He’s shifted to Horse Form, but only halfway. His sleek black body gleams like polished onyx, muscles rippling beneath. His tail fans out long and silky behind him. Yet there’s his strong Fae chest clad in black leathers, the yellow Enchantra glowing and swirling at its centre. His dark eyes are heated, his head tilted as he watches me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.
I have no words; the sight before me is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Powerful. Magnificent.
And yes, sexy as hell.
“Keep looking at me like that and I’ll have to misbehave. Come, let’s take a ride,” he says as he kneels down.
“You expect me to ride you?” My voice pitches higher than intended.
“You make that sound so dirty. I like it.” A mischievous grin spreads across his face. “Have you ridden before?”
“No.”
“I get to be your first—lucky me!” He chuckles, clearly enjoying my discomfort far too much. “It’s okay, darling. I’ll keep you safe. I promise nothing bad will happen. Get on.”
I tentatively step towards him and swing a leg over his back. Heat rushes to my cheeks as I feel the warmth of his body between my legs.
“Hold on around my chest to keep your balance. Be careful where you touch me; you don’t want to start something I can’t do anything about right now.”
I lace my arms around him, palms splayed across his firm chest. An arm covers mine, securing my hand, and he quickly rises. I panic as I tip forwards and start slipping to one side, but he shifts beneath me, helping me right myself.
“This is unreal,” I breathe out in wonder.
“Hold tight, Alaya. I’m about to rock your world.”
I grip him as he leaps forwards, closing my eyes as he picks up speed. My heart hammers, my breathing short and laboured. His pace steadies and I relax into the sensation, open my eyes and enjoy it. This is like nothing I’ve ever experienced—the feeling of freedom, of abandon. The sensations sing through me: the rush of wind through my hair, caressing my skin, the feeling of power and strength pounding the earth below, and the dark desire of his muscles bunching and relaxing beneath me, pressing into that sensitive area between my legs, making me throb and ache with lust.
“Are you okay back there?”
“More than okay. This is amazing.”
“Those trembling thighs gripping me are a feeling I won’t forget in a hurry. I can feel how wet you are, Alaya,” he smirks.
“Domanikk!” Heat floods my face, burning down my neck.
He’s silent for a beat.
“You know, that’s the first time you’ve said my name,” he whispers. “It sounds like sin from your lips, and I’m more than ready for you to corrupt me. Hold on tight, my love. I have somewhere I want you to see.”
I grip his chest like I never want to let go, and his speed increases as he aims for the treeline. There, I spot a small track leading deeper into the forest, and he’s heading straight for it.
I duck instinctively, pressing closer to his body as we enter the track, avoiding the overhanging branches. We seem to gallop for ages, trees whipping past in a blur, until he finally slows and stops. He lowers to the ground, and I dismount. My legs give way slightly and I stumble—gripping his sides has left them numb.
Yellow mist swirls, and he’s instantly beside me in Fae Form, holding me up.
“It’s just through here,” he says, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind him. We weave through the thick trees, surrounded by dense vegetation.
The small clearing we step into has an ethereal, magical quality. Sunlight barely penetrates the canopy above; just a few sharp rays light the area, lending it a soft, muted atmosphere heightened by the silence muffled by the surrounding trees.
In the centre sits a sparkling pond, its surface reflecting what little light reaches it, catching particles in the air in floating sparkles of sunlight. It feels like another world, like we’ve stepped through a veil into paradise.
“Do you like it?” Domanikk asks, his voice low and husky.
“It’s like a dream,” I breathe out, wandering towards the shallow bank. I see myself reflected in the mirrored, slightly rippled surface—purple curls wild around my head from the ride. Domanikk’s face appears at my shoulder; his hot breath lingering on my neck.
“I found this place by accident, but I come here sometimes when I need to be alone. I’ve never shared this with anyone, not even Reth.”
His hand snakes around my middle, gripping me tightly and pulling me back against his chest. He nuzzles my neck, breathing heavily. I raise my hand and lace my fingers through his, where they’re splayed across my belly. We stay like this for a while.
