But I needed to know how she felt before we went any further.
It took every single ounce of self-control I had to break the kiss. Placing my hands on her shoulders, I gently pushed her away from me.
She whimpered. “What are you doing?”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Luna, I want you.”
“I know,” she said. Her hand dipped to the waistband of my trousers, and I nearly passed out from that touch alone. “I want you, too.”
Groaning, I shook my head. “Darling, this isn’t the time.”
A moment passed before my words settled on her. “What?”
“You should get some rest.” I exhaled, my breath ragged. “This… it can’t happen.”
Luna reached down, tracing the line where my trousers rested on my hips. “I think it can. In fact, I know it can. I’ve studied enough biology to know what is required for—”
Reaching down, I wrapped my fingers around her wrist and pulled it away from my middle. “I meant, tonight. It can’t happentonight.”
“What?” Luna’s brows furrowed. “We’re both adults. We’re married, for the gods’ sake. Why not?”
Why not indeed? I was beginning to question my own sanity.
“Because our first time together won’t be like this.” My voice was little more than a growl. “It won’t be rushed and it won’t happen after my mother tried to kill you. You deserve more than that, Luna.”
My words hung in the air between us, and her eyes searched mine.
Then she sighed. “Fine. I’m going to shower.” She moved out of bed, holding her hands around her middle. “Will you at least… Can you sleep in the bed again tonight, Sebastian? With me? After everything that happened, I don’t want to be alone.”
I swallowed. It would take all of my self-control, but for Luna, I would do anything. “I will.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, slipping into the bathing room.
The sound of running water filled my ears, and I leaned back, resting my head against the headboard.
We had been sleeping in the same room for weeks, but now things were different.
I loved her.
Eventually, the water turned off. Luna padded towards the bed. Her hair was braided and hanging down her back as the white nightgown she wore did little to hide the fact that she was cold. I averted my eyes from her chest, picking a point on the wall to stare at as the mattress dipped.
“Sebastian?”
“Hmm?” I turned, glancing at the braid resting between us.
“What did you promise your mother?”
I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it, darling. All that matters is that you’re safe.”
“But—”
Reaching over, I ran Luna’s braid through my fingers. She stilled, her words trailing off as I explored her hair. The plait was rigid to the touch, and her hair was soft and damp beneath my fingers. She smelled like lilacs, the aroma perfectly complementing the honeyed flavor of her blood. I bit down on the groan rising in my throat.
Do not think about her blood.
I was never going to sleep if I started down that path. Drawing in a deep breath, I wrapped the bottom of her braid around my wrist. Running the silky ends through my fingers, I slipped onto my side. “Does it hurt to sleep with this in?”
“Not really,” she whispered after a moment. “I’m used to it.”