Page 268 of A Dance of Water

The tattered remains of her gown were left in the water, leaving her entirely bare, wings tucked close to her spine, and water trickling off her pale skin. She crossed her legs with shyness, unsteady with waves of exhaustion. Az’s eyes never strayed from her face.

As the air of the bathing chambers hit her wet skin, she shivered. Az reached blindly for a fluffy towel and held it between them. "Can I dry you, angel?"

She nodded, trusting he would never take advantage of her sleepy state.

The soft towel was like a taste of the Above against her skin. A question lingered in his eyes as he held the towel over her breasts, and she tried to convey the trust inside her with only a look, urging him to take all of her, see all of her, touch all of her.

Pleasure wasn’t a mystery to her anymore. She had felt it, and the memory lingered in her bones. Tempting her.

And now that she knew she could chase after it freely without fears of disappearing, she wanted to discover that with her demon. Not now, when her limbs trembled with exhaustion and her eyelids drooped, but one day—soon.

The soft fabric brushed over her nipples, and her head tipped back. Wavering, she relished in the pleasure coursing through her, just from that one brush. Az steadied her, eyes burning, burning, burning, pools of deep amber she wanted to dive into and drown.

Her eyelids fluttered as she huffed a soft laugh.

Drown.

She would be willing to relive the torture of nearly drowning if it were in him and him alone.

The towel traveled over her stomach, avoiding her back entirely.

Warm air brushed over her navel, making her jump.

Az knelt before her. This strong demon, on his knees with humility.

Her eyes burned as she stared at him.

The towel paused by her ribs, and he made a tortured sound.

"What is it?" Luella breathed.

"I vowed to keep you safe with my life, and I could not even manage that." Az looked up at her, the points of his horns brushing her stomach. She swallowed, slowly reaching forward to brush away an errant curl.

His tone was reverent, amber eyes flicking to the white wings tucked close to her back. They twitched in acknowledgment at his stare, as if preening under his attention. It made her grimace from the dull shock of pain at the use of the muscles in her back.

She shook her head. "My demon. My protector." She tangled her fingers fully in his hair, relishing in the softness of his dark curls,fingertips running over the base of his horns. He shuddered at the touch, mouth parting. "It’s not your fault. I do not blame you for any of it." She licked her lips, shyness cresting over her. "If it… If it was not for you, I don’t think I would have made it this far—would havewantedto make it this far." The implications of her words were loud, hanging heavy between them.

"Don’t say that, Lu. You’re stronger than you realize. You could have done this without me. I’m nothing?—"

Anger made her press a finger to his lips, stifling his words. "Never"—she bent, eyes flicking between his—"say that, ever again. You are everything." She rubbed the pad of her finger over his soft lips, taking a steadying breath. She could do this. "I have not said it, yet, Az, but I…" Her chin quivered with thick emotion, but she shoved it down. He was more important right now.

So, Luella moved to cup his cheek, one hand still tangled in his hair, which she used to tilt his head up. He went easily, beholden to her. The notion was empowering—this fearsome demon, on his knees before her.

"I love you, Az."

A singular tear spilled over his lashline, and she leaned down—she didn’t have to lean far, he was nearly her height, even kneeling—and pressed her lips gently to it, kissing it away.

"Say it again?" Az all but begged.

"Always," she replied. "I love you." Her lips skimmed his cheeks as she murmured the words against him, each one echoed by rumbles of thunder.

83

YOU NEVER WALK ALONE

VALE

The storm was growing closer, and Vale was no closer to figuring out how they could manage the final night of celebrations, when Luella could barely walk for longer than it took him to take a breath.

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