She emits a low appreciative hum as she leans in close to my neck and inhales deeply. “You smell so good,” she whispers against my skin.
Something is definitely wrong with Ella.
She traces her delicate fingers over the pointed tips of my ears and a small shiver of pleasure runs through me.
I wrap one hand around her wrists and pull them away from me. “Are you all right?”
She nods, but I notice her cheeks are flushed a deep shade of red. I place the back of my other hand on her forehead, wondering if perhaps she has a fever. “Do you feel warm?”
When I touch her cheek, she leans into my palm as if relishing my touch.
“Ella, I think something is wrong. I—”
I gasp as she crawls into my lap. Softly biting her lower lip, she stares at me through half-lidded eyes, full of desire. “I think I want to kiss you, Ryvan.”
My eyes go wide. What is going on?
My gaze lands on her empty glass and realization dawns. “Ella, I think the juice affects your people differently than it does mine.”
My heart hammers in my chest as she cups my cheek and leans in. Her lips are so close to my own that the soft mint of her breath fans across my skin.
“How so?” She skims the tip of her nose lightly alongside mine.
I draw in a shaking breath as I fight the urge to press my lips to hers. I want so much to kiss her and taste the warmth of her mouth. I long to run my hands over her body, tracing every line and soft curve of her form.
I study her beautiful face and the many small spots that span the bridge of her nose and cheeks. I want to count each one and memorize the patterns of her petal-soft skin.
I reach for her; the tips of my fingers graze softly over her cheek. Her blue eyes stare deep into mine.
With a slight clench of my jaw, I force myself to look away. This is wrong. I should not touch her. She is not herself.
I grab her wrist, pulling her hand away while attempting to move out from under her. She only tightens her hold on me. I try to stand but she clings to me and I lose my balance. We fall to the floor.
She crawls over me and gently nuzzles my neck. “You smell so good, Ryvan. Like earth and cinnamon.”
A throaty hum escapes her, and I gasp when she licks my skin.
“Ella, you must stop,” I rasp as the words leave my mouth without any real conviction. My body responds instinctively to her touch as intense need burns through me.
She runs her hands over my chest and abdomen as if exploring my body. The scent of her need calls to the darkest, most primitive part of me, and my stav extends, hard and painfully erect against the confinement of my pants.
She dips her fingers beneath the hem of my shirt and traces them across my bare skin. Her touch is fire, and my control begins to crumble. I must put a stop to this at once.
I roll her onto her back, pinning her beneath me. A sharp huff of air escapes my mouth as she arches up into me, her center pressed firmly against my hardened stav.
“Ella,” I barely manage. “We must stop.”
She lifts her head and licks my neck again. My body instinctively responds and my fangs extend with want to claim her.
Her eyes widen and she inhales sharply. “Ryvan?”
I push away and turn from her, ashamed of my reaction. Her small hand alights on my back. “Ryvan?”
Drawing in a deep breath, I force my fangs to retract. Slowly, I turn to face her.
She smiles and crawls toward me, wrapping her arms around me and burrowing into my chest. “There you are.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you were a monster for a moment, but it was just a bad dream.”
Monster. The word hits me like a physical blow. I hate that the appearance of my fangs scared her.
She pushes me onto my back and lies down next to me.
I sigh heavily in frustration, struggling to push down my desire as she snuggles into my side. She is obviously drunk from the kali juice and I cannot just leave her here like this.
She nestles closer into me and closes her eyes.
She shivers slightly and I wrap my arms and wings around her to keep her warm. This is going to be a very long night.
