I’m writing again, too. My editor thinksMilkmaidwill be my most successful title yet. I’ve started my next book in the series,Angel’s Share, and it’s pouring out of me.
The fire, though, does make the national news. The authorities suspect arson because of the death of Stefan Cifarelli days before in his apartment from a similar fire. They’re still identifying the bodies and have not confirmed the whereabouts of Roman Cifarelli, although we know they eventually will. We all watched him die.
I think about Roman at times, impaled on that sword, dangling from the wall. I think about his body burned to ash, and I can muster no empathy for him, no remorse. Vivian still hasn’t told me everything he did to her, but I know it was bad. And I know she’s just as glad of his death.
If all of that isn’t blissful enough, Connor brought meto Cardinal Island last night, to his other home, a seaside mansion in the warrior camp here. I’ve never set foot in a more magical place.
Behind me, Connor grinds against my backside, rousing with a deep inhale against my hair.
I laugh. “Hey, today’s Mason’s ascension. I need to get ready. The new human mate cannot be late to her first official dragon ceremony.”
“Mmmm. I’ll be quick then.” Connor pulls me under him, his rock-hard erection nudging my entrance.
I press a long kiss to his lips. “Haven’t you had enough, Aries? I think I’m still covered in you from last night.”
“As it should be.” He nuzzles the side of my neck, coaxing a contented sigh from my lips. “And no, I haven’t had enough.”
He rocks into me. No matter how many times I’m with Connor, sex with him is always grounding, like I’ve found the other half of my soul, my center, my guiding force. I feel it now as he threads his fingers into mine, moving over me in a rhythm of contented breaths and soft sighs of pleasure.
My hands explore his body, the scar on his chest where his wound has finally healed, the velvet-soft webbing of his beautiful black wings that looks purple when the sun shines through.
Soon he’s increasing his pace, his mouth finding mine in a claiming kiss that leaves me breathless and on the edge of a heart-stopping orgasm. One more thrust and I feel like the sun itself, radiant heat, bright, blindingpleasure. Connor follows me over, his wings twitching as he empties himself inside me.
Fully sated, I smile at him as he rolls off me. “Now, I really do have to get ready. I bound out of bed and head to the bathroom. He follows behind me.
I turn on the shower. “I’m serious Connor. I want to make a good impression.”
“It’ll be quicker if we shower together.”
I laugh, glancing down at his already recovering erection. “Why don’t I believe that?”
He shrugs. I slide under the spray, and soon he’s there, grabbing a loofa and lathering my back. I’m not surprised at all when he enters me again from behind and I find myself holding on to the shower wall as my mate gives me three more orgasms.
By the time we’re dressed and stumbling out into the streets of Cardinal Island, I’m power walking to make it to the arena on time.
“Relax, they won’t start without us,” Connor says through a smile.
I flash him an annoyed look. Cardinal Island is the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen, with buildings painted the colors of the sunset. Coming from the warrior camp, we pass through the restaurant district where the smell of freshly baked bread makes my mouth water. “You owe me breakfast.” I cast a wink his way.
He slants me a grin that seems to hold both an apology and a promise. “After the ceremony. I’ll take you to my favorite place and then we can explore the arts district.”
I can’t wait. Cardinal Island is a thriving artists’community. Last night, the shops were closed, but I spied impossibly delicate pottery, breathtaking sculptures, exquisite paintings, and every manner of fabric from silk to crochet in the windows. Today, the streets are full of both dragons and humans as the population makes its way toward the arena, musicians playing on every corner.
Up ahead, a red temple rises on a hill, with architecture that curves as if the wind carved it from the rock. And all around us, in the distance, behind the buildings, I can see the ocean.
“Will you miss being in charge?” I ask Connor as he takes my hand and leads me toward the entrance to the arena. His alignment is over. Seb officially rises to power over the brotherhood tomorrow.
“Not at all. I find I have better things to do with my time these days.” His grin turns wolfish.
“You’re insufferable.” Something low within me heats, and his nostrils flare with his smile. He knows. He always knows.
“Seriously. I’m okay with Seb taking over. I like to lead, but it’s his time.”
I know what he means. Connor and I have worlds left to discover about each other and lifetimes to do it in. It will be nice to take a back seat for a while. And I feel so lucky, so incredibly lucky, to be his mate, to be part of this new, bigger world he’s introduced me to. If I’d known this existed before, what love actually looked like from the inside, I would have never settled for less.
We follow the crowd into the arena. The shape reminds me of the Roman Colosseum with toweringwalls of polished marble and tiers of seating for viewing. The field, though, is breathtaking. Built to look like a compass, it appears to be made of sand of varying colors, and I wonder how they do it, how they keep the colors from mixing. Connor leads me to a viewing area on the east end of the compass, a section with the best view and special padded chairs. He leaves to join his brothers at the heart of the symbol.
There are nine empty seats around me. Reagan, Mason’s mate, sits down in one of them, the curvy blonde as awed by our surroundings as I am.
