The revelation is startling, but when I go to pull away again to tell him, his grip tightens. His want for me is a tangible thing, primal and deep, an almost desperate need to brand me as his. My lips partwillingly, an invitation on my part, and the first velvety slide of his tongue sends a deluge of heat through my core, radiating outward. He tastes of mint and something inherently male, a wild, coastal scent that pools low in my belly. We’re a whirlwind of seeking lips, a clash of teeth, and soft moans as he devours me, a delicious oblivion that scatters every thought. He moves with expert precision, exploring every inch of my mouth.
I can feel the tug on my Bond, but every emotion is so heightened and overwhelming that I can’t pick out which one it is and tell it to calm down.
“Raea.” His voice is a ragged whisper against my lips as he breaks our kiss, and we share the air between us. “Your Bond. You’re losing control.”
“Okay,” I gasp, my breaths coming in shallow, uneven bursts. “Thanks.”
The words are barely out before I tug him back, my focus shifting, however hazy, to the Bond in my mind. An array of light and colors ripples in the air around us so beautifully, so peacefully, as if it’s dancing to the sound of us. Meanwhile, the strange well of power deep within me, one I’m still exploring, begins to replenish itself, flooding my body with a warm, intoxicating sensation.
A gasp escapes my lips, maybe it’s a moan, as something in my core pulls taut, like a silken thread of life attaching itself to his very soul, binding us in a way that I know, deep down I know, is irreversible. The shift within me feels like something ancient, yawning awake, as a deep-seated ache settles in my bones that only he can fulfill. The forest, the moons, the weight of all my responsibilities—everything fades, leaving only the two of us beneath the blanket of stars, the twin moons as our silent chaperones.
With a need to get closer, I straddle him. I tell myself it’s because of the uneven rock and the awkwardness of kneeling while he’s seated, but my lie is pretty flimsy, even to me. That fierce, almost unbearable urge to be closer, to meld our bodies, our souls, has taken root. The silky skirts of my gown bunch around my thighs, though Ryker doesn’t seem to mind, his movements betraying a practiced easeas he thoroughly tastes and claims me. His hands slide up my bare thighs, finally settling on the curve of my ass, his fingers digging into the lace with a guttural groan that vibrates through my core.
I shudder, and my hips slide forward along the hard length beneath me. Another warm surge of energy runs up my spine, this time from the delight that I can make him feel like this. His grip on my ass tightens as he begins to rock my hips back and forth, his kiss moving in rhythm with my hips. I can feel how wet I am, and much to my embarrassment, I know it’s soaking the front of his pants. I shift, finding a hard edge, and grind myself on it.
“Damn it, Raea,” he groans, his voice thick with strained restraint. “Don’t move.”
He leans back slightly as I go still, my body humming with unsatisfied desire. Gods, I can’t think when he touches me like this. I only feel.
It’s a heady and dangerous combination. After a few ragged breaths, his mouth is back on me, skating to the sensitive area on my neck while I tangle my fingers back through the short, silky strands of his hair, pulling him impossibly closer.
My skin erupts with goosebumps as his hands move out from under my gown, his grip tightening over my waist. I can feel his hands as if there were no delicate layers between us, as if his very skin is pressed against mine. His mouth returns to mine and my thoughts dissolve, lost in a heady mix of lust and a growing sense of power. His tongue withdraws from my mouth, leaving a slick trail as his lips move to my jawline before dipping into the spot just below my ear, into that overly sensitive curve, and using a mixture of hot breaths and sucking to send sparks dancing beneath my skin.
I’ve never begged for anything in my life like I’m about to beg him to release me from this all-consuming burn. Unlike the power I felt on Sgya, this feels delicious, like sitting too close to the hearth on a cold winter night. My body moves of its own accord, rocking, begging, pleading, and gods, every inch of it feels dangerously alive. It’s a current of pure energy, and every time we touch, the universe threatens to come undone.
His hands keep me pinned against the glorious, hard length of him as I rock, chasing a release I so desperately need. Ryker’s bite on my neck drives me into a frenzy.
“I need—” I nearly sob.
He leans back just enough that our gazes meet, and it’s not shame that I feel, but power. I don’t care, not at this moment, what I look like or what I’m doing. I have just let go of all my self-imposed expectations and surrendered to the moment. And the way he’s looking at me, he loves this; however, I can’t be sure, since his lust is as deep as mine.
“Your Bond,” he responds, his voice thick, “It’s not worth the risk.” When my face falls, he adds, “We’ll practice your shield.” His hands move, wrapping around my back and holding me close. “I want every part of you.” He kisses me tenderly. “Your heart.” Another soft kiss. “Your soul.” Another kiss. “Your pleasure.” He grins against my lips. “Everything.” His words summon a flood of emotions that has a tear falling down my cheek, getting caught between us. “I want you forever.”
Another tear falls, and all I can do is bury my face in his neck and let him hold me.
We stay that way for long minutes, neither of us moving, allowing our breaths to sync, our bodies to adjust to this newness between us. I may not be ready to express my feelings in words, but I can show him. So I squeeze him tighter, putting my feelings on display. When he does pull back, his sapphire eyes seem to almost glow in the moonlight.
“Be mine, Raea. Let me in. Let me take you on dates. Let me show you why we’re perfect together.” His voice is barely a whisper, laced with desperate vulnerability. “This, us, I want to drown in you and never come up for air again.”
His hands, still stroking my spine, tremble slightly. My heart leaps, and fresh tears leak from my eyes, but when I look into the swirling silver of his blue gaze, that invisible tether between us tightens. Something like a silent language passes between our two souls. It’s anunderstanding and a profound sense of belonging, as if we are two halves finally reunited.
It isn’t the obligation of the Bond that stirs within me, but a more profound yearning, a fierce desire to be his, wholly and completely his. It scares me. This depth of my feelings. How did we get here so quickly? Without a word, I lean forward, offering him another slow, deliberate kiss.
Our mouths mold together once more, a soft sigh escaping my lips as he seems to memorize every curve and contour of mine, a promise for the future. An embarrassing whimper escapes my throat at the thought, and a ghost of a smile touches his lips against mine.
The kiss deepens into a slow, languid exploration that leaves me breathless in a completely different way and strangely content.
Finally, with a bit of reluctance, I pull back, resting my head against the solid warmth of his shoulder, my hands draped behind him, content to remain in his lap.
“I’m scared,” I admit softly, my fingers idly toying with strands of his hair. I feel a sense of vulnerability—mine, not his—wash over me. I’ve never done anything like this before, never allowed myself to feel, and yet it feels so intoxicating and addictive.
His.
Can I be his?
His hand glides over mine, a gentle but purposeful movement, drawing it down between us.
“I know,” he finally responds. “You don’t have to answer tonight. But you wanted honesty—there it is.” His body is so relaxed despite the confession. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his touch so tender. “I love your hair. You hardly wear it down.”
