Page 51 of Somnium

She swallowed, nodding. “Okay.”

Her tongue drifted across her lips, and she saw his eyes track the motion before they returned to hers, markedly softer. She knew should move, get up, step away. But she couldn’t. She didn’t want to.

Elias tilted his head, his eyes never leaving hers as he shifted closer.

“I mean, there’s no point in me staying, right?” he said, and a current traveled up her arm when he brushed his knuckles against hers. “You have it handled.”

She nodded again, feeling herself lean closer. “Completely.”

Cadi shivered when his other hand grazed her shoulder as he brushed her curls over her back.

“So, tell me to go,” he whispered. His breath was so close that it was all she could feel, all she could think about.

Her heart pounded when he ran his thumb along her jaw, the look in his eyes sending heat through over every inch of her skin. The softness from before had given way to something heavier. Something she felt reflected in her own eyes.

This was a bad idea. She barely knew him, and she knew better than to let herself believe that this was something she would be allowed to keep. Every time she had made that mistake, life had quickly shown her just how wrong she was when they inevitably decided she wasn’t worth the trouble. But in that moment, with him leaning in close, wanting her in a way she’d never expected, she couldn’t bring herself to care.

She shook her head.

“No.”

His hand came to rest beneath her ear, and anticipation raced through her when she felt his breath tremble against her face.

“Okay,” he whispered, then his mouth brushed against hers with a gentleness that threatened to tear her apart. She let her hand drift up his arm, then she gripped his shoulder to pull him closer, doing anything to draw out their connection.

Elias pulled back gently, his eyes searching hers for any sign of regret or hesitation. But he wouldn’t find any. The flutter in her chest flared brighter. He was the most intoxicating thing she had ever tasted, and she needed more.

Gripping him hard, she crashed into him with a fierceness she didn’t know she had. His hand threaded into her hair, and she didn’t even care what it was doing to her curls, as long as he didn’t stop touching her.

He tipped her head back, and she opened for him. His tongue brushed against hers with a fervency that made her head spin. Something about his kiss, his touch, drove Cadi into a new boldness. It was like she didn’t recognize herself, like someone else had taken control as she pressed up to pin him to the back of the couch, framing his hips with her knees.

The low growl that vibrated through his chest in response fanned the flame that had quickly started to burn inside her. He gripped her hips, his fingertips digging into the soft flesh as he ghosted his lips along the line of her jaw to the delicate skin beneath her ear.

Her fingers twisted in his hair, pulling him closer, holding him against her. If his lips never left her skin it would be too soon. Gods, he was driving her wild. A soft moan floated from her throat when he dragged his teeth against her earlobe, and her hips rolled against him of their own accord. She needed more of him. As much as she could get.

Elias froze, suddenly gripping her not to guide her movements, but to keep her still. As she pulled back, his labored breaths drifted over her swollen lips.

“What’s wrong?” she panted.

Lifting a hand, he brushed her wild curls back from her face, and the look of pure awe in his eyes made her skin heat.

“Nothing,” he said, “but we should slow down.”

Cadi frowned. There were a lot of things she wanted to do with him right now, but slowing down wasn’t on that list.

“Why?”

Elias smiled and leaned forward to kiss the tip of her nose. “You deserve to be worshipped slowly,” he said, pressing his lips to the underside of her chin. “I can’t do that if I lose control.”

Holy gods.

Cadi groaned, frustration mixing with her desire. The need to be close to him, to feel him against her, only grew with each passing moment, but he was right. She didn’t even know what this was, but she knew it was something she had barely dared to dream about. She couldn’t rush it. Not this time.

Her forehead rested against his, her hands fisting the fabric of his t-shirt. “You’re killing me, you know that?”

He chuckled and began to trace featherlight circles against her back.

“Now what?” she asked, letting his ministrations carry her into a contented stupor.