Page 79 of When Eden Falls

“Come on, then,” he said. On opening my eyes, I found him extending his hand out to me. “I’ll dance with you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, come on. Get off your ass before I change my mind.”

With a wide, triumphant grin, I stood up and took his hand. He twirled me in and out before pulling me into a promenade position, swaying us gently. The movement was nothing like the Akquarian primal dance, it was more in line with an old fashioned,Alluran ballroom style. There was an innocence and grace to the movement.

Smiling up at him, I said, “I guess you’ll be asking Solarfleet for a pay rise when we get home.”

“For having to dance with my lieutenant to keep her happy? Definitely.”

I laughed, watching Rooke’s facial expression change into something a little more earnest.

“Do you think we’ll get home?” he asked.

“I hope so.”

“What do you miss the most?”

“Freedom. And underwear.” We laughed and I pondered the subject for a moment. “But what I really miss is the fresh smell that comes down from the hills every morning, along with the sound of the milk bike jangling over the cobbles outside. I miss quiz nights and pizza at the pub. And you bringing me coffee and pastries on Saturday mornings. Especially that.”

He smiled at the latter. “It’s funny, really.” He gazed down at me, a new tenderness settling in his eyes. “When I think of all the people and places I miss back home, I realise there’s one person who’s always in those memories. And she’s here with me now.”

Holding his gaze, I regarded his words, savouring the truth behind their meaning. A gentle breath escaped me as he tenderly brushed my cheek with the back of his fingers, then his thumb. Unable to fight the urge to close my eyes, I pressed into the warmth of his touch, smiling at the gesture, at the closeness this moment had given us.

Rooke’s position shifted under my hands. I wasn’t expecting the feel of his breath on my cheek, nor a feather like touch brushing against the top of my lip, circling back across the bottom one. I half opened my eyes and found his lips hovering, anticipating my reaction. Glimpsing at those sultry lips, I met his gaze. His actions were an invitation, one he seemed unsure of, but one I had no trouble in answering.

I lifted my head, bringing his lips closer. His breath fluttered against my skin. The scent of him filling every inch of me withexcitement. Heat flooded my body and the whole world fell silent as I closed the final gap bridging us.

His lips were warm and soft against my own. They felt like heaven.

We barely moved for the first few seconds, not until his lips took command and began to caress, torturing my senses. He gently coerced my mouth open, flicking his tongue against mine, and a small moan escaped me. Nux, I had wanted this for so long. I was worried I’d wake up and discover it was just another one of my dreams.

His fingers traced the outline of my curves, his hands settling on my waist before pulling me closer. The muscles of his body felt solid as I arched into them. I swept my hands up over his shoulders, into his hair, and the kiss intensified. Every waking part of me tingled; my head whirling in triumphant pleasure.

My back hit the wood of a trellis beam and Rooke pushed himself against me. So caught up in how passionate this was becoming, my confidence took root again. Subconsciously, I traced the toes of my right foot up the length of his trousered leg. Gravity pulled on the fabric of my skirt, exposing my leg the higher I lifted my knee. When it grazed against his waist, he grabbed my thigh, holding me in place. The warmth of his hand began to travel higher, cupping my buttock firmly, pulling me in even harder against him. It was his turn to moan into my mouth and I felt the unrelenting urge to get closer. Nux, I wanted him. I needed him. My whole body felt aroused, expectant.

The warmth of his hand trailed back up to my knee, and our lips parted. My eyelids slowly opened, and I found Rooke gazing down at me with hooded eyes. I saw it then, the lust spilling out from within. The wanting. He wanted me.

“Eden,” he whispered as if it was a question, expecting me to respond. But I didn’t want to talk, I wanted to play. Placing my forefinger vertically across his lips, hushing him, I pushed him backwards with my other hand. At first, he seemed shocked by my reaction, but after reading my playful expression as I shoved him back again, a rakish smirk danced across his lips.

The backs of his legs hit the balcony wall, forcing him to sit back on the wide, stone ledge. The desire grew in his eyes as I climbed onto his lap, instantly reclaiming his lips. With my legs straddling his thighs, I didn’t care the pieces of my skirt had fallen to the side, baring my sex to him. I wanted to feel him against me. And as in response to my silent plea, he grabbed my hips, pulling me forward onto his hard, covered groin. We both gasped in unison as my weight pushed down onto him. Our panting breaths clashed against each other’s, becoming fervid as I began to grind my pelvis up and down his length.

“I want you,” I whispered against his lips, reaching down to the drawstrings of his trousers. The adrenaline surged within, exciting my body further. After all these years of dreaming, I’d finally…

The last thing I expected was his hand to force mine to stop, stunting me further when he whispered, “Eden, I can’t…we can’t do this.”

An invisible force slammed into my chest, removing the haze around my conscious. I searched his face, realising the desire I’d seen not minutes ago had now changed into something agonising. He didn’t want this. Why had I believed he did? This was me, not one of his gorgeous, stunning, beautiful lovers. This was me…Eden.

Scrambling off his lap, wave after relentless wave of humiliation struck me hard.

Rooke reached for me. “Eden, it’s not that I…” I retracted from his touch, stumbling backwards. “Eden, please.” I couldn’t look at him. I didn’t want to see the shame and remorse rising in his eyes.

My feet scuttled away, back along the promenade towards the party. My head spun with the pain of rejection. What had I done? Why had I gone against every previous instinct? What we had worked!And it was always meant to stay that way.

I could hear Rooke’s padded footsteps behind, his voice calling my name. I didn’t want to talk to him. I wouldn’t put usboth through the embarrassment. Everything felt overwhelming. Why was he following me?

As I rounded the corner, I hardly registered the Akquarians ambling about. I needed to get away from here, away from this party. Keeping my eyes averted, I stumbled into the fortress. My vision began to feel cloudy, my head pounded with every irrational heartbeat. Nux, I felt dizzy. I felt sick.