Heart of Fire (Blood of Zeus #2) - Meredith Wild Page 0,80
because the man of my soul is part of the vista.
The demigod of my destiny. The fulfillment of my fate. The lover who gives himself to me in every bright and burning way, until every thought is his name and every sensation and desire is his to own.
The stars bear witness to our lovemaking. The sand cushions the urgent press of our bodies, twined together now with little care for anyone who might see us. And as quickly as the storm cleared, Maximus’s fevered drives summon a soundless flash of lightning, piercing the tumultuous sky.
The frenzy between us numbs us to the ensuing rain. The tempest matches the wild energy between us, making every second feel right. Fated, even. Before the lusty haze of my thoughts can ruminate any more on that, my writhing, scorching climax takes over. And Maximus owns every second of that too.
For another hour, we lie in a tangle of damp blankets and half-shed clothes, trading quiet kisses and admiring the enduring coals that survived the storm. Our storm, I tease, newly committed to appreciating Maximus’s sway over the elements during these intimate moments.
In the fading light, I’m quietly grateful that my mother hasn’t managed my life so heavily that I’m clueless about the stuff that contributes to a happy, normal relationship. It’s stolen, silly moments like this. Laughter shared during experiences that no one else will understand.
I’m thankful that Maximus gets it too. For one of the few times in my life, I’m also grateful for the abilities that give me that assurance. We snap a few grainy pictures of ourselves in the dark. We’re tired and messy and totally happy. For someone whose life has been defined by the last photo snap, capturing these moments—raw and unfiltered—means more than I can say. What’s even better… They belong to us. We’ll never have to share them with anyone else.
“We should head back, I think,” Maximus finally says. He sits up and starts to button his shirt. “We’ve been gone a suspiciously long time. Your brother has to have noticed by now.”
“Mm, not yet,” I moan, burrowing into the warm place he’s left behind on the blanket. I’m determined to savor every last second of our happy little bubble. Too soon, it’ll be over. We’ll be back in the world of glitter heels and Tinseltown deals, balanced with academia propriety and politics. Both such ridiculous games—but until we get the underworld’s final ruling, these games are compulsory for us.
Fortunately, Maximus doesn’t let me get too morose about that. “Fire’s almost out anyway.” He sweeps sand over the dying embers with his massive paddle of a foot. “And you still haven’t gotten your party food fix.”
“Well, there is that.”
I accept his hand so I can fully stand and straighten out my dress. He obviously approves of me prioritizing the five thousand layers of the skirt, fixating on my chest without a flinch. Everything’s fallen out of the silky bodice, meaning it’s impossible to hide how his approving growl turns my nipples into pinpoints. I swat away his teasing advances to right myself once and for all.
“Hey there, mister. I thought you were eager to get back inside.”
“Not exactly eager.” He brandishes a look I’m not used to receiving outside his lecture hall. His lips are firm, but his stare is penetrating. “More of a polite compulsion. Make no mistake, there’s a savage in me that never wants to leave this beach.”
I’m not sure what’s sexier: the complete conviction beneath his soft statement or the way he kneels again to press a reverent kiss atop one of my sand-covered feet. It’s barely a brush of his lips, but my bloodstream doesn’t know the difference. Or my nerve endings. Or every pore of my skin. Even with a mansion full of people possibly able to see everything we’re doing, I’m on the brink of begging him to whip everything out and ravage me all over again.
After a steady breath in and out, I control myself long enough to brush the sand away from his beard and lips. “Hmm. A savage, you say?”
He arches a brow. “Do you doubt it? Do I need to prove—?”
“You do not have to prove it. I know this savage very well.” I push at his chest, taking his warm hand in an attempt to tug us closer to the destination. “Besides, I have a feeling I may see him again very soon.”
As we approach the access point to Rerek’s place, I’m already dreading having