She breathes like she just ran up and down every flight of stairs in the castle twice. Several aftershocks rock her entire body, which has otherwise gone beautifully slack, one leg sliding down from around my neck while the other remains draped there.
I smile with deep satisfaction and lick my lips, savoring her essence.
“Holy shit,” she finally manages, breathing hard. Her other leg slides away from me, and I catch it gently, helping to settle it on the grass.
Her chest rises and falls rapidly, her beautiful sex still flushed and glistening between her parted thighs.
“Holy shit,” she repeats breathlessly. “I wasn’t expecting anything like that.”
“I cannot say I was either,” I chuckle, settling beside her and gathering her against me with infinite tenderness.
She blinks up at me shyly, then buries her face against my chest with what looks like embarrassment.
I frown down at her. “Why do you hide yourself from me?”
I lift her leg so she can wrap herself around my hip—torture for my still-aching cock but also everything I never knew I wanted. She comes willingly, molding her body around mine like we were created to fit together. But she keeps her face hidden against my chest.
“Lo-Ren. Why do you conceal your beautiful face? May I not see you after the incredible pleasure we shared?”
She drops her hands but presses her face tighter against my chest instead. “I’ve just—No one’s ever—” She shakes her head and burrows deeper against me.
I blink in confusion at her incomplete sentences and stroke my fingers through her hair. “What do you mean, sweet consort? Talk to me.”
She takes a deep, shuddering breath and exhales against my sternum. Still not looking up, but at least she speaks. “It’s never felt like that before. No one’s ever made me feel anything close to that intensity.”
I grin over her head and tighten my arms around her. “I have only begun to show you pleasure, my Lo-Ren.”
I feel the shiver that runs through her at my promise, and a profound sense of contentment settles deep in my chest. Though my own desire remains unquenched, this feels absolutely perfect exactly as it is.
Holding my consort in the summer breeze by the crystal lake, under the shade of ancient pines. I may not possess my brother Kharon’s ability to travel between realms, but I now understand what paradise truly means.
It’s this moment, with her in my arms, completely mine.
NINE
LAUREN
Canlife actually flip this fast? These past few days have been like living in some fever dream where everything’s backwards from what I expected. We spend them talking—actuallytalking—and eating food that probably costs more than my rent used to be. He shows me this insane bath with like fifty jets and leaves me to float there like I’m some kind of princess. Hell, maybe I am now.
He doesn’t push after what happened by the lake that night, which honestly shocks the shit out of me. Michael would’ve been all over me the second I showed any interest, demanding payment for whatever crumbs of affection he’d thrown my way.
The next day, Remus flies in what feels like an entire Nordstrom with dinner. Designer everything—stuff I used to drool over in magazines while eating ramen for the third night in a row. It’s all the things I mentioned wanting, plus about a million dollars’ worth of extras. Everything fits like it was made for me, even though some of these companies definitely don’t usually make size 16s. How the hell did he get these tailored thatfast? And the expense... Jesus. But I can’t deny it feels incredible strutting around in silk Yves Saint Laurent while we stay up all night justtalking.
We cover everything. Well, almost everything. He tells me about his brothers—Abaddon and Kharon, who apparently used to be called Thing.Thing. I mean, talk about family dysfunction. Their consorts sound badass though. Abaddon just had a daughter with tiny wings and horns who’s basically a baby hellion, according to Remus. The way his whole face lights up when he talks about her makes my ovaries do weird flippy things.
He tells me about their psycho father and how they’re all basically learning how to be a real family for the first time. About his youngest brother Layden, who came back from the dead or whatever.
But the one topic that’s completely off-limits? The twin literally attached to the back of his head.
“Why won’t you talk about him?” I finally ask.
We’ve been up all night again, and the sun’s painting everything gold through the massive windows. I’m probably running on pure adrenaline and lust at this point because even though I should be dead tired, I’m wide awake. Partly because everything coming out of his mouth is fascinating as hell, and partly because he’s sitting so close I can feel the heat radiating off his ridiculous abs. The man doesn’t own shirts apparently, which is both a blessing and a curse for my concentration.
“He doesn’t matter.” Remus waves a dismissive hand, like he’s brushing away a fly.
I give him my bestare-you-seriousface. “He must have mattered at some point. He’s literally part of you.”
He just shakes his head, jaw going tight. “All that matters is right here.” His arm tightens around me, those dark eyesburning into mine. “You. Me.” His hand drags down my hip, fingers digging in just enough to make me shiver. “This.”
