Page 160 of Fallen Stars
He looked over to her as she approached, a wide smile on his face. Hewas rubbing the silk of her underwear between his hands and a thrill raced through her.
“So I take it I won?” she said. “Shocker.”
He opened his arms, and she went instantly to him, savouring his warmth and smell.
He turned her so she was in front of him, enclosed within his arms as the two looked out to the landscape.
“You are a cruel, cruel mistress,” he murmured onto her neck, the hand in front of her rubbing the silk again.
“Well, you know how much I hate losing.”
He pushed her underwear down, pointing to the landscape in front of them.
“I’ve never been to Altalune,” Enzo murmured.
“That makes two of us,” she replied as his breath prickled at her skin.
Enzo’s hands wrapped around her waist, pressing her even further into his bare chest. She could hear his heart thudding against her back, her love so very alive.
“What do you say we go and explore a little?” The suggestion laced his question.
Elara hesitated. Now was the time. If they left the ship, she would have no excuse, nothing to distract her or hide herself from Enzo. The moment they set foot on a rowboat, she would have to tell him the truth. The truth of the bargain she made with Ariete.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t leave them all,” she said, nodding back to the cabin where she could hear foul curses from Adrian and laughs from the others.
“Elara,” Enzo said, “we’re getting off this ship right now.”
She gulped, looking back to the safety of the deck.
“We finally have a moment to ourselves, and I do not intend to waste it,” Enzo murmured. He ran his nose down the column of her neck, and she gripped on to the railing as every nerve ending rippled with fire.
Elara let out a soft moan against her will.
“I think we need to leave now, if you have any hope of not being spread upon this deck for me,” he said.
Elara’s eyes fluttered shut, her body taking over, giving in to her desire. “We can’t venture far.”
“The beach will be far enough.” There was a desperation to his tone that turned it harsh, and Elara nearly swooned at the sound of being so wanted.
Enzo dragged her below deck to a rowboat, catching the din of the others still in the cabin. She could hear Isra cursing at Eli and Adrian laughing, the others murmuring, and she thanked the heavens for bringing the people she loved together, if only for this one perfect night.
Enzo quietly picked up the oars, loosening the rope tying it to the ship, and after he helped Elara in and she settled, he began rowing towards the cove.
It was even more breathtaking the closer they rowed to it. Elara looked below, her jaw slackening as she saw the shimmering water. It looked like it held sunsets within it, every colour of the rainbow shimmering and darting around her. She dipped a finger in, the water surprisingly warm. When she pulled it away, she became even more shocked.
“Look Enzo,” she whispered. Her hand was coated in the shimmer, shining iridescently in the moonlight as though she had been dipped in sugardust.
“Beautiful,” Enzo murmured, but he was looking at her.
She smiled, eyes softening.
“Come here,” he murmured. “I need you close.”
Elara was careful not to upset the boat as she stood, gingerly taking a few steps towards him. Her heart drummed faster the closer they got to the shore, the impending truth on the tip of her tongue. But with it, confusing her anxiety, was desire, flooding through her at the concept that tonight might finally be the night that she got to make love to her soulmate once more.
Enzo nodded impatiently to his lap, and she gave a hum of contentment as she straddled him, wrapping her legs around him and nestling in.
And at that point, she realised she still had no underwear on.