Page 79 of A Kiss From Death
“What?” I whisper against him, impatiently drawing his lips to mine again in a claiming kiss. He moves his hand from my face so it rests on the small of my back, keeping me flush to him. He kisses me back with burning desire, like he’s breathing the promise of devotion into me with each swipe of his tongue.
I can’t help the way my body moves against him, my lace underwear softly gliding across his skin, making it shift a little each time. Hade lets out a strangled moan as his hand starts to dance along my spine, making me squirm with need.
It’s nothing I could have ever dreamed up. Not a single inch of my body feels neglected as he worships me with his mouth and hands until I’m overheating. Surprisingly, Hade doesn’t replace or overshadow my relationship with Theo but rather helps fill the gaping hole he left behind.
He presses his lips against mine one last time, memorizing my taste before he slowly pulls away. My lips feel swollen and puffy, and I can’t help the smile that takes over my face as I’m lost to the haze Hade’s presence always seems to bring.
I notice his lips are slightly battered too, and a pang of pride flutters up my core as I see the remnants of my actions left on himfor all to see. He looks lost to the moment, his cheeks slightly rosy. His eyes zone in on my authentic smile, and he lets out a sigh of content.
“Lie back,” he states softly, and my body obeys immediately. I unwrap my legs from around him and slowly lower myself back until my head connects with the cool water. My legs follow suit, floating up until they bob above the water.
Hade moves in, placing one hand under my neck to support my head as the other softly presses against my lower back, keeping me afloat. The twinkling night sky takes over my entire view, and a calmness washes over my body. This is exactly what I told him helps calm me down, and of course, he made it a reality. He put my peace ahead of the million other things I’m sure demand his attention right now, and it doesn’t go unappreciated.
The dark sky calls to me, making my body relax. The stars take over the sky like an ambush, impossible to count. I let my arms float freely out to my sides as Hade slowly swims us in a circle, my view ever changing.
“What is your favorite time of day?” I question while attempting to count the stars lighting up the sky above me.
I get distracted when I feel Hade’s hand behind my neck playing with one of my curls between his fingers. I turn my neck until his face comes into view, and I find him staring at my inky curl twirling between his fingers.
“Night,” he admits confidently as his gaze remains glued to my hair. “It’s the most ethereal thing to be in the presence of. It’s all consuming, because if you stare at it for too long, you will get lost in it for eternity. Darkness has always called to my soul,” he whispers as he drags his eyes away from my hair until they land harshly on mine.
A chill racks my body, and I’m not sure if it’s from the cold air now dancing across my bare skin or from his words that glided across every inch of my body. His black magic emerges frombeneath the water and slithers over my skin like a blanket. If only it could protect my body from the effects of his words too.
I let out a soft, satisfied moan as a thin blanket of his magic drapes over my body like a soft wind. It feels like an extension of him, wrapping itself around me. It leaves fluttering tingles along my skin as it washes over me like a wave. I stroke a portion of the magic wrapped around my center, and it purrs back, twisting around my finger, making me giggle.
With the lust driven from my body for the time being, I take the time to properly study the parts of Hade’s body I can see above the water in the glow of the moon. My eyes trail up his arm, gliding over the smattering of tattoos that all blend together, covering every inch of his tanned skin. My eyes draw up to his shoulder and then snag on a tattoo hidden under his arm on his side—the outline of an abstract owl stares back at me.
“What does your owl tattoo mean?” I ask before I can stop myself.
“I have always loved owls,” he admits. “They have always felt like home to me. I’ve been drawn to them from a young age. They are deep thinkers and lovers of the night, and I see myself in them. Most live in solitude, content leading a calm life.”
This man is nothing like what I expected. The more time I spend around him, the more layers he sheds, letting me get to the core of him. Each new thing I learn draws me a little bit closer. He feels like a familiar soul I used to know but lost contact with while traveling through many worlds, living out different lives.
“That is beautiful and very fitting,” I say with a small giggle as my eyes trace the delicate lines across the side of his ribs. “And what about the rest of your tattoos?” I resist the urge to dedicate my night to tracing each one of them with my fingers.
“Some are purely decorative, others have meanings, and some are reminders of past battles.” He looks over his arm, and I notice his eyes linger on a few in particular. I hope one day, I may learnthe meaning of each and every one of them, but I’m not sure how much longer my life will last.
I must not mask the hint of sadness that takes over my face, because Hade drags me until my body is pressed against his, cradled in his arms. “Let’s get out of here before you turn into a giant ice cube,” he murmurs before placing a soft kiss on my temple.
His magic pushes us through the water until we arrive at the shore. Hade wades out of the water with me still clutched against his body. I would normally swat his hand away and tell him I’m capable of walking myself, but that is the furthest thing from my mind right now.
He plops me down on my feet, and I gather my clothes, shrugging them back on my body. They cling to my wet skin, making me shake with chills. Hade finishes pulling his pants up his thick legs, and I can’t help the way my eyes roam over his muscular body before he covers up again.
“It’s too dark for me to comfortably guide us back up to Lunaria, so I would feel better if we stayed down here for the night, if that’s okay with you?” he asks while slipping on his last shoe.
I nod, and his eyes narrow at my body shaking slightly from the cold.
“First, we need to find you some warm clothes, and then, we can figure out a place to stay,” he states, leaving no room for argument.
“I know where we can get clothes,” I say softly as Hade steps up next to me and gently grips my hand.
“Lead the way,beautiful.”
The familiarness of being back in Fallout washes over me as I effortlessly guide us through the thick wall of darkness. I have no clue what time it is, but judging by the pure black surrounding us, I assume it’s late into the night.
Dragging Hade by the hand, I round the last turn and approach the central stable. I hear soft neighs in the distance, and a smile takes over my face. I pray the sliding wooden door is unlocked as I reach out and wrap my hand around the metal handle. Hade gives me a questioning look as I tug the door. To my luck, it easily slides open, and I shoot a snide smirk at him. We slip in silently, and the smell of hay and horseshit assaults my nose, making me silently gag. Clearly, someone has been neglecting cleaning up.
I stride to the closest stall, greeted by a playful gray mare whose head stretches out over the stall door. I drag my knuckles down her muzzle, giving her a scratch. Sheburrows into my touch, letting out a high pitched neigh, whipping her tail back and forth in greeting.
