Bloom and Destruction (ACOTAR - Elain + Azriel)

Chapter 31

Elain

     I see the sunset through the windows of my office. I lean back in my chair and rub my temples. A soft knock sounds through the silent room just as I smell Azriel. "Come in," I call to him.

Azriel pushes the door open slowly and walks in, closing it quietly behind him. I watch him walk over, a small stack of papers in his hands. He sets it on the desk before sitting across from me. I raise my eyebrows.

He slides the stack closer to me. "Here's the paperwork for the second half of tomorrow's meeting," he says cautiously. I nod, picking it up and slipping through the papers. "I'm sorry, Elain." He cocks his head to look at me from beyond the papers in my face.

I sigh, setting the stack down. "I'm sorry, Azriel," I fold my hands on the desk. "I'm sorry that I can't make you feel at home, like this is where you deserve to be, with me."

He shakes his head. "No, my love," he chuckles. "This is not your burden to bare."

"Isn't it?" I retort. "Aren't we supposed to bare it together?" I take note of his shadows dancing around me. He looses a breath. "If you need to go back to Velaris and serve Rhysand and Feyre, if that's where you feel you have a place in this world, then go. I don't want to be the reason you're unhappy."

Azriel stands up from his seat, stalking around the desk and grabbing my hands. I stand from my seat with his help. "I am not unhappy," he whispers, bracing his hands on my hips. I place my hand on either side of the burn I'd given him early this morning. "You make me the happiest male to have ever lived, Elain," he leans down, his face inching closer to mine. "The things I'm unhappy with lie within myself, it is nothing to do with this court or you."

I swallow hard and nod. "And I'd like you to let me in, to let me help you heal those pieces of yourself," I say softly.

Azriel's hands travel up my back, one resting just above my bottom with the other between my shoulder blades. I move my arms around his neck, locking my hands behind his neck. "You can start by having dinner with me," his breath against my face makes me shudder.

      I nod again. "Of course," my voice comes out strained.  

      He takes in a deep breath through his nose. "Mm," he hums. "Is my High Lady craving something else for dinner?" His eyes darken as he pulls away slightly. I gulp. "What are you thinking about?" He brings his lips to my ear.

       "You," I whisper.

       "What about me?" He takes my earlobe between his teeth. "How I can't get enough of your sweet taste? Or how it feels to have me deep inside you?" I whimper at the words. "How I worshipped your body the other night after our wedding? Kissing and licking every inch of you," his husky voice makes my arousal pool in my undergarments. He sniffs the air again before dipping his head down to my neck. I moan as he sucks on the sensitive part of the skin, just how I like. "Do you want me to kneel before you, my lady?" He brings his forehead back to mine. I stare into his darkened eyes. "Do you want me to splay you out on this desk and devour you until you beg me to stop?" I whimper. "Use your words," he places a finger under my chin.

       "Yes."

♡ ♡ ♡

    
      I sit across from Azriel at the table, holding his gaze as I take a bite of the baked salmon. He bares his teeth before grabbing his glass of wine and sipping it. I squeeze my thighs together under the table.

       "He'll still be able to smell it, you know," Feyre's voice rings through my ears. I turn to see my sister standing behind me with a small box. "I'm surprised it took you this long to approach the frenzy. I'd thought Az wouldn't be able to hold back," she laughs, taking a seat next to me. I look to Azriel to see him staring at me already. "I'm just here to drop off some things Rhys said you'd need, Azriel," she motions to the box. "I know you have a meeting tomorrow, but... if you have to cancel because you can't be near each other without fucking, I'm sure people will understand." She winks before vanishing into a black wind.

      I look back at my mate. "Azriel," I set my fork down on the table. He growls lowly, shooting from his seat and quickly coming to my side. It didn't take another moment for him to push everything off the table and lay me down on it.

♡ ♡ ♡

Azriel stares up at me with a tired grin. I smile back at him, slowly lifting my waist and moving off of him. He grabs my waist, tugging me down next to him on the sofa. We both breathe heavily as I rest my head on his chest. He holds my leg over his waist and gently massages my lower thigh. I stare at the side of his face, admiring every inch of it.

      His eyes slide to mine and he turns his head toward me. "Don't look at me like that," his voice comes out hoarse.

     "Why?" I know why. He's feeling exactly the same thing I am, staring at him.

He laughs, wrapping his hand around my leg and yanking me closer to him. "Keep looking at me like that and find out." I smile as he presses his lips to mine in a lazy kiss. I bring a hand up to his cheek and pull him in. I deepen the kiss, moving my lips hungrily with him. "You-" I cut him off by pulling his mouth back to mine. He runs his hand from my mid-thigh up to cup where my neck and head meet. His thumb caresses my cheek before pulling back. "You are insatiable." I nod with a smile. "Oh, you know?" He laughs heartily. "Well, I should do something about that."