AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He hid the blender behind his back. The action pulled his abdomen taut. Every muscle in his God-given body flexed. He’d grown so much since they’d last seen each other. It would be torture waking up to this every day while on vacation. But Niles would be the third wheel if she acted on her feelings for Jace. And he was a miserable son-of-a-bitch when he felt left out.
But Nova could look. And she could admire.
“I didn’t realize you were already here,” he mumbled sheepishly. “Thought you and Niles weren’t arriving until next week.”
“I finished exams early.” She’d actually failed and left early, but Jace didn’t need to know that. Her parents had given her enough grief over it. Anyway, Nova planned to spend her life helping third-world countries clean up their poor waste systems. What use was an education?
“Oh.” His ears turned pink.
“Niles has a few more exams, then he’ll be here.”
“That’s good.”
They stared at each other. It had been nine months since Jace transferred to a fancy school, and his smile was still as heartbreaking as the day he became her neighbor ten years ago. She’d watched him pull up in his family station wagon and had waved through the attic window. He’d caught her movement, and those sad, baby-blue eyes burned bright. He’d grinned.
“I mean… it’s good that he’s almost done.” He gave a self-deprecating laugh, shaking his wet hair.
She was surprised the school hadn’t forced him to cut the long sun-bleached locks. But, she guessed having a father who donated enough to build a new gymnasium helped.
Nova allowed herself an indulgent moment to admire his changes. He’d gained another inch in height. Despite his lack of surfing opportunities on the east coast, his shoulders seemed broader and more muscular. He must have picked up another sport. Maybe swimming.
“You look good,” she said. What she wanted to say was,I missed you.
His eyes softened. He placed the blender on the counter and walked around to her side. Probably to swoop her into an enormous, brotherly hug. She considered remaining on her elbow, her spine curved, her shapely bottom on display. But she straightened and propped her hip on the counter. That softness in his eyes smoldered when he noticed she wore a tiny bikini beneath her sheer kaftan.
Yeah. She’d changed, too.
She bought the bikini for this moment—for the longing in his eyes. For the way he swallowed and drank in every inch of her body. The way he held his breath when she slipped past him, brushing her breasts against his bare chest.
“I can help with the blender,” she said quickly, suddenly feeling awkward.
He latched onto her hip, stopping her.
Their faces angled to each other, cheek to cheek. His fingers branded her skin with his name. Without looking up, she could tell he was a mess… just like her. His breathing was shallow, haggard. Goosebumps broke out across his golden skin. And then he lowered his lips to her ear and whispered in a deep, husky voice, “I missed you, Estrella.”
Every cell in her body begged him to say something else, to rip her top down and lick around her nipple or push his hand down between her legs. But he’d never be so demanding.
“Why do you always call me a star?” She licked her lips. “Because of my name—Nova?”
He hooked a finger beneath her jaw and lifted her gaze to his. Within the fathomless depths of his blue eyes, she found affection… and something deeper.
“No,” he’d murmured. “It’s because you guide me home.”
Nova shook off the memory. It was pointless to think about now. That moment led to their first time together. She’d made the first move, the next, and the next. Eventually, he grew confident and made a few moves, too. His letters were her favorite. They weren’t fancy, but heartfelt.
They were two teenagers desperately in love. He was sad and aching under the expectations of his parents. She didn’t know it then, but she was also sad. Her brother was already changing. She’d buckled under the pressure of competing with him at school. Arguments in their household were a nightly occurrence. Niles was on his destructive path. Nova and Jace were his first victims.
She blamed Jace for leaving their relationship, but she never fought for him. And when the world ended, and they dared to find each other, it had been too late.
A bird called in the trees, and another answered on the other side of the waterfall. This was a beautiful location. She shouldn’t feel so sorry for herself. Not when the world had survived. Tilting her face to the sun, she basked in the warmth. Niles was wrong. The world was not dead. It was here. The sand and river stones beneath her toes were real.I am alive.
ChapterFourteen
Since they’d begun traveling together, Leaf struggled to sleep with Nova next to him every night. He told her it was better that he remained awake more often to keep watch. Without proximity stones keeping vicious fae from wandering into their camp, one of them had to remain alert. But that was only partly true. The rest was about his inability to relax when she smelled so enticing—he’d even refused to let her bathe in the hope that grime would hide her feminine appeal.
It didn’t work.
He’d awoken with a hard cock and remnants of dreams where she took center stage. Then he’d realize what was happening, grow infuriated, and storm off to attempt to make a portal. Stupidly, he kept thinking the exercise would help alleviate his frustration, but failure to use his Well-given gift only made him feel worse.
