“Yes,” I say, pulling the ring from the box and setting the box aside.
“I accept your gift, Vestaris Moonshadow,” he says without hesitation.
Before I can speak, he slips his finger through the band, not taking his eyes from mine. The sight of the ring upon his hand sends elationsearingthrough my blood.
“Centuries of wait.” He gives me a teasing grin. “Centuries of dreaming. I’m never letting you go again.”
Before I can blink, Ryc lifts me against him and my legs wrap around his waist as my hands pull his lips to mine. It’s nothing gentle. It’s teeth and tongues and a fervent demand. The taste of him leaves me drunk and yet I continue to drink.
As I curl my fingers into his silken hair, the all too delicious sensation of him moving between my thighs winds my stomach tight. With a moan, I press myself into him, needingnospace to exist between us.
Where he ends, I should begin.
We should be blurred.
His low groan tells me he feels the same.
Before long, he lowers me, my back meeting the spongy pad of thick moss. Dragging his teeth and tongue along my neck, his fingers tear at the neckline of my shirt. In seconds it’s less of a shirt and more of a band of ribbons as he tosses it aside. Laughing, I press my hand to his chest, halting him.
Lifting his head from my neck, his darkened gaze rises from my lips to my eyes. He’s going to devour me and I won’t be able to stop him.
Gods, I don’t want him to stop. But…
“Here?” I laugh glancing toward the path he’s wandered from. “Where we could be seen?”
We’re barely five feet off the footpath, in a small clearing between trees. Anyone daring to walk through here will certainly discover a show.
A wicked grin curls his kiss-swollen lips as he lowers himself, dragging his kiss along my jaw. He nips at my neck and my eyes flutter closed. The feel of his breath, his teeth, his touch, sends elated darts of pleasure down my spine.
“Here,” he rumbles low into my ear. “I’ll not wait.” A hand tightens on my hip pulling a soft cry from me. “And neither will you.”
He runs a hand over my stomach, trailing it down between my legs and I gasp, arching into his touch as his thumb draws tight circles over my core. With a deep, dark chuckle, he nips at my neck.
My hands fly to the bottom of his shirt, pulling the tails from his waist and I slip my fingers beneath. All while he continues to tease, emptying my head of thought, replacing it withneed. The heat of his skin scorches my palms and the firmness of his stomach tightens the desire between my legs, turning me utterly languid.
Ruined.
I’m ruined.
To have such a powerful creature so wholly devoted to me, worshiping me as if I’m a goddess,hisgoddess—it leaves me dizzy with lust. Making quick work of his belt and buttoned pants, my fingers wrap around his long, erect length, earning an encouraging flex of his hips and a groan.
His hand becomes a fist in my hair, the other gripping me by the back of my neck as I continue to stroke and tease. I want his desire screaming through him as fiercely as mine.
Once again, his mouth crashes against mine and he scoops me up, swinging me around to straddle his lap. Pulling my hips forward, I rise on my knees as his head dips to claim a nipple.
Hellfire.
His touch is straight hellfire.
I cry out as he teases a bit of pain with a fang, lapping it away with his velvet tongue.
I’m addicted.
Addicted to this life he’s promised me.
To him.
His attention, his desire, his love.
