7. Amaya

Ifinish brushing my hair, nearly ready for bed. I pulled on a soft pair of pants and a tunic after dinner, but I haven't changed into my nightgown yet. I'm still feeling too restless.

It's only been one day since I saw Siderus, and yet, he's all I can think about. I know that Rafthin didn't tell Father because he was in a good mood at dinner. I know he would reprimand me, probably spell my door not to open to my hand, if he knew.

Yet, I can't find it in myself to regret it. Not when I can still feel Siderus' mouth on mine, his hands moving along my face.

I am startled from my restless thoughts by a soft tapping at my window. Peering out, I see Siderus standing below my balcony, half-shadowed in the moonlight. I'd recognize him easily, even if I can't see more than the outline of his body. My heart leaps even as hesitation makes me pause. I should not go to him after last night, and yet...

The tapping comes again, more insistent. Before I can think better of it, I am slipping on an overcoat and easing open my door, glancing warily up and down the silent hallway. Once certain the coast is clear, I flit swiftly to the servants" stair and out into the gardens.

Siderus turns at my approach, a mix of emotions crossing his face before his mouth curves into a smile. "You came. I feared I would only see you in my dreams tonight."

His voice caresses my skin and I flush, memories of our illicit kiss in the moonlit garden rushing back. I know I should keep my distance from this mysterious stranger who inflames my senses. And yet the danger only intensifies the attraction, like a moth circling a flame.

It's the first time I'm able to really take in his features. His violet eyes are more striking without the mask, his dark hair tied half up to keep out of his face. He has a strong jaw, wide nose, and sharply pointed ears that I want to touch.

He's devastatingly handsome, even more so than I imagined.

"We shouldn"t meet like this," I whisper even as I draw closer. "If my brother knew..."

"He will not," Siderus murmurs. "The night conceals us." His hand comes up to cup my cheek gently and I lean into the touch despite myself. "I could not stay away, Amaya. Our encounter last night has haunted me ceaselessly."

My pulse quickens at his nearness, my skittish protests fading away. "I feel the same," I confess softly. Siderus smiles tenderly, leaning in, and I let my eyes flutter closed in acquiescence. When our lips meet at last, the garden disappears, replaced by a dizzying sensation.

I slide my hands up the back of his head, twisting in the long strands as I pull him closer. His hands grip my hips, pulling me firmly against him as his tongue swipes across the seam of my lips. A moan works its way up my throat, the noise snapping me out of my actions.

I pull back, panting as I stare up at Siderus. "We can't do this here, where we can be caught." He quirks an eyebrow, and I can see he's about to argue when I grab his hand. "Come on."

With quick steps, I pull him through the gardens to the far side where trees surround a small lake. I know that it can't be seen from the manor, and we should be safe here.

Before I can say anything, Siderus spins me around, pushing me up against the trunk of the tree so that we are truly hidden. His mouth lands on mine, his kiss more feverish than before.

Our bodies merge in a desperate dance, his lips tracing a scorching path down my neck. I gasp at the sensation, my fingers gripping onto him tighter as I bathe in the heat he generates. He"s intoxicating; he"s insatiable. His passionate gaze penetrates deep into my soul, stirring up emotions I had forgotten, or perhaps, never knew existed.

I pull him back up to my mouth, and our gazes meet. His eyes burn with a desperate sort of longing, a yearning so strong it sends shivers racing through me. His hands are in my hair, and then sliding down my back, pulling me impossibly closer. His lips taste like salt and wild herbs, wild like the untamed wind of the north.

I respond in kind, fingers locking into his soft hair, pulling him deeper into the kiss. I can feel his heart beating wildly against mine - matching rhythm with the quickened pace of my own. The haunting call of a night bird echoes through the quiet forests, a solitary witness to our clandestine activities.

Siderus pulls away slightly, his hot breath tickling across my flushed cheeks as he whispers a few inaudible words that only the wind carries away. His grip tightens on my waist as if he is unsure whether to pull me closer or push me away.

"Siderus," I murmur. "I want you."

It may be my first time, and I might have just met him, but I"ve never felt anything like this. I feel like I"m going to burn alive if I don"t have him right now.

Siderus looks at me with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine; he seems almost animalistic in his primal desire. His eyes are aflame, and the passion is undeniable. He leans in, pressing his lips to mine once more, his mouth hot and demanding. "I want you too, Amaya," he whispers against my lips, his voice roughened by desire.

In a swift motion, Siderus pulls me into a deep, enchanting kiss. My mind swirls with the taste of him as his hands glide down my arms, raising goosebumps on my skin. He pulls me closer, his fingers tracing seductive patterns on the fabric of my clothes before gently pulling my tunic over my head, breaking the kiss only briefly.

Still claiming my mouth, he undoes the lacing of my pants. His fingers are swift and efficient as they work their way down my body, tracing the curve of my waist before gliding over my hip. Each touch sends sparks of anticipation skittering across my skin.

I gasp as he slowly undresses me, letting each piece of clothing fall to the forest floor. His touch is like lightning against my skin, electrifying every nerve and leaving me yearning for more. He helps me to lie down on the soft bed of leaves under the tree, his eyes holding an unspoken promise that sets my heart racing.

He replaces my clothing with soft kisses, each one causing me to gasp for breath. I feel naked under his gaze long before I am actually so. His hands continue their exploration as he presses me further into the grass beneath us. The world has narrowed down to him, his touch, and the overwhelming sensation that I belong here with him.

I see a new side of Siderus exposed under the moonlight glow. There"s a tenderness in his eyes that wasn't there before – an intimacy that only this moment can create. He takes this little pause to admire every inch of me as if I am the most precious treasure he has ever seen.

As he leans over me, his silhouette framed by the moonlight filtering through the leaves above, I am overcome by his beauty. His hair is silver in the light, and his eyes are like two violet fires burning brightly in the darkness. His gaze lingers on every inch of exposed skin, drinking in my form as though committing each detail to memory.

Siderus lowers himself to me with a grace that takes my breath away. He brushes a lock of hair from my face before pressing his lips to mine once more. This kiss is softer than before, but no less passionate. It is filled with an intimacy that stirs something deep within me.

His fingers trace their way down my body, leaving trails of fire along my chilled skin. His touch ignites a yearning so profound it"s almost unbearable. I whimper softly as he dips lower still, sending waves of pleasure rippling through me.

"Siderus," I gasp, my hands clutching the grass beneath me as the world spins. He smiles against my skin, a wicked, satisfied smirk that sets me on fire. His lips leave a blazing trail across my stomach, and his fingers find their way to the edge of my undergarments, pulling them away with a gentleness that belies his earlier aggression.

A gasp escapes my lips as cool night air exposes my bare flesh to the stars. It would have been embarrassing if it weren"t for Siderus" reassuring presence, his eyes consumed with desire yet soft with tenderness.

"Amaya," he breathes, his voice hoarse with barely contained longing. He kisses me again, holding my gaze as he slips off his own clothes, revealing his lean frame bathed in moonlight. His body is a beautiful sight - all lean muscles and taut lines - but it"s his eyes that fascinate me the most.

They"re glowing brighter than I"ve ever seen them, reflecting not just the silvery moonlight but also an emotion that makes me forget how to breathe. Love? No, it can"t be love. We"ve only just met. But there is a depth in those violet orbs that pulls me in.

I reach out to touch his cheek, tracing the angular lines of his face before tangling my fingers in his black hair. He leans into my touch, closing his eyes as he savors the contact. The slightest hint of a smile graces his lips and I can"t help but pull him down for another fervent kiss.

Siderus obliges willingly. But soon, he is exploring my body again. He presses his lips to the curve of my shoulder, his breath fanning over my skin causing me to tremble beneath him. I reach up, tangling my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer until there is no space left between us.

He continues to explore the expanse of my body: the dip of my collarbone, the crevice of my navel, the curve of my thigh. Each kiss was slow and deliberate; an affirmation rather than a question.

The anticipation is killing me softly, and yet I let him take his time, allowing him to coax a delightful shiver from each nerve ending. The world has receded until there"s only this moment, only Siderus and our heated bodies intertwined among the dewy leaves.

His kisses grow more insistent then, fueled by an urgency that mirrors my own. He whispers something inaudible into my ear - a plea, a promise - and a sudden flood of desire washes over me. For this man, for this feeling… I yearn with a passion too potent to contain.

With a groan, Siderus relinquishes control, letting his hands and lips move feverishly along my body as if he could consume me with his touch alone. He runs his fingers through the valley between my breasts before capturing one firm mound in his hand.

My breath hitches at the unfamiliar sensation; it"s pleasurable and slightly uncomfortable at once. His thumb brushes over sensitive flesh causing me to arch against him. He repeats the action with the same exquisite torture on the other mound, earning him a soft whimper from my lips.

With a roguish grin, he lowers his head to my chest, tracing his tongue around one peak before taking it into his mouth.

His teeth scrape lightly against the sensitive flesh and a gasp escapes my lips. It"s a sweet torment that sends waves of pleasure coursing through my veins.

It"s clear he"s taking his time, relishing in each gasp and moan he coaxes from me. Each brush of his lips, each stroke of his fingers is meant to draw out this dance of seduction. The air vibrates with our shared desire, as intoxicating as the sweetest wine.

He moves lower still, tracing a trail of kisses down my abdomen. His warm breath tickles my navel before he continues his descent. His kisses become feather-light as they reach their destination, making me buck against him in anticipation.

Siderus presses one final kiss against my inner thigh before looking up at me, eyes ablaze with desire and a hint of mischief. His thumb caresses a pattern on my hip bone while he patiently awaits my response, lending an element of control back to me.

With a shaky breath, I give a small nod – the only sign of consent he needs.

His lips make their way to the apex of my thighs, tracing the sensitive skin with an expertise that leaves me panting. His tongue grazes over me in long, languid strokes that illicit moans I never knew I was capable of making.

"Siderus," I manage to gasp out between breaths. I reach for him instinctively, desperate for his touch yet unsure where to direct it. "Please..."

"What is it you want?" he asks in a low voice, tinged with need.

My hips roll up of their own accord, begging for more. "You," I gasp. "I want to feel all of you."

His answering smirk is full of wicked promises. Rising from between my thighs, he leans over me once more, bracing his weight on one elbow while his other hand lingers teasingly at my entrance. My breath hitches as he presses a single finger against me, testing the waters.

"Do you trust me?" he asks, his gaze locked with mine.

I nod, swallowing hard. "Yes," I whisper.

Siderus smiles, then. It"s a real smile this time, one that lights up his entire face and makes his violet eyes sparkle. And before I can say anything else, he's pushing into me - slowly, carefully - giving my body time to adjust to the foreign sensation.

There"s an initial discomfort, but it quickly dissipates as Siderus continues his slow journey inside of me. Inch by painstaking inch, he fills me, until I"m breathless and aching in a way I"ve never experienced before.

Once fully sheathed within me, he stills and pulls himself up on his hands above me. His eyes are focused intensely on mine; there"s a vulnerability in them that is new and endearing. I reach up to stroke his cheek softly and nod for him to proceed.

Gently at first, he moves in and out of me, every thrust sending a wave of pleasure coursing through my veins. Sensing my comfortability, Siderus gradually increases his pace until the only sounds filling the night are our panting breaths and soft whispers of mutual gratification.

As the pleasure builds up within me, I clutch onto his strong shoulders for dear life, digging my nails into his flesh. Siderus merely grunts in response, the sting of my nails seemingly only driving him on. Sweat glistens on his brow, tension evident in his clenching jaw. His pace quickens until we"re both lost in a rhythm of shared passion and pleasure.

His hand moves between us, fingers finding the sensitive nub between my legs. The first contact sends electric shocks throughout my body and I gasp out loud. He begins circling it carefully, the sensations intensifying with every caress.

A sudden wave of pleasure crashes over me, stronger than anything I"ve experienced before. My whole body convulses as my climax hits. My back arches off the ground as I cry out Siderus"s name, the sound echoing throughout the silent forest.

He doesn"t let up on his pace but continues thrusting into me, his movements growing more frantic as he chases his own release.

With a final grunt, he buries himself deep within me and stills. His shoulders slump as a guttural groan rumbles from deep within his chest. As he slowly collapses onto me, he plants tender kisses along my neck and shoulders - a stark contrast to our fervent lovemaking mere moments ago.

"Amaya?" he whispers against my skin.

"That was...amazing," I answer, pressing my forehead against his shoulder as we catch our breaths.

For a while, we lay there tangled in each other"s arms, basking in the afterglow of our shared intimacy. His heart thumps wildly against mine and I can"t help but trace the pulsing vein along his neck.

The moon shines brightly above us, casting long shadows that dance around our entwined bodies. I know I have to get back, but for now, I don"t want to leave.

In fact, I think I"ve gotten far too wrapped up in Siderus. It"s too fast, but I still want more of him. And now I"m starting to see what is so dangerous about dark elves.