Page 7 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)

After what felt like ages, he placed a hand around the back of my thigh and placed the dagger inside the sheath with the other. Small shivers rained down my spine, and I tried desperately to regain my composure.

His warm palms lingered almost unbearably too long before he pulled them back to his sides as he rose. The whole interaction was only a few seconds, but gods, did it do some damage. I wobbled, my knees feeling weak. Realizing I had yet to breathe, I exhaled quickly.

This man is going to be the death of me.

Will smirked to himself, proud of the rose color that he had made bloom upon my cheeks.

My breath hitched as he stood there letting his eyes glaze over my entire body once more.

The lightness of his eyes darkened as he stared at me like I was something he was about to devour.

His tongue wet his bottom lips, causing my eyes to shift down to them.

The shift made his lips twitch into a smirk.

I’d never felt so vulnerable as I did right now.

My skin felt aflame, like his gaze could see straight through the thin fabric of my dress.

Inside my chest, my heart clamored, and I bit my lower lip trying my hardest to look away from the intensity I could feel burning behind his eyes.

Gods. He really needed to say something before I melted into the ground right in front of him.

As if he could read my mind, he closed the gap between us. “Elena, you are—” He licked his lips, as if trying to find the strength to say the next word. “Breathtaking.”

D id he just call me breathtaking ? There was no way those words could have left his lips.

That was when I knew I must have been hallucinating.

I hadn’t eaten anything since this morning, and lack of food always made mind a little hazy.

Now I was standing here blushing at absolutely nothing like an idiot.

Reading the turmoil written all over my face, the man in front of me decided to take matters into his own hands.

He wrapped one arm around my waist sliding me closer into him, as he cupped my face with his other hand.

Burning heat flooded my entire body, and again I squeezed my eyes shut as he tilted my chin up to look at him.

Is this happening?

“Elena, did you hear what I said?” His voice rumbled over me in a slow cadence that vibrated against my bones. “Come on, please open those beautiful eyes for me, Lena.”

I took a deep breath and glanced into the smoldering eyes gazing down at me.

“Why do you do that, Elena?” His fingers brushed against the side of my cheek, sending delicious shivers running down my spine.

“What do you mean?” I asked innocently, knowing he knew full well I was avoiding answering. Compliments were something that I had never been comfortable with. It was hard to accept words that your head constantly told you weren’t truth.

“Why do you always dismiss anyone who mentions anything about your beauty, or shows you affection? Gods Lena, you’ve got to know how truly gorgeous you are. If you don’t know, then I’m definitely not doing a good job of showing you that you are.”

He lifted my shaking hand and placed my palm flat over his chest. Will’s hand enveloped mine as the other hand smoothed back and forth against my back. Even through his solid rock of a chest, I could feel how his heart was racing, proof my affections weren’t one-sided.

“Lena.” His voice became even more raspy. “Do you even know how long I’ve been waiting for you to notice my affections?” His eyes locked on my own, pleading for me to give him some kind of confirmation.

My mouth had become so dry I was unsure if I’d even be able to respond.

“Will, I—” I took another deep breath. “You are incredibly flirtatious with everyone, and I’m definitely not anywhere near as beautiful as the rest of the girls whom you’ve—” He stopped me by tracing his thumb over my lips as he lowered his head closer.

I could feel his warmth as he whispered inches away from my lips, “Not one more word about you not being beautiful. I won’t allow it any longer. ”

His hand slid down to cup the side of my face as the other now gripped my back. His eyes darkened. Sharp tingles radiated throughout my entire body, heating me from the inside out. Will’s lips curled up in a satisfied smile.

“From this moment on, Elena, I’ll never let you forget how stunningly beautiful you are. I plan to show you every day just how enamored I am by you.”

My breath hitched just as his lips plunged onto my own. The kiss was hungry and longing, like he had been waiting for this moment for an eternity. Mine was just as needy as I parted my lips to allow our kiss to deepen.

Will’s experienced lips devoured my own, both of us gasping for breaths in between.

He twisted his fists through the waves of my hair, pulling me even further into his embrace.

Our hands roamed, mine around his neck and hair, and his everywhere else, tugging each other closer and closer until there was no space left between our bodies.

Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, he left my mouth to explore the curve of my neck. The sensation of his lips sizzled against my skin. He walked me back towards the side of the cabin behind me, pushed me up against it and pinned me.

One hand drifted down, lifting my leg wrapping it around his hip as he pushed his chest against mine. My body trembled beneath his grasp. His hand slid up over my knee, stopping to caress my skin along the way. With each caress, a moan escaped from my mouth into his.

He continued his tortuous path higher and higher until I felt him pull away just a breath, pulling my lip between his teeth before releasing. The loss of his lips made a small whimper of frustration escape.

With a husky laugh, he pressed his nose into mine until we were eye to eye. The only sounds were our heavy breaths. The rest of the world had already faded away.

“Lena,” he rasped, “that was better than anything I’ve ever imagined.”

Shocked, my teeth slid against my bottom lip. “You’ve imagined us?—?”

A wicked smirk tugged at his lips. “Several times.”

My eyes widened, and he devoured my lips once more.

The clatter of armor rattled next to us, followed by a familiar booming voice. My out-of-body experience ended, and I was slammed back into reality.

Guards.

Ascension.