Page 130 of Heavenly Bodies

At that, his thumb stroked over her sex, and she threw her head back, shuddering. The circles became more and more concentrated as he embraced her, his thumb still working. He blew out a breath, his jaw clenching.

She devoured him with her mouth, wanting every part of him within her, forgetting all the pressure, the rules, the impending doom. She moaned louder as Enzo worked a finger inside of her, fire rippling through her. She began to circle her hips against him, and he cursed under his breath as he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist as he pressured the soft spot inside her that longed for release with languid strokes. She tried to reach for him under the water, but he grabbed her hand.

‘Not tonight,’ he said roughly. ‘I want to watch as you come for me.’

She looked at him. His words brought her so close to climax, she thought she would scream over the water. Sensing her arousal, he pushed a second finger into her. She bitinto his shoulder to stop herself from crying out, and that only made him groan in approval. He pressed harder and deeper as his thumb stroked her sensitive bud. She felt the build like a tidal wave roaring and cresting. It rose within her, too fast to take hold of. Pleading, she continued to grind against his fingers, his strong arms holding her.

‘Enzo,’ she moaned, frantic.

‘Lie to me now,’ he hissed. ‘Tell me as you ride my fingers that we’rejust friends.Tell me as I feel you thatyoufeel nothing.’ There was rage in his voice, desperation.

Elara slowed, her heart hammering as pleasure invaded her. She was so close.

‘You want me to let you finish, hm?’ he breathed, biting her neck.

‘Yes,’ she pleaded, seconds away.

His fingers stilled, and she reeled back, her high ripped from her.

‘What are you—?’

‘Then admit it, just to me,’ he breathed, his other hand grasping her jaw as he shared her exhale as though it was his life force. Her breaths came unevenly as his hand began to work slowly, the pressure building again.

‘I’m a liar,’ she sighed.

‘I know you are,’ he murmured back. ‘Now come for me, Elara.’

It was the final straw. The wave crashed, and she shattered around him, clenching as he continued to work his fingers. Her climax ebbed and flowed, gold glittering around her until she finally fell back to reality. She gripped his shoulders, her chest against his as she breathed heavily. He slowly eased his fingers out of her and sat her back down, kissing her brow.

‘I’ve wanted to make you come since the moment youignored me at our first meal,’ he said, staring at her intently. His eyes were every bit that of the Lion from the stories, terrifying and magnetic. As though realizing it himself, his face softened, his eyes growing lighter. The last shivers of bliss seeped out of her, the daze clearing enough for her to collect her thoughts—truths that she had wanted to speak aloud since she’d turned him away at her door.

‘Enzo…’ She looked to the ceiling. ‘What I feel for you…I’ve never felt for anyone before. But we both know the prophecy. You know what’s happening to my kingdom. I can’t fall into this with you. The only ending I see is one filled with pain for us.’

He pressed his lips together, resigned. ‘If that’s truly what you want.’

‘It’s not what I want. But it’s what we both need.’ Elara tried to steel her will.

Enzo was quiet for a long time. ‘Fine,’ he finally sighed. ‘Let’s get you to bed. You need to rest for what’s to come.’ He turned, his back rippling as he called over his shoulder, ‘I have a feeling you’ll sleep better now.’

They walked in silence, Elara so lost in her thoughts, she could barely string a sentence together. When they arrived before her door, Enzo leaned against the wall as he looked at her.

‘Elara, tomorrow the god of war will come. We will fight together. Just as we’ve trained. And I just…I want you to remember that you’re a fucking dragun. That you will beat Ariete, even without my help. I know it.’

Elara felt her heart beginning to crack.

‘Anyway, that’s…that’s all I wanted to say,’ Enzo sighed. ‘Until tomorrow.’

‘Until tomorrow,’ Elara whispered, watching him walk away.

And it was as she saw him turn the corner and vanish from her sight that fear began to engulf her. A terror that perhaps, despite her conviction, she might die tomorrow, with so much in her heart left unsaid.

It was that thought, and Enzo’s last words, that forced Elara to slip out of her room and out of the palace gates, to the only person she thought might have the answers she sought.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

‘I didn’t know where else to go,’ she said quietly, sinking into the comforting warmth of Isra’s doorway.

Isra softened, embracing Elara. ‘What’s happened?’