Healed By Love

CHAPTER 22

AUDELIA'S POV

"I don't think you want to." He says, a strain on his voice as he stares in my eyes.

"You don't know what I want." I tell him.

"How much did you drink?" He raises an eyebrow at me as he studies me.

"Not enough to be drunk."

"Surely does not seem like it." He mumbles under his breath.

"Xaen," I start saying and his grip tighten around my wrist as his body tenses slightly. "Do you mind that I call you Xaen?" I ask, curious because of his reaction.

"No." He says as the tension slowly dissipates from his body. "What were you saying?"

"You are all bark and no bite, Xaen." I tease.

"Enlighten me." He says through gritted teeth.

"You say you think about a lot of things- bark." I inform him, "Then, when I ask you to show me, you shy away- no bite." I give him a teasing smile. "Why? Are you scared?"

His eyes narrow, his gaze burning hot as they rake over my entire body and he seems to be conflicting with his control. "You feign indifference all the time." I speak when his eyes rest on mine again. "Yet I know it is fake. You know it too."

That is a risky assumption for me to make. I can only hope that whatever I am saying is actually true and that he feels the same attraction I have been feeling towards him ever since the night at the gala. I do not want to be the only one tied to this invisible, intangible rope pulling me towards him all the time.

"That's why you have been thinking about a lot of things."

"So have you." He states rather than ask.

"I did." I agree and something flashes in his eyes as his hand around my throat presses my body firmly against the glass pane and he steps closer, sliding his foot between mine.

"At night." I suck in a deep breath as his foot moves, parting my legs slightly, giving him space to settle between them as he presses his body to mine. His breath hits my face and my own breathing comes out ragged and shaky. Despite the turmoil of emotions inside me, I keep my eyes fixed on his.

"In my bed." His hand around my throat moves down, his fingers skimming my collar bone before hooking his finger through the ring that hangs around my neck as a necklace. He pulls the ring towards him, pulling me at the same time.

"And?" He leans down until his lips are on the curve of my neck. I find myself moving my head to the side, giving him better access. His lips brush the skin lightly.

"In the shower." He bites down hard enough to cause a shiver of pain but gentle enough to evoke a pleasurable feel to it which travels all the way to the area between my legs.

"What else?" He lets out a small grunt as his lips keep moving.

"You just have to find out yourself." I whisper in his ear.

"Così sia" I don't have a chance to ask him what he said as I nearly let out a moan when his knee presses against my pulsing core.

His knee moves at a slow, languid pace, earning a shuddery breath from me. The fabric from our clothes between us enhances the friction as he continues his movements, torturous yet pleasurable.

He lets go of my hand and the necklace as both his hands rest on the side of my hips, pulling me against his knee. "Oh god." My head falls back against the glass pane, my chest rising and falling with each breath.