21. Leela
LEELA
What was that!?
What?
Leela wanted to hit her head against the wall.
She couldn’t keep up. When the Viperess took over her when she was with Rajesh moments ago, Leela managed to tune her out and break out.
It was tough, but with deep breathing and banging against the glass, she managed to crack it just enough to squeeze through and slink back into her body.
Now, Leela was soaking in the bathing chambers, her hand still pulsing with the feeling of her hand around Rajesh’s neck.
I don’t understand what you want. You want him dead, so why haven’t you killed him?
Have you not wondered why the Scorpion has not made one move, mortal? The Viperess said, a tinge of fear notched in her words.
Leela frowned. What’s that got to do with anything?
He has not made a move. Not one until he tried to get me out. Do you not think that odd?
We were doing it to stop you.
I know. So it makes me think the Scorpion has something planned. Something we are not going to like.
Yes, because I’ve loved being along for the ride so far.
The Viperess hissed. Think, mortal. Be strategic or die. He’s on his way to find this wish-fulfilling tree. Why do you think he is suddenly helping Rajesh?
Leela hadn’t really thought about it. She was just glad one of the Flames was finally on their side. All she knew about the Scorpion was that he was from the Awakening.
Being from the Awakening does not mean much. It simply means he is from the Awakening, in purer lands. I, too, was once in the Awakening. Until they sent me down to the Netherworld for a simple act of defiance. It so happens that if one does not dance for a man, one is seen as defiant.
Leela didn’t talk, eager to finally learn the Viperess’s story.
Those from the Awakening can be cast aside, like any of you mortals.
You show a sign of standing up for your rights, and you are cast aside.
As a female, Leela, I would hope you would know what that means.
To have powerful men dictate how best to behave.
To have men push you into an unlovable marriage.
Leela ignored the split of sympathy racing through her. How could she feel sorry when she could control Leela at any time? When she had this hunger for vengeance and was using Leela’s body to do it? Leela wasn’t callous. She had pity stirring somewhere, but it did make her think.
Yes, well, next time, could you not fling him across the deck? It just makes it awkward when I see him next.
You just did not want me to interrupt the important moment. How could I help myself? Angering him is all I want.
Yet, he hasn’t killed you. Funny, right?
The Viperess stirred, flicking her tail. What are you implying?
Maybe he still has feelings for you. Maybe he actually wants to make amends, but you’re too busy trying to kill him.
The Viperess stayed awfully quiet.
Leela rolled her eyes and sank deeper into the waters. A chill ran up her legs, past her fingertips, until only her head was held above the water. The liquid washed away all the grime and stickiness she wasn’t used to. She waded through the depths, able to keep her head just above the surface.
A pool cut the bathing chambers in half.
Arched windows lined the walls, letting in the heat from outside.
The room was stifling, the long stretch of clean water inviting.
Plants rose in all directions, with leaves as big as she was, or smaller ones in pots scattered by the sides of the pool or marbled walls.
She tilted her head back against the cemented edge as the gentle tug of the ship moved the water around her.
A bird chirped in the distance as the sunset streamed across the skies in faded oranges and bloody reds.
It was one thing she liked about the desert.
The sunsets and sunrises were most beautiful when it was just her.
“There you are.”
Leela splashed, spinning around to find Rajesh on the other side of the pool. With a stern look, he stood with his hands in his pockets. She pushed against the edge, hoping he hadn’t been standing there long.
“What are you doing?” she snapped.
“Trying to find you, after you let her in. I thought we were training?”
“Wasn’t it over when she threw you across the room?”
A flash flickered in his eyes. “Don’t test me, Leela. I’m trying to help you, and the Viperess kicked my ass after we were… well, when we were…”
Oh, Leela knew what they were about to do.
She was almost thankful the Viperess had intervened, because if she hadn’t, Leela wouldn’t be able to stop.
She had once stuck her lips to his all night, and she was sure, after six years of not tasting him, she wouldn’t be able to control herself at the brush of their lips.
Her body still responded with a desperate ache, one that churned her stomach with want.
Even now, glancing up at him, she almost hoped he saw her naked.
It was such a frivolous thought. A pointless desire. He was only doing it to entice the Viperess out.
Leela gripped the edge of the pool and averted her gaze.
Rajesh sighed and ran a hand through his curls. He crouched to Leela’s eye level. “Is there room in there for me?”
Heat flushed through her, and she was scared it was the Viperess. But the Viperess lay dormant in the back of her mind, and it was in fact heat at the thought of seeing Rajesh. All of him. The curved edges, the muscled ridges she had only touched too long ago.
“No,” she said.
Rajesh’s lip twitched. “Move aside. I need to wash off this sweat.”
“You are not coming in here.”
“This is my ship.”
“I was in here first.”
“Doesn’t count. I never said we were finished,” Rajesh argued.
Leela opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Rajesh was already flinging off his shoes and untucking his black shirt.
He pulled it over his head with one swoop, revealing the muscled abdomen she had come to admire.
Six years had changed him for the better, the training days strengthening his muscles and tightening his skin around the proper parts.
He tugged on the fabric of his pants and unwrapped it from his legs, dropping it beside his shirt.
Leela finally turned away, the heat suddenly all around her.
Oh Flames… No…
Want me to stop him? The Viperess hummed.
Leela couldn’t tell the Viperess that a small part of her wanted to say ‘no.’
She shut her eyes, trying to calm her heart. The water swayed around her, and Leela glanced over her shoulder, hiding herself in the corner.
Rajesh waded into the pool, the ripples hiding what lay underneath. What Leela knew was underneath.
“All the Viperess can do is drown me now,” Rajesh said. “And something tells me you won’t let her.”
“How could you know that?” Leela mumbled.
Rajesh moved closer.
“Stop that,” she ordered, arm outstretched. “Stay.”
“I’m not a dog, Leela.”
Leela clung to the edge of the pool, her hair hanging in wet curls around her face. Any closer and he would be able to touch her, and she was too scared of the Viperess taking over and ruining the moment.
You want this…?
No.
You cannot lie to me, mortal.
Leela bit her lip. He was my everything, once. Forgive me if I’m a weak bitch.
I cannot when I am the same, mortal. Unfortunately, love holds the deepest memories.
Leela frowned, but she was too busy trying to keep Rajesh from her.
“Don’t do it,” Leela said.
Rajesh stilled, and so did the water.
Leela sucked in a breath, her eyes lingering on his chest. She couldn’t help it. They had been together only a couple of times. Now, they were older, wiser. Maybe he was even better at it now.
“You worried she’ll control you?” Rajesh said. He took another big, deliberate step forward.
“Please,” Leela begged. “I… I don’t want to.”
“You do,” Rajesh argued. He stepped closer, and his scent was like a spider trapping her in a seductive web—and she was the helpless bug.
“You want me, just like I want you. Just like we both want one another but can’t because of our circumstances.
You can’t tell me if we didn’t have vengeful Flames in our heads, I wouldn’t be inside you right now. ”
Leela’s fingers shook. She held his gaze, her chest squeezing with an unquenchable ache. Perhaps it was just the water, or the way he spoke with such conviction and the small smirk curling on his lips, but she felt herself grow wet, a stream of warmth tingling through her.
Rajesh refused to move away. He closed the distance and hovered his hand over her shoulder, as if waiting for an invitation.
Leela continued to press herself against the edge, worried he would see her and it would be over. He would take her, and she would let him. Let him in and touch her in ways she had only dreamed about. Let him in in ways she had only touched herself.
Rajesh grabbed her by the shoulder and gently turned her around.
Leela couldn’t help it. She was only human after all, and a horny woman at that. Her insides were breaking under his intense gaze, and his lips… fuck… his lips were dangerous. They had always been a dangerous game, luring her in and winning.
Rajesh’s breath hitched, and he leaned his forehead against hers.
Leela forced herself to focus on him, savoring the way his fingers had touched her and left heated trails all over her skin. Six years was a long time, and while she had been with other people over the years, she hadn’t been with Rajesh for so long.
Rajesh’s thumb caressed her bottom lip, opening her mouth wide, and Leela knew it wasn’t the water anymore.
Her body was responding to the thirst buried deep inside, unleashing the open wounds of heartache and pushing the pain forward with twisted thorns.
His other hand supported them in their tiny cage of tension.
“I have only dreamed of having you again, Leela,” Rajesh whispered, breath hot against her lips. “And now, I get to have you once more. If you’ll let me. If the Viperess can give me one moment alone with my future wife to fuck her.”
Leela searched for the Viperess in her mind, but there was no heat or rattle at the top of her spine.