Page 104 of A Dance of Water

Luella took his hand and pressed it against her chest. "There’s this… invisible burn in my lungs from the water, and I feel robbed of breath—even though I know it’s all in my head." Az rocked her amid the warm water, letting her talk. "I’m broken, Az."

Gently, the demon pressed a kiss to the back of her hand and placed it over his forearm, where the faintest lines once were, now healed; though, the memory hadn’t left him. "So am I. We can be broken together."

She traced over his arm, pushing up his wet sleeve. "Was that the first time you had inflicted pain on yourself?" Her voice was strained.

Az owed her honesty. "No," he said, and she tensed against him. "I was shunned in the Below because I was weak and soft. I wanted to forget their words, to feel something even if it was pain… To pretend like I enjoyed suffering like my brethren. But I found release in the pain. A momentary respite."

Luella turned, throwing a leg over his side as she straddled him. The water made her form murky underneath, but he saw indecent flashes of pale skin. Her small hands cupped his cheeks as she pressed her forehead to his, breathing him in.

"You can find solace in me. Use me for respite, if you must, but never pain," she whispered, her breath tickling his cheeks.

His hands tightened on her waist, eyes dipping to her mouth as her pink tongue came out to wet her bottom lip. Fuck, it was wrong to feel desire for her in such a vulnerable moment, but she was so pretty. He ached for her, aware of how good she smelled, how soft her thighs were, how wet the water was around them, her hands on his neck and thighs gripping his waist.

The air was charged. Lightning crashed, but he barely heard it. The water was scorching around them, nearly bubbling.

Her half-lidded eyes fell to his mouth, and slowly, as if to work up the courage, she closed the tiny space between them and pressed a hesitant kiss to his lips.

It was over before it truly began.

She pulled away, not meeting his eyes. "Sorry," she murmured.

And the thin grip of control Az held broke.

He surged forward and claimed her mouth. Their second kiss, but she didn’t know that.

It was a soft, gentle thing, hot like the water around them. A stolen moment of sweetness, yet it rivaled the intensity ofher stormoutside. The rain picked up, pounding against the side of the castle. He placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heartbeat in tune with the rumbling thunder.

Her movements were unskilled, but he loved it, loved learning her and seeing her blossom. And he would blossom with her, discover intimacy and pleasure as one who had never lain with anyone before. He could give her the one piece of himself that remained untouched—in time.

But not now.

As his mouth slowed against hers, he gave a soft lick over the seam of her lips, soothing the heat that surged through their veins before pulling away, breathless.

Her chest rose and fell in quick movements, and her lips were slick and red. She shifted. He groaned low at the ache in his cock, her right over it.

"Was that momentary respite good enough?" she asked shyly.

Az laughed, running his nose over the length of hers. "More than good enough." And it was.

They both became aware of the uncomfortable heat baking their skin. Her arms were red from the water, and she turned her head, looking at the softly popping bubbles on the surface, diminishing in intensity with each steadying breath she took.

"This is my doing," she whispered as she stared at the steaming water around them. There was no question in her voice—only certainty.

Az ran a hand over her heat-flushed, pink skin. "Yes, angel, it is." His tone was reverent, not fearful. He cupped her face and pressed a kiss to her lips, his breath mixing with hers. "Your powers… I’ve never seen anything like it. They have no idea what you’re capable of, but they will. And I can’t wait for you to finally show them all they arenothingcompared to you."

34

BOILING POINT

LUELLA

Az’s words lingered in Luella’s mind long after her bath.

Her skin flushed from the memory of the boiling water and his warm lips against hers. It was just as she had dreamed them to be when she used to trace their shape from the other side of iron bars.

Her first kiss freely given, no bargains, no theft—just an heirus who wished to impart her adoration upon the demon who had stolen her heart underground… They had crafted something special amid the cold darkness below, and she never wanted to let that sweetness go, would fight for it with her life if she had to.

And that was why she currently stalked down the night-tinged halls of the castle, a hood covering her white hair and a thick cloak wrapped tightly around her to shroud her in shadows.

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