Chapter 27 Tobias
Tobias
Tobias sank into the mattress, luxuriating in the comfortable quiet.
He threaded his fingers through Leila’s hair, caressing Her neck as She rested against his chest, Her arms wrapped around him.
Each sensation was magnified in its perfection—the steady rise and fall of Her shoulders, the light thumping of Her heartbeat, the sweet scent of Her hair.
Their allies were likely fast asleep in their separate chamber, but Tobias was keen to stay awake all night reveling in Leila’s presence.
He was leaving the next day. He had to make every moment and every touch count.
“I’m sorry.” Leila spoke against the crook of his neck, Her voice meager. “I just didn’t want to face it. I was so cruel—”
“Shh,” Tobias said. “Just rest.”
He looped his fingers through Her long locks, then trailed his fingertips down Her back. Had Her skin always been so soft? So warm? The next day entered his thoughts, and he swept it aside. Nothing could ruin their last moments together.
“I wish the seconds would slow.” Leila nestled Her head beneath his chin. “That we could just stay here like this.”
Tobias stared at the ceiling, lingering on Her every word as if they were notes in a song. “I’d never known true peace until I knew this—You lying in my arms.”
“I can’t believe you’re going.” Her voice caught, and She squeezed him tighter.
“Only for a short while. And You will claim Your army and rescue me.” He took Her chin, guiding Her line of sight toward his. “Then we’ll be right here again, together in peace.”
“I love you, Tobias.”
She pressed Her lips to his, a long kiss that traveled down his chest and settled in his loins. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind Her ear, losing himself in Her deep amber eyes. Red flashed in his periphery—his promise, still tied tight around his wrist. He sat upright.
“Marry me,” he said. “Tonight.”
Leila sat at his side, perplexed. “What?”
“I can wake Raphael. He’ll officiate.”
“Now? Why—?”
“I can leave a married man, bound to the woman I love.” He took Her hands, fighting to quell the nervous energy stirring inside of him. “If I die, let me die as Your husband.”
“But you won’t die,” Leila said. “Remember? I’m coming to rescue you.”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts.” Her voice came out firm. “You will live, and then we’ll wed.”
“Leila—”
“I need you to have faith in your return. To have a reason to come back to Me.” Her gaze became pleading. “A wedding—wouldn’t that be something to look forward to? Something to give you hope?”
The tremble of Her voice weakened him. She was scared—terrified, even—and he couldn’t have that. He had to be strong for them both.
“You’re right.” He cupped Her cheek. “I’ll return, and we’ll wed, and it’ll be perfect.”
She nestled into his palm, the tension in Her shoulders easing. Tobias offered Her a cheeky smirk. “Don’t fall in love with someone else while I’m gone.”
Leila swatted at him playfully, then took his hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles.
Something had changed in that moment; the air had turned thick, and the distance in Leila’s gaze revealed Her thoughts.
Tomorrow, he was returning to Thessen, willfully enabling his own capture.
He’d tried to fight his reality, but it was a dark shadow looming over him, threatening to swallow him whole.
Then Leila pulled the thin straps of Her dress down Her arms and straddled Tobias’s waist, wiping his thoughts clean with the sight of Her breasts.
“What are You doing?” he said.
“You need hope to keep you alive and fond memories to keep you warm.” She took his face in Her hands. “There is no fonder memory than a night of passion.”
She kissed him hard, writhing against his lap. The next day vanished from his mind, and suddenly his cock was stiff, and his thoughts were ravenous. Hoisting up Her hips, She grabbed at the waistline of his pants and gave them a tug.
“Leila—”
“I’m waiting to marry you. You can’t expect Me to wait for everything.” Smiling mischievously, She freed his erection from his pants. “You, My darling, need a proper send off.”
She kissed him again, Her sex pressed to his, and he couldn’t help but moan into Her mouth. “Don’t do this just because I’m leaving.”
“Tobias, I have wanted you for ages.” She pulled away breathlessly and looked him in the eyes. “Please don’t make Me beg.”
Her gaze had turned fierce and wolfish. He didn’t need any other convincing. He succumbed to Her kiss, caressing Her tongue with his, his hands raking down Her back and squeezing Her ass.
“Kiss My neck,” She panted. He buried his face against Her throat, licking and nipping at Her soft flesh. “Touch My breasts.” And he obeyed, circling Her nipple with his thumb as a familiar animalistic hunger consumed him. She nuzzled against his hair. “Am I being too demanding?”
“Leila, You can demand I touch Your breasts whenever You please.” Tobias’s lips traveled from Her shoulder to Her mouth, and he couldn’t help but smirk. “I will never, ever complain.”
Leila bit Her lip, then crawled off his lap much to his dismay.
She slinked lower on the bed, tugging his pants past his feet before tossing them to the floor.
With a wanton smile, She trailed tantalizing kisses up his shaft before enveloping the head of his cock with Her wet mouth, sucking and licking.
Pleasure followed each subtle move of Her tongue, a hot and slow-building intensity, and he closed his eyes, blinding himself to all but Her touch.
“Oh my God.” He bit down on his lip, swallowing a growl before grabbing Her shoulders. “Leila, stop.”
“Why?” She looked up at him. “Am I doing it wrong?”
“No, but if You continue, this will all be over before we’ve even begun.”
Her lips split into a self-satisfied smile.
“Oh.” She giggled, then returned to Her place on his lap, slinging Her arms over his shoulders as She kissed him fervently.
With one swift move, Tobias flipped Her onto Her back, pressing Her into the bed and writhing against Her body.
He dragged his lips down Her throat to Her chest, kneading Her breasts and luxuriating in the sound of Her breath catching.
He licked and teased Her nipples, then traveled farther south, circling his tongue around Her navel, grabbing a handful of Her dress that was balled up around Her waist. She bucked Her hips, an unspoken command, and he pulled Her dress free, leaving every inch of Her nakedness exposed.
He needed more—needed to hear his name on Her lips, Her strangled cries of ecstasy.
Swallowing a groan of desire, he spread Her legs wide.
Leila was already gripping the bedsheets, anticipation evident in Her arched back.
Tobias took his time, kissing Her inner thighs, nearing the heat of Her center only to shy away, leaving Her wanting more.
She let out a frustrated whimper that made him chuckle, and he responded to Her longing, massaging between Her legs, Her wet arousal warm on his fingers.
“Tobias.” She breathed out his name as if it took every ounce of strength within Her, Her muscles tensing and heels digging into the mattress.
She was so eager, and to have that effect on Her was a privilege he’d never cease to covet.
Unable to resist any longer, he slid his tongue up Her center, closing his eyes as he relished Her body, Her yearning, Her taste.
Leila let out a soft gasp, relieved to have his mouth on Her most intimate of places.
He swept his tongue along Her clit, sucking and licking, his hands gripping Her thighs as he worked.
Leila raked Her fingers through his hair, grabbing tight at the roots and holding his face deep between Her legs, right against Her sweet spot.
There was a power to the experience, knowing Her body ached for him, pleaded for more.
She pressed Herself against his tongue and swirled Her hips, and his cock jumped in response.
Tobias slid two fingers inside of Her, and the noise She made awakened something carnal within him.
He timed the strokes of his fingers with the movement of his tongue, all the while resisting the hypnotic pull of Her moaning, the sound nearly enough to send him crawling on top of Her and thrusting deep inside Her.
He wanted to steal a glance, to watch as She came, but Her hands were firmly locked in his hair, an order not to move, not even a little.
It wasn’t long before Her muscles stiffened and She let out a cry of passion, tightening Her grip and smothering him with Her sex.
Perhaps he’d die the most glorious of deaths, suffocated by Leila’s climax.
Her orgasm was a triumph, and he savored it until She collapsed into the mattress, panting.
Tobias sidled up beside Her, kissing up Her collarbone to Her neck as Her breathing stilled.
With a lazy laugh, She rolled to Her side and kissed him, biting his lip while swirling Her hips against his.
His cock flexed, and She slung a leg over his, an invitation impossible to ignore.
Tobias’s throat constricted and his heart pounded.
She wanted him, and God, he wanted Her. He rolled Her onto Her back, nestling himself between Her legs.
She let out an unsteady breath, and Her hands began to tremble.
“Are You nervous?” he whispered.
“A little,” She said, and his apprehension must’ve been clear across his face, because She scowled. “Don’t you dare stop now, Tobias.” She slung a leg over his back, pressing his pelvis against Hers. “I want to.”
Tobias’s mouth went dry, his nerve endings screaming for action.
He leaned closer, leaving Her with a long, tender kiss while his hand ventured south, finding Her center and circling Her swollen clit.
She was warm and wet, practically pleading to be filled.
He positioned his cock at Her entrance and slowly slid inside.
Leila froze beneath him. “Is it in?”