Page 93 of Crown of Ellova: Vol 1

“Cause I’m not feeling well and she loves me, hence the tea and chocolate.” I give him an innocent smile.

Setting the teacup down and picking up the plate, I choose the biggest piece of chocolate and plop it into my mouth. It melts on my tongue, and a happy moan escapes my lips at the rich, bitter flavor of the cocoa.

I offer him a truffle. “No chocolate in Adreania compares to the taste of Ellova’s candy.” And I eat another one.

He only watches my tongue dart across my lips as I lick away the chocolate there.

“And she was made aware of your monthly bleeding because?”

I give in to end his confusion. “I’m on shyrell. It is what we call resting during bleeding. Magic is passed down through birth. Since any fae bleeding typically displays the possibility of fertility to carry on the magical bloodline, it is a sacred tradition for the heads of the family to bring tea and sweets. It is like a little thank-you for the suffering to one day continue the family’s magic in a way. Bleeding is treated with great care and rest here, and I am, unfortunately, more mortal than fae in this regard so I suffer five or six times a year instead of only once, but it only lasts two or three days.”

His eyes soften at that. “And Nyvenah treats you like her own.”

I only nod and close my eyes, savoring the chocolate flavor.

“Are you having cramps now?”

Nodding again, I feel him shift from the bed, and I peek one eye open as he stands above me.

“I’ll be right back, then.” He leaves the room and returns a minute later with his worn leather medical satchel. “I have something that will help. That is, if you would allow my touch.” He holds up a crystal vial of a soft pink oil.

“Of course, Leon.” Before I can stop myself, “Always” slips out.

His relief is immediate, as if he expected me to say no. “I would need access to your stomach to massage it in.”

A flutter of tension builds low in my gut at his words. It is on the tip of my tongue to say that I possess the ability to place the oil on myself, but I’m hungry for his touch,greedyfor it, and I need to make things right between us. “All right.”

He moves onto the bed. “I will need to get close.”

I pull back the blanket and spread my thighs wide to give him space. He pauses for a moment, looking at my exposed skin as if surprised by the invitation of the intimate position. He slowly kneels in front of me, between my thighs, and I drape my legs over his knees. The wrap covers my breast and I pull the light pants lower, exposing more of the round softness of my stomach as he pours the oil into one hand.

He holds eye contact, staring down at me, his green eyes lit with such hunger as he rubs his hands together to heat the oil. His fingers are light touches, and they start low on my hips and work their way up, moving in soft circles, pushing the oil into my skin. I close my eyes as the scent hits me.

It smells like him.

Bright strawberries and woodsy herbs.

His hand movements are bordering on sexual, not the massage of a skillful but indifferent healer, but the hands of a lover. He knows exactly where to apply pressure over the pain but is gentle when he moves around my hips and waist.

I moan freely as the pressured circles dissolve the pain, the dull ache of the cramps fading away every second his hands are on me.

“Turn over. Let me massage your back.” It’s a soft demand, andfor a moment I debate which I want more, his hands on me again or to kiss him. I cannot stand another moment without his lips on mine, so I grab the front of his tunic and pull him down over me.

His lips open to me greedily, his tongue sweeping in. I moan into his commanding kiss. Leon’s hands circle around my waist; my back bows as he pulls me up towards him. We stay like that for a long time, locked in a tight embrace but never going beyond soft kisses. He kisses me until I pull away with a small gasp, needing air. His lips move down my neck to show the skin there attention with gentle sucks.

“Leon,” I breathe and he moans into my neck at the sound.

“I know, Strawberries, I know.”

The dull ache in my lower back demands his healing touch, and he lets me go so I can flip over. I hate the clothes we wear, the separation it brings. I want us skin to skin.

Leon rolls down my pants even lower to just above my backside and leans forward to place a lingering kiss between my shoulder blades, undoing the tie around my breasts so my back is fully exposed. He gets more oil and moves up and down my back, switching between blissful pressures. Starting at the top near my shoulders, he makes loops and swirls, going side to side. He presses low to my backside before working his way up, just to repeat the caress. I giggle into the silk pillow as he does it two more times, each of his playful touches getting a little lower.

The scent of him is so strong I can almost taste it. The warmth of his palms, the deep strokes, the gentle caresses, relieves the ache in my back and head. The press of his hands softens until he is drawing lazy swirls on my back with his fingers, which draws me towards sleep.

It is truly divine.

I can sense the smile on his lips as he kisses my cheek. “Get some sleep.” I expect him to leave, but he re-ties my top and lies down with me.

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