He stiffens for a beat. “What consorts?” he says. One finger taps the base of the handle so the bulb of the whip rubs more firmly against that sacred spot; the other buries further underneath me and begins to rub my clit with an intimacy that steals my breath.
Then, he leans low. Warm mane tickles the back of my neck.
His mouth lands along the nape of my neck, and his teeth nip gently as his hands as he continues working me.
And on a fierce whisper, low in my ear: “You are my first consort. My only ever consort. Forever.”
My chest convulses, and the world detonates. I don’t black out; I’m ridiculously, violently awake as wave after electric wave rides from my pussy up through my spine and back down again. I let out a keening wail into the dark, the sound equal parts surrender and triumph.
“That’s right,” he breathes, kissing down my neck. “Keep giving it to me. That’s my good, good girl.”
I come so hard it feels like I might split in two. And in the delicious wreckage, I don’t hate him. I don’t know what I feel fully, only that in the hollow place he’s made with leather and hands and feathered shadow, I am broken open and utterly, unashamedlyfull.
THIRTY-TWO
HANNAH
When I wake,for once, I’m not alone.
Beast lies behind me, one massive arm draped possessively across my waist. Is it to prevent another escape attempt, or did he simply fall asleep this way?
He’d untied me after our intense encounter and never sought his own release. Instead, he’d simply wrapped himself around me like a living blanket, and we... slept. I was beginning to think he never rested.
I exhale slowly. It’s still pitch black outside, the room shrouded in pre-dawn darkness.
So this is my life now?
If I’m truly done running… Then in exchange for everything he’s given me, I’m actually planning to fulfill my part of the bargain and... stay...?
Well, hell.
I sink deeper into the pillow, blinking against the encompassing darkness.
I function better with clear goals. Trudging through the snow last night, everything felt crystalline. But now... what comes next?
Because, despite the intensity we just shared, I can’t imagine it’s as simple as happily ever after.
I turn toward him in bed, feeling oddly nervous.
He’s a light sleeper and wakes immediately, wings lifting behind him as his chest flares with that inner radiance, illuminating those golden cat eyes.
I thought they were unsettling when we first met.
But now... they’re actually quite beautiful. Not that I’m about to tell him that.
“Attempting another escape, little consort?” he rumbles.
I roll my eyes. “Please. If I were planning to run, I’d be much more strategic about it.”
A low growl emanates from his glowing chest.
“Oh, stop.” I tap his shoulder lightly. His gaze immediately tracks to where I touched him, then back to my face. Interesting.
“I’m not trying to flee,” I say softly. “I was thinking...” I lower my eyes. “Since this appears to be a long-term arrangement?—”
“Forever,” he interjects with finality.
I roll my eyes again. “Would you let me finish?”
