His fingers closed around my hair and he tilted my head—his transformation into a beast completed. He took my mouth possessively now.
I was so slick, so starved for him, that I arched at his first push. He let go of my lips and pushed himself up, looking at me with those wild, inky eyes, and plunged his thumb between my lips. I sucked on it, my lids dropping, when the second, more insistent push came. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me, Daphne,” he murmured, tensing up and slowly gliding inside me. Something tensed and stretchedinside me, then tore, stinging me and making my eyes well up. But the need and the pleasure were so intense that I lifted my hips to meet his next thrust.
But it never came. Instead, he scooped up my head, his fingers trailing my jawline. “Daphne, I didn’t know you were–” he froze above me, his sweat dripping over my skin like hot rain, “I’d have held back. Forgive me.”
My nails dug into his back, and I hissed into his ear. “Don’t you dare stop right now, Emrys Caerwynne.”
A furrow appeared between his brows, and he placed a myriad of tiny, gentle kisses along my neck and jaw. “Just tell me if I hurt you, little thief, okay?”
I nodded, knowing that right now, there was no way in this world that he would hurt me. Slowly, watching me, he sheathed himself fully. It was far smoother than I expected, considering his size. A sound too similar to a purr escaped my lips. His jaw locked, and he slid in and out, delivering the most blissful friction. His lips brushed along my ear, his moves slowing down. “You feel like home, Daphne,” he whispered.
My legs locked around his waist, and he picked up the pace. Soon, his moves reached some savage crescendo, like a primordial dance, filling the narrow room with sounds of flesh slapping against flesh. That sweet, aching tension rose inside me again, and I drew him closer for a harsh, bruising kiss. My hips rose to meet each of his thrusts until that hot, delicious weakness flooded my senses, making my toes curl and my limbs tremble. My lips whispered his name. One, two deep, harsh shoves and he stiffened above me. Something hot spilled inside me and Emrys lowered himself, giving me a long, gentle kiss.
We remained in each other’s arms, a tangled mess of limbs, heat and marvel.
“I hope you don’t regret this, little thief,” he whispered, his fingers trailing gentle circles over my collarbone. “And you should know that immortals cannot have offspring with mortals. The gods, universe, or whatever, making sure the world will not be teaming with some tiny, arrogant demigods.”
“Hmm. You mean we could do this as often as we’d like without any consequences?” I murmured.
“As often as we’d like. I love the sound of it, Miss Daphne.” He pulled me in closer.
I smiled into his chest, trailing my fingers over the symbols carved into his skin. “Then I hope you’re immortal enough to keep up.”
Daphne
What was promised
Ilistened to the slow beating of his heart. My body ached in a warm, pleasant way. Sleep tugged at the edges of my mind, but I fought it. I didn’t want to miss a single breath, a single second beside him.
His fingers traced slow circles on the bare skin of my back as if memorizing me by touch alone.
Before sleep claimed me, I caught one last glimpse—his silver-gray eyes reflecting the stars beyond the window. A furrow shadowed his brow. He looked lost in thought, distant, unreachable.
And yet, he held me like I was the only thing anchoring him to this world.
It was too quiet when I woke up.
I blinked, disoriented, scanning the dim room—trying to name what had pulled me from sleep.
Then I felt it.
The chill.
His warmth was gone.
“Get dressed, Daphne,” he whispered, a dark outline against the starry abyss beyond the window. “Something’s happening.”
A sudden thud coming from the outside made me jump. A black bird—a raven—hit the glass and disappeared into the night.
“Hurry, Daphne.”
My limbs were still heavy with sleep. I threw my petticoat on and quickly wiggled into my dress. Something was off. I stood for a moment, listening.
The rhythmic purr of the steam engines was gone.
The ship stood still. Only the sea lapped against the hull.
“The undyne?” I asked, an icy blade piercing my stomach. He helped me close my buttons, his fingers hasty. “No. something else. Come with me. I cannot leave you alone.”
