“I would think you’d wouldn’t want to waste any.”
Blackthorn arched a brow. “Your blood?” He smiled a sad smile. “I would do many things to have the taste of your blood in my mouth again, but causing you pain? Never. I’d rather starve.” He shook his head and sighed. “If only I’d left you where you were.”
I cupped the side of his face with my hands, peering into his eyes. “Don’t say that. This isn’t your fault.” I smoothed my thumbs across his cheeks. “You didn’t know what would happen or how far Rumple would go to keep me.”
Now that Blackthorn had figured out that the curse was Rumple’s doing, it became easier to talk about it. Something I wish I’d had the opportunity to do weeks ago.
“Still... if I’d gone about it the right way instead of just barreling in and taking you, maybe I could have convinced the bastard to release you.”
“He never would.”
“You don’t know that,” Blackthorn countered.
I smiled softly. “I do. Rumple has never let one of his possessions go. Many families have tried and failed, whether with threats or with money. No one has left his service except through death.”
I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his, savoring the feel of his lips moving against mine. When I withdrew, I leaned my forehead against his.
“I made this deal. I have to see it through.”
“But—”
“Shhh.” I pressed my fingers to his lips, “You have no idea how happy it makes me to know you would fight for me.” My eyes burned with bittersweet tears. “No one has ever fought for me before. I won’t ever forget it.”
Blackthorn gripped the back of my neck, his words coming out harsh. “Do not speak to me as if we will never see each other again. You are mine.”
“Yes,” I breathed, staring up into his eyes. “I’m yours.”
He captured my mouth with his own, his tongue and teeth pulling at mine. He kissed me as if he wanted to devour me whole and I wanted nothing more than to let him.
I kissed him back with equal fervor, burying my hands in his hair, yanking him closer to me.
With my startled cry, he pulled me into his lap, my thighs straddling his waist. Blackthorn’s hand snuck between us,finding where I was still bare beneath my gown, and he rubbed at my clit until I gasped and jerked against him.
“Please, Sebastian,” I moaned, needing to have this moment with him one more time before he was barred from me forever. “I need you.”
His hand tortured me for a few moments longer before undoing his pants and he shifted, thrusting inside of me. One hand held my hip while the other braced on the rocks behind me, his dark gaze set on me with every jolt of his hips.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and met him thrust for thrust, taking as much as he gave me. This time was different than the first time, a slow burn that made my body ache and my heart swell. Blackthorn’s hips ground against mine, his voice in my ear.
“You feel so good wrapped around me,” he groaned as I squeezed him in response. “I would spend eternity worshipping you, making your scream for me.” He punctuated it with a hard thrust that made me cry out. “My favorite sound in the world.”
When my release came upon me, I clung to him, my body shaking, wanting to hold on to this moment forever. Blackthorn groaned in my ear, pressing his lips to the line of my throat before kissing me sweetly.
After a long moment of just holding each other, Blackthorn helped me clean myself with the scrap of fabric from before and then brought me to my feet.
“We better continue before the magic gets impatient.”
I inclined my head, holding onto his hand as we found our way to the bridge crossing. The wood of the bridge had seen betterdays. It wobbled precariously beneath our feet and threatened to sink us into the milky waters.
A large part of me hoped we’d be stopped by something or someone on the way through the forest. Anything to give us more time. Except, when the forest thinned and the walls of the city came into view, I knew my time was well and truly up.
Not wanting to drag it out any longer, I stepped toward the forest edge. Blackthorn caught my hand, bringing me back into the shadows with him.
“Sebastian,” I breathed, staring at his chest unable to meet his gaze. I knew if I did, I wouldn’t be able to leave him. Not without the spell forcing me to go.
“Mara.” His voice was low and full of emotion.
“Don’t make this harder, please.”
