He was in an emerald green brocade suit, head to toe, with black trim and embellishments. In the subtle floral print were serpents intertwined with the thorns and branches and leaves. Pinned at his shoulder was a black and emerald cape that fluttered royally to the backs of his knees.
He was a vision of nobility. A prize.
His eyes traced leisurely down her entire body. Even her black lightening bolt like veins. “Perfection.”
Maeve’s head kicked back, and she balled the fabric of her dress in her fists and moved swiftly towards him. He strode towards her and their bodies collided with a magnetic slam. His hands tucked around her neck, pulling her face up towards him. She kissed him hard, her tongue begging his mouth for entry. He obliged and heat surged between her legs as their tongues moved as one.
Mal kicked her legs from beneath her, swooping her into his arms. She threw her arms around his neck, refusing to break her lips away. He brought them down the hall, pushing his bedroom door open with his back.
Maeve gasped as he dropped her on her knees at the edge of his bed. His hands gripped her hips and held her steady as he slowly moved his lips to her throat. His tongue moved tauntingly across her skin. Maeve shuddered and gripped his arms, pushing herself against him.
His mouth trailed down, licking across her collar bone. She moaned and tilted her head back. She reached forward, finding the band of his pants and ran her hand down to feel him. She cupped her palm around him and smiled widely.
Mal pulled his mouth away and brought his hungry gaze to her. His eyes swam with a paralyzing darkness. Darker than she’d ever seen them. They were the night’s sky now. She didn’t pull her hand away from the hardness that pushed against her palm.
“Does that please you?” He asked, his voice sensual and dripping with pride.
“Very much, my Prince.”
A surge of Magic swelled up between them. In one swift movement Mal flipped her around. He pulled the silk laces of her dress open with calculated precision. Each ribbon snapping from the corset one by one. The dress loosened and fell down her arms. The bed shifted behind her. He pressed against her back, snaking his hands across her shoulders. One hand moved over her chest and the other moved to her throat, sending icy wafts of his magic down her body.
Mine, it whispered.
“Yours,” she replied.
His grip around her neck tightened, and then pushed forward until the side of her face pressed into the black silken duvet.?
He hovered above her, letting their breaths return to a slow and steady pace together. He traced lazy circles across her skin, up and down her darkened veins. He pressed his palm just above her breast on her left side. Over her heart.
“What?” She asked softly.
“I want the world to know who you belong to.”
“They will know after tonight,” she said.
Mal shook his head ever so slightly. “Not like that.”
“Then how?” Asked Maeve.
“I’ve been thinking on it for a while. My ring on your finger is a symbol. So I thought, maybe another jewel? Something with my own symbol on it, perhaps? But then I realized this needs to be a mark no one can ever escape. A permanent trace of magic binding me to my most loyal. A Vexkari.” Mal kissed her skin just over where her heart lay. “Right here.”
“I’ll do it,” said Maeve at once.
He looked up at her. Maeve ran her fingers through his raven hair.
She was always quick to please him.
“I’ll do whatever you ask of me. I will take my vows tonight as your second in front of them all, and if you want it written in magic across my heart that I am yours so be it.”
Mal sat up and she followed suit.
“You will be the first to receive my mark,” said Mal.
“An honor,” she said.
“This magic will mark you and bind you to me permanently, Maeve-”
Her fingers moved over his lips gently. “I do not volunteer lightly.”
