Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 260

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 you still remember it?"

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.

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.

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