Aphrodisiac?
The thought barely brushed the edge of my mind before it scattered, swallowed whole by the fever consuming me. Nothing made sense anymore.
Heat.
That was all there was—endless, smothering, unbearable heat. It rolled through me in waves, thick and suffocating, as if my very skin were aflame. It seeped into my bones, coiled hot and violent in my veins, burrowed into the marrow until even my breath burned. Every inhale was fire scorching down my throat, every exhale a ragged plea my pride refused to give voice to.
My body felt too small to contain it.
Too fragile to endure.
And so I clung.
My hand shot out blindly, clutching Rion's with a desperation that startled even me.
I dragged it up to my face, pressing his palm against my fevered skin as though he could douse me.
His hand was cool yet warm, hard yet smooth. I pressed harder, my cheek rubbing against his calloused palm, my lips parting against his knuckles as shaky breaths trembled past.
