Page 57 of Hidden Kingdoms

I gasped, gulping down lungfuls of fresh oxygen that only irritated the burn radiating through my throat and chest. I could feel the heat of the fire, my body burning. Was I still dreaming?

If I’m awake, why does it still hurt?

“Look at me, Goldie. You’re safe.” My eyes flew open; I knew that voice.

A cool hand pressed against my cheek, another on my back holding me up. The woody scent of cedar wrapped around me as my eyes focused enough to see Kaius’ face inches above my own, holding me close as his eyes darted over my face. I tried to swallow, to relieve the burn in my throat and control the effects of the nightmare. I couldn’t be sure if he really was here, holding me again. Was my mind so cruel it would make this up, too?

“Elodie, you’re safe.” His deep voice rumbled again, and I squeezed my eyes shut in a bid to slow the painful racing of my heart.

“Open your eyes,” Kaius commanded, and they obeyed, fluttering open instantly to lock onto his stormy grey ones. The soft glow from the flames illuminated his face in a way thatfor a moment I was sure I’d been woken by an angel. He leant forward, pressing his forehead to mine, beard soft against my cheek.

“Good girl,” he murmured into my hair. A different kind, more welcome, heat slid through my body, my thundering heart slowing a fraction.

“Is this real? Are you real?” I breathed deeply as I drank in his scent. His strong hand gripped mine, strangely cool against my too-warm skin, to hold it flat against his heart. I could feel the thrumming beneath my fingers and with it came a sense of peace that I allowed to sweep over me—willing it to push away the remnants of the dream I had been trapped in.

“You’re real.” I sighed in relief, sagging in his arms and feeling his answering smile against my cheek.

“I’m real, Goldie.” I pulled back to look at him and he released my hand from his, slowly tracing his fingers back up my arm. I winced as his light touch scraped over my skin. I was hot to the touch, my normally tan complexion slightly reddened.

He frowned down at me, fingers barely skimming my skin before his eyes flicked between me and the fireplace that had now reduced to mere embers.

The pull of his magik trailed along under his touch and cool pulses of energy radiated from every connection his fingers made up my arm, spreading until I could feel the form of his power flowing over my whole body. The heat that had been a painful reminder of my nightmare disappeared as my magik rose to meet his.

They clashed, dancing together in a synchronicity that could have been rehearsed. As he held me against him, every point our naked skin pressed together had sparks of magik zipping between us. I could feel him everywhere, and I wanted more. Kaius’ power pushed into parts of me I didn’t even know were empty until all I could feel was him. From the shock etched onhis face, I knew he hadn’t intended for this to happen, but he was feeling it, too—this colliding of our energies.

Pleasure raced through me and I almost—almost—arched my body into his to gain the friction I was desperate for. My grip over my own magik weakened as the connection began to build in its intensity. I couldn’t let that happen, couldn’t let my power overwhelm me, not here with Kaius so close. I had no idea what I was capable of.

He ran his palm up to cup my face, his thumb brushing over my lip, and my body lit up under his touch as another wave crashed together. Kaius tipped his head back with a groan, eyes closed as his long hair fell away from his face exposing the long column his neck, Adam’s apple bobbing under his dark beard. Tattoos covered his skin, and I longed to lean forward and lick every inch I could find.

“Kaius,” I said in a breathy moan, whether in warning or encouragement I wasn’t sure. His eyes flew open, locking onto mine, and I knew he wanted the same things I did.

I wanted his lips on mine, his hands running over my body.

My chest was heaving from the combination of revelling in the ecstasy of our powers colliding and the effort I was using trying to hold mine back from overwhelming both of us.

He nodded in understanding, slowly releasing his hold on me, face scrunched in concentration as he pulled back on his magik. Almost reluctantly, it receded, and I found I could gain better control of my own as his lessened.

Finally, we released our hold on each other. As our energies slid free, my chest felt hollow, and I fought the need to reach out to him. We sat staring at each other as our hearts slowed and breathing became easy again.

What the fuck just happened and why do I want more?

Did he know that that was going to happen? The look on his face said he was as surprised as I was.

I tried to swallow past my dry throat, fighting against the desire to wrap myself in his arms, and slowly stood from the bed. To put a physical distance between us, I crossed to the table and poured out a cup of water, drinking it all before I faced him. Greedily taking in the perfection that was currently sitting on my bed. My rings clinked against the metal cup as I clutched it in my hand and followed his lust-filled gaze as it swept over my body.

Kaius rose from the bed, loose grey trousers hanging low on his hips; they did nothing to hide the bulge pressed against the front of them that I was trying so fucking hard to be polite and not look at. Two silver barbells were pierced through his nipples, and a pear-cut emerald hung from a figaro silver chain, resting against the hard defined muscles of a bare chest covered in intricate artwork.

Did he have tattoos on the parts that I couldn’t see?

I couldn’t help as my eyes traced the ridges of his abs to follow the line of the V-shaped muscles that dipped past his hips before I forced myself to look back at his face. A wicked smile played on his mouth as he watched me, and I wasn’t the slightest bit embarrassed about checking him out so obviously.

This wasn’t a man, this was an angel. A god. A deity sent to test my restraint.

I’m not totally sure I care much about restraint right now.

I ran my eyes over him one more time, taking a sip from my cup to make it slightly less obvious, when I noticed he was barefoot. I frowned as something niggled at my mind—no shoes, no shirt.

He was like one of those notices that people put in shop windows.

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