The sweet scent rising from her skin tells me her body recognizes what her mind hasn’t yet accepted—that she belongs with me. It ignites something primal in my chest, a need so fierce it nearly brings me to my knees.
I have carefully removed the fabric barriers covering her delicate form, and she lies before me like something precious and breakable—all soft curves and pale skin that seems to glow in the morning light.
Her eyes widen to impossible roundness when I position myself above her, and I’m struck by how small she looks beneath my massive frame.
“Just don’t hurt me,” she whispers, and the words stop me cold.
My frown is immediate and deep. How could she think? “You are my consort,” I say, as if this should explain everything that matters. “I would sooner tear out my own heart than cause you pain.”
I lean down to breathe against her temple, my voice dropping to the gentlest rumble I can manage. “I have waited centuries for you, little one. Do you truly think I would damage something so precious?”
When she doesn’t immediately respond, I pull back to study her face. “What do you need, consort? You do not need to be afraid.”
The vulnerability in asking nearly undoes me, but this moment—our first moment—must be right. She must understand that, despite my monstrous appearance, despite the circumstances that brought us together, I already worship the very ground she walks on.
“I know I am... much to take in,” I continue, my usual commanding tone replaced by something almost uncertain. “But I swear to you on whatever divine spark still burns in my chest, I will be gentle. I will go slowly. I will stop the moment you ask me to.”
My hand hovers near her cheek, not quite touching. “May I?”
SEVEN
HANNAH
He wrapsthose massive hands around his absolutely ginormous shaft, and I swear every instinct in me screamsabort mission, scramble off the bed, live another day.
Because Jesus Christ, is he really about to try and shove that goddamn tree trunk into me?
I mean, I’ve heard of jumping in the deep end, but?—
His huge body leans over me, wings flaring outward around us, blocking out the light like he’s wrapping me in a private, forbidden cocoon.
And—wait. He doesn’t stink like earlier. I figured he was going into the lake to hunt some food or something, but was he actually… taking a bath? For me?
My mind races as I clutch the sheets, heart pounding, while his still-dripping lion’s mane brushes down toward my breasts. Oh shit. With those teeth, he could shred me in half?—
But before the panic can set in, a warm, wet tongue drags across my nipple, shocking me after the icy drip of his hair.
And while I can feel the heavy pulsing of his cock pressing against my thigh, he just lets itrestthere. Not forcing. Just there. Like a promise.
He licks all around my left nipple with that rough, rasping tongue, slow and deliberate.
I gasp, and my back arches up off the bed. Which he apparently takes as agoodsign, because his leonine mouth closes fully around my suddenly aching nipple.
I blink, dazed, and my hand shoots from the sheets to clutch at his mane. Jesus, why am I holding onto his wet hair? Like I’m?—
As if I’m?—
He maneuvers his mouth, teeth scraping, just the barest graze of danger against my over-sensitive tip. Then he pulls back. And does it again.
Nibbling. Withthoseteeth.
I screech, but it’s not fear this time. It’s a breathy, shocked little moan of… pleasure.
What the actual hell is happening?
Is he a literal demon? He mentioned an angel-spark. Is that why one touch of his raspy tongue and those menacing teeth against my hard nipple have me?—
My hips jerk up without my permission.
