“I knew that hurting them would hurt you,” I whispered. “The anger would have gone away and then you would have been left with the guilt. I didn't want you to shoulder that.”
“There, that right there.” He shook his head in disbelief. “That you could think about how I'd feel later and stop me from hurting them when you deserved vengeance—that is humbling, Shane. You make me a better person. You make mewantto be a better person.”
“There is no better, Tae.” I grinned at him. “I like you just as you are.”
“Like?”
“Love,” I amended.
“And I love you just as you are.”
My face split into a brilliant smile. “You do?”
“I think I always have, I just wasn't able to recognize it.”
“Well, if it took this for you to realize that you love me, then I'm grateful to them for what they did.”
“Perhaps I needed to break a bit so I could see what lay inside me,” he mused. “But I wish I hadn't hurt you. That will haunt me.”
“Don't let it. I think it worked out as it was supposed to. I'm happy; be happy with me.”
Tae kissed me then—gently and thoroughly, putting his love into the movements of his lips and the slide of his fingers through my hair. Putting it into his tongue and hips as they undulated against me. It came through every inch of his body to permeate every inch of mine. When he finally eased back, I felt drunk with it. Drunk on him.
“It's forever now, Shane,” Tae said firmly. “There's no going back for me. I hope you know that.”
“I love you so fucking much. You're damn straight it's forever!” I grabbed his face and pulled him down into another kiss, this one savage and joyous.
I put my all into that kiss—the pain I'd felt over losing him, the ache of loneliness, and the relief of our reunion. But, most especially, I put my love into those slashing, stabbing, pressing motions. Shoved it into his mouth before luring him into mine. And Tae growled victoriously.
Our clothes were gone in moments, then he had me on the bed, his body caging mine and hands stroking my face as he continued to kiss me. Buthegentledmethis time. With those tender hands and loving lips, he brought me down from my wild joy into sweet languor. Into rolling waves of emotion so deep and vast that the Bellor couldn't compare. I shivered uncontrollably as my body and heart opened to him. As my soul reached for his even though a piece of it was already inside me.
And Tae gave me exactly what I needed.
Kisses trailing down my jaw. Across my chest. Fingertips outlining my muscles and trailing over my thighs. Strong, warlord body settling between my legs. Flashing amethyst eyes adoring me. I sighed and sank into bliss with him, hands tangling in his hair and kneading at his shoulders.
“Tae,” I murmured, “I need you now.”
“But I needthis, Shane,” he insisted. “I need to settle the falcon inside me; to assure it that we have our mate back.”
“Your what?” I frowned at him.
“Every faerie has one person chosen for them by the Goddess,” Tae murmured as he kissed his way down my belly. “The bond between mates is even stronger than that between warlord and valorian. More binding than marriage. You're my mate, Shane, and I need to claim you.”
“Mates. That is so fucking sexy,” I whispered. “Claim away, babe.”
Tae chuckled and nuzzled my straining cock. “This might take a while.”
I whimpered in both anticipation and frustration.
Then his mouth was on me, those beautiful lips stretching around my shaft, moving down my length slowly as his amethyst stare held mine. His powerful hands touched me expertly, working my sacs and the base of my cock before slipping even further down. Teasing. Tickling. I felt his fingertip go slick against my hole, then nudge inside.
“Oh, fuck,” I moaned. “Tae.”
He drew off me and gave me a long lick before saying, “Roll onto your belly. I need to touch you everywhere.”
I made another whimpering sound of need as I rolled onto my stomach. His large hands swept over my back, followed by kisses and flicks of his tongue. The warm brush of his face made shivers run through me, his breath stroking me like feathers. When his tongue found the dip of my lower back, I nearly came off the bed. But Tae held me down gently and nibbled his way over the crest of my ass.
“I love your ass,” Taeven growled and bit it. “So thick.” He palmed one cheek and massaged it. “So pert.”
