Page 91 of Bonds of Starfall

With her free hand, she grabbed a steak knife, cutting through the vines with ease. They fell to the table, petals wilting. "I’m going, and you can’t stop me," she said through gritted teeth.

The air crackled.

His eyes dipped to the sweetheart neckline of her blouse, accentuating the perfect hint of her pale breasts, pressing against the material with her every breath.

Fuck.

What was he going to do about this? Sabine would kill him if he let her go.

Slowly, he regained control of his Stella—the first outburst in five years, when he got the call about his parents.

He rubbed a hand over his eyes, dislodging his glasses momentarily. This wasn’t right. She was hurting, and he hated it. But god, he couldn’t protect her if she left. Especially near Lunar City.

Lucien stood, walking around the side of the table until he came to a stop by her side. She stared up at him, not letting the knife go as she twirled it between her fingers—an empty threat. He held out a hand, waiting calmly.

She set down the knife, took his hand, and let him pull her up and lead her to the couch. The moon, reflected on the glass of the high-rises, made her pale skin even fairer.

He sat, and she did the same, watching him warily.

"Vesperin, if you keep chasing after ghosts, then I fear you will have nothing left that makes you,you." His words were low and cool. They had been nearly inseparable in the last month—longer than a month, now, really. This was their first fight. "I don’t want to fight with you, and I’m sorry I lost control, but I can’t stand you leaving here. Not like this," he said quietly.

"I’m not."

He looked up, finding her staring at him, her chin held high. There was a slight wariness still in her eyes as she regarded him.

"I’m not sorry you lost control, Lucien," Vesperin added.

He swallowed. "Careful."

"I leave tonight. I hated to tell you, and I don’t want to leave angry. I know what it’s like to leave things unsaid and forever wish you could go back and change it," she said bitterly, reaching up to twine her fingers in his hair, tugging slightly. He bit his lower lip at the feel of her hands in his hair. "So don’t have any regrets."

He wasn’t sure who moved first.

Their lips met in a clash of held-back desire, shared grief, and protective anguish.

He groaned into her mouth. Her lips were cool from the ice water she had sipped on, and she tasted like cherries, tinted with spicy sweetness from the homemade sauce. He gripped her hips, tugging her onto his lap. She straddled him, her thighs over his, hands tangled in his hair, tugging, tugging. Her chest brushed against his, and he ran his hands over her thighs, clad in skin-tight black jeans.

He groaned low against her mouth, pulling away. "I’ve wanted you for so long."

Vesperin’s nose pressed against him as she placed soft kisses on his cheeks. His fingers gripped her thighs tighter, digging into the softness of her inner thigh. She moaned, grinding down on him.

"Then, have me," she said.

His head tipped back, glasses askew. "Is this a good idea, Vesperin?"

She didn’t answer, just kept kissing his face, nibbling his jaw.

He pulled away, cupping her cheeks until she stared at him. Her eyes were half-lidded, pupils blown with desire. Her heart thumped under the pad of his thumb as he felt the space under her jaw.

"Because if we do this, it will mean something," he pleaded.

"Good. I want it to meaneverything." She bit down on her lower lip, placing her hands on his chest and shoving him back against the couch.

He gasped in surprise. She was a little vixen.

Their lips met, once more, tongues clashing in a war of wills. Her lower half ground down on his cock, making him grunt and resist the urge to buck up into her. She reached for the buttons ofhis shirt, undoing them, fingers skimming underneath to caress his skin.

His hands found their way underneath her blouse, hooking under the lace of her bralette, until he tugged it under her breasts, cupping her soft flesh in his hand, skimming the pads of his fingers over her nipple. Every brush made her gasp and grind against him deeper.