I was going to give into the need.
I impaled her with my cock, moving faster and faster with each thrust, until I was almost manic in my movements. Like a starving man, I feasted on her body. Sweat sheened my body and a slight grin spread across my lips as she pressed her face into the sheets and cried out. Her pussy clenched around my cock as she did, damn near making my eyes roll back.
“You’re doing so good for me,” I whispered. She responded by crying out in ecstasy.
Keeping myself inside her, I rolled us onto our sides, pulling her back to my chest and continuing to thrust into her. Wrapping my arm around her, I took hold of her breast. I wished I could touch every part of her at once. I kissed the back of her shoulder, savoring the salty taste of her sweat. Veronica reached back and ran her hand through my hair, her fingers drifting across my scalp. I never wanted her to stop touching me.
Releasing her breast, I ran my hand down her stomach and slid my fingers across her clit. Veronica gasped.
“You’ve got to come,” she gasped as I continued pounding into her. “I can’t take much more.”
Pressing my lips to her ear, I said, “Say please.”
She let out a shocked little laugh, that was cut off by my groan of pleasure as I began to thrust even faster.
“Please,” she whispered. “Fill me up and finish me off.”
“I can’t say no to that.”
Grabbing her hip, I pulled her toward me as I slammed into her, my own orgasm building, a faint pleasurable tingle in my balls.
“Fuck me,” she cried. “Fuck me, Declan.”
I did as she asked, moving like a man possessed, until, like a lightning bolt crashing into my very core, I came. My cock and balls spasming as I emptied myself into her. Hot, carnal release washed across my body as I moved inside her, giving her everything. She trembled in my arms and moaned as she came one final time as I finished.
We lay there, panting for breath, and along with the joyous post-coital glow that surged within me, something else became obvious. I was happy. I’dallowedmyself to be happy. I’d spent years punishing myself, and now, because of Veronica, I was happy. Not just happy, I was in love. I’d only known her a year, but she’d shown me that life could be good, that I had more to give, and more to enjoy.
Pulling her close, I rested my head on her shoulder. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she murmured.
As my eyes drifted closed, I realized there was no place else I’d rather be than right there, with her in my arms.
EPILOGUE
VERONICA
“Ms. Paolo? Are you ready?” Professor Karmody said, giving me a kind smile. Far different from the angry scowls and threats he’d given me three years ago when he’d unwittingly been under Virgil’s thrall spell. It had been a long time since then, and the professors had all apologized profusely for months even though it hadn’t been their fault. I’d forgiven them easily.
Nodding, I cleared my throat. “I am.”
“Let us begin.”
I’d been preparing for the test since coming to the Freedman Academy five years ago. Most people took the test when they were younger than me. I needed to show my proficiency in magic theory, history, and practice. I’d been terrified of this moment, but now that it was here, confidence filled my veins. I recalled what Declan told me that morning.
“You do what you can. Trust yourself and believe in yourself. You’re fucking brilliant. I don’t have any worries.”
He’d said that while holding my hand and running his thumb across the wedding ring he’d put on my finger a year before. Now, I needed to take his words to heart and do all I could to pass. Once I did, I would be a graduate and be a full member of the coven.
Karmody crossed his arms, “Explain to me, in detail, the best way to perform a binding spell on someone.”
As the words came out of his mouth, I had to suppress a grin. I had this in the bag.
“Yes, Professor,” I said. “The first thing you must do is…”
“Youpassed?” Declan said as I came striding out of the academy two hours later.
I’d stepped out with a stoic look on my face, almost a frown. My plan had been to try and make him believe it had gone poorly and surprise him, but the anxious look on his face broke my resolve, and I couldn’t help the huge smile that cracked the facade.
