Her climax hits her like a lightning strike—a long, drawn-out scream that vibrates through the entire terrace. Her body tenses fiercely around mine, and the stars explode in response, creating a sudden, beautiful wash of golden, chiming light. I hold her there, trembling and spent, sinking one last, desperate time before pulling free.
I kiss her forehead, setting her gently back down on her feet. She’s weak, supported entirely by the railing and my arms.
“That wasn't the payment,” I murmur, my voice heavy. “That was just thefirst offering.”
I move her away from the railing, pushing her dress higher, kneeling before her. I look up, taking in the full, powerful view of her body—the flushed skin, the shaking thighs, the heavy, quick breaths.
I hook my fingers under her hips and pull her forward, spreading her thighs slightly. My eyes stay locked on her face for a moment, a silent question and promise. She nods once, a small, trusting gesture.
I lower my head, taking in her beautiful glistening pussy. The shock of my mouth on her is immediate. I use my tongue, my teeth, my lips—licking, sucking, devouring the slick, sensitive skin I just ravaged. I’m relentless, tasting her heat, her desire, driving out the last tremors of her first climax and pushing her straight toward a second.
She cries out, the sound high and uncontrolled. Piper grips my shoulders, fingers digging in, as she whispers my name over and over again. The world vanishes into the hot, humid focus of my mouth.
I don’t stop until her second climax hits her—a violent, shattering rush that makes her knees buckle. She collapses forward, gripping my shoulders, whimpering into my black hair.
I stand, pulling her to her feet, holding her against my chest until her breathing evens out.
“Now,” I whisper, my voice thick with raw possessiveness. “Let's finish this properly.”
I lift her again, guiding her so that she is perched on the marble railing, facing out over the vast, shimmering darkness of the Ninth Realm. Her knees set on the bannister, leaving her pussy exposed and wonderfully vulnerable.
I step between her thighs, and I slide into her with a low growl, gripping her hips, setting a deep, primal rhythm. This is slower, more intense, meant to be felt and absorbed.
Gripping her hair, I pull her head back, her curly black hair fanning across her back like a shadow. She’s silent now, lost to the feeling, her face tilted up to the pulsing, chiming stars. I drive my hipsforward one last time, deep and heavy, feeling the world tilt on its axis as our release comes. I watch the stars flare into a dizzying white light, celebrating our completion.
I rest my forehead against hers, breathing her in. The cool air, the silver fire, the chaos of the deep realm—it all feels perfect. Pulling back, still deep inside her, I let my hand sweep the curls from her face. “You have my heart, Piper,” I murmur, my voice rough with fulfilled promise.
She smiles, her lips swollen and damp, her blue eyes shining with absolute certainty. “I know I do,” she whispers back.
Chapter 36
Slade
Piper’s breath is still unsteady when I finally ease back from her, letting the night air cool the flushed heat between us. The stars above us dim gently, as though politely averting their gaze now that the crescendohas passed.
I brush another stray curl from her cheek, my thumb lingering along the soft curve of her jaw. “Come,” I murmur. “There’s something else I want to show you.”
Her fingers tighten briefly around mine, reluctant to break the spell of the balcony, but she nods. I guide her toward the interior hall, my hand warm against the small of her back, her steps soft and trusting beside mine.
We move through one of the glass corridors, the soft hum of the Ninth Realm’s magic shimmering around us. Piper’s curls sway with each step, her dark silhouette sharp against the glowing torches. She glances around with that same mix of awe and curiosity she had the first day—yet now it’s softened by something else.
Belonging.
“Where are we going?” she asks quietly.
“To the dining hall,” I answer. “I asked my staff to prepare something special.”
The double doors ahead gleam with silver sigils that respond to my approach, parting on a soft exhale of air. Piper steps inside and gasps softly.
The hall is aglow. Hundreds of floating candles drift overhead in gentle spirals, their flames a warm gold that casts the long table in shimmering light. A feast spreads across polished obsidian—fresh bread still steaming from the oven, roasted meats lacquered with honey glaze, fruits glistening like jewels, goblets filled with deep red wine that catches the candlelight.
Piper moves forward slowly, drawn to the spectacle. “Slade… this is beautiful.”
“It’s for you,” I tell her, pulling out her chair. “A welcome, as much as a promise.”
She sits, her eyes bright, her curls spilling across her shoulders. I settle beside her instead of across, wanting her within reach. The bond hums warm and steady between us as the meal begins.
She tastes everything with a kind of wonder—herbal soups brewed with soul-warmingspices, pastries stuffed with spiced fruit, wine infused with golden magic that warms her from the inside out. We eat, we talk, we laugh, and for a moment the weight of the world feels distant.
