Page 47 of Daughter of the Darkened City

It was silent for a beat. “He’s my oldest and closest friend, besides my sister.”

“And she’s bad?” Enid asked softly. Was that the right thing to do? Did Avenay want to talk about it? Or would she wish Enid had never brought it up?

“She is.” Avenay’s voice was thick with emotion. “I knew she was getting worse, but I didn’t know she had so little time.”

Enid took her hands in her own, rubbing them soothingly. “Do you want to continue on this mission?”

Avenay nodded, her words choking out like a sob as she said, "We’re so close. I can feel it. If there’s a chance, I have to take it.”

Enid tugged on Avenay’s hands, making her sit on her lap, rubbing her back.

Avenay let out a shaky laugh. “I’m supposed to be helping you with your wounds.”

Enid brushed the tear from Avenay’s cheek. “You did. Now, let me help with yours.”

Avenay turned to face her fully, so close they could share a breath. Enid wanted to share that breath and many more. She wanted to know every ridge of Avenay’s mouth, how Avenay’s lips felt against her skin.

“I can’t wait for a safer time to come. I can’t wait for the path and dangers to be mapped out. IfThe Tales of Lemiaare based on any truth, then I have to cling to the hope that there is a cure for my sister.”

Enid squeezed her hand. “If there is, I promise you this, Avenay, I will do everything in my power to get you the cure and get you back safely to your sister.”

“Thank you.” Avenay squeezed her hand in return. “I suppose we should head back to camp.”

Avenay stepped away, but Enid grasped her hand tighter, then tugged, setting the seraphe off balance with a yelp, but caught her, pulling Avenay into her arms. She knocked Avenay’s legs apart and pulled her onto her thigh. Enid grabbed behind her head and pulled her into a kiss, passionate and long, her other hand slipping up Avenay’s thigh. Maybe Enid would regret this later. Maybe she would find her heart shattered into tiny little pieces when this inevitably crashed and burned, when Avenay realized how much more she deserved.

But Enid was already broken. So what if those fragments shattered more?

“Enid, I…” But Avenay’s voice was cut off by a moan as Enid kissed down her neck. “I…” She tilted her head back, frowning from pleasure, sending a wave of wicked satisfaction through Enid. Shekissed down Avenay’s collarbone, over the swell of her breast, deftly unbuttoning her top. Avenay whimpered and Enid squeezed once before swirling her tongue on her nipple. Avenay arched into the touch, her fingers digging into Enid’s shoulder.

Their lips met again, clamoring for more touch, more closeness. Enid let herself drift away in their kisses, as she usually did, but this time it was different. Usually, she felt a wonderful senselessness, her body taking over, her sensations so strong she was lost to anything else. Not this time. That line that existed between them only grew stronger, tighter, as if she could feel what Avenay felt.

Avenay’s hand slipped from Enid’s shoulder, down below her unbuttoned blouse, resting like a question above her breast. Enid bit down on Avenay’s lip, their harried breaths falling into the other’s mouth as she grabbed Avenay’s hand and guided it to her breast. Avenay massaged there slowly, focusing on her nipple, and white hot pleasure throbbed between her legs.

“Oh Avenay,” Enid groaned into her mouth, shifting and taking Avenay to the ground, hovering over her. She kissed her neck, loosening the ties on Avenay’s shirt, unbuttoning it to reveal a soft corset, her breasts held in the gentle shape of it, rising and falling witheach heavy breath. Enid kissed the tops of them, licking over the swell and down between them as she unlaced the corset.

When it loosened, Enid took the left breast in her mouth, sucking softly at first, then harder, swirling her tongue over the bud. Avenay groaned, arching into her and Enid snaked her arm under the seraphe, tugging her close, never ceasing her ministrations. Fingers sifted through Enid’s hair, finding her horns and rubbing gently along the edge. She shuddered and moaned.

“Oh…” Avenay said, realization in her voice.

Enid felt wild, crazy, insane. She inhaled the scent of Avenay, jasmine and honeysuckle,as she placed harried kisses around her breasts, her ribs, her navel. She came to her trousers and unbuttoned them only for Avenay to grab her chin and make her look up.

Fear sliced through her desire. Would Avenay regret this? Was she already? Enid wanted her—every beat of her heart seemed to sing Avenay’s name, searching for Avenay’s very own pulse.

“I’m filthy, Enid,” Avenay said, giving an awkward chuckle.

Enid kissed her navel again and smirked. “I think I like you filthy.”

Avenay rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

Enid did, but her senses were so buzzed she wasn’t certain she would notice. But Avenay shifted and tugged Enid to her feet. Eniddidn’t like this change, but she did appreciate the generous view it gave her of Avenay’s large breasts and the gentle swell of her hips.

“We should wait until we can be clean,” Avenay said, her own eyes taking in Enid’s bare form.

Enid kissed her again, Avenay grasping her wrists and returning the kiss. She slid Avenay’s top and corset fully off, then her pants, Avenay looking at her with a deep longing. Then she grabbed her hand and led her to the water.

“Let me clean you up then,” Enid said as they walked deeper into the water.

The moonlight hit Avenay’s black curls in silver light, the seraphe gazing at her with deep longing. Enid turned her so her ass was against Enid’s front. She took the soap and carefully massaged its foam over Avenay’s body, watching as she breathed heavily, her head falling back on Enid’s shoulder, eyes closed in bliss. She slowly and gently touched her, teasing her breasts and nipples.

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