Page 123 of Heavenly Bodies

‘It’s casual,’ she replied, her eyes roving up and down the woman’s body.

Elara’s eyes narrowed as someone else slunk over to Enzo’s side—Raina, the chestnut-haired girl from her first night at the palace. She started to vie for Enzo’s attention but, to Elara’s relief, she rapidly tired of being ignored and walked off.

Steeling her nerves, Elara began to walk, Merissa and Isra falling into step. They took their time down the long aisle ofthe throne room. Elara barely registered the sweet scent of the smoke that filled the air and the bodies writhing in the shadows of the room, dancing and grinding, or moving and moaning in nooks behind gauze sheets that lined the cavernous room’s walls. Her eyes never left Enzo as she took her time, willing him to look at her.

She saw his body go rigid as though he sensed her before he saw her. His gaze flew to her. They locked eyes, the cup of ambrosia in his hand falling to the floor as a predatory look came over his face. His lips parted. Leo turned to see what had caused Enzo’s commotion and laid eyes on Merissa. He choked on the smoke he was inhaling, spluttering a cough. Elara bit back a smile.

She didn’t notice exactly when Isra and Merissa peeled off, only that she was suddenly alone, steps away from Enzo’s throne, close enough to smell the intoxicating amber scent that followed him everywhere. He straightened in his chair, a muscle in his jaw ticking.

‘Elara.’ The words were low, said in a voice she didn’t recognize, and her name uttered by that wicked mouth of his sent a coil of heat from her stomach to her core.

‘Prince.’ Her reply was barely a breath.

His jaw clenched, and she saw his hand curl against the arm of the chair as he leaned forwards. ‘I thought that maybe you wouldn’t attend tonight.’

She tilted her head. ‘Did you miss me?’

His gaze trailed from the pools of her chiffon skirt, right up the slit of her gown. He moved in his throne and met her gaze, his usual charm and composure sliding on like a mask.

‘Always.’ He smiled that same lion’s smile as he stood.

He extended a hand to her, his sleeves rolled to show his broad muscled arms, taut with tension. ‘Come with me,’ he commanded.

She leaned into him. ‘I think I’ve changed my mind about taking orders from you.’

A low sound escaped him before he replied. ‘You have seconds, princess,’ he said quietly, ‘before the very little restraint I have disappears and I decide I don’t mind an audience.’

She took his hand, nerves thrilling through her, as Enzo led her to the shadows. Parting sheer gauze, anticipation threatened to engulf her at what lay in front of her. Furs lined the small compartment, one of many that had lined the walls of the throne room, just for the night. A low divan sat at the centre, food spread on platters on a table beside it. A large glass pipe was positioned near the seats. At one with the solstice, her dark side taking over, she turned to Enzo who followed in behind her, pulling the gauze closed. She pushed him down on the divan, and he laughed softly.

She joined him, straddling him, and with a moan, his lips crashed against hers. He was hot—feverish. She revelled in his heat as his fire-touched fingers ran down her bare back. His tongue claimed hers, sweeping her mouth. She revelled in him, aware that in a few moments, Enzo would be able to completely unravel her.

He wrapped his hand around the length of her ponytail. ‘I like this,’ he murmured against her neck, pulling it sharply for emphasis so her nape remained bare. Desire rushed through Elara instantly, longing for more. She ground against him, feeling him hard underneath her, and he rumbled in response. She remained there, her hair tight in his fist as he licked and kissed her neck, her moans filling the space. Then, slowly, as though he had all the time in the world, he let go, sitting up further on the divan as she remained straddling him.

‘You look sinful.’ He reached for the pipe.

She snickered. ‘I never was that devout.’

Enzo wet his lips, looking at hers. ‘Do you want some?’ he asked, offering her the pipe, his voice low. Her mind was already hazy from the smoke and liquor, and she found herself nodding, biting her lip.

‘Aphrosmoke,’ he said, his eyes black. ‘Some claim it’s an aphrodisiac. Not that I think I will ever need that around you.’ He sucked on the pipe deeply, his eyes never leaving her face, and she watched his lips.

‘Open your mouth, princess,’ he said through a held breath, his rough thumb brushing her lips open. Then he brought his own a hair’s breadth from her and blew the sweet smoke into her mouth. She inhaled it hungrily, tasting a hint of candyfloss on the smoke, the act of intimacy setting flames to her as the sweet vapour dissipated quickly into her bloodstream. The taste reminded her of the clouds in Aphrodea.

The world fell away, the only feeling her pulse pounding from her core to her heart and back, driving pleasure through her veins. She moaned, arching her back as she let her head fall. Alive with carnality and uninhibited courage from the aphrosmoke, her eyes fell on the nearest platter of food. Enzo followed her gaze, seeing the chocolate-covered gildberries there.

‘I remembered how much you loved them,’ he murmured as he reached to pluck one from the platter. ‘How I watched you eat one, those beautiful lips of yours sucking and swirling around it as you looked at me.’ He drew closer, voice low. ‘I remember thinking to myself that I had never been so envious of a piece of fruit before.’ He raised the small fruit between them.

Holding his stare, she licked the gildberry he’d extended and moaned in pleasure, desire coursing through her at the flavour and his words. He rumbled his approval, his handsroaming over her body, exploring every inch with greed. Then, steel in her silver eyes and hazed with the drug, she took the gildberry from him and sank her mouth around two of his fingers, sucking the melted chocolate off them.

He cursed under his breath. ‘Elara,’ he pleaded, need heavy in his voice, as his thumb stroked her hipbone. Then he stilled.

‘Elara Bellereve. Please, Stars, tell me you’re wearing underwear.’

She gave a knowing smile as she raised a brow. ‘Why? What can you feel?’

His neck strained as he let out a long breath, looking to the ceiling. ‘Your plan all those months ago is working. You’re trying to fucking kill me.’

She laughed, reaching to kiss him, but he stilled her.