Amaya waves her hand at me. “Okay, so that was Cora’s word for it. But she’s not wrong.”
I laugh. “No, she’s not.”
She holds up one finger while she looks around the room.
“There’s just one thing missing. I’ll be right back. I’m going to go get it!”
“You’re just going to leave me here?”
“I’ll be quick!” she yells back. “Just take a look around while I’m gone.”
I turn back and make my way over to the fountain. The water is a clear blue, not at all like the glowing aqua Damien warned me about in the Sector. Still, I hesitate for a moment before sticking my hand in. My mind is already a mess, I don’t need some mystical water making it worse.
The ripples grow as I move my hand around the surface. Funny that someone made of fire would be so drawn to water. I guess the saying opposites attract is true.
“REIGN!”
I whirl around to see who is calling out my name, but Ryder is already holding my face in his hands.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re, okay?” His eyes frantically run down my body. “Amaya said you were hurt.”
I grab onto his wrists, trying to pull his focus.
“I’m fine. Look.” I take a small step back but don’t let go of him. “I’m okay.”
He exhales a weighted breath, and his entire body instantly relaxes.
“Why would she say that?”
I take a look around the garden and down at my dress. “I think we’ve been set up.”
Confusion is quickly replaced with understanding, and he tosses his head back. “Remind me to kick her ass next time we spar.”
“Gladly.” When he looks back down at me, his eyes narrow on the dress, and he runs his hand along his jaw. “What?”
“You’re making it impossible for me to behave.”
“Then don’t.” I’m surprised by my words just as much as he seems to be, but he shakes his head.
“You know I can’t.”
I’m not sure what comes over me, but I storm off in the direction Amaya and I entered from.
This was a terrible idea and so was last night.
“Not so fast.”
His voice is low and rough, stopping me in my tracks. Before I can turn around, I feel him close in behind me. Neither ofus say anything. We just stand there, pressed up against one another, both unable to leave.
After a long moment passes, I feel his hand gently move my hair to one side. His breath tickles my skin as he slowly runs his thumb down the side of my neck and bare shoulder. I shudder and he releases a satisfied purr into my ear.
I want so badly for him to follow the trail with his mouth, but he doesn’t and I’m not sure he can. What are the rules of the unbreakable curse that keep him from me? Where is the line that neither of us can cross?
The thumb he was previously using has now been replaced by his index finger as it traces the curve of my breasts that are on full display in the dress that leaves little to the imagination. He stops in the middle and so does my heart.
Why is he stopping? I don’t want him to.
