Page 14 of Accidentally Ever After
I followed his guidance, letting my fingers drift further onto the wing’s surface. The effect was immediate—his wings trembled, and a soft sound escaped his throat.
“Like that?” I asked, my own voice unsteady.
“Yes,” he said, the word almost a sigh. “Few sensations compare.”
Fascinated by his responses, I continued my careful exploration, mapping the increasing sensitivity as I moved closer to where the wing joined his back. His reactions were intoxicating—each touch drawing a different sound or expression of pleasure.
“The underside,” he said, voice strained, “is even more sensitive.”
Without thinking, I slipped my hand beneath his wing, brushing my fingertips against the underside of the membrane. The effect was dramatic—Caelen’s entire body tensed, his head falling back as a moan escaped him. The patterns on his skin began to glow more noticeably, pulsing with inner light.
“Fuck,” I breathed, stunned by the intensity of his response.
His eyes opened, now so dark they were nearly black. “Indeed,” he said roughly. Then, with movements almost too quick to follow, he shifted, pulling me toward him until I was half in his lap, his mouth claiming mine in a hungry kiss.
This wasn’t like our kiss in the grotto—that had been exploratory, testing. This was devouring. His lips moved against mine with desperate need, his tongue sliding into my mouth with a confidence that made my head spin. I kissed him back just as fiercely, my hands finding purchase on his shoulders.
One of his hands tangled in my hair, the other at my waist, pulling me more firmly against him. I could feel the hard planes of his chest against mine, the unmistakable evidence of his arousal pressing against my hip.
His wings enfolded us both, creating that intimate cocoon I remembered from the grotto. The contact seemed to intensify everything—each touch, each breath more electric. I let my hands slide from his shoulders to his back, fingers brushing the base where his wings emerged.
Caelen broke the kiss with a gasp, his entire body shuddering. “Blake,” he groaned, “if you touch me there, I cannot promise to maintain control.”
The raw need in his voice sent heat straight to my groin. “Maybe I don’t want you to maintain control,” I said, surprising myself with my boldness.
His eyes met mine, searching. “Are you certain? I promised not to rush you.”
In answer, I deliberately ran my fingers along the junction where his wings met his back.
The effect was instantaneous and stunning. Caelen’s back arched, his wings flaring wide before wrapping around us again. The patterns on his skin glowed brightly now, pulsing in time with his rapid heartbeat. A sound tore from his throat—something between a growl and a moan—and suddenly I found myself lifted and deposited on the couch, with Caelen’s weight pressing me into the cushions.
“You were warned,” he said, his voice rough with desire as he hovered over me.
“Consider me properly educated on wing sensitivity,” I replied, breathless from the sudden movement and the sight of him above me—eyes dark with lust, skin glowing, wings partially extended.
He laughed—a low, dangerous sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Your education has barely begun.”
Then his mouth was on mine again, more demanding than before. His hands slid under my shirt, cool against my heated skin, exploring with a reverence that contrasted with the hunger of his kiss. When his fingers brushed my nipples, I arched into the touch, gasping against his mouth.
“May I?” he asked, tugging at the hem of my shirt.
I nodded, lifting slightly to help him remove it. As the fabric cleared my head, I felt suddenly vulnerable—the first time I’dbeen shirtless in front of him. His eyes raked over my exposed torso, the intensity in his gaze making me feel like I was being devoured.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, tracing a finger along my collarbone, down my sternum, across my stomach. Each touch left a trail of tingling awareness in its wake.
“Your turn,” I said, reaching for the laces of his tunic.
He sat back on his heels, allowing me to unlace the front of his garment. As the fabric parted, revealing more of that pearlescent skin and defined muscle, I felt my mouth go dry. He shrugged out of the tunic with casual grace, and I was treated to the full sight of his torso—lean but powerfully built, with those subtle patterns flowing across his skin like living tattoos.
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” I said without thinking.
His lips curved in a pleased smile. “I am gratified you find me appealing.”
“Appealing is an understatement,” I muttered, reaching up to touch him.
As my hands explored his chest and abdomen, tracing the patterns that glowed brighter at my touch, Caelen’s wings trembled continuously. His eyes never left mine, watching my reactions with an intensity that was both thrilling and slightly unnerving.
“May I show you something?” he asked, his voice husky.
