Page 88 of Cerulean Truth (Sapere #1)

He sighed, frustration evident in his every breath. "What are you doing to me? I have never… I don’t lose control over my anger, ever! And now, since you…"

I couldn't help but laugh in bitterness. "Oh well, thank the gods you reserve that charming behavior only for me then."

"It's not just you! It's you and me and him and this whole situation!" he growled.

"Why does that make you so angry?" I questioned, trying to make sense of the swirling emotions.

"Because you're acting strange," he spat. "Ever since he's come here, you've been acting strange."

"You think that's because of him? It's because of you, you moron!" I snapped in frustration.

"Me? Why me?"

"Oh, I don't know, James, maybe because we constantly fight but never talk about it? We kiss each other, and we never talk about it. We cover up everything from attempted murder to abduction, and we never talk about it. You almost died in my arms and we never talk about it!"

"You want to talk about all that? Fine, let's talk about it all then, let's see how you feel, what you want, tell me everything!" he snapped in response.

"You're such an ass," I growled, my frustration boiling over.

"How am I an ass? You wanted to talk about it; let's do it then!"

"Fine, let's talk! We kissed. A few times now even. How do you feel about that?" I crossed my arms, challenging him.

"Great," he answered evasively.

"Really? You feel great about it?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yup, great."

"Just great?"

"Fuck, Emma, just say what you want me to say?" His impatience showed, and the tension between us escalated.

“I don’t know, maybe something holding a little information, like, ‘it was horrible, and I wish it never happened’ or ‘it was awesome, let’s do it again sometime,’ just something!"

But he didn’t say anything; instead, he maintained his focus on my face, as silence lingered between us.

“Do you want to do it again sometime?” he asked, his voice unexpectedly soft, suddenly devoid of all anger.

I blinked, completely taken aback by the sudden shift in his demeanor. “What?”

“Do you want to do it again sometime?” he whispered, his tone almost sweet, making my entire body shudder in anticipation

“I uhm, I do… don’t …. I’m not… I am…I just…” I stammered, my words stumbling over each other incoherently.

"We're going to need a verb in there somewhere," he said, a playful smile now gracing his lips as he took a step closer.

His mood swings will be the death of me.

"Oh, shut up. I don't hear you offering any coherent explanation." My tone was sharp, attempting to mask my own confusion.

"Because I don't have any."

"I don't believe you; I mean... clearly there's..."

"Yes?" he encouraged, invading my space further as he moved closer.

"Clearly, there's something..."

"Something?"

"Never mind," I mumbled, my resolve waning.

"Something like what?" he pressed, now standing so close I could feel his breath on my forehead.

"I don't know... Something between us?"

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"Both?"

He held a thoughtful silence for a moment.

"... yes."

I looked up at him. "Yes, what?"

"Yes, there is clearly something between us."

"Oh... well, thanks for clearing that up," I snapped impatiently, trying to pull away, but he firmly held my arm in place.

Then, he leaned in, tenderly caressing my bottom lip with his thumb. "Something real," he whispered, his words almost palpable with their quiet intensity, making my stomach dip.

He locked his gaze with mine, his eyes searching, intense, as if trying to unearth something hidden deep within me.

Whatever he found made his lips curl into a slow, satisfied smile before he leaned in, brushing his lips softly over mine, igniting a tremor that rippled through my whole body.

He pulled back just a fraction, his eyes scanning my face for a reaction, and I knew he saw it—saw the warmth of desire flushing my skin, felt the heat radiating from me, the passion coiled and ready to erupt.

His smile deepened, almost smug, before he closed the distance again, this time with a searing kiss, full of intent.

I responded with an intensity that seemed to take him off guard, making him lose his balance for a heartbeat.

I locked my arms behind his neck, pressing my body against his, needing more of him, all of him.

He groaned, his tongue teasing at my lips until they parted, inviting him in.

His hands slid down to my hips, gripping tightly as he pressed the hard proof of his arousal against me, sending a shiver down my spine.

I took his bottom lip between my teeth, biting gently, and felt him smile against my mouth.

He pulled back just enough to murmur against my lips, his voice low and rough, “You have no idea what you’re doing to me.”

Before I could reply, his kiss grew more insistent, demanding, and I matched his intensity, finally giving in to the pull I’d been holding back.

I let out a soft moan, a sound that seemed to unhinge him completely, his breathing growing ragged as his hands began roaming over me, possessive, as if he needed to feel every inch of me at once.

“You taste absolutely incredible Emma,” he murmured, his voice rough with raw need. “I don’t think I can hold back anymore.”

My head spinning, I managed to trail my thumb along his cheek, catching a moment to breathe as his gaze held me captive, fierce and unrelenting. The sheer intensity of it made my knees weaken, every defense I thought I had crumbling. I wasn’t made to resist this man.

“Then don’t. You have me,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Any way you want, you have me.”

A flicker of satisfaction crossed his face, and he held my gaze as his knuckles gently grazed the underside of my breast, his touch both tender and electrifying.

I sucked in a sharp breath as his other hand slipped beneath my shirt, his thumb tracing slow, languid circles along my stomach.

My eyes pleaded with him to move faster, to end the sweet, torturous anticipation, but he only took his time, as if savoring each second, each heartbeat, committing the feel of my skin to memory.

His fingers trailed further down, beneath the waistband of my pants, raking along my inner thigh with deliberate, teasing strokes until he found the undeniable evidence of my desire.

His breath hitched as his fingers brushed over my slickness, and he let out a low, primal growl.

“You’re fucking soaked,” he murmured, his voice thick with adoration and barely restrained hunger.

He moved his fingers slowly, torturously, circling my clit in a way that sent jolts of pleasure through me, leaving me gasping.

His eyes remained locked on mine, dark and intent, watching every reaction, every quiver that ran through me.

His other hand settled firmly on my hip, grounding me as his touch grew bolder, his fingers slipping inside, filling me, pressing into the places that made my back arch and my breath catch.

I clutched at his shoulders, my nails digging into him as the sensation built, raw and consuming.

“Look at you,” he whispered roughly, his voice thick with desire. “Falling apart in my hands.”

He leaned in, his lips grazing my jaw, then moving lower, pressing soft, open-mouthed kisses along my neck, leaving a trail of warmth that heightened every shiver, every pulse of pleasure building between us.

I couldn’t hold back, my breaths coming in quick, uneven gasps as his touch grew even more insistent, his fingers curling in perfect rhythm, hitting that place that made me melt, leaving me trembling.

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes dark and intense, taking in every reaction, every judder.

"I want to watch you come for me," he murmured, his voice a low, gravelly command that left me breathless. “Now.”

And then I did. I shattered, the waves of pleasure crashing over me as I came, his name spilling from my lips in gasping, breathless moans.

"Fuck, Emma, you're stunning," he growled, his fingers moving steadily, drawing out every last tremor until I felt utterly relaxed, completely spent, and entirely his.

His lips found mine again as he withdrew his hand from my pants, trailing his touch softly along my skin. He kissed me deep and slow, pulling me back into the warmth of the moment.

But before I could fully catch my breath, James’s Nexus stirred, alerting him to something that made him frown.

Seriously? Another interruption? Were we cursed or something?

He glanced at his message and muttered a string of curses under his breath that could have made the devil blush.

His eyes met mine, regretful. “I am so sorry, but I have to go.”

I blinked, trying to process. “Now?”

He swallowed, still visibly caught between his desire and his duty, the proof of my release still lingering on his fingers. “I know it’s the worst possible timing, and I know we need to talk—about everything, about us. But right now, I need to…”

“Go,” I finished for him, my voice carrying an edge of disappointment I couldn’t quite hide.

He nodded once, reluctantly, before finally letting me go. As I stepped back, watching him draw a portal, his gaze held mine, conflicted, until he vanished into the light.

A sigh slipped from my lips, weighted with frustration and longing. How much longer would James keep me at arm’s length? How much longer would he flicker between hot and cold? And, maybe most importantly, how much longer could I keep riding this emotional rollercoaster?