Page 124 of A Dance of Water

His hands resumed their leisurely caress on her skin. His sugary scent made her dizzy. The water was warm, but the heat in her body was warmer.

She did not know if she would ever be able to bathe without himby her side. He was taking something born of desperate fear and turning it into something else—hungry and yearning.

Luella turned on his lap, facing him; though, she could not see him, her hands reached up and traced delicate lines over his face, feeling his cheeks, the line of his jaw, tangling in his hair. She was learning him just as he was learning her.

Her breaths were soft, and his were deep, stuttering as she reached up and traced her fingers over the base of his horn.

Az’s groan was low and sinful. "Angel."

"Is t-this not okay?" she asked hesitantly.

"It’s more than okay. Horns are sensitive to a demon."

"Oh," she managed, feeling her cheeks warm.

She wanted to pull her hands away, scared of this new territory they were entering, but his patience and gentleness kindled her desire, made her want to force another masculine sound from his lips.

Her hands trembled as she traced along the side of his horns, following up the curve, feeling the texture under the pads of her fingertips. Softly rough. Just like him.

Az groaned deeply, fingers tightening on her waist.

"Can I kiss you?" he all but growled.

"Yes," she replied breathily.

And so he did.

Az pressed his mouth to hers, hands framing her face. It was just as good as she remembered.

Luella whimpered against him as he lightly bit down on her lower lip, soothing the bite with his tongue. It was soft and sweet, and she ached all over, most intensely between her thighs.

With every brush of Az’s lips on hers, every pass of his hand over her back, she felt a strange wetness gather between her thighs, different from the water around them.

Her lower belly throbbed with an unfamiliar emptiness.

Luella pressed a hand against her stomach as she kissed him. She was still untrained, but she was learning, and what better teacher than the demon before her?

Every time she nibbled on his lower lip or hesitantly traced the tip of her tongue over his, she felt his reactions, the way he tensedunder her. His shoulders were taut, and her thighs bracketed his as she sat upon his lap. Their moments made the water ripple. She felt how hard he was under her, the lines of his body unforgiving—but soft only for her.

She sighed against his lips, feeling the need to breathe as she pulled away. She licked her lips, tasting him, feeling how swollen they were.

He rested his forehead against hers. "I could kiss you for eternity."

A pleased sound fell from her lips. "That sounds like all I’ve ever wanted."

Passionately, he kissed her again, devouring her like he was starved.

The thrum of feeling between her thighs only grew, and she whimpered louder against him.

Az trailed kisses from her lips to her cheeks, nuzzling against her ear. "What is it?" he asked.

"What is this feeling?" Her voice was light as air, thick as water.

"What feeling?" the demon mumbled against her cheek, lips roving over her jaw, sucking gently.

Luella’s words shook. "I feel like I might burn alive."

"Where? Show me."