Page 31 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

A va paced in the living room of her suite, poring over each interaction she’d had with Casimir.

The touches. The flirting. The almost kisses.

Everything since the night at the tavern.

After her conversation with Raine the other day, she couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said.

Casimir had barely spoken to her outside of training since they had gone dancing. Since she basically turned him down.

Shit.

The door opened and Casimir walked in, halting in the middle of the room. “I can hear you pacing and mumbling to yourself down the hallway. What’s wrong?”

She whirled toward him. “You’re joking.”

He smiled at her as if he knew why she was upset. “I don’t make jokes.”

“You insufferable oaf, what do you mean you don’t make jokes?”

His smile grew as he took a step forward. “Why are you angry?”

“You!” She let out a sigh of frustration as she put her hands on her hips .

Raising an eyebrow, he crossed his arms. “And?”

“And? That’s all you have to say?”

“What would you like me to say?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “You’re so hot and cold all the time. What happened the night of the tavern? Why have you ignored me since?”

He tilted his head. “Why don’t you tell me what happened that night at the tavern?”

“Stop answering my questions with another question!” He stood there, grinning at her. “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps.”

She glared at him.

“Use your words, Ava. Tell me why you’re mad at me.”

She pointed her finger at him. “Don’t patronize me. Ever since the tavern, you can barely look at me, acting like nothing happened that night.”

He walked a couple of steps closer and stopped. “So, tell me what happened that night.”

“I don’t know! You acted like you wanted to…and then you didn’t and went into your room. And ever since you’ve been aloof.”

“Acted like I wanted to what?” His voice lowered.

“You know…”

“Tell me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Like you wanted to…you’re purposely trying to irritate me right now, aren’t you?”

His smile didn’t falter.

She stared at him, willing him to say why he’s been acting so strange. The breeze moving the curtains and the crackle of the fire were the only sounds as she held his gaze.

“Do you want to know why I’ve been avoiding eye contact with you?” he asked, his voice low and soft. “Why I look away every time you look at me?”

“Yes,” she whispered .

He took one step closer and stopped, eyes full of longing.

“It’s because every time I look at you, I want to throw you against a wall and kiss you until my lips are numb.

I look away because if I look at you too long, it feels like my heart is beating out of my chest. Like I will go mad if I can’t kiss you right then and there.

” He took another step. “But I don’t want it to be just a kiss.

I want it to be more. I want you naked before me so I can run my hands along your curves.

I want to worship your body until your legs are quivering and you’re screaming my name. ”

Her stomach tightened as warmth bloomed low in her belly. “Then do it,” she whispered.

“I want you to say it. I want to know you’re sure you want it,” he said as he took another step closer and ran his hand through his hair, barely restraining himself. “Say it, princess. Tell me what you want,” he rasped.

She trembled as she stood there, unable to escape the heat of his gaze. “I want you to throw me against a wall and ki—” She didn’t finish because he consumed the distance between them in seconds.

One moment she was standing there, looking at him.

The next, her back was pressed into the wall and his lips were on hers in a searing kiss.

The whole world seemed to fall away as Ava gripped the front of his tunic, pulling him closer.

His lips were soft and warm against hers and he kissed her gently, as if savoring it. Memorizing every detail.

The way it felt to kiss him was everything. It was rain on a summer’s day. It was a sunset, the light melting below the horizon as it set the world on fire. It was tender and passionate. Full of promises whispered on the breeze and unapologetic vows.

Her lips yielded to his as he coaxed them apart. Exploring. How had she lived her life without experiencing a kiss like this? How had she gone so long being in the presence of this powerful, incredible man and not felt his lips on hers ?

He pulled away to catch his breath and looked at her, his chest rising and falling as he studied her face.

As if gauging her reaction, ensuring that she wanted this.

One hand was on the wall beside her head while the other cupped her face.

Unable to pull away her gaze, she lost herself in his golden eyes.

Foreheads pressed together, she moved her hands up his chest to his neck.

“More,” she whispered, as she pulled him back in.

This time it wasn’t slow or gentle, but full of need. Of all the pent-up desire they’d been holding back for months. It was possessive. All consuming.

She gasped as his tongue parted her lips and explored her mouth feverishly.

One of his hands moved to her waist and pulled her closer, no space between them.

She slid a hand into his hair and he groaned, kissing her harder.

It was only them. No war or impending journey.

No evil lurking about. Only the taste of his lips against hers; the cedar and sage smell of him; his hard body pressed against her soft curves.

A spark ignited as their restraint snapped from denying themselves of each other for so long.

She pulled him closer, hands roaming his back.

A moan slipped from her lips and he met her desperation.

His hands moved possessively along her curves as he deepened the kiss even further, releasing a low groan.

“Fuck, Ava.” He moved his lips to her jaw, then trailed kisses down her neck and up the other side. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this. You’re all I can think about.”

He paused, gripping her hips and pressing his forehead to hers yet again. “You’re all I dream about. You consume my every thought.”

Those words. The way he spoke to her. She was desperate to touch him. To feel him. She yanked his shirt over his head and dropped it on the ground as she ran her hands along his chest and his lips met hers again, swallowing her moans. Frantic. Feverish.

“Cas,” she whimpered as she arched into him.

Saying his name unleashed him. His hand slid under her tunic and grasped her breast over the tightly wound fabric, squeezing and inducing another moan from her.

“This thing is in the way,” he complained.

He lifted her shirt over her head, tossing it aside before unraveling the bandeau binding her chest.

“Better,” he groaned as he palmed her full breasts and kissed her again, hard and fast. He journeyed his way to her chest and took her nipple in between his teeth, biting and sucking. Her head fell back and she whimpered.

“I need,” she panted. “Cas…oh…”

He grasped her thighs, lifting her and she wrapped her legs around him as he ground her against the wall. “Tell me what you need,” he growled into her mouth as his hard length pressed into her.

She moaned, the friction of him against her almost too much but not enough. Never enough. She could crawl beneath his skin and it still wouldn’t be close enough. This frenetic, carnal need within her ached. It was urgent. Like fate was pulling them to each other in this very moment.

“Please…” she breathed, grinding against him.

“Please what?” he asked, starting to slip a hand beneath the front of her pants while the other held her thigh.

“I need you,” she pleaded as she tangled her hands in his hair.

“You have me. You’ve had me since the day Aro rescued you from that monster,” he added, kissing her deeper when a door opened, jolting them from their embrace. They froze and Ava looked over Casimir’s shoulder, panting and meeting eyes with Raine.

“Jorrar found something about the Elderoak,” he announced. “Meeting in the dining hall in five minutes.” He paused and his eyes widened. “Oh shit. Did I interrupt your maiden voyage?”

Casimir turned his head and snarled as if he was some territorial beast, “Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

Raine smirked. “Nice tits, Ava. See you in five.”

The door closed and he was gone.

Casimir was still holding onto her legs wrapped around him and looked at her with equal parts frustration and hunger, breathing heavily as if trying to calm himself. “I’m going to break his nose.”

She ran her hand along his face, tracing his scar before she laid a light kiss on his lips. “Maybe we could be quick,” she whispered.

Casimir shook his head and gripped her chin, eyes boring into hers with heat. “It will never be quick with us. I’ll take my time learning all the ways to make you whimper.”

He set her down, retrieved her shirt and bandeau, and handed them to her before putting his own back on.

After she finished dressing, he yanked her against him and kissed her one last time.

“Later,” he said into her lips as he pulled away.

She straightened her clothing and smoothed her hair before Casimir grabbed her hand and led her out of the suite.

They made their way down the hallway in silence, fingers interlaced. Ava didn’t know what to say, heart racing from what had been about to occur and the anticipation of what Jorrar found. The guards opened the doors, and they entered the dining room.

“What’s this about?” Casimir fumed.

Raine suppressed a smirk as he sat at the table, but the rest of them pretended not to notice their disheveled clothing and hair.

They were the last two to arrive and sat next to each other.

Casimir scooted his chair close, and placed his hand under her hair on the back of her neck, his thumb shifting back and forth.

Ava looked at Jorrar. “You found something about the Elderoak?”

Thorne and Jorrar looked grave, and her gut twisted as he answered. “Yes.”

“Well?” said Casimir, concern in his voice.

Jorrar spoke, “We learned you must go alone past a certain point.”

“What happens if someone comes with me anyway?” she asked.

“They die,” said Thorne.

They all tensed as Jorrar continued, “The journey appears to be a combination of physical and emotional strength, which we had already assumed.”

Ava remained quiet, biting her lip as she tried to keep calm. Casimir’s hand clenched on her neck in silent comfort.

“The path to the tree will try to confuse you. There will be tricks and illusions. Some you must battle with your weapons, and others with your mind,” said Jorrar.

“What tricks and illusions?” asked Quinn.

“It’s different for each individual.”

“I can’t do that,” Ava whispered.

“You can,” Casimir said and turned to Jorrar. “What else?”

“We knew the journey was an annual occurrence. We learned when.”

“And?” Casimir urged.

Thorne shook his head. “It’s the day before the Summer Solstice.”

“That’s the day after tomorrow!” Raine exclaimed.

“What happens if I get there and I fail?” Ava asked.

Jorrar said, “If you’re able to find your way back, you go home and try again next year.”

“And if you can’t?” Casimir said .

“You lose your mind and the forest takes you.”

Ava popped out of her seat. She wanted to run away.

To run to her room and start the day over and pretend she never heard this news.

Her lips were going numb, and her heart was beating out of her chest. She was going to have a panic attack in front of the whole group.

She tried to leave, but her legs wouldn’t obey.

She couldn’t do this, wasn’t ready yet. She needed more time, more training.

“I’m not ready…I’m not ready,” she repeated to herself.

Her head spun as she gripped the back of her chair and tried to focus. Air. She needed air. At some point Casimir had risen and was talking to her, but she couldn’t hear him. The room darkened as dizziness took over and a wave of nausea washed through her.

“Ava, breathe,” Casimir said from far away, as if she was in a well. Her vision faded and she swayed on her feet.

Then the room went dark.