章 46: It's a Date (2)
Astra's lips curved up in amusement as Eydis' nimble fingers cracked the lock with practised ease. A tremor of excitement, forbidden and delicious, pulsed through her despite her best efforts. Here they were, looming shadows against the twilight sky, trespassing in the heart of an institution sworn to uphold order.
Each step on the echoing spiral staircase amplified the pounding in Astra's chest. The wind whistled through the open tower, whispering secrets through the cracks in the ancient stone, mirroring the storm brewing within her.
They reached the rooftop, and a scene unfolded below, a crimson tapestry woven from the threads of the dying sun. Yet, the serene panorama did little to quell the turmoil twisting in her gut. Eydis, cool as ever, unfurled a surprisingly plush blanket, the fluff sinking under her weight as if inviting a nap, her nonchalance a stark contrast to Astra's churning emotions.
"Strong gusts, huh?" Eydis remarked, her voice light, almost playful, as she retrieved a sleek wooden tray. "Almost enough to steal our feast, wouldn't you say?"
Astra's gaze fell on the contents of the tray, revulsion battling curiosity. "Raw fish? Seriously?"
Eydis' smirk was swift and mischievous. "Azura's finest, courtesy of Lord Adam's bottomless pockets. Or do you prefer... less adventurous cuisine?"
As Eydis unpacked the meticulously arranged dishes, from the shimmering crimson tuna to the melt-in-your-mouth delicacy she called "Otoro," resting on top of a bed of ice. Astra couldn't deny her sudden hunger.
"Never seen anything like it," Astra admitted.
The brunette, eyes glinting like amber gems, dipped a sliver of Otoro into a citrus-scented sauce and leaned close, offering it to Astra's hesitant lips. The melt-in-your-mouth texture, the rich flavour dancing with the tangy citrus, was exquisite. It was a moment of unexpected pleasure, stolen from the jaws of forbidden temptation.
"Looks like you enjoyed it," Eydis chuckled, eyes glinting as she poured wine. Her gaze paused on Astra, a teasing edge to her voice. "Age-appropriate, I hope?"
Astra scoffed, the wine's warmth coursing through her, an elixir unravelling her restraint. "Since when do you care about rules, Eydis?" She extended her tongue, savouring the bittersweet taste that danced upon her lips, only to be met by the unexpected darkened gaze from her roommate, whose eyes transformed into an intense shade of amber.
Eydis' voice, husky with desires, wove through the silence. "This feast isn't all Adam offered me," she said, eyes burning into Astra's. "The first pick of a partner, as a thank you for saving his life."
A shiver danced down Astra's spine, a déjà vu of Melissa's earlier proposition. "And whom will you choose?" she breathed, her voice barely audible above the wind's whispers.
Eydis leaned closer, her breath stirring the silken strands of Astra's hair like a promise. "Natalia's been pleading, but I fear I'd be more burden than partner."
"Is that why we're here?" Astra whispered, watching the flicker of longing in the brunette's eyes.
"Nope," Eydis purred, her warm breath tickling Astra's cheek. "You're here because of our promise." Her lips, a ripe plum against twilight, brushed Astra's ear, sending a jolt of fire through her veins. "Dinner, daily."
The promise. Astra fought back the urge to retreat, the urge to leap forward. Their faces a breath away, as if Eydis waited for her to decide. "Everyday," Astra began, voice lower than she'd like. "Can you satiate my appetite daily?"
Eydis' breath hitched, a flicker of surprise igniting in her amber eyes. Hope, a spark long dormant, leapt to life in their depths. Her lips, a featherlight touch against Astra's, formed a silent question. "Honest answer?" she murmured, her voice a tremor in the deepening twilight. "I don't know, Astra." Her fingers delicately followed the curve of Astra's subtly toned arm, eliciting a shiver that rippled through the shorter girl.
The air, thick with the intoxicating scent of lavender, vibrated with unspoken desires. "Keep in mind, I'm just a poor and…fragile commoner. I can't offer daily grand banquets." A mischievous glint sparkled in Eydis's eyes, "But every meal," she rasped, her breath hot against Astra's ear, "will be etched in your memory, a feast for the senses."
The line between metaphor and desire blurred. Hope, a flickering flame in the darkness of Astra's secret, roared to life. One leap, one whispered truth, and maybe, just maybe, Eydis' gaze wouldn't hold only amusement, but a reflection of the inferno blazing within Astra.
Ever the observer, Eydis traced the firelight dancing on Astra's moonlit features, down to her inviting lips, glistening with unspoken promises. Hierarchy, nobility, progeny, every sliver of doubt in Eydis' mind washed away by the intense fragrance of sandalwood, of Astra's unflinching hunger mirroring her own.
With a sigh that tasted of surrender, Eydis closed the gap, her lips claiming Astra's in a searing kiss that tasted of stolen moments and forbidden promises.
It was a collision of want, a meeting of fire and ice. It was like the very sky above split open, erupting in a kaleidoscope of forbidden desire. Every spark of longing, every hidden ember of yearning they'd held prisoner within themselves ignited, exploding in a supernova of sensation.
Eydis, emboldened by the echo of desire on Astra's lips, met them with a kiss as delicate as a butterfly tasting a rosebud, then deepened it with a predatory hunger that mirrored Astra's own. The touch was electric, sending a shudder down Astra's spine and leaving her breath hitching in her throat. Eydis' eyes, molten amber in the dying light, burned with a predatory glint, her smile a playful promise etched in moonlight.
With a playful nip, just a feather-light graze of teeth, Eydis tested the seal of Astra's lips. It was a dare, a whispered invitation, and Astra, her blood singing with unshed desire, couldn't resist the call.
Her lips parted, a soft sigh escaping them like the rustle of silken leaves. Eydis, like a serpent claiming its prize, wasted no time. Her tongue, a velvet flame, darted forward, seeking entrance. It danced teasingly against Astra's, a slow exploration that ignited a thousand tiny suns beneath her skin.
Astra, drowning in the intoxicating mix of forbidden desires and sun-warmed skin, met Eydis' tongue with her own. Their movements grew ever bolder, a whispered conversation of unspoken promises and yearning. Eydis nibbled at Astra's lower lip again, a more insistent claim, drawing a gasp from the woman's throat, but the sound muffled against the brunette's lips, a wave of heat crashing over her like the summer tide. Astra's fingers, once tentative, now fisted possessively in Eydis' luscious locks, anchoring her in the storm of their encounter.
The sound escaping Astra's lips sent tremors through Eydis, her heart racing out of control. Reluctantly, she broke the kiss, bringing her lips to Astra's inviting neck – that oh-so-delicious lacy accessory. She left a trail of fiery kisses along her jawline, before sinking her teeth into the sensitive flesh. Astra gasped, a mixture of pleasure and pain, her body arching into Eydis's touch.
"You're such a tease," Eydis rasped, her voice a seductive husk, her fingers dancing on the hem of Astra's choker.
Astra growled, swiftly shifting their positions, pinning Eydis against the soft blanket. "You're one to talk." Her teeth playfully nibbled on Eydis's lower lip, savouring the brunette's gasp of pleasure. Cradling Eydis's face in her hands, Astra's gaze overflowed with raw hunger as she kissed Eydis fervently. Their tongues sought to claim each other.
Seizing the moment, Eydis tightened her embrace, she parted her legs, arms encircling Astra's slender waist, drawing the metal mage impossibly closer. Eydis's hand, daring and teasing, traced gentle patterns just below Astra's waist. She could almost taste the frantic heartbeat of Astra, synchronised with her own.
It was raw, untamed. Every touch, every taste, spoke of burning desires long held captive. In that stolen moment, they weren't a noblewoman and a commoner; they were two tortured souls caught in a forbidden dance, consumed by the flames of an impossible love.
As their kiss finally broke, leaving them gasping for air, their gazes locked. Astra's eyes, wide and vulnerable, met Eydis' gaze, and in their depths, they saw not condemnation, but a reflection of the inferno raging within them both.
Heat pulsed through Astra's veins, fueled by Eydis's teasing whispers and the lingering ghost of their near kiss. She sat up abruptly, her hands clenched against the rush of emotions. Eydis, her eyes full of playful fire, took the opportunity to perch on Astra's lap, arms sliding around her shoulders, a predator marking its territory.
Before Eydis could bridge the gap between them again, a new thought, sharp and unexpected, pierced through the haze of desire. "I'll be your partner," she announced. "Next round," she added.
Eydis leaned back, her smile remained, but a flicker of something darker, a suppressed hunger, danced in her eyes. "Are you trying to protect me, my Lady?"
"Not you, Eydis," Astra countered, a glint of amusement in her amethyst eyes. "Natalia. She wouldn't survive your chaos."
Eydis' smirk played on her lips. "Natalia," she breathed, her lips trailing a ghost kiss over Astra's ear. "Yes, she did look after you before. Returning the favour would be wise."
Astra swallowed, the sound tight in her throat. "Either her or Melissa."
Eydis's smile faltered at the mention of the Azura mage, revealing a flash of something sharp and dangerous in her eyes. She leaned closer, her breath warm against Astra's neck, but the playful nip on her earlobe held a hint of possessiveness. "I would have done a better job showing you the…pleasures of a steaming bath."
Astra gasped, the sound swallowed by Eydis's hungry mouth on her neck. "Y-Your talents, Eydis, are wasted on mere maidship."
Eydis chuckled, the sound rich and dark. "Perhaps," she conceded, her fingers tracing the delicate rise and fall of Astra's breasts. "But who said anything about being your maid?"
The wind whispered secrets through the towers, but Astra only heard the frantic pounding of her heart. Eydis' hand, a feather-light caress, sent shivers chasing across her skin. The air crackled, thick with desires and dangerous possibilities. Astra wanted to lean in, to claim Eydis' lips as her own once again.
Tomorrow, the world might crumble, but she would have this moment, this stolen ember of forbidden joy.
Astra's hand, drawn by a forbidden magnetism, reached for Eydis's face. But as she surged forward, her foot snagged on the blanket, sending the wooden tray tumbling. The raw fish, like jewels scattered in the fading light, landed in a messy heap.
Her gaze darted to Eydis's glass, untouched and mocking on the blanket's edge. A wave of nausea washed over her, not from the sight of the food, but from the dawning realisation of what she almost did. Seventeen. A child.
A glacial wind swept through Astra, extinguishing the embers of her yearning. Eydis, with her quicksilver mind and eyes that held galaxies, had blinded her with brilliance, a siren song luring her towards a treacherous shore. The taste of ashes lingered on her tongue, and self-loathing gnawed at her insides.
What right did she, Callista, an ancient soul trapped in a youthful shell, have to consider claiming the heart of a child? Callista could never give the vibrant bloom she deserved. Fears, cold and slithering, wormed their way into her mind. She envisioned Eydis's face twisting in revulsion, the realisation of her deception a bitter poison on her tongue. Even affection, genuine as sunlight on a winter rose, would wither in the face of truth.
But Eydis' hand on hers, warm and real, shattered the vision. "Astra, what is it?" Her voice, etched with concern, tugged Callista back from the brink.
With a shuddering breath, Callista rose, the churning in her stomach a grotesque cocktail of guilt and fear. "We should go," she mumbled, the words tasting like dust on her tongue.
The walk was a silent symphony of unspoken anxieties. Callista kept her eyes averted, fearing the truth swirling in Eydis's depths. No, she wouldn't run. Not this time. But the boundaries, sharp as ice, needed to be drawn. This child's heart, she couldn't touch. Not even with a whisper.
It was a mistake.
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