I settle between her thighs, catch her wrists in my hands and pin them above her head, making sure she won’t get away.
She bucks against me, squirms, and though I detect nothing in her scent but pure arousal and dark excitement, I have to check just to be sure.
“Is this alright?”
The words, spoken in a whisper against the shell of her ear, send a shiver through her.
“More than alright.”
She bucks again, hips fitting to mine, rubbing herself against the hard, aching length of me and my already half-inflated knot.
“Witch,” I growl, and she just giggles, the little temptress. “Why did you run from me?”
“Why do you think?”
Another slow roll of her hips, a mischievous smile playing around the corners of her lips.
Her cheeks are flushed, her hair spread around her like a halo, her lashes damp and dark with rainwater, making her green eyes look even more luminous.
She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Almost beautiful enough to distract from the reason I came after her tonight, the reason that matters more than anything else.
“We said we were going to split the bounty.” I curl my hand around her jaw, stroke a thumb over the crest of her cheek.
“And we did.”
“Seren.” I can’t stop the growl that works its way into my voice. “You were supposed to take your hard-earned winnings and start your new life.”
“Who says that’s not exactly what I’m doing?”
My heart stutters in my chest.
Seren’s grin is wide and teasing. “Besides, I don’t want a mate who’s tied to some terrible job with an asshole boss.”
My hand slides into the back of her hair. I pull her closer, bring my lips nearly to hers, then stop.
“What kind of mate do you want?”
She laughs, and the sound is like dawn. “I want a big, grumpy, handsome demon for my mate. I want a mate who’s alright with me driving him out of his mind just because I’m me and I never know when to say when. I want a mate who will travel the realms with me and never make me feel like I’m alone.”
Unable to help myself any longer, I kiss her.
With all the love that’s threatening to burst my heart in my chest. With all the gratitude I don’t have nearly enough words to express.
With a promise I intend to keep for a lifetime.
“What about you?” she asks, breathless as she breaks the kiss. “What kind of mate doyouwant?”
It’s the easiest question I’ve ever been asked.
“I want a witch who’s braver than anyone I’ve ever met. I want a mate who will drive me out of my mind because of how much I love her, and who I’ll always follow. Anywhere. To any corner of any realm, there will never be a day when I won’t be by your side, my star.”
Seren’s eyes shine. “I love you, too.”
“Good.” I nip at her lips. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise?”
