His lips brushed over her lower stomach. "For you, all the realms. A kiss is nothing compared to what I would give you." His mouth moved downward, and she froze when his chin brushed the tender place where her stomach met her hips. She was moments away from shoving him off and stumbling back, scared. He felt her fearful trepidation, and so, his lips completely skipped her core as he bent to press an achingly precious kiss to the inside of her thigh. He pulled away from her, but still knelt, hands tangled in the trousers. She had nearly forgotten what they had been doing in the first place.
"Let’s get you dressed, angel, before I forget why I shouldn’t give in."
Az held her calf, and her hands fell to his shoulders to steady herself as he helped her into the trousers, tugging them up her waist. When she was steady, he stood. The flowing fabric fell to her ankles, swishing as she stepped away from him. Suddenly, she was aware of her bare breasts, a hand coming up to hide herself away.
Az fumbled with the shirt, trying to find the right way to put it on her with the cut in the back, making it all tangled up. He held it up, letting it drift over her head and settle on her body. Her nipples brushed against the soft material, hardening with awareness as cool air rushed through the open back, making her shiver. Her wings were utterly exposed, as well as the entirety of her back, save for the one strip of fabric left around her neck, like a strap to keep the blouse in place.
"No undergarments?" she hedged, feeling exposed in the whisper-soft, breezy fabric. The white blouse left little to theimagination. It slipped off her shoulder, too large for her slight frame.
Az shook his head, eyes heated. He held out a hand, palm-up. "Ready?"
She placed her small, pale hand in his, taking a steadying breath that felt too shallow for how empty her lungs were. "No," she said softly. "I never am, it seems, but they’re waiting."
"I won’t let you go." Az’s hand enveloped hers fully.
Luella felt a wavering smile tug at her lips. "I know you won’t."
20
TO BE FREE
LUELLA
The first thing she felt above deck was air. The first thing she saw was white. The first thing she smelled was salt.
And the first thing she felt…
Fear.
Water surrounded them, blue stretching on as far as her eye could see.
Her limbs started to shake.
And thethingwithin her stirred restlessly.
The air grew more furious, wind whipping her damp locks around her face, her billowing clothes rippling with the gusts. The wind caught in her wings, and for the briefest of moments, it felt like she would be lifted off the ground.
Az’s hand steadied her. "I’ve got you."
She nodded, unable to speak, unable to think, as he led her carefully across the wooden deck of the ship.
Their gazes pressed on her like physical weights. She felt the threads inside her perk up in interest as she walked nearer to the four other males. The ship pitched across the waves, and her legs wobbled unsteadily. She watched her feet, so she would not stare out at the vast sea.
Stairs led up to where they were, Vale at the wheel, with the others gathered around, looking down upon her; the distance seemed so insurmountable.
Az stayed behind her as she ventured up the steps, a hand on her waist to keep her from tipping backward.
And then, she could hide no more.
From this height, the ocean stretched on, its waves churning beneath glints of brief sunlight that filtered down upon them through flashes of swiftly moving clouds, making the surface sparkle enticingly. She would not be fooled—she knew the sea was the deadliest of them all.
Vale was at the wheel, hands sure as he gripped it. Tharen stood nearby, wafts of air curling from his raised hands in lazy tendrils, forcing the sails to billow out.
"You’re here," crooned a sultry voice. She jolted, turning to find Bastian sitting on the ground. His back rested against a wooden pole as he sifted through stacks of clothes.
"So are you," she replied meekly, knowing the quiver in her voice was because of the eyes piercing her flesh.
"Barely," the vampire said, strained, his eyes flashing a dull red.
