Read Online Eternity by Laury Falter - Free Book Online Page B

inch of his presence just inside my reach.
    “Stay,” I pleaded.
    He drew in a shaky breath and then for the first time that day, Eran reached out and touched me. His hand gently pressed against my cheek, his thumb caressing me. It sent a shudder through my body so vehement that I had to close my eyes against it.
    I was on the verge of tears, struggling to contain myself, when I felt his lips softly brush against mine. They lingered there, pliant and welcoming as I tilted my head to meet him.
    Then our passion, all the weeks of tense distance, came roaring to the surface. He wrapped his arms around my waist in an iron hold, pressing me to him. My fingers dug into the contours of his back. Our bodies clung to each other, our lips crushing against one another.
    The next thing I knew, he was holding me by my hips and the back of my head, my body limp against him.
    “Did I…” I started, still getting my bearings straight. “Did I…faint?”
    “You did,” he replied, bemused.
    I was appalled.
    “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s happened before…”
    My humiliation deepened so he restrained his smile for my benefit. “You probably don’t remember it.”
    I didn’t and I wasn’t interested in recalling it at this moment either. Instead, I concentrated on standing.
    “Careful,” he warned. “You’re still ashen.”
    I groaned, and placed my feet under me, but Eran kept his arms around my waist for safe measure.
    “I’m sorry that I ruined…”
    “You didn’t ruin anything,” he reassured me. “It was beautiful. It’ll keep me company while I’m away from you.”
    “Do you really have to go?”
    “You know I do,” he muttered.
    “Can’t you send someone else?” I whispered.
    Eran’s face contorted in insult. “Magdalene, this is my job.”
    “I know but isn’t your job also to protect me?” I reminded.
    “Protecting you is what I am doing.”
    His arms were still around my waist, our hips intimately pressed together. He pulled me even closer. It was a significant and unfair distraction and he knew it. The grin on his gorgeous face told me so. Then he grew solemn. “I hate the thought of leaving your side. I know your safety won’t be in question, but it’s the fact that I won’t see your stunning face until the morning or be able to listen to the sounds of you getting ready in the evening.”
    My mouth fell open. “You do that?” I hissed.
    His grin returned, mischievous, and he continued on, “The opportunity to hear your melodic voice will be cut short, your beautiful voice which is such a comfort,” he sighed, “…when you’re not opposing me.”
    I drew in a quick breath in insult and he chuckled, pulling me closer. My forehead landed softly against his chin where he murmured into my hair, “Trust me.”
    “I do…implicitly. It’s who you might encounter that I don’t.”
    He moved his lips across my forehead, leaving an arc of feather-light kisses in their wake. I struggled to catch my breath. Then, he slowly leaned back. “You have nothing to worry about, my love. They aren’t expecting me. They’ll never see me coming.”
    The inherent confidence in him settled my nerves, somewhat.
    I placed my cheek against his shoulder, nestling my nose against the curve of his neck, settling into him. I could hear his heartbeat, powerful and defined. His breathing was steady and calm. We stood this way for a very long time, neither of us willing to move away from each other. It wasn’t until dishes began clinking in the kitchen and Felix peeked around the corner to ask if we’d be interested in pork chops brined in fish sauce did we leave each other’s arms.
    Eran’s absence was not brought up at dinner, though we sat as close as possible. My concerns weighed heavily on my mind, knowing that Eran would leave as soon as dinner was over.
    I attempted to keep my mind off Eran’s departure by trying to engage in conversation and watching others around the table. Although it went