Page 84 of Lion Conquers All
“She’s tougher than she looks, but I’m sure she appreciated your concern.”
He held out a hand and waited.Please touch me.He hoped beyond everything that she would. He would do whatever she asked, stay away, stay near, anything, but he wouldn’t lie and say he didn’t hope that she still wanted him as much as he wanted her.
She slipped an arm free from the blanket and tentatively placed her hand into his.
He put his other hand over hers and stroked her soft skin.
“Tell me. Please.”
She didn’t pull away, but she didn’t relax either. But he couldn’t leave this conversation for later. He needed to know what she was thinking and feeling beyond what he could decipher from their soul bond.
“I woke up normal. I smelled terrible. And my room smelled terrible.”
“Your sense of smell has changed drastically.”
She nodded and kept going. “I showered and then realized that my scars are all gone. How is that possible? Did the magick-benders do that? Did you ask them to while I was asleep?”
“No. I wouldn’t have done that. I wouldn’t have done anything without your knowledge and permission. I—”
“I believe you. I just needed to know if it was all connected to the marking bite or not.”
“It was. They said the magick was difficult for you and painful because of all your past injuries. Reylean magick heals us constantly. Keeps our cells younger, and stronger, and powerful. Scars form if we have devastating injuries, but eventually they fade completely. They are rarely permanent.”
“I remember feeling pain before I fell asleep. It was terrible.”
“I’m so sorry. Dyna and Mira put you into a sort of coma so that you would be more comfortable while the magick worked. It was the only thing they said they could do to mitigate your pain.”
“It did. I don’t remember pain after we….I don’t remember anything. I woke up thinking it had only been one day.” She squeezed his hand. “I was so hurt and angry when I read your note, but I’m glad you left it. And as scary as all these things are and being alone, I am glad you weren’t here. I needed that time in my own head.”
“I meant what I said in the letter. I—”
Her other arm came out of the blanket, and she put her fingers against his lips. He kissed them and couldn’t help but let his gaze caress over her bared shoulder.
“I believe you. I forgive you. Whatever you need to hear from me. You have it. Once I knew you hadn’t known… That all of this was a twist of fate no one could’ve seen coming, I knew I could survive this too. I could figure out how to live as a Reylean. I have you and the Tribe at my back. I don’t want to be without you or away from you or separated from you in any way. I will be happy, but only as long as I have you.”
Air rushed from his lungs like a tidal wave of relief, taking all his worry and anxiety and fear with it. She forgave him. She didn’t blame him. She still wanted him.
Nothing else in this life mattered but her.
He closed his fingers around her hand and pulled her closer, settling her on his lap, her bare legs straddling his hips. The blanket had completely fallen away, and she was glorious and beautiful and he couldn’t not kiss her in this moment.
She didn’t move.
Didn’t give any indication that she wasn’t okay with the direction he was leading her. Her brown eyes sparkled with gold and lust and challenge.
He cupped her face and pulled her closer, brushing his lips across hers, testing her response, giving her every opportunity to pull away. Every chance to change her mind. He should be taking this slower, but it wasn’t happening.
She didn’t pull away or hesitate and instead made the most beautiful needy noises in her throat. And he liked them.
A lot.
Aarav cradled her head. Locked his fingers into her hair, but again she whimpered and moaned and encouraged his behavior.
He pulled her firmly to his mouth, needing more pressure. More of her taste.
Her tongue slipped into his mouth.
He tried to slow the demanding need simmering inside him, but the kiss was rapidly escalating to an out-of-control level.
