Helena led Cynthia into her room. She heard the click of the lock, and then Helena’s arms were around her, pulling her back into Helena’s chest.
‘When I saw you lying on the floor of those baths, blood everywhere, my world stopped.’ Helena’s words brushed against Cynthia’s temple as her arms tightened around her waist. ‘I can face death without fear, but living without you is impossible. I love you, Cyn. And I’m not afraid of that any more. The only thing that scares me is losing you. I’ve been the biggest fool.’
Cynthia twisted to face her. Helena’s grey eyes sparked silver, and Cynthia held her gaze as she pressed a soft kiss to Helena’s mouth. Fascinated, she watched silver bleed into grey until her love’s eyes were glowing. ‘You will never lose me. Not even death can separate two souls destined to be together.’
With nimble fingers, Helena stripped Cynthia from her borrowed dress. Desperate for skin against skin, Cynthia spun Helena to untie her corset laces. Layer by layer, they uncovered each other until both were bare, skin warmed by the morning sun streaming through their window.
Pulling Cynthia close, Helena rested her hand over Cynthia’s heart. She traced the new crescent moon with trembling fingers. ‘I have lived my life by oaths. I want to make a new oath. With you. Is that all right?’
Cynthia held her breath, terrified of breaking the moment’s beauty. She nodded in jerky movements.
‘Cynthia, I will love you with my body. Seek you with my mind. Honour you with my spirit. And provide your heart sanctuary for the rest of my days.’
Cynthia couldn’t remember the vows she spoke to Hubert at their wedding. Empty words repeated in dutiful obedience. But she would never forget this promise. An agreement with her partner in every future endeavour. ‘Helena, I will love you with my body. Seek you with my mind. Honour you with my spirit. And provide your heart sanctuary. Always.’
They were holy words resonating through them, a spell vibrating with power, binding their spirits into an unbreakable union.
Helena pulled her close, her lips warm and soft, her tongue seeking entrance. She trailed kisses down Cynthia’s neck, along her shoulder, dipping lower to suck a tightened nipple into her hot mouth.
A rush of need filled Cynthia’s core as Helena backed her to the bed, gently pushing her down.
‘I did promise to love you with my body. And I don’t break my promises.’
Sunlight turned Helena’s hair ablaze. Her eyes were full of need. Pert and perfect breasts, tipped with raspberry nipples made Cynthia’s mouth water for a taste. The birthmark shaped like a star and placed perfectly on Helena’s sternum was almost the same colour of berry red.
Cynthia crooked her finger. ‘Neither do I.’
‘Then spread your thighs, Cynthia. Let me taste you.’
Leaning back onto the soft pillows, Cynthia let her legs fall wide. The vulnerability of her position only sharpened the desire pulsing beneath her skin and throbbing in her clitoris. The soft folds would be drenched.
Helena bit her bottom lip, and Cynthia was quite certain she would climax just from watching the undisguised lust swirling in Helena’s eyes.
Helena crawled on the bed, her hands tracing from Cynthia’s ankles, up her calves, taking a moment to tickle the sensitive skin behind her knees. When Cynthia tried to squirm away, Helena tightened her grip, holding her open. ‘You’re ticklish? A dangerous weakness to show me, Cyn.’
Cynthia couldn’t stop the giggle. ‘I suppose I’ll just have to trust you to keep my secrets.’
The silly words took on deeper meaning as Helena traced her hand up Cynthia’s thigh, her thumb inching closer to where she ached. ‘You can always trust me.’ Helena lowered her head, making space between Cynthia’s legs. ‘Goddess, you are wet.’
Cynthia squirmed, suddenly shy. ‘Is that bad?’
Cool air tickled over Cynthia’s heated flesh as Helena blew on her. Her lips brushed against sensitised flesh, desperate for friction. ‘It’s very, very good.’
Words ceased to hold meaning as Cynthia felt the smooth slide of Helena’s tongue licking along her folds, tasting everywhere except the one place she needed.
‘Hel, please, harder.’ Cynthia shifted her hips, grinding against Helena’s mouth.
Helena tightened her grip, holding Cynthia still. The hum of her laughter against Cynthia’s pulsing clitoris only tightened the tension stretching through her. ‘Patience is a virtue. Isn’t that what they teach proper ladies?’
‘I’m no lady.’
Helena’s growl sent another wave of vibrations singing along Cynthia’s nerves. ‘You aremylady. Now and always.’
The rasp of Helena’s velvet tongue over the cluster of nerves holding Cynthia hostage ripped a scream from her that likely could be heard by everyone in the house. But Cynthia didn’t care.
Helena took to her task with a focus nearly shattering Cynthia. Soft licks, sharp nibbles, devastating sucks, sweet kisses. She slid a finger into Cynthia’s channel, then another, curling against her wall as Cynthia clenched tight, her body begging for more.
Helena gave her more. She gave her everything. One hand snaked up Cynthia’s body, finding her breast. She kneaded the globe in rhythm to her fingers as they slid in and out of her sex. Her tongue lapped Cynthia like a sweet treat. When she caught Cynthia’s nipple between her fingers and rolled the tight bud in tandem to her tongue flicking over her clitoris, Cynthia flew apart.
