Page 76 of Heir of Broken Souls

Knox

As Naia unceremoniously dumps Delilah onto the ship, along with a bucket of water, Delilah springs up onto her feet, seething. “Ugh! I can’t do this! It’s too frustrating!”

At the snorts at our backs, Delilah’s blue eyes flare with golden fire, and the chuckles fall to silence.

With just a wave of my hand I evaporate the water from her clothes, but instead of athank youlike I’d thought I’d get, she scoffs and yells, “What’s the point of that? I’m just going to fall to the water again.”

An idea comes to mind, one that has me grinning. Before she can utter a word, I wrap my hand around hers and lead her to the other end of the top deck, toward the stairs.

“Come with me,” I declare, leaving no room for argument.

I can feel her hesitancy along the bond, along with her curiosity.

Once we’re striding down the hall and she sees exactly where I’m leading her, her curiosity turns outright to confusion. I fling open our bedroom door and slam it shut a moment later.

“Are we done for the day?” she asks hesitantly, looking around the room for her answers.

“Not exactly.” I move her to face the king-size bed and stand behind her. Goosebumps trail down her arms as I brush a tantalizing kiss at the nape of her neck. “You need to start trusting yourself.”

“Idotrust myself.”

“Not enough to fly,” I murmur against her ear, a wicked grin spreading across my face when she shivers. I lower my voice to a dark rumble and drink in her small gasp. “You need to start listening to yourbody.”

Trailing a lone finger from the tips of her fingers all the way up to her shoulder, I ask, “How does this make you feel?”

Her swallow is audible. “You know how it makes me feel.”

“Wrong.” I repeat the movement on her left arm, noting the way her body coils tightly. “How does it make you feel?”

“Alive.”

My brow quirks at that. “Good.”

Gently placing my hands on her hips, I move my body flush with hers, watching as her chest rises and falls rapidly. I place my right hand on her stomach, and then ever so slowly trail it up her body, until her head is tilted back, resting on my chest. “And how does this make you feel?”

“Warm,” she breathes.

I gently take her hands in mine, lifting her arms above her head. “And this?”

Her eyes fall closed and she arches backward, bucking her ass into my groin.

It takes everything in me not to groan.

“It makes me want more.”

I commit her resounding whimper tomemory. Her eyes fly wide open as I take a step back and sit on the bed, leaning back on my elbows. “Then step into your power. Trust yourself, listen to your body, and take what you need.”

She seems to understand now. “Are you trying to teach me how to fly with sex?”

“Absolutely.” I wink at her. “I figured it could also relieve some of your pent-up tension.”

“H-how is this meant to help me?”

“You’re not listening to what your body is telling you. You’re letting everything around you control the outcome.” As her mouth pops open, I quirk a brow. “What better way to take control?”

She eyes me skeptically and yet I can see the heat in her gaze, the flush in her cheeks, the rise and fall of her chest.

She wants this.