Page 19 of Fate of the Fallen
Those concerns, and any that followed, evaporated around us like the steam rolling off our now-naked bodies. Flames threatened to blaze bright just beneath the surface of our skin, but we held it in, dispersing the unvented aggression in other ways.
At the thought, a firm grip seized my hip and the rough motion brought a satisfied smile to my lips. The next second … I was his, being claimed by my warrior for the first time.
I panted unashamedly as his rhythm, the power behind his every move, took my breath away. Despite a vehement effort to control myself, his name lingered on the tip of my tongue, and finally slipped from my lips to his ears. The sound of which stoking the passion between us.
Where my hands stretched above, gripping his chest, embers glowed just beneath them where we fought to contain our flames. Our dragons had responded in kind as our physical bodies connected, forming an intimate bond that ran deeper than any words could ever express. This act of passion proved something. Something I hadn’t questioned in a long time.
Every bit of who I was belonged to him.
*
Gentle kisses to my forehead, cheek, and finally my lips roused me awake.
“Morning, beautiful.”
That deep, melodic voice made me grin and I hadn’t even opened my eyes yet.
Half dazed, I blinked sleepily into his hazel stare, that handsomely rugged face I’d just seen in a dream. It comforted me through the night while he’d been away on a mission with my brothers, Dallas.
“I missed you,” I groaned, inching closer for another kiss. He returned it with two more. Remnants of the night’s fantasy still left my heart racing just being close to him now, and I guessed it would for a while.
Wet hair and fresh clothes meant he showered before waking me. I’d been worried sick about him, but wanted him to think I hadn’t let my nerves get the best of me. I didn’t like the idea of them being out there all night, chasing after the Sovereign but understood.
From what I could see, Liam was unharmed. Or, at least whatever injuries hedidhave were healed now. Still, I didn’t want to think about that, him getting hurt.
He seemed … distant, like his mind was elsewhere. At the feel of my hand against his cheek his wandering gaze settled on me.
“What is it?” I asked quietly, doing my best to hide the fear I felt in regards to what his answer might be.
When it took him a moment to respond, I knew. Knew something had gone wrong.
“ … Liam.”
He looked away, this time not bothering to pretend everything was okay.
“You can’t get worked up,” he said in the most soothing voice he could manage. “We have to be careful of that now, in your condition,” he clarified.
The warning only made things worse, only made memorecertain things hadn’t quite gone according to plan.
“It’s … Ivan,” he revealed, causing my heart to sink. “Before you panic, he’s alive, but … that’s aboutallwe know for now.”
I didn’t understand. “But I thought this was just recon? Why wereanyof you close enough for something like this to happen?”
“We moved in to get a better look around, to get more information,” was Liam’s explanation.
I sat up to focus. Sure, I worried a bit before falling asleep, but I was mildly comforted thinking last night was all about observation. Now, to hear they’d come face-to-face with someone from Sebastian’s camp?
And what Elise must be going through …
WhatLiammust be going through.
My hand went to his cheek and I was relieved to see he wasn’t hiding his emotions. I was sure, had anyone else been in the room, he would have concealed them. But he knew he could share anything with me.
“Are you okay?” I asked, despite knowing it was a stupid question. Ofcoursehe wasn’t okay.
“I’m trying to be,” he replied, giving the most honest answer he could.
I was terrified for Ivan, but it wasn’t lost on me that there was a difference betweenmybond with him, versus his with Liam. I cared, and there was an immediate sense of love and loyalty I felt toward Ivan andallmy brothers, but … this was all new. Their connection with Liam had withstood the test of time. It was solid.