hadn’t noticed.

She nodded, her breaths short as a sharp cold touched her skin. She jumped.

“Sorry about that.” He laughed, deep and warm.

“You did warn me.” She chuckled, stealing a glance behind her shoulder, watching as Elnok glided his hand along her skin—the part of her she’d been told was holy since she’d first ushered her goddess’ power.

The part of her body where suffering originated, giving life and taking her blood in return. Elnok’s face softened, and his brows furrowed—an intention in his features leaving Sylzenya at a loss for words.

“How does this feel?” he whispered, pulling her closer to him, heat rising in her lower belly as she obeyed his implicit requests.

It felt… it felt like everything. While this salve did far more than most, a strong mint leaf, no doubt, it was his skin on hers, showing her a gentleness where she typically only felt pain.

He touched her like she was sacred.

“It feels fine,” she said, trying not to let her emotions show, a small sob sitting in the back of her throat.

“And how about this?”

He leaned in, pursing his lips and lightly blowing on her scar. Wings fluttered in her stomach. She leaned further into his touch. Blowing on her skin again, his lips ever so lightly grazed her shoulder blade.

Sylzenya’s breath hitched.

“I see,” he said in a low voice, a small smile on his lips.

Before she could respond, his other hand gripped her waist, pulling her closer to his warm body. Everything within her succumbed to him. She turned, letting the robe slip down her arms. Elnok ran his palm up to her side, his rough hands a balance to her soft skin.

“Sylzenya,” he whispered, extending his face towards her, his eyes dipping to her lips. “You are…”

His words were lost in the air, in his breaths and in his touch, in Sylzenya’s want for more of this. More ofhim. She leaned forward, wanting to know what his lips felt like on hers?—

No.

Reality split her open like another cut on her back. Collecting herself, she quickly pulled her robe back on her body, stepping away from Elnok, his hands sliding from her waist.

He stood up, eyes blinking as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Sylzenya, my apologies.”

“No, no, it’s alright.”

“I’m just so tired, and things are stressfu?—”

“I understand,” she assured him. “Thanks for the salve and I hope you have a good night.”

Without another word she disappeared behind the makeshift curtain. She ignored the shuffling of his feet as he blew out the flame.

The undeniable pulse between her legs ached with longing for Elnok. But she had to stop herself,neededto. There was no point in getting physically involved with this prince, or whatever he really was, because they would part once they found Aretta’s Willow. This wasn’t a time for distractions.

Forcing herself to forget, she closed her eyes, trying to think about the compass, getting to Aretta’s Willow, escaping monsters?—

But then her hip burned, the shape of his hand seared into her skin. All she could imagine was his full lips on hers, his hard stomach underneath her fingernails, his hair tangled in her fingers.

He was insufferable, yet he was kind. Dangerous and handsome. Sarcastic and courageous. She wanted that dirty mouth of his on hers, on every part of her body. He was rough when he wrapped her in his ropes and blackmailed her, but gentle as he bathed her back in his salve, worshiping the most sensitive parts of herself.

He was a living contradiction, and she only wanted more.

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