Broken (The Captive #5.5)(44)
Placing her hands on the ground, she shoved herself to her feet, wiped at her eyes and turned away. It would get better, it had to, but falling apart and screaming at the ground weren't going to do anything to make it that way. She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other as she hurried toward the human town.
***
"You're not supposed to be here," she said.
Atticus remained where he was, staring at her back as she sat with her shoulders hunched forward on the log. The sunlight filtering through the trees in golden rays illuminated her black braid. She was in her chemise again and yet that simple article of clothing was more enticing than any half-naked woman he'd ever seen before.
"I know," he replied.
The light reflected in her raven eyes, seeming to make them glow as she turned her head to look at him. His fingers twitched with the impulse to run them over the creamy complexion of her skin. Yes, she was by far the most enticing woman he'd ever seen in his life and though he knew he wasn't supposed to be here, knew he should leave, he found his feet drawn irresistibly forward.
Her eyes followed him as he walked to the end of the log. "You'll only make this harder, for us both," she whispered.
"It can't be any harder," he said honestly.
She turned away to stare out at the river. "Yes it could."
"How? How could it possibly be any harder?" he demanded as he stepped onto the log.
Her jaw clenched, her gaze remained focused on the water as he walked across the log toward her. "Don't," she murmured as he knelt beside her.
His deadened heart lurched in his chest then seemed to shrivel. This, this was how it could get harder, to be spurned by her again. "I'll go."
Her head turned toward him, her eyes reluctantly found his. "Don't," she whispered again.
"Genny," he breathed.
Taking hold of her hand, he helped her to rise and pulled her closer to him. Her mouth parted, her body was rigid, but thankfully that awful, don't, word didn't escape her again. He moved cautiously, afraid that she would tell him to leave again. He didn't think he could handle it if she did. Her eyes rapidly searched his as he slid his fingers over her cheeks and around the back of her head. Touching her again finally eased all of the stress that had been building within him these past few weeks. He finally felt whole once more as the mint and aster scent that was undeniably her, drifted into his nose.
Her hands rested upon his chest, but instead of pushing him away, her fingers curled into his tunic and pulled him closer. The passion that the women in the club had failed to ignite in him blazed to life instantly. All of the unhappiness of the past weeks vanished as he eagerly took possession of her mouth.
The unending bitter dryness and lack of taste he'd been experiencing lately vanished when his tongue swept inside to taste the sweet recesses of her mouth. The past three weeks faded away as he was once more enveloped in her feel and taste. He tugged at the hem of her chemise and in turn she rewarded him with a low moan of pleasure.
He growled low as the cumbersome material still covering her tangled around them. He considered tearing it from her body but there was a good chance he would frighten her away if he did. She had to know though; she had to understand that he wasn't going to be content with just kissing her, not when he'd been denied her touch these past weeks. "Genny, I need more, I need you," he whispered against her mouth.
He tasted the saltiness of the tears sliding down her cheeks as he kissed her face. She pulled back to look up at him, her fingers slid over his face and rested against his lips. Her eyes were filled with awe as they ran over him. "I've missed you so much. Take from me what you need, I won't refuse you again."
There was nothing in the world that he wanted more than to hear those words or to be with this woman. "I'll always be here for you."
She smiled beautifully as her fingers traced his mouth. "I know."
He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her with the feverish longing that had been building within him since they'd parted. He tasted her in deep, penetrating thrusts of his tongue that only left him aching for more. Her body pressed flush against his as he broke the kiss and lifted her above his head. Laughter trailed from her. He savored in the sight of her and the halo the sunlight created around her. He was going to enjoy looking at her every day of the eternity they were going to share together.
She was still laughing when he placed her back on the log. She gave him a mischievous smile and before he knew what she intended, she jerked him backward. A shout of surprise and laughter escaped him as they tumbled backwards off of the log together. Cool water swelled over his head and ripped her hand away from his.
***
Atticus woke with a start. Genny's laughter continued to echo in his head and the scent of asters filled his nostrils. For a minute he remained suffused by the happiness and sense of completion that he'd experienced in the dream. The dream had seemed so much more real to him than any of the other dreams he'd continuously had about her since they'd last been together.
Take from me what you need; I won't refuse you again. They weren't her words though, they never had been. His mind, in its desperate attempt to try and soothe his constant misery, had dreamed the words up as surely as it had dreamed her up.
Anger grew within his chest, his fingers curled into the bedding beneath him. His teeth clenched together as beads of sweat broke out across his forehead. Unable to suppress it any more a bellow of fury tore from him. He forced himself to release the bedding before he shredded it completely and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Dropping his head into his hands, he tried to suppress the pressure growing within him but he felt like a pot about ready to boil over.