25. Adelbert

Chapter twenty-five

Adelbert

Florence is most certainly a dream. I am sure of this. I have never met anyone as cooperative, kind, understanding, and gentle as her. I need to protect her at all costs, even from myself.

Yet, when I sit in front of her like this, I can't help but be drawn to her. She's extraordinarily beautiful. The way the light catches her entrances me as it peppers her skin with little spots of sunshine filtered through the leaves above us. But more so, she seems to be illuminated from within, casting a glow on not only herself but those around her too.

Florence will make a great partner for someone someday, once she is free of me. My life is plain, simple, limited. Some might even say "boring." It is not what I would want to burden her with, no matter how much the fated bond presses at me to touch, to take, to claim, to… love.

However, I can make her stay with me more enjoyable than it has been. I can reveal parts of myself to her that I haven't revealed to others, because Florence is a safe space. That I am sure of.

"Tell me if anything feels uncomfortable or if you want me to stop," I tell Florence as I ready myself, gathering my magic into me with each purposeful breath.

Florence narrows her eyes in thought, then tilts her lips into a playful smirk as she says, "You know what? Lower those privacy barriers of yours so you can read my emotions. I give you full consent so you can see if anything makes me uneasy."

"Are you sure?"

"Don't doubt me, Adelbert. I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't," she says a bit sternly then leans back on both hands, inadvertently offering her very pretty breasts to my hungry gaze.

I swallow hard and think of my studies, my presentation, my ancestors until my thoughts become neutral again.

"I'm going to start now," I announce.

I reach out with my mage hand toward Florence's right forearm and gently stroke the skin. Even through the magic, I can feel the softness of her skin, the sensation jarring me at how vivid it is, like I'm physically touching her skin to skin. The magic is much stronger right now than when I'm moving objects around in my study.

I monitor Florence's emotions and I register her surprise in both what she's exuding and the widening of her eyes as she looks down at her arm and sees nothing there.

"Wow. I can feel that," Florence says with sweet wonder coating her words.

"How about this?" I ask and increase pressure, wrapping my hand around her forearm and applying a little pressure.

Florence's eyes close and a smile spreads across her face.

"It's like an arm hug! Thank you," she says dreamily and sighs in contentment.

My lips purse and I give my head a small shake at how fucking kind this woman is, thanking me for something as simple as squeezing her forearm.

I want to give her more.

I move the mage hand up to her elbow. I'm able to move the thumb in a soothing circular motion in the bend of her arm, right on the sensitive skin.

"Mmm," Florence hums in satisfaction, causing my cock to twitch. With my eyes, I trace the goose bumps racing down her arms, and my own satisfaction blooms in my chest.

Encouraged to continue, I trace the flowery pattern around the sleeve of her dress and move up to the exposed skin of her neck and shoulders.

I drag a single finger across her delicate collarbone to the base of her throat and pause there for a breath as I readjust my hardening cock.

"More," Florence demands breathily, eyes still closed as she tilts her head to the side, inviting me to touch the other side.

I skim my touch from the outside of her left shoulder and work it closer to the center, gently cupping her neck.

Florence leans forward into the touch and lets out a long, needy moan.

It is the sexiest sound I have ever heard and my cock hardens to an uncomfortable degree.

For the first time in my life, I want to say "fuck it" and throw everything I've worked so hard for away. I want to dive across this silly blanket and cover Florence with my body, give her my full weight, and fuck her into oblivion. To hell with the consequences.

Sense wins out, though.

Lazy eyes open languidly, and Florence stares at me with fully dilated pupils, a hunger in her eyes that matches my own.

"Give me more," Florence breathes and licks her lips.

I reposition myself so I'm kneeling, and Florence's eyes move to the evidence of my arousal outlined against my leg. I should have listened to her and worn more comfortable pants because this cannot be good for blood flow. It won't deter me though.

Doing something I have longed to do since I met her, I trace the cupid's bow of her upper lip with the index finger of my mage hand.

Voice husky with desire, I say, "These lips." I am unable to form a more complex sentence as all my brain power has been redirected to my cock.

Florence's lips part and she moves her head slowly, sultry gaze fixed on mine while I keep the mage hand absolutely still, letting her trace her own lips with my magic.

I am really enjoying this side of Florence—a bolder side, freer to act and take what she wants. I wish she would demand more from me, both now and in our everyday lives.

Emboldened by Florence's easy reception of my touch, I skim a single digit down from her lips, over her chin, down her elegant neck, her chest, and pause when I reach the material of her dress, right above her cleavage.

My breathing is labored and fire licks at my skin with the crackling tension between us.

With a voice full of heat, Florence demands, "Don't stop now." Then she quickly adds in a more sober tone, "Unless you want to, of course."

My heartbeat picks up, pounding a steady rhythm, spurring me on.

"I don't want to stop. May I remove your dress, Florence?" I rasp out.

"I think it's safe to say my answer is yes to anything you want to do right now," Florence says as she arches her back toward me.

Unable to resist any longer, I hook a phantom finger over her dress and pull it down until a breast pops free.

I groan at the sight, my mouth watering with a desire to taste her.

My gaze flicks up to Florence's, and I swallow down all the filthy things I want to say. There's something so fragile in this heated moment between us and I don't want to break it. Keeping my focus on her eyes, I drag my mage finger around the underside of her exposed breast and move across to her other one to lower the material there so both are free to the elements.

"Pure perfection," I whisper in reverence as I stare at her laid out before me. Her breasts are small and pert, with rosy nipples jutting forward, begging to be played with, tugged on, sucked.

If I were an artist, out of all the sights in the world, this would be the one I want to capture, immortalizing it for my viewing pleasure whenever I please.

Florence leans back on her arms, her long golden hair hanging free behind her, head thrown back but eyes trained on me. With her back bowed like this, her body looks like a delicious feast offered especially for me. I want to sink my teeth into every inch of her, taste her, devour her.

The purple of Florence's dress, the white of the blanket, the green of the grass, and the first hints of yellow in some of the trees form the most exquisite palette that will be imprinted on my brain for the rest of time. I wonder if I could ask her to make me a piece of art so I won't forget any of this.

"Touch me, Adelbert." There's a light demand in Florence's tone, though her need and arousal press against me, commanding me to keep going. I have no intention of fighting my desire today.

"Like this?" I ask and cup one of Florence's breasts, gently kneading the flesh with my magic. I marvel at how much I can feel and do with her. My power is so much stronger in this moment than I have felt in my life.

Feeling confident that I can do more, I move my thumb and forefinger and pluck a nipple.

Florence whimpers and I do it again. I roll her nipple between my fingers and tug on it, testing her reactions to see how much pressure she prefers. With my barriers down, I feel free to explore her body, knowing how much she is enjoying each touch.

With one particular pinch on her other nipple, Florence makes the most luscious mewling sound, causing precum to leak out of my cock, quite possibly leaving a wet spot on my pants. Though, in no way am I removing my gaze from the magnificent woman in front of me to check on something so inconsequential.

I bite down on my lip to keep myself present and in control so I don't do something irresponsible like reach for Florence with my physical hands. I have such a strong desire to learn every inch of her body, to bring her pleasure, but I don't want to overstep.

Are these thoughts because of the bond, because I want to explore my magic, or because of Florence?

This is hardly the time to get hung up on such thoughts, so I leave the option open for her to choose.

My voice comes out gravelly when I ask, "Do you want to stop here or keep going?"

"One thing you need to know about me, Adelbert, is that I don't like edging. So if you are not planning on making me come right now, then you better be okay with me doing it myself."

I rise to my knees, my body automatically gravitating toward her. However, I catch myself and fall back on my heels again, shaking my head at how quickly I almost lost control of myself there.

"Have you ever climaxed from nipple play alone?" I ask Florence, curious if she'd like me to continue just as we've been doing and nervous to push her too far.

Florence moves her head from side to side then slowly uncrosses her legs, widening them before placing her feet down flat on the blanket.

"Think your magic can manage other areas too?" Florence's voice exudes confidence, and so does her body, but a breath of nervousness seeps into the air around her. It is extremely endearing to know she is battling her nerves the same way I am and she is only putting up a front to keep me present in the moment. I don't call attention to it, though.

Matching her confidence instead, I say, "I guess we will have to find out."

Florence's grin grows and I can sense her appreciation that I am playing along.

I reach toward the picnic basket with my right hand and move it behind me, not wanting my view obstructed by anything.

When I look back at Florence, her chest is moving up and down more rapidly than before. Anticipation thickens the air between us and my heartbeat picks up its rhythm.

I stretch out my fingers in front of me, flexing them as if I'm readying my mage hand for what I am about to attempt.

"Adelbert," Florence says in a gentle whisper, "you don't have to do anything you are not comfortable with."

I huff out a laugh and shake my head.

"Florence, I only wish you could read my emotions right now. There is nothing I would like more at this particular moment in time than to touch your pretty pussy and watch you explode in ecstasy."

A warm blush steals across Florence's cheeks, traveling down her pale chest, tinging the skin there with the same reddish color. She throws her head back and shakes out her hair. When her gaze lowers to meet mine again, there's a fire burning in them.

"Then what are you waiting for?"