Page 164 of Rising Out of the Darkness
A shiver ran down my spine at the thought, and I found myself reaching for Killian’s hand again. He held it tightly in mine.
“I haven’t seen him this optimistic in a very long time, and we have you to thank for helping him to find that hope again. Promise me you’ll be careful, Elena. We need you…heneeds you.”
Now it was me holding back the tears that clouded my eyes.
“Will you promise me?”
“I promise,” I whispered.
“Just what exactly are you promising to another man, love?”
A familiar deep voice rumbled from behind me, as I peered over my shoulder to meet two blazing verdant eyes. Declan folded his arms across his chest, but his expression was full of mirth rather than malice.
Killian chuckled, then stood to pat Declan on the shoulder. “I’m glad you two completed the bond.” Warmth spread across my cheeks as a gasp escaped my mouth. “You were aninsufferable, broody ass without it. A few days ago, this whole situation might have ended with me in the fire.” He left with a devious smile and headed back in the direction that Clara had gone earlier.
Declan wrapped his hand around my arm. With two quick tugs, I was off the log and squished up against his solid chest. Butterflies fluttered inside my stomach as his knuckles brushed their way up my arm. He cupped the back of my head, fingers intertwined within my hair.
I licked my lips with anticipation as he swept the hair behind my ear with his other hand. Dec leaned forward, his lips dusting over the sensitive flesh of my ear. Clearing my throat, I managed to whisper a few words. “What should we do now?”
He nipped at the lobe of my ear. “Hmmm,” he rumbled against my skin. “There are several things we could do.”
Before I could ask just what those things might be, he swung his arms underneath my legs and lifted me off the ground. Declan’s lips met mine with a searing kiss, and my entire body vibrated with need.
“Let’s get out of here, Wildfire. It’s time for me to show you my favorite place in Oria.” He waggled his eyebrows, and laughter bubbled out of me. Holding me close, he carried me down a long gravel pathway through a rich orchard of apple trees, until we reached the most enchanting sight I’d ever seen.
Chapter 67
Elena
Moonlight cascaded over the lake, making it sparkle against the darkness of the night. The rush of the waterfall cascading into the pool of water below was a soothing melody to my ears.
Declan’s smile warmed the night chill. He kicked off his boots and socks, and I did the same. He guided me to the grotto behind the waterfall. The slate stones beneath us were slick and I tried my best not to slip.
“Let’s go for a little swim.” He dropped my hand to reach for the bottom of my tunic.
His eyes stayed locked on mine as he lifted my tunic over my arms and then slid my leggings down and tossed them aside. The need to have him close sent my body into tremors as I undressed the strong man before me.
As I slid his belt free, his eyes fluttered closed as I wrapped my hand over his hardened length beneath his pants.
“Careful,” he groaned. “You keep doing that and I may have to do other things to you.”
“We can swim later.” My words were breathless against his neck as I kissed it.
That unleashed his restraint. My world shifted as he lifted me up and then lowered me onto the cool rock. He lifted my hands above my head and ripped off the clothing that remained. In the blink of an eye, we were down to nothing but bare skin between us.
Lips stormed against mine in a wave of passion. His length brushed against my core, and my hips bucked for more. Hot breath warmed my ear as he let out a dark rumble of a laugh. “You need more, love?”
I whimpered. He slid his palm between my thighs, and his fingers traversed through the slickness that awaited.
“Gods,” he groaned against my lips as he slid two fingers inside of me. “You’re soaked,my love.”
Pulsing in and out, he kept stoking the fire within me. He curled his fingers inside of me, his tongue swirling against mine at the same pace. Just when I thought I couldn’t wait any longer, his lips traced a line down my neck and I felt his teeth clamp down as I found my release. For a moment my focus hazed. With a sly grin, he pulled his fingers out and licked them clean.
My mouth gaped wide as he captured my lips and thrust himself deep inside of me. Hidden behind the misty veil of water, we lost ourselves in the moment.
Our bodies moved together at a deliciously slow pace. With each roll of my hips and each thrust of his, our bodies spoke the words our voices could not do justice.
His warm hand danced across my neck and over the space between my breasts. My heart thundered underneath his palm as he massaged them. His other thumb tenderly provided the exact amount of attention to the swollen bundle of nerves between my thighs. This man knew his way around my body, anticipating my every need before even I could.
