Page 92 of Journey to the Elderoak
“Yes,” he rasped. She paused, waiting for him to say more. “I’ll take any piece of you that you’ll give me…but…”
“But?” she urged. “Tell me. All of it.”
He looked at her with tenderness, one hand gripping her hip while the other was still cupping her face, his thumb caressing her cheek. “I want all of you. Every smile, every frown. Every kiss and touch. I want your good moods and bad moods and everything in between. I want to fall asleep next to you and wake up entangled with each other.” She played with a strand of his hair as he poured out his heart. “I want to snuggle on the couch in silence as we read together. I want to wake up early and have tea with you on the balcony as we share our deepest fears. Or I want to lounge in bed and spend all morning holding you. I want to fight and argue with you and then I want to take you to bed to make up for it. I want to take you dancing to see the joy on your face as we spin around the room.” He moved both hands to her face as he continued. “I wantallof you. For eternity. I want the bond.” He kissed her forehead. “And there’s nothing I wouldn’t give you to ensure your happiness.”
She was in shock, unsure how to express the depth of heremotions. Because she wanted it too. Wanted all of what he said and more.
Casimir held her chin and pulled her into a kiss. It wasn’t feverish like last night, but slow and careful, like he was judging her reaction to his words. Her hands dove further into his hair as she kissed him back and couldn’t help but start moving against him.
His hands clenched her hips, guiding her along his hard length as his kisses moved down her neck to her collar bone. He gave her a nibble, licked her skin and a whine escaped from her throat.
More. She wanted more. Grasping his shirt, she lifted the hem, but his hands clasped her wrists and he stopped her.
“Not here,” he said.
She pouted. “What? We’re alone and have time and you’re saying no?”
“Trust me. We don’t have time.”
“Of course we do,” she said. “You’re ridiculous.”
He moved to her neck again and said to her in between kisses, “Like I told you last night. We don’t have enough time to do what I want to do to you. I want to go slow.” She moaned as he continued. “I want to explore each and every luscious curve of your body.” He moved lower, placing a kiss on the curve of her shoulder. “I want to learn what makes you whimper, what makes you moan, and what makes you scream.”
That mouth of his. Those words. It would be her undoing if he kept talking to her like that. Like he venerated her. Worshiped her.
“I want all of you too,” she said, trying to ignore the ache between her thighs as he pulled away.
“After the journey, when you’re fully fae.” His fingers traced her face. “We can talk about it. About us.”
“I’m probably going to get irritated and argue with you sometimes.”
“Good.”
“And you’ll get frustrated with me for getting distracted or not paying attention.”
“I will.” He quirked a brow.
They smiled at each other, and he kissed her again before scooting her off his lap and standing. She put her boots back on and stood, reaching for his hand.
They walked in silence, hand in hand, back to the castle to bathe, change and prepare for dinner with the group. The last dinner before she faced her darkest self tomorrow. The last dinner where she would be human should she succeed.
28
Ava dressed in her room, her stomach in knots as she pulled on her leather armor. Cursing to herself, she struggled adjusting the straps due to the shaking of her hands, when a knock sounded on the door.
“Ava,” Casimir said. “Do you need help?”
She sighed. “Yes.”
He walked in, stoic and reserved. There was no smirking or grinning. No flirting. No delicate touches or caresses. He was the general, preparing her for battle and he would not get distracted.
He stopped in front of her. “Let me,” he said, fastening the buckles on her chest piece and adjusting the ties at her waist. “Is it too tight?”
She moved around a bit. “No.”
“You need to eat.”
She shook her head. “I’ll throw it up anyway. I’ve been throwing up all morning.”
