Page 26 of Shadow of Eternal Flames

“Three.”

She could feel his breath, feel the pounding of his heart beating against hers.

“Two,” his voice softened.

Protego let go of Primrose’s hand and wrapped his around the back of her neck. Feeling the warmth of his skin, she knew she couldn’t tell him no, not when she considered how badly she wanted this. He opened his mouth, and she breathed in deeply, her loneliness that always filled the hollow void in her chest dissipating into nothing. Primrose had grown used to the loneliness—the sadness that followed her wherever she went. Today was different. In its place, lust and joy. She looked down at his lips.

“One,” Protego whispered before claiming Primrose’s mouth. She felt as though she was a candle, and Protego had just lit her flame, a fire growing inside of her. She pressed against him, and he fell back towards the brick wall. Their hips bucked into each other, limbs intertwining as they fueled each other’s passion. They melted against one another, bodies molding into one as their tongues touched.This is sensual. This is real,Primrose thought to herself. Heat rose in her core as she thought of all the other things she wished they could be doing. She lightly clawed at his back, and he moaned, the sound sending shivers through Primrose’s body.

“I want to kiss you everywhere. You deserve ecstasy,” Protego whispered in her ear. The feeling of his breath against her neck made Primrose glow. Lust became her primary emotion, overwhelming her senses. Protego broke away first, panting as his ruby eyes met hers.

“What are you doing?” he asked in a deep, raspy voice as Primrose turned away.

“Enjoying myself for once.” She turned back and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek, “Let’s go back to the festival.”

Protego adjusted his trousers to conceal his arousal and followed Primrose down the street towards the central part of town. The alleyway was dim from the shadows of an overarching building, and Primrose’s eyes had to adjust to the sunlight. They both radiated as they walked into the bustling crowd. Protego found a shack selling meat skewers and purchased a few for them to share. They sat on metal chairs by a table outside the pastry shop, and people watched as they talked about everything imaginable.

Protego caught Primrose staring at a particularly beautiful woman with long, curly brown hair and a silk dress.

“Who is she?” Protego poised, waiting on Primrose’s suggestion.

“Quite possibly the next girl I kiss.” She grinned and Protego looked at her, jealousy flickering in his stare.

“The next?” His eyebrows raised in amusement.

“Oh, I’m sorry, was I somehow your first kiss?”

“Ouch! You were…” he paused. “Not my first kiss. Since when did you have time to be kissing young men and women?”

“My parents used to throw parties a few times a year so Sera and I could socialize with others our age. Sometimes, we would sneak a guy or gal into a cabinet or closet to…you know. It was fun! Although now the only person Sera would sneak away with is Haruka.” She smiled.

Protego looked back at the crowd, scanning for others to analyze.

“She’s going through a breakup,” Primrose suggested, gesturing to a dark brown young woman who danced alone in a finely-made yellow gown. The sunshine yellow dress accentuated the glow of her complexion.

“Where do you see that?”

“She put on the prettiest dress I’ve ever seen; there’s no way it isn’t for revenge. He probably cheated, and now she wants him to regret it. Oh! What about him?” Primrose pointed to a pale, sick-looking young man sitting alone, nearly weeping as he watched the crowd.

“Maybe that’s the guy she dumped,” he suggested.

Primrose shook her head, “No way! She’swaytoo pretty for him.”

“Ouch. What if his mom died or something....”

“Well, thanks, now I’m the asshole.” Primrose let out a little laugh.

“And… her?” Protego pointed back at Primrose.

“She’s engaged to someone she doesn’t love but spends her days with someone she could see herself loving, but she’ll never be allowed to have.” Primrose’s mouth gaped at her own spark of bravery.

“What if she could? What if she could have whatever she wanted?” he suggested.

“She won’t ever have it, though, so why wonder about what-if’s…What do you see?”

“I see a very lost woman and a man trying to help her become found.” He reached for her hand, interlocking their fingers.

“I want to do something I’ve never done before,” Primrose said smiling.

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