Chapter 147 First real touch
Chapter 147
DARIUS
My finger brushed against her lips, the touch so light it sent a shiver through me, making me acutely aware of just how close we stood in the water now.
I could feel the warmth radiating from her body despite the cool river swirling around us, her scent hitting me like a wave; sweet and intoxicating, wrapping around my senses until it was all I could focus on.
Without thinking, my hands snaked around her waist, pulling her gently but firmly against me as I shifted back to my fully human form, the remnants of Atlas's presence fading away until it was just the two of us in this moment.
I looked into her eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation, and whispered, "Did you like seeing him? Atlas, I mean."
She nodded slowly, her gaze steady and soft. "You both looked beautiful to behold."
Those words struck me deeper than I expected, stirring something warm and unfamiliar in my chest. A vulnerability I hadn't allowed myself to feel in so long.
No one had ever looked at me that way, called me beautiful with such genuine awe, and it made my heart ache in the best possible way.
I closed the remaining gap between us, my breath mingling with hers. "Dance with me, Ravenna."
Her eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. "There is no music."
A small smile tugged at my lips as I let my thumbs trace slow, soothing circles over the wet fabric clinging to her sides. "There does not need to be. Just follow the rhythm of the water cascading around us, the way it moves and flows. Follow me, and let that be our song."
She paused for a moment, her hazel eyes flickering with uncertainty, but then she lifted her arms and wrapped them around my neck, her fingers brushing the damp hair at the nape of my neck in a way that sent tiny sparks racing down my spine.
I held her waist more securely, and we began to move together, swaying gently in the current, the fountain's soft rush providing a natural melody that seemed to echo the pounding of my heart.
We stared at each other, the world narrowing to just this; the feel of her in my arms, the way her body fit so perfectly against mine.
Inside me, Atlas stirred with impatience, his voice a low rumble in my mind. “Do it now. Kiss her. She is ours.”
“Patience,” I replied silently, forcing myself to savor this closeness, to let the anticipation build because I wanted her to feel it too, to want it as much as I did.
"Stop staring like that," she murmured, though a faint smile played on her lips, betraying her words.
"I cannot help it," I confessed, my voice dropping to a husky whisper as I let my gaze trace her features—the curve of her cheek, the fullness of her lips. "I need to feed my eyes on you. You are mesmerizing, gorgeous, pretty, beautiful… everything I have ever wanted to look at."
She shook her head gently, a blush creeping up her cheeks despite the cool water. "Remind me again why I am doing this with you."
"Because you love it," I said, leaning in until our foreheads nearly touched, our breaths syncing in the quiet space between us. "Because deep down, you want to be here with me, sharing this moment, but you instead you choose to avoid me or try climbing over a wall to escape."
Her eyes widened in surprise, and she started to pull back, her hands loosening their hold on my neck.
But I tightened my arms around her waist, not forcefully, just enough to keep her close, my voice coming out soft and pleading. "Do not go, please."
She stopped, her body stilling against mine, her breathing quickening as she searched my face.
"I enjoy this too," I admitted, the words tumbling out with a raw honesty that surprised even me, exposing the depth of my longing. "It is my want, my wish, to hold you like this, to feel you close more than anything."
Her breaths came shallower now, her chest rising and falling in time with mine, and in that silence, I felt the weight of everything unsaid between us, the pull that had been building for so long.
"I am going to do something stupid now," I warned her quietly, giving her every chance to stop me, my heart pounding wildly. "You can hate me for it afterwards, but I cannot avoid it any longer. I have waited too long."
With that, I leaned forward and crashed my lips against hers, the contact sending a jolt through my entire body. Her lips were soft and warm, tasting of the fresh river water and something uniquely sweet that was all Ravenna, and I pressed harder, pouring all the pent-up emotion—the frustration, the desire, the tenderness—into that kiss, hoping she could feel how much she meant to me.
For a heartbeat, she stayed still, her body tense in my arms, and doubt flooded me, making me question if I had ruined everything.
I broke away reluctantly, stepping back just enough to create a sliver of space between us, the water lapping at our legs as I struggled to catch my breath. "I am sorry," I said, my voice thick with regret. "I should not have done that without—"
Before I could finish, her hands reached up, crossing behind my neck as she pulled me back down to her level and kissed me with a fervor that took my breath away, like her life depended on claiming this moment.
It was intense, passionate, her lips moving against mine with a hunger that matched my own, and I responded instantly, kissing her back with everything I had.
My hands moved to her face, cupping her cheeks gently as I tilted her head to deepen the kiss, allowing me better access to explore her mouth, our tongues brushing in a slow, sensual dance that made heat pool low in my stomach.
Her fingers trailed down my back, nails grazing my skin lightly, and I groaned into her lips, the sound vibrating between us as waves of pleasure rippled through me.
I slid my hands lower, cupping her back and pulling her even closer, her body pressing fully against mine. Her breasts were soft against my chest, every curve fitting perfectly, sending me spiraling into a haze of bliss that felt like cloud nine, where nothing existed but her touch and the way she made me feel alive.
She took my tongue then, kissing me harder, wilder, her movements bold and unrestrained, and I struggled to keep pace, losing myself in the intensity of it all.
My hand caressed her thigh, slowly, and when she parted her legs slightly, I lifted her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around my waist as she clung to me.
She broke the kiss momentarily, both of us breathless, her eyes locked on mine with a glassy, heated gaze that mirrored my own desire.
In a low, seductive voice, I murmured against her skin, "Do not stop, baby."
A smirk curved her lips, playful and alluring, before she dove back in, kissing me again with renewed passion.
I felt her shift lower, grinding against me in a slow, teasing rhythm that drew another deep groan from my throat. I tried to hold her still, my fingers gripping her hips, but she bit my lower lip gently, the sting only heightening the sensation, and she ground into me even harder, our bodies moving together in a way that drove me wild.
The friction built, her movements insistent, and I could not hold back, my hips thrusting up to meet hers instinctively, the pleasure coiling tighter with every second.
I was painfully hard now, the need overwhelming, my mind filled with thoughts of ripping away the wet shirt between us and taking her completely, making love to her right here in the water until we were both lost in ecstasy.
But I forced myself to pull back, breaking the kiss with a ragged breath. "I am no saint, Ravenna," I warned, my voice rough with restraint. "You need to know what you are asking for if we continue like this. I might not be able to stop."
She grinned widely, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she slid down from my hold, her feet finding the water once more. "Keep baby Darius in check," she teased, her tone light but laced with challenge. "Because you are not having me."
That sparked something competitive in me, and I closed the gap between us in one swift step, towering over her with a grin of my own. "I will remember those words exactly," I promised, my voice low and intense. "Every one of them, when you are the one begging for baby Darius."
Her expression softened with intrigue, and she leaned up on her toes, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my lips that was sweet and tender, a contrast to the fire we had just shared. "I am looking forward to it," she whispered against my mouth.
Then, without another word, she turned and swam towards the edge of the fountain, climbing out with a graceful ease that left me staring, mesmerized.
She stood there in front of me, water dripping from her body, my shirt clinging to her like a second skin, turning nearly transparent and highlighting every curve; the pointed peaks of her breasts visible through the fabric, her thighs looking even more seductive and inviting, her wet hair falling in wavy cascades over her shoulders.
She grabbed the hem of the shirt, starting to lift it slowly, and my eyes widened, my pulse racing at the thought of what she might reveal.
But then she spun around abruptly, flashing me the middle finger over her shoulder with a cheeky grin before walking off towards the tree, leaving me standing in the water.
A low chuckle escaped my lips; the sound filled with a mix of amusement and lingering desire.
Inside my head, Atlas let out a contented sigh. “That girl will be the death of us.”
I nodded in silent agreement, still watching her retreating form. "At least we will die properly."