Page 14 of Waves
Demanding.
Commanding.
My throat dried out as my eyes flitted over to the full mattress laid out on the floor of my tent. There was no frame, but the bedding itself was fluffy enough that it rose a good two feet from the tent floor and was lit by a single floating sphere offin the right corner. My pale sheets and comforter were neat and tucked in but had never looked so intimidating.
Fluttering filled my stomach and my response was breathy. “Alright. How?”
“Your wings were hurt?”
I nodded.
“Sit on the end so I can get behind you.”
Perching delicately, I flared my wings out for his inspection. Though I didn’t feel a jot of pain anymore, I didn’t mention that because I wasveryinterested to see what Felipe thought he could do about it.
The water rippled and I turned to look over at him, realizing his mer tail was gone. In its place, he had his spelled human legs encased in a pair of tight black pants and black boots. His broad chest was shirtless.
My lungs froze and I quickly whipped my head back to face the plain side of the tent in front of me, nerves jangling.
As he climbed onto the bed behind me, I felt his weight shifting the mattress. He was so close that I imagined I felt him against me, though I knew I couldn’t.
But then he leaned forward. His masculine scent surrounded me as he murmured, “I’m going to touch you now.”
God.
My thighs clenched even though I knew his words were innocent. Caring and not daring. But I’d dreamt of Felipe in my room, on my bed, and my body’s reaction couldn’t be helped.
“Of course.” Dammit all, my voice came out like a nervous squeak.
A tender touch began on the tip of my wing and traveled down the top edge of it toward my spine in a slow, mesmerizing line that made my eyelids start to close. Even though his hands were calloused, his caress was so light and smooth… soft.
My wings were barely ever touched and this…this moment was showing me that was clearly an error I needed to rectify. The silky glide of his fingertips unfurled a sense of relaxation I didn’t know was possible. Relaxation coupled with acute awareness.
“Did that hurt at all?” Felipe’s warm breath ghosted over the back of my neck. If he just lowered his lips the slightest bit, he would kiss my neck.
“No.” I whispered.
Anticipation curled my toes.
“Good.”
His other hand carefully traced the other side and by the time he finished, I was certain my spine had melted. A bewitched smile sat on my lips, and I wanted to purr like a kitten.
“That one?”
“No. But maybe you should check again. Just in case.”
“Of course.” The mattress moved and his legs stretched out on either side of me and bracketed my hips. The warmth of his body soaked into mine in the most exquisite way. And then he touched both wingtips at the same time.
My soul danced as his sunshine fingers lit me up.
My eyes closed and my head fell back against his chest as his hands moved slowly back and forth on my wings. Over the tops. Down the back. Along the joints where they emerged from my skin. Tracing soft circles. Brilliant sensations wove through me, and I hummed gently in appreciation. His soft massage continued and he wrung tension from me bit by bit, the constant touch kept me utterly focused on the present moment instead of berating myself for the past or dreading the future. Only focused on his touch.
Him.
There was a slight catch in his breath when he got to the base of my wings in the middle of my back. “Your shirt…” he trailed off.
Heat billowed up my spine and reddened my cheeks. But it also tunneled in the other direction and my lower belly caught fire. “Go ahead,” I murmured.
