Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 260

Chapter 260 What Cecilia Taught

Squared

Elowen’s head felt light and unfocused. All she managed was a soft, uncertain hum in reply.

Cassian leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. “What Cecilia taught you–do remember it?”

you

still

The sudden shift caught her off guard. Elowen froze for a moment, then nodded. “I remember.”

After a pause, she added quietly, “I studied it carefully. I even kept notes…”

A low chuckle rumbled from Cassian’s chest. “That’s my good girl.”

One brow lifted slightly. “Then you know what tonight calls for, don’t you?”

Elowen just stared at him.

Cecilia’s very direct lessons rushed back all at once. The diagrams she’d been shown. And, embarrassingly enough, something she had once noticed about Cassian by accident.

The first thing she felt was fear. The color drained from her face, and she instinctively tried to pull away.

Perhaps sensing her instinct to pull away, Cassian suddenly sucked in a sharp breath, a faint crease forming between his brows.

Alarm flashed across Elowen’s face. She hurried closer and caught his arm, worry clear in her voice.

“Cassian–what’s wrong?”

“My leg,” he said under his breath. “It’s acting up.”

Guilt hit her instantly. “Your leg hasn’t fully healed yet. This is my fault–I couldn’t even keep my footing and made you move—”

“Ella,” Cassian cut in quietly. “There’s one way to make it stop.”

Elowen didn’t hesitate. “Tell me what to do.”

Cassian lifted a hand to her cheek, the rough pad of his thumb brushing lightly across her skin.

He closed the distance the next second and claimed her mouth.

This kiss was nothing like the careful, almost restrained ones before. There was nothing tentative about it now–only a firm, possessive certainty that left no room for refusal.

Tue, May

Chapter 250 What Cecilia Taught

Her lips parted under the insistence of it, and he deepened the kiss, drawing her into it as he took her breath for himself.

Elowen’s thoughts dissolved into nothing.

His other hand rested at the small of her back, shifting slightly along her waist beneath the water, sending shivers racing through her.

The water around them rippled and swayed.

Only after a long while did Cassian finally pull away. His forehead rested lightly against hers, his breathing uneven.

“Better.” he murmured. “Leg doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Elowen wasn’t fooled.

Whatever had been bothering him, it had never been his leg.

Cassian looked down at her, his gaze darker than the night outside–filled with things she only half understood.

“Ella,” he said softly, voice roughened by something deeper. “May I?”

Elowen blinked, a beat behind, before realizing what he meant.

Her heart pounded. Heat rushed through her face, as though the warmth of the bath had seeped into her bones and muddled her thoughts.

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

Cassian lowered his gaze slightly. “Of what?”

Elowen turned her face away. “That I won’t have the nerve.”

Then, more quietly, the embarrassment catching in her voice, she added, “And also…”

She searched for words that sounded respectable enough to say.

“I’m… not exactly used to it.”

The words struck Cassian harder than she realized.

His jaw tightened for a moment as he forced himself to steady his breathing. Then he let out a quiet sigh.

2/4

Chapter 2nd What Cecilia Taught

“Ella, you really are…”

Elowen looked up, puzzled and wide–eyed. “What?”

Cassian drew a slow breath and touched her flushed cheek again, careful this time, almost

reverent.

“Don’t be afraid.”

His voice was low and gentle, but steady with certainty. Under that calm reassurance, Elowen finally nodded.

The light in Cassian’s eyes sharpened immediately. He leaned down, gathered her into his arms, and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

Elowen squeezed her eyes shut, too embarrassed to look at him.

Warmth built between them, breath tangling in the humid air. Time stretched.

Far longer than Elowen could manage on her own. All she could do was cling to Cassian.

The water stirred around them, restless and swirling.

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