Page 380 of Shadowblood Souls
I would give up my own life if it comes to that. There’s no sacrifice that wouldn’t be worth it.
Better to die knowing I gave them everything I could than to live with the awareness that I was nothing more than their downfall.
The unsettling thoughts finally loosen my need to hold on to her. What we’re doing here isn’t going to save anyone.
I take a step back, ignoring the protests of my desire pleading for more. “I guess we’d better get on with washing up.”
Riva smiles bright enough to almost compensate for the loss of her embrace and tugs her bra and tee back on. I collect my shirt from the ground and pull it over my head reluctantly.
But I haven’t lost her yet. She curls her fingers around mine to walk with me down the mountainside.
The guardians keeping watch have stayed far enough back in the jungle that I’m not sure Riva will see them. I can sense their presence, their mix of boredom and apprehension—and the jolts of alertness when they spot us coming into view.
I head straight for the riverbank at the base of the waterfall and slip over the coarse grass along the water’s edge to plunge in waist deep.
Riva dips her feet in with a wince, though nothing on the island is really cold. It’s more lukewarm.
I wade around, adjusting my pants so the current will carry away the outcome of our interlude and trying not to think about exactly what I’m doing. But Riva’s gaze follows me, and my face gradually flushes hotter until I think it might burn right off.
I sensed her with the other guys that night in the abandoned hotel. I didn’t set out to pry, but with the invisible bonds we’ve already formed, it’s hard not to pick up on how they’re feeling when they’re nearby.
I know how much pleasure they gave her and how much enthusiasm they brought to the task.Theyall know that side of her so much better than I do, even when I can read her from the inside out.
How can I catch up when I’m not even totally sure how to feel anymore?
But I also know that she doesn’t care. There’s nothing in her now as she watches me except the warm glow of affection and a little worry that I can tell is for my own well-being, not hers.
And when I walk over to where she’s sitting on the bank, my clothes clinging to my frame and my hair slicked back, a flare of desire sears through her too.
She doesn’t let it show other than the brief flick of her tongue over her lips. The tiny movement acts like a magnet, drawing me in.
Without speaking, I step right up to her, set my hand on her cheek, and kiss her.
Riva trails her hands down my chest, the heat of them seeping through the damp fabric of my shirt. I wish it was off again—I wish I’d never put it back on.
Maybe Riva’s thoughts are traveling along similar lines. When our mouths part, she leans close so only I can hear her whisper. “There are a lot of places I haven’t gotten to touch you yet.”
I swear my dick rises to half-mast in an instant, as if volunteering for duty.
I lower my head to nibble her jaw where I know I can set off a spark of bliss before answering. “I’ve missed out too.”
“Hmm. But I bet the guardians are monitoring us out here.”
“Yes.” I drink in her heat and the flavor of her desire, and an impulse grips me that I can’t shake. “But we could work around that.”
She cocks her head, but before she can voice her question, I scoop her off the bank. As Riva lets out a gasp of startled laughter, I push through the current to the waterfall—and propel us right under it.
The torrent washes right over us and then we’re mostly beyond it. I press Riva up against the wet rock beneath, heedless of the current streaming down my back.
I was already soaked anyway. And back here, no one can see what we’re doing.
No one can hear the breathier gasp that escapes her when I trace my fingers right down the center of her to the apex of her thighs.
When I stroke over the spot that before I only bucked against artlessly, Riva’s fingers clench in my shirt. If I had any doubts about whether I’m moving too quickly, she dispels them with the yank of my mouth to hers.
I don’t know how much more time the guardians will give us. So I’m going to make sure I leave her with the best possible memories of our reunion.
I delve my hand under the waistband of her track pants and her panties. At the feel of her slick folds, I groan against her mouth.
