Chapter 202 TEIGEN XXVI
No, this was not what made him stay away. The kiss was what kept him at a distance. It was all an act to save her life, but to him? To him it felt like he was letting his feelings take presidence while he saved her life. His lips meeting hers may have been just an act to supply her lungs with oxygen, but to him that first touch sent surges through his body. It felt wrong to come so close, but still at the same time it felt so right. These conflicting emotions right here, was the reason he kept away.
How would he look her in the eye and not feel guilty? Or not feel ashamed with himself?
Elara's gaze dropped to the ground, "I understand, it is fine if distance is what you wish. I will respect your space"
With that she resigns, walking past him to the door. A strong grip landed on her wrist before she could twist the door to unlock it. Her gaze trails up to meet Ryker's, his violet orbs soften with compassion.
Slowly she let's go of the handle but his grip remains on her wrist. Ryker sighs, coming face to face with the person that had haunted his dreams so badly. He had only ever heard of dead loved ones haunting the living, but his was a special case. He was haunted by someone who was still living, haunted by her scent, the chime of her laughter, the lilt of her voice, the colour of her hair, the tint of her blue eyes.
"It does not bother me. What I saw will not take me away from your side, for I am in no position to question. I am here to serve, to protect... you" his words tug hard on her heart strings, his closeness to her worsening it.
"Then why-"
"Because of the kiss" he blurts out, averting his eyes from hers. She stands there, lips slightly parted in shock and her eyes wide.
"What?"
What did he just say?
"When I tried to save you, after I pulled you from the water. I needed to give you some air, so I... I had to place my lips on yours to... do that" while he spoke his eyes danced around but dared not to meet hers. He braced himself for the worst, maybe a slap or getting released from his work. All this he could handle but not the sight of the one so close to his heart gazing up at him with disgust.
"I came so close to you without your permission. For that I sincerely apologize, my lady" he lowered his head in shame.
Elara blinked, her heart pounding in her ears at what she was about to do and say"And if I gave you permission?"
Ryker's eyes snapped to hers, "what?"
"What if I gave you permission?" She was taking a bold leap, daring her body to corporate with her.
The sensible part of me was screaming at me to stop, but the more it screamed the closer I came. I was so close to crossing a line I would not be able to return from, but every sense of reasoning went right out the window the moment I snuck into his room. I inched closer, covering up any space between us.
I slipped my free hand from his naked chest, dragging it slowly up from his neck to his cheek, a low vibration coming from his chest. My eyes remained on his, waiting for any sign of resistance but there was none. Was this my sign?
I may have been seeing things but I could detect the mixture of desire and want swimming in his amethyst eyes, calling me closer, begging me to touch him. He leaned down, inching closer till our lips were just breaths apart.
My heart thumped in my ear, the atmosphere charged with a thick mist of sexual tension it was suffocating. His free hand that was not holding onto my wrist wound up at my waist, pulling me tight against his naked chest. That was the last weight that made me snap. I closed the space, placing my lips against his. Our lips stayed together for a while before he started moving his against mine, sucking up my mouth and devouring me.
My lips and his entangled in a passionate dance, soft moans spilling from my lips as he worked his way passed and into my mouth. My brain was a mess, no string of coherent thoughts were able to form as his body moulded against mine. It felt like I was on fire, as if he had thrown a match into a once desolate furnace. The spark of desire that flickered was now a blazing flame, lighting up every pore in my body.
"Ryker" I moaned into the kiss and just like that it was as if I had flipped a switch in him.
Ryker pulls away, his chest heaving from lack of oxygen. He gazes down at Elara in his arms and as if just realising what he was doing, he pulls away. Elara's red, swollen lips twist into a frown.
"What's wrong?" She asks, coming closer to him but he stumbles back, shocked by his own actions.
"T-that was a mistake. I-i shouldn't have-"
"A mistake? I kissed you because I, I wanted to. You didn't do anything wrong Ryker" desperation clung to her tone as she stepped closer to him.
"No, no, no. That was a mistake, I shouldn't have kissed you" he runs his hand through his hair, his face twisted in distress.
Hurt flashes in Elara's eyes. She had imagined finally kissing him, finally tasting his lips. It was everything she wanted and more, how he claimed her, how hot she got, how passionate her first kiss was. But what she did not prepare for however was his rejection. It was as if he had plunged a knife into her heart and continued to twist it.
"It was a mistake?" Her voice was quiet, almost inaudible.
"Yes, it was. I am sorry, my lady" Ryker finally turned to face her and the pain in Elara's eyes made him regret everything he had said.
"Elar-"
"No, it is alright. I-it was my fault, sorry for forcing myself on you" she turned away, pushing past him, opening his door and running out before he could call out to her.
Now, he had royally screwed up.