Page 129 of Eryx

I smiled. My warrior could never refuse the fruit. However, that didn’t explain his blush. I pressed him for more information.

“Agis didn’t only give me the fig,” Axios said, as his cheeks darkened even more. “He fed it to me.”

Despite the erotic image his words painted, I smiled. It was the first time I’d ever seen Axios discuss eating a fig with so much horror.

“Why do you grin?” he asked, shocked.

I shrugged and caressed his lower stomach, playing with the dusting of hair below his naval.

“Ery… tell me.”

His impatience only made me smile more. I met his gaze and answered, “The act of him feeding it to you nearly upset me because of the intimacy that detail evoked in my mind, but then I saw your expression. It clearly made you uncomfortable.”

“And this brings you joy?” he asked with a scoff. There was no real irritation in his eyes, though. Only relief.

I laughed and kissed his shoulder. “No, you foolish man. It is not humor it brings me, but satisfaction. You adore it when I feed you, so it is a hold over you I have that he does not.”

“There is no competition, Ery.” Axios shook his head. “I am yours and forever will be. Caring for another does not change that, for I do not love him. And if I do love him… it is not in the same way.”

“I know,” I said, having no doubt in my mind. I brought him closer to me and slid my hand through his silky hair. My next question made me tense. I dreaded the answer but needed to hear it. “What happened after he kissed you?”

“I denied his request for more, we said our goodbyes, and then I left.”

I knew he was withholding details, and I was thankful for it. I prided myself on my self-control, but hearing specifics about their kiss would’ve pushed me over the edge.

Axios continued, “One reason I believe the day meant so much to me was because… and you may think this silly… but he told me I was extraordinary. Yet, it was more than that. You had just informed me that morning that you planned to eventually marry a woman—to cast me aside—and I was hurt.”

“And he made you feel wanted,” I whispered, understanding at last. My heart felt heavy. With grief. With regret.

Reluctantly, Axios nodded.

“I find it difficult to be angry with him now,” I said, turning onto my back and staring at the ceiling. “You were in a fragile state and he took care of you when I did not… when I was blinded by future responsibilities and hurt you. Made you believe I no longer wanted you.”

Tears sprang to my eyes as I looked at him. My pain was too great to hide behind indifference.

How was it possible to hurt so much and feel numb at the same time?

“It is no surprise he fell for you too,” I said, sinking deeper into self-loathing. “You are everything that is beautiful and right in this world. I do not deserve you.”

“Enough,” Axios demanded in a stern tone I’ve rarely heard him use. “I forgave you long ago. It is time for you to do the same.”

His words freed me from the guilt I had carried for so long. We weren’t perfect men. We had both made mistakes and learned from them.

I closed the gap between our mouths and pushed my fingers through his hair, pulling him on top of me. We kissed and yanked off each other’s clothes as he straddled my hips.

More than sex, I needed the intimacy. The closeness of him. My soul purred once we joined our bodies, Axios gliding on me nice and slow at first before moving faster.

He threw his head back and moaned as he rode me, our skin slapping together as he came down hard each time. The sensation was nearly overwhelming, and my head spun as I panted and traced the muscles of his abdomen. It was intense and all-consuming, feeling like our first time all over again. Maybe because we had finally confronted our demons.

There were no more secrets between us. No more insecurities, bitterness, or regret. Only love.

Gripping his lean waist, I sat up and bit his neck, lifting my hips from the bed to drive into him faster.

“Ery!” Axios clawed my back. “More. Please.”

I loved it when he begged me for more. A growl tore from my throat as I flipped him to his back and settled between his legs, thrusting into him. The position allowed me greater control. He gasped and his muscles tightened right before he came apart. The tightness of him and how his body squeezed around my cock was too much.

I buried my face against his neck as my entire being quaked.