The small fires grow with each repetition. I watch a drop of sweat drip down his forehead and say the words again.
And again.
And again.
I don’t break our eye contact until the flame triples in size and the ribbon lights on fire.
Archer stumbles over his words for a second but we get back in sync and watch.
The wax drips and the ribbon begins to slide down the sides of the candle. It’s fully covered in the flame, but it doesn’t look like it’s burning up. We stay there for at least half an hour, chanting the incantation and watching.
Suddenly, the ribbon wrapped around our bodies heats rapidly. It’s a brand across my entire body, and I can’t keep up with the words. A small shout claws out at the scalding touch—so hot now it feels like I’m melting into Archer.
His jaw is clenched and his eyes are fighting to stay on me.
That soft tug in our chests turns into a hard, rough yank. Our chests pull toward each other and the flames continue to grow. The wax is pooled on the tray with the red ribbon perfected tacked together in the shape of an infinity sign.
“Archer,” I try to say, but no noise comes out.
Panic seeps in when I can’t take a full breath, and my lungs constrict. Pain is etched on Archer’s face, but his concern for me stays at the forefront.
Then white smoke floats out of my mouth…
No—not smoke.
My spirit.
A long wispy line of white reaches out and meets his spirit halfway.
It happens so quickly—they connect and infuse together before snapping back into each of us. Except I can feel the imprint of his soul on mine.
Warmth comes rushing back in as the candles in the circle blow out and the ribbon around our bodies turns to dust.
Panting, I look up at Archer and sense our connection. It’s similar to our dream state when I can sense his emotions in short periods. Now, they are pumping through me as strong as my own. All of them.
Surprise. Desire. Affection. Exhilaration.
We rush toward each other at the same time. I place my hands on his chest and push him onto his back. His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me with him. Straddling his waist, I lean over him and crash my lips to his.
We’re both burning with carnal need from our new spiritual connection. It’s a sloppy, frantic kiss with clashing teeth and tongues. Rough hands slide down to grab my ass as my nails dig into his shoulders, wanting him closer. I need to physically feel him inside of me as much as my psyche does.
“Renata,” he groans while moving my hips over his length at a brutal pace. His voice is gravelly and husky, but there’s such a deep level of reverence infused into that one word.
Pushing back with my hands on his chest, I look down at him. My hair sweeps down my shoulder and my nightgown strap slips down the other.
“I live for you,” he murmurs, looking at me like he’s making an offering to a goddess. “Every heartbeat, every breath, every second—it all belongs to you.”
My eyes burn, never truly believing I would have this level of commitment with someone. That I would meet someone who would die for me—and I for them. Until the moment I could sense the presence of his spirit on mine, I was doubtful it would work.
Swallowing back my emotion, I tickle my fingers across his chest and down his stomach.
“I love you, Archer,” I say. “Every life I live is ours to share. Every heartbeat, every breath, every second,” I repeat his promise.
He looks at me with contentedness before hissing out a breath when I reach for his pants and undress him. Leaning onto his shoulders, he watches with a mischievous glint in his eyes. I hope he has the same plans for tonight that I do. First, I need to taste him.
I pull his pants down and he lifts his hips to help. When I kneel between his legs, he tries to reach for me. I quickly grab his wrists and push his arms onto the floor above him. He lets me and watches with a sexy, curious grin.
“What are you doing, love?”
