I sit up halfway and stare at the liquid inside the mug. It’s an odd, shimmering purple—like those ridiculously expensive high-end bar drinks with edible glitter in them. My fingers are still trembling when I reach for it, and he cups his hands around mine to steady them as I take it.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He hums, then says, “Dahnnte.” It’s even clearer than before. I wonder if it’s because he’s just getting used to so much human speech, or if it’s something else.
I have no idea and no ability to focus on that when I’m hurting this much. Closing my eyes, I breathe in the scent of the herb. It’s earthy yet somehow also refreshing—almost like the breeze off the ocean.
Bracing myself, I bring the cup to my lips and take a tentative sip. I’m prepared for something that tastes like poison, but it isn’t that at all. There’s not a lot of flavor to it, though the liquid seems thicker than water, and it’s rich.
It doesn’t take more than a prompting hum from Cielo for me to take another drink. Then another. After that, I’m barely aware of gulping it all down, but by the time I open my eyes, the tea is gone and so is the pain.
Everest was right. It wasn’t a dramatic withdrawal, and it didn’t take forever. It was like a single inhale and exhale. It was there. And now it’s not.
I stare at him, and he stares back.
I choke on a laugh. “That actually worked. Holyshit.”
He nods, his fingers touching his forehead. ‘I know.’
“That’s fucking amazing. How long will it last?”
‘I don’t know. It works different in humans. I’m sorry.’
“No, no. That’s okay. I’m just…” I flex my fingers and stare down at them.
My body feels…normal, and I don’t remember the last time I didn’t feel at least a twinge of pain, even when I wasn’t in an active flare. I glance up at Cielo, and he’s staring down at my hands with intense concentration.
He looks so fucking good right now.
I know I shouldn’t, but something in me snaps. I reach out, almost unthinking, and tilt his chin up. He sucks in a breath asI lean forward, and without a single moment of hesitation, my lips find his.
For a moment, I’m overwhelmed at how soft he is. How pliant. His lips dance against mine, a mimic of my own, and it’s a reminder that he’s never done this before. That snaps me out of it as I break the kiss and pull back to look at him, searching for proof that this was wrong.
Or maybe that it was right.
Cielo’s eyes are wide, and a low trill emits from his throat. He shifts back slightly and his rainbow eyes meet mine.
“Was…was that okay?” My voice is slightly hoarse, and I quickly clear my throat. “If that was wrong…”
“Noooot wrooonng,” he all-but sings, very softly, almost under his breath.
He hasn’t moved farther away, his warm breath still hitting my lips. Then, before I can speak again, his tail sneaks out and wraps around my ankle. He tugs me forward with a possessive yank, my ass sliding along the mattress until it’s nearly hanging off, and I’m practically in his arms.
My breath leaves me in a rush as I lean forward., kissing him again.
He’s better at it this time. His lips part, and I reach out with both hands, cupping his cheeks to angle his head, and he follows my lead immediately. I know the Vyastil don’t kiss each other. I know they don’t show affection at all.
And I know that Rathyn is different now that he’s with Everest, which means I have a feeling Cielo will be, too. Hell, with the way his mouth is moving against mine and how his tongue is teasing my lips, a little more practice and he’s going to be the best kisser I have ever had.
I nip at his thin bottom lip, and his skin flutters, that low trill he makes sending shivers down my spine.
I pull away, and I see his rainbow orbs shining. His mouth parts open just a bit, and his tongue darts out like it’s chasing the taste of me.
I shiver. “You want more?”
He nods, and I push off the bed entirely, shoving gently at his shoulders before falling onto his lap. His hands clutch onto my hips, his claws emerging and then retracting. It’s almost like he’s malfunctioning.
It makes me heady with lust.
