Page 104 of Heavenly Bodies

‘That the thought of me with another woman truly doesn’t bother you.’

He shifted on his side to look at her, and she couldn’t tear her gaze from his. The Light beating down on him illuminated every feature. His eyes were so molten that every shade of his magick seemed to flicker and shift around his irises. His skin glowed. He ran a hand through his black hair, pushing it back off his face. She swallowed the lump in her throat as her eyes followed the motion.

‘It wouldn’t faze you—’ his hand caught hers as he dragged a thumb down her palm ‘—for me to hold her hand like this.’

Her breathing shallowed as her entire focus went to that one gesture.

‘To kiss her neck.’

His fingers trailed over her collarbones, scraping the sensitive point by her jaw. He shifted closer.

‘Her lips.’

His thumb brushed her parted mouth as his fingers weaved through her hair.

‘To pull her hair the way I like.’ He tugged for emphasis and a ragged breath escaped Elara. Enzo rolled so he was over her but not touching, his arms bracing on either side of her. His hair fell between them as he dipped his head to her lips.

‘To not just make love to her, but to worship her.’ His lips were a hair’s breadth away. If she breathed deeply, her lips would touch his.

‘Wasn’t that what you wanted, princess? Reverence?’

He smiled slowly at his prey as she stifled a moan. His body blocked out the Light so they were cocooned in their own darkness.

‘Would it really not bother you, Elara?’ he murmured.

‘Yes,’ she breathed. ‘Yes, I would care.’

‘Finally.’ He sprang off her, leaving her blindsided and shutting her eyes against what she had admitted. Realizing what she had done, Elara rose. Without a word, her cheeks flushing red, she stomped to the water’s edge. She refused to meet his eyes as she stripped down to her undergarments, making sure the duskglass was safely still in her skirt pocket, and waded in.

The cerulean waters lapped against her like a soul called back to their beloved. The Light’s rays hung low in the sky as she waded out, up to her waist, then her chest, until finally she was weightless, floating. She dived under the gentle waves, opening her eyes as she flipped on her back. The clear water cooled her racing thoughts, snapping her out of her lust.

Bronzed skin dipped and rose, and she saw Enzo’s powerful body cutting through the waves, droplets like diamonds spraying through the air. She scowled as he reached her with a smile, shaking salt from his damp curls. She lay on her back as he trod water.

‘Ignoring me now?’ He flicked water at her. She shot him her most scathing look before pushing herself further away.

‘For the record, princess, I feel the same.’

Her arms stopped gliding in the water, and she tipped herself forwards.

‘Is that so?’ she asked primly, still not making eye contact. Enzo swam closer.

‘Elara, if you were in Aphrodea without me during the solstice,’ he raised his hands in exasperation, ‘I would burn the kingdom to the ground.’

Her eyes flew to him. ‘What?’

‘You heard what I said.’

Her heart raced, the words coming before she could stopthem. ‘If you really feel that way, then why haven’t you kissed me again?’

Enzo looked at her incredulously. She searched his face for a moment, poison on her tongue. ‘Or do you need Torra’s charm to do that?’

His eyes widened, and she shook her head, stretching her arms to swim away. His hand grabbed her wrist, yanking her back to him. Her body slammed against his in the water.

‘You wonder why I haven’t kissed you again?’ he murmured. ‘It’s all I’ve fucking thought about. You plague me, Elara. And that damned charm…I didn’t know if that was the only reasonyoukissedme.’

‘Enzo, I wanted to. I—I still want to,’ she admitted.

He stared at her, a realization shining in his eyes so brightly that she almost tore away. In one movement, he pulled her flush to him. Her legs curled around his waist instinctively as she gasped, and her arms wrapped around his bare neck. She inhaled his scent, salt and amber. His thumbs grazed her waist, her soaked undergown thin against it. She suppressed a shiver.