Page 94 of Fallen Stars

“Enzo—”

“Please stop,” he hissed.

“Why?”

“Because if you say my name like that again, I’m going to finish in my britches, and my plans were to be buried inside you for at least two days.”

Elara laughed, biting her lip. “Who am I do deny my soulmate his wish?”

Enzo let out an impatient breath.

“What?” Elara’s eyes gleamed with ire. “What about that aroused you?”

“Soulmate,” he replied roughly, burying his face into her neck. After what seemed like a torturous age, they finally reached the first floor.

“First bed we can find,” he growled, striding forward, his hands sinking into her flesh and gripping even tighter. He kicked a door with a boot-clad foot, the door cracking open.

“Gods,” she whispered even as a thrill coursed through her, “have you ever heard of adoorknob?”

Her smiling eyes flicked to Enzo but widened as she saw the expression on his as he stalked into the room with her.

“Not the banter, Elara. Not right now,” he said, voice low. “I need you.”

She had a second to glance around the space, seeing he’d taken her into a room on the west wing of the palace rather than the east she was familiar with. It was decadent, as every part of the Helion palace was, murals gilded in gold painted over the ceilings. In the centre of the bedroom was a sunken pool, a small square that could easily fit two people. Dawnflowers skimmed the surface as did a few tealights, and the scent of hibiscus floated to them.

“It’s as though this room was expecting us,” Elara whispered. Enzo stretched his neck impatiently, setting her down gently.

“Pool it is,” he murmured, raking his eyes over her. They were like coal embers, and she could feel the heat of his power trailing over her.

“Undress for me,” he said roughly as Elara paced towards a mirror and small screen.

She pulled her hair around to one side as she reached behind her, unfastening the clasp of her black gown. It slithered to the floor, the sound whispering against the warm tiles.

What lay beneath made an animalistic sound escape Enzo’s mouth.

“Fuck,” he gritted out. Elara’s undergown and corset were both black, her chest spilling out of the latter. The silk only fell to her thighs. “Black is most definitely your colour, princess.”

“It is fitting, isn’t it?” Elara smirked.

Enzo strode forward. “I need you naked, legs spread. Right. Now.”

“See, the thing is,” Elara teased, sashaying back to him, “I can’t undo this corset all by myself.” She pouted. “Need a little help.” She placed Enzo’s hands on her waist and squeezed them.

Enzo spun her, and she gasped, her back flush to him. His hand snaked up her throat, thumb brushing the dip between her collarbones.

“What did I say about these things?” he purred back, fingering a ribbon. She felt him loosen one. “So damn pointless. I never knew an undergarment would bring me such torment.”

His hands worked roughly, and she felt another thread loosen.

“You once told me patience was a virtue,” Elara replied. “Exercise it.”

“That smart mouth.” He took his aggression out on the ribbons as she heard a seam rip. “I’ve been patient for four fucking weeks. And now I’m about to lose all sense of composure.”

His hands were just below her shoulders now, the final ribbons loosening as she suddenly felt her flesh spill out from the restraints. Her breasts fell, heavy, nipples peaked in the balmy air.

He drew a hand over one breast and squeezed then raised his hand to the strap of her now loose undergown, pushing it down so her chest was bare. Enzo let out a low moan as he observed her in the mirror, his mouth at her neck. His hands skimmed her stomach, and a jolt of desire swept through her as she locked eyes with him in the mirror, soaking in every brush and trail of his hands. Every one of her senses was alight, hypersensitive, her soul revelling in his touch.

He squeezed again, hissing through his teeth.

---