Embers to Flames (Fates Entwined #1)

Chapter Seventeen

We emerge from the dark depths of the cave and make our way back through the roaring waterfall. As we step out into the bright sunlight, its golden rays hit the cascading water at just the right angle, causing a stunning display of iridescent colors to flicker and sway along the edges.

“Care for a swim?” Theo’s voice is a soft invitation, his hand warm as it clasps mine, guiding me towards the shimmering pool.

I nod, my gaze locked onto his, unable to look away. “Only if you promise not to splash me,” I tease, a smile tugging at my lips.

“No promises,” he grins, leading us into the cool water.

We pause in the middle of the pool, treading water. Theo splashes me playfully, his laughter a melody that echoes off the surrounding cliffs like joyful birds taking flight.

“Hey!” I laugh, splashing him back. “I thought we had a deal!”

“Deals are meant to be broken,” he chuckles, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Our bodies brush against each other, each touch sending electric thrills through my veins. Our eyes meet, and the connection between us feels almost tangible, a silent conversation of shared secrets and unspoken desires. Theo pulls me closer, his arms wrapping around me with a possessive tenderness.

“You know, you’re terrible at this whole ‘not splashing’ thing,” I murmur, my voice softening.

“Maybe I just wanted an excuse to get closer,” he replies, his voice low and teasing. We slip beneath the surface, our bodies entwined, moving as one. The weightlessness of the water is liberating, allowing us to explore each other with a new-found freedom. Every touch, every caress, is amplified by the liquid cocoon that surrounds us.

We break the surface, gasping for air, and our lips meet in a passionate kiss. “You’ll never need an excuse to be close to me,” I whisper against his lips, my hands gliding through the water to find the solid strength of his back.

Theo’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “Oh, is that so?” he teases, a grin spreading across his face. “Good to know, because I was running out of excuses. Next, I was going to claim I needed you to help me fight off imaginary sea monsters.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously enamored by you,” he counters, pulling me even closer. “And I plan on staying close for a very long time.” He wraps his arms around me, our bodies melding together in the cool, moonlit pool, the waterfall’s mist enveloping us.

Theo’s hands roam over my body as he kisses me again. His touch is both tender and possessive, as if he is claiming me in a way that goes beyond mere physical desire. I yield to him completely, my heart pounding in sync with the rush of the cascading waterfall behind us.

As we break the kiss, our foreheads lean against each other, our breaths mingling in the space between us.

“You are the essence of my very being, I vow to cherish you for eternity. With every beat of my heart, I pledge to stand as your guardian and your warrior. I am yours, in this life and every life to come. You are my eternal flame. I choose this love and this bond. I choose you, Rosanhi.”

Tears of joy stream down my cheeks as I listen to Theo’s heartfelt declaration. “I choose you too, Theo.” I respond, my voice trembling with emotion. “In this life and every life to come, I will be yours. I will stand by your side, a faithful companion and confidant.” I lean in, pressing my lips against his in a tender kiss .

I bask in the warmth of Theo’s embrace, the cool water doing very little to quell the fire that burns between us. Theo’s tongue explores the insides of my mouth and suddenly I can feel the hardness of his erection between my thighs, against my core.

“Theo.” I whisper. “Make me yours. I want to only be yours.”

“You are mine, my sweet. You always have been.”

His hands glide up to unbutton the wet shirt that sticks to me, I shudder at his touch. He cups my breasts, rubbing his thumbs over my erect nipples. I gasp and wrap my arms around him, pulling him closer, our bodies fused together as one.

Theo breaks away from our kiss, his eyes glistening with desire. “Rosanhi, I swear to you that I will never let you go. You are my eternal love, my one true destination. No matter where this journey takes us, no matter the trials we face along the way, I will be there to guide you, protect you, and cherish you.”

I feel his hand slide under my skirt, his fingers touching the wet skin of my thighs. I moan into his mouth, my anticipation building with each passing moment. As Theo’s touch becomes more insistent, I can’t help but feel a sense of surrender, as if I am being claimed by the force of nature itself. The coolness of the water, the heat of Theo’s body, and the passion between us mingling and swirling around us, creating a vortex of raw emotion. My heart continues to pound, syncopated with the sound of the waterfall, as Theo continues to explore me. He presses his fingers against me, finding the slick heat that beckons him. I gasp into his mouth, my knees trembling as I feel the climax building within me.

“Please, Theo,” I beg, my voice shaking with desire. “I need you to fill me, to make me yours completely.” My body is on fire, every nerve ending tingling with anticipation as his fingers continue working inside me.

With a low groan, Theo lifts me up, my legs wrapping around his waist. I cling to him tightly as he walks us to the edge of the water and positions me against a large rock, my legs spread wide open to him.

“You’re so beautiful… so… ready for me,” he murmurs, his voice low and husky. He positions himself at my entrance, teasing me with just the tip of his erection.

“Please…” I plead. Rocking my hips in an attempt to take him in. “I need you inside me.”

In one fluid motion, he thrusts into me, filling me entirely. I moan loudly, the sensation overwhelming as he begins to move inside, his thrusts deep and powerful. My head falls back, my shoulders pressing against the slick rock behind me. I’m completely at his mercy, my body surrendering to the raw carnality of our lovemaking. The waterfall roars around us, a powerful force that seems to mirror the intensity of our passion. Each of Theo’s thrusts sends a shockwave of pleasure through my body, my climax building with every stroke .

His hands grip my hips, holding me steady as he drives into me, his eyes locked onto mine. The intensity in his gaze is almost as overwhelming as the sensations coursing through my body. I reach up, my fingers threading through the strands of his tangled hair, pulling him closer as he continues to move inside me.

“Yes, Theo,” I moan, my voice filled with pleasure. “Just like that. Don’t stop. Never stop.” He responds by picking up the pace, his thrusts becoming faster, harder. My breath catches in my throat, the pleasure becoming almost too much to bear. I’m on the edge, teetering between the agony and ecstasy of this experience. My entire world has narrowed down to this one moment, this one man, and this one intense, unstoppable force that is our love.

Theo’s rhythm falters momentarily, his eyes lock onto mine. In that brief pause, I see a fierce intensity there, a reflection of the passion burning within me. With a low, primal growl, he plunges into me once more, his thrust wild and untamed. I cry out his name, my body arching towards him, every cell in my body yearning for him. The pleasure builds and builds, reaching a crescendo that feels almost painfully exquisite.

Theo’s lips find mine in a fierce kiss, his tongue exploring my mouth as he continues his relentless rhythm. The sounds of the waterfall are now a distant hum, drowned out by the primal sound of our bodies coming together in perfect harmony .

My submission to him is complete, my body a willing vessel for his desire. The sensations building inside me begin to coalesce, a tidal wave of pleasure that threatens to overwhelm me. I feel Theo’s hand between us, expertly navigating my folds, teasing me with feather-like touches before finally homing in on my most sensitive spot. He begins circling it with the pad of his thumb, applying just the right amount of pressure to send me over the edge.

As he continues to thrust inside me, my orgasm continues to build higher and higher, my muscles tightening around him. I buck my hips against him, desperate for more, and he responds by picking up the pace. His fingers moving faster and faster, matching the rhythm of his thrusts.

“I’m going to come, Theo,” I gasp, my voice echoing through the canyon as my orgasm finally breaks free from its bounds. My body shudders violently, arching backward against the rock as the pleasure washes over me in waves. My mind loses all sense of time and place, consumed by the raw intensity of this moment. I feel Theo tense, his breath ragged as he joins me in the aftermath. His body shudders against mine, his seed spilling deep within me, marking me as his own.

As I lay there, still catching my breath, I feel the warmth of his body pressed against mine, our hearts beating in unison. In the quiet aftermath of our passion, the sound of the waterfall returns, a gentle lullaby to the wildness that has just taken over our souls .

Slowly, we climb back to our feet, our movements languid and intimate. “I wish we could stay here forever,” I murmur, my fingers lingering on his skin as we dress.

Theo smiles, his eyes softening. “Me too, but we’ll always have this moment and this place.”

I grin, nudging him playfully. “And the memory of you splashing me. I’ll cherish that forever.”

Theo smirks, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, so that’s what you’re going to remember?”

I lean in closer, my eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, that and how irresistible you look when you’re all wet.”

Theo chuckles, pulling me into a warm embrace. “Good to know I’ve made a lasting impression,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my forehead. “Now, let’s get out of here before I find another excuse to splash you.”

We dress ourselves, our hands lingering on each other as we fasten our wet clothes. Neither of us wants to leave this place, but we know that we must. We turn our heads once more to take in the pool, admiring the shimmering waterfall and how the sunlight plays on the rippling surface of the water.

Hand in hand, we begin our journey back, the path winding through the canyon. The sun dips below the horizon, casting the canyon in a warm, golden light. The air cools, and the shadows grow long, the darkness of night gradually enveloping us. We walk in comfortable silence, the bond between us feeling stronger than ever .

A rustling sound interrupts the serenity of our hike back. We both turn towards the source of the noise, alert and on edge. Through the foliage at the edge of the trail, emerges a figure cloaked in darkness, its face obscured by the shadows. For a moment, we freeze, our hearts pounding in our chests. It takes a step forward, and we can see the glint of its eyes reflecting the dying light. It appears to be watching us, studying us intently, almost as if it knows our every move.

“Who’s there?” I whisper, my voice trembling with fear. I can feel Theo’s body tense beside me, his hand gripping my shoulder tightly. The figure remains motionless, silent, and ominous. It takes another step forward, and for a fleeting moment, I can see a glimpse of its face before it drops back into the shadows. It looks like a stranger, a traveler perhaps, yet there’s something about it that feels alien, as if it doesn’t belong in this world.

Without warning, the figure lunges towards us, its arms outstretched. In a panicked frenzy, Theo pushes me behind him, protecting me with his body. As the figure lunges, I can feel its icy breath against our faces, and the scent of something foul and otherworldly fills the air. Theo’s wings unfurl, and I can see the determination in his eyes as he prepares to defend me against whatever this creature may be. He stands between the figure and me, threatening it to move.

“Stay back or I swear by the Gods; harm will come to you sir,” Theo warns, his voice firm and unyielding. The figure, still shrouded in darkness, doesn’t budge. Its eyes seem to gleam with malice, and I can feel a wave of dread wash over me. Theo’s muscles tense, and I can see the feathers on his wings ripple with anticipation. But the figure seems unfazed by Theo’s display of power. Its presence is palpable, a darkness that seems to seep into the very air around us. The canyon, once a peaceful haven, now feels like a trap, as if we are prey to something far more sinister than we could have ever imagined.

A primal scream echoes through the canyon as the figure violently shoves Theo aside, sending him sprawling to the ground. Its dark eyes now train on me with a hunger that sends a surge of fear through my body. My heart pounds in my chest as I take a step back, nearly losing my balance. I scramble to steady myself, frantically searching for an escape from this unfathomable danger. But before I can even take a step, a deafening roar shakes the very earth beneath us. Turning in terror, I witness a horrifying sight that freezes me to the core. The figure stands still, transfixed by the terrifying display unfolding just above us, and I am left trembling in disbelief and dread.