Page 63 of Enchanting the Elf
Adelbert
The rain comes down hard around us but in this moment, everything ceases to exist besides Florence.
I cradle her face between my palms and take a moment to drink her in while her arms wrap around my back, holding me close.
Unable to stop myself, I go back for another kiss, capturing her mouth and letting my tongue slide in. Florence’s tongue meets mine and our kisses get greedier.
My hands glide across her wet skin, moving to her shoulders, her arms, threading into the hair at the base of her neck. Little mewls escape from her and my grip tightens, wanting,needingher closer.
Florence fists the back of my shirt and pulls me into her so our bodies are flush, as eager as I am to devour one another.
Thunder and lightning go off around us and the rain pelts us with its cold, sharp needles, but I can’t seem to tear myself away from our hungry kisses and roaming hands. Yet, with unnatural inner strength and the desire to keep her safe trumping my body’s needs, I’m finally able to ease my lips from Florence’s and I rest my forehead against hers. Breathing hard, I skim my hands down her neck and arms, moving to her waist, then around to her lower back.
“Let’s get you inside, Liebling,” I say into her ear, my voice barely audible above the pouring rain.
I hoist Florence up by the back of her thighs and her legs wrap around my waist like we’ve done this a thousand times before. She throws her head back and laughs with absolute delight as I marvel at how perfectly we fit, how perfect she is for me.
There’s no use denying how I feel about her. That this was always going to happen. That I was only delaying the inevitable. I knew she was meant to be mine the moment I saw her on that island, but I fought it every second of the day. Only blaming the bond for my attraction.
Not anymore.
I stride quickly toward the house with Florence in my arms, her breath warm against my neck as she nuzzles into me. Even though I can’t see it, I can feel her smiling and it is utterly contagious. I sport my own grin as her sunshine radiates through the rain, warming me up from the inside in ways I long to reciprocate.
Lightning lights up the sky again and I pick up my pace, wanting to get Florence safe and dry from the storm.
When I step onto the porch, I take quick note of Sir Purrington waiting in the dimly lit entryway and it’s as if he gives me a subtle nod of approval before he saunters off somewhere.
That cat is smarter than I’ve been giving him credit for.
“What were you thinking?” I ask Florence when we cross the threshold.
I slide her down my body and pin her to the wall with my hips. Shutting the front door behind us, I blink as we’re plunged into semidarkness, unwilling to live without the sight of Florence’s face before me for even a second.
Rain splatters against the windows, drumming a sound that rivals the beating of my heart.
“I embroidered something new to the hem of my dress this morning and I wanted to save it,” she says sheepishly, arms still slung around my shoulders and fingers toying with the hair at my nape.
“At the risk of your life?”
“It was sentimental,” Florence says with a tiny shrug.
“What was?”
Florence bites her lip and traces a button on my shirt, her gaze focused on the movement of her finger.
“Our picnic. I wanted to remember it so I embroidered some cornflowers into my dress.”
“I’ll sew your cornflowers myself next time. I can’t lose you,” I say vehemently, grabbing her face so she’s looking directly at me and understands how serious I am.
“Okay,” she breathes, as if not certain what to make of my declaration.
Florence’s eyes are wide as she stares up at me with open vulnerability and she stretches onto her toes to place a featherlight kiss on my lips. My heart ricochets against my chestas emotions I have not ever allowed myself to feel rush through my body, setting off all kinds of reactions.
A tingling sensation works its way from underneath my skin, spreading out from the center of my chest, rippling through my body, all the way down to my toes.
The house’s wooden floorboards creak and groan as if in answer and my vision narrows until I can only see Florence.
Beautiful Florence with her flushed cheeks and parted lips, patiently waiting for me.
