Page 58 of The Nephilim's Finesse

Her lips curled into a knowing smirk as she sauntered toward me, hips swaying. I caught her by the waist and pulled her against me, inhaling her scent of ripe summer fruit and sweet jasmine. My wings twitched beneath my shirt, aching to burst free. She tilted her head to bare her pale throat, pulse thrumming just beneath her skin. An invitation if there ever was one. I dipped my head to graze my teeth along her neck, eliciting a soft gasp.

As we entered the bathroom, I stole glances at Victorija's slim figure, her red curls cascading down her back. The thought of what might transpire in the shower filled me with both anticipation and trepidation.

I turned the water on, steam soon billowing around us, and the sound of droplets hitting the floor. Victorija wasted no time tugging my shirt over my head, her cool hands roaming across my chest. My wings quivered, the black feathers ruffling against the cool tile floor. She stepped in first, her body enveloped by the warm mist. I followed suit, trying to focus on the task at hand—to give her a new pleasant experience and make her come.

She nipped at my lower lip, drawing blood, her eyes glowing emerald in the dim light. I growled and claimed her mouth in a bruising kiss, revelling in the contrast of her pale skin against mine.

Victorija reached for the soap, her slender fingers wrapping around it with an air of determination. She turned to me, her red curls now darkened by the water, clinging to her porcelain skin.

"Here," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the sound of the falling water. "Let me help you."

She stepped closer, pressing her body against mine as she began to lather the soap between her hands and my skin. The sensation sent shivers down my spine, and I closed my eyes and enjoyed her hands over my body. When she stilled, I opened my eyes and realised that her green eyes bore into mine with an intensity that left me breathless, and for a moment, I found myself lost within their depths. But then she blinked, breaking the spell, and turned her attention back to lathering me. As she moved the soapy lather onto my chest, her fingertips grazed my nipples, sending a jolt of pleasure through me. It had been a long time since I'd allowed myself to experience such intimacy, and my body responded in kind. My arousal grew, and I could feel the weight of my wings shifting on my back, eager to unfurl and embrace her. I allowed my plumage to spread, the black feathers stretching out as far as possible in this spacious shower, but it wasn’t enough to unfurl them to their full fifteen-foot span. Victorija's eyes widened in awe, and I saw something flicker within them for a brief moment—something akin to vulnerability.

"Beautiful," she whispered, reaching out to touch them. Her fingers traced the delicate feathers, and the electricity between us intensified. As she continued to explore my body, her touch became more insistent, her hands sliding down my chest and across my hips.

"Victorija," I groaned, unable to contain my desire any longer. She looked up at me, her green eyes clouded with lust, and without another word, we came together in a searing kiss. Our tongues tangled together, and our bodies moved as one, every touch and caress sending waves of pleasure through me. I pressed her against the shower wall, my erection straining against her thigh as she enveloped one leg around my waist. I gripped her hips and lifted her up, pinning her against the shower wall. Her legs wrapped around my waist as the water streamed over us, cocooning us in a warm embrace.

My hands roamed over her curves, finding all the spots that made her gasp and moan into my mouth. Her fingers tangled in my plumage, sending jolts of pleasure through me. I rolled my hips against hers, eager to be inside her.

She broke the kiss, trailing her lips along my jaw. "I want you," she breathed, like a secret, like a sin.

I didn't need any further encouragement. Guiding myself inside her, I felt the world around us fall away, replaced by the intense connection that now bound us together.

I lifted her higher, bracing one arm against the wall for support. "Then take me."

We moved in sync, our bodies slick with water and soap, each thrust driving us closer to the edge. I rode her hard and fast while she clung to me, all nails, teeth, and insatiable hunger. Our bond hummed with power and passion as we moved as one. Release coiled hot and heavy in my gut, spurred on by the rhythmic pulsing at my throat. She sank her fangs into my neck at the same moment I came, twin points of exquisite pain and pleasure. I hissed, my fingers digging into her hips. As I tumbled over the edge, I bit down on her collarbone, and Victorija threw back her head with a cry, her inner walls clenching around me. As the intensity of our climax began to fade, I held her close, our hearts pounding against one another. My wings enfolded us in a curtain of black feathers as I claimed her mouth in a blazing kiss.

Later, Victorija slipped into bed after finishing drying her hair. She was as silent as a shadow. I was awake, waiting for her under the sheets, my heart pounding lazily in relaxation.

"You defended me today," she said, her voice a soft purr as she curled up against my side, referring to what I told her in the bathroom while we dried ourselves.

"I told the truth," I said. "You don't know who's behind the attacks."

"But you suspect I do." Her fingernails traced idle patterns on my chest, raising goosebumps. "You think I'm keeping secrets from you."

I caught her hand, stilling its movement. "It doesn't matter what I think. You're here now."

She tilted her head up, and the hunger in her eyes made my breath catch. "Yes," she whispered, leaning in to kiss the hollow of my throat. A shock of pleasure rippled through me at the touch of her lips. "Here I am."

Guilt flickered at the edges of my mind, but I pushed it away. I couldn't turn back now, not from this woman who had captivated me so completely. Tonight, I'd drown in her embrace; tomorrow, I'd face the consequences again. But not yet.

I rolled over, pinning Victorija beneath me and claiming her mouth in a searing kiss. She sighed into it, her hands tangling in my hair to pull me closer. The rest of the world faded away; for now, there was only her.

The next morning, I jolted awake, my heart pounding as I felt warmth against my chest. To my horror, I realised it was Victorija, my sworn enemy. My mind reeled with shock—how could I have been so foolish? I woke up with Victorija curled against me, her head nestled on my chest. Oh my God, what had I done? I fell asleep next to my enemy. Guilt gnawed at my gut like a wild beast, and shame flooded through me as I realised that I had put myself in extreme danger. I thought about what it’d mean for me to lead the Nephilim if they knew of my mistake—to be seen as an example and a leader while knowing full well that I had broken one of the most important rules. She could have killed me in my sleep if she wanted to. My guilt had returned in full force, churning in my stomach like a sickness. What had I done? I was supposed to lead the Nephilim, not betray them by trusting my enemy. How could I lead the Nephilim if I couldn’t even trust myself? Despair coiled tightly within me like a venomous snake.

Victorija stirred in my arms, her eyelids fluttering open. She gazed up at me for a moment with a softness I’d never seen in her before. She seemed almost vulnerable, like a fawn who had been startled awake. But then, almost as quickly as it had appeared, the tenderness melted away and was replaced by her usual aloof expression as she saw my face.

For a moment, I felt a pang of disappointment. I felt like I had been so close to uncovering a hidden layer of Victorija I had never known before. But I knew better than to press her. She squinted her eyes and covered herself with the blanket.

“You should go,” she said coolly. “Your duties wait.”

My throat constricted as I sat upright, the force of my heart beating against my ribcage. I swallowed hard, the ache in my chest having nothing to do with physical pain. There was a feeling of longing deep inside me, a feeling I had never experienced before. I knew I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

I glanced over at Victorija, whose gaze seemed to be focused on a spot in the darkness of the room. I wanted to tell her that I felt something real, something that could be between us. But the words wouldn’t come out. My throat closed as the fear of rejection filled me. I struggled to find the right words to express what I was feeling. It wasn’t just rejection that I feared; it was the possibility of losing her entirely. Was it worth the risk of being turned away? Or should I keep quiet and never know what could have been? My heart pounded as I struggled with this decision.

Finally, I managed to choke out, “Victorija...I can’t just forget this. Not when there might be something real between us.”

She tilted her head. “Will you let me go, then?”

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