Reaching Answers (Artemis University #8) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,76
so badly that I couldn’t see how I could truly ever heal from it.
He lavished attention and praise on my breasts before he kissed along my stomach, saying he was going to kiss every inch of me to memorize my perfect body again. The moment I felt a tear on my hip, my own leaked out of my eyes. I’d hurt him so much by not taking him back quicker, by not being able to forgive him sooner.
By still not being able to forgive him.
“I’ll give you everything they all do combined, my sweet fairy. I swear it. I swear my love is true and my soul is yours. Please just don’t leave me again. I can’t survive in this world without you. I’ll do anything, be anyone you want, but love me again and let me in someday. You’re all that matters.”
I hadn’t realized I’d turned my telepathy on, quickly shutting it off as my eyes overflowed.
But it came back on. He turned it on. Somehow him being my mate and able to join our magics let him control my telepathy when we were this close or intimate. It took me a few moments to realize that and right as I was about to panic—not about him being able to do that, but the idea of losing control over the power again—he licked me in the best spot.
Julian Craftsman had a lot of faults—as we all did—but knowing how to touch a woman and please her was not one of them. He gave his full attention to her enjoyment and made sure it was one of the best experiences she’d ever had.
Fuck, I’d missed it. Not to say the others were lacking, but this connection and treatment from him was… It was part of why I hurt so badly that he’d faded and forgotten me. He paid so much attention at times that when he didn’t, it was as if all the sun was gone and that warmth of love turned into freezing rain. When he took his gaze off of me, I felt cold and alone more than normal.
His fingers digging in my skin made me realize he was hearing my thoughts. Shit.
I turned it off and focused on the pleasure he was giving me. He flipped it right back on, but I kept my attention to where it should be.
Three times in a row.
Wow.
I gasped for air as he rolled off the bed and went for his drink, wiping his mouth before taking several long swigs of it. I knew him well enough not to be offended. He’d done it dozens of time before and I found it oddly comforting. He loved the taste of me, but he was always considerate of me and didn’t want me to be turned off by tasting myself on his lips.
He smiled when he saw me watching him. Setting down his drink, he moved back by the bed. “We can stop here. This was everything and—”
“I won’t risk you any more than you’d risk me, Julian.” I shook my head when he went to argue. “My gut is telling me not to be stupid on this, and I’ve survived a lot listening to my gut. Maybe it’s pushing me when it shouldn’t but… Trust me, okay?”
“Always. I always trust you. I just can’t hurt you again.”
“You will. We both will. I’ve hurt you so much too,” I whispered. “Hopefully, we just won’t make the same mistakes. That’s what I hope, I guess.”
“That’s a good hope, love.” He cleared this throat as he eyed me over. “You’re sure?”
“Get in the bed, Julian, or I’ll leave.”
He tried to get his pants off so fucking fast, he tripped.
Twice.
Taking off the shoes first helped.
And then he was naked on the bed with me and I was scared again.
“Don’t be scared,” he breathed before kissing me. “We’re meant to be. I know it.”
I nodded, not sure what else to do. But he did. He knew I couldn’t take any more lead up or checking, I just needed to… Not get over this, but move forward if we were going to do this.
Except one thing.
“Where’s the charm? You got a new one, right?”
He sighed. “I almost forgot it. Shite. Sorry, love.” He rolled off the bed and grabbed it from his dresser, sliding it over his head before rejoining me. “I forget everything but you when you’re around.”
I glanced away. But you haven’t lots of times I’ve been around. You forgot me and faded. You will again.