“I promise.”
The kiss starts slow and tender. The gentle benediction to a commitment that’s already settled itself deep within my bones.
But then my star moves against me.
Legs wrapped around my waist, hands on my horns. She arches into me, moans into the kiss, and I’m lost.
We’re uncoordinated, graceless, with rain-slick hands and more hunger than finesse. We tear at each other’s clothes, kiss and lick and suck and bite at each other’s skin until we’re bare beneath the pine boughs and the stormy night sky.
With two firm hands on her waist, I turn Seren so she’s belly-down on the moss. I tug her cloak beneath her knees to soften the hard press of the ground, and pull her hips up and back.
Going to my own knees, I take a few long moments to simply admire.
The long, graceful line of her back, the swell of her ass, her beautiful cunt, pink and glistening for me, so hot and wet when I run my fingers over her.
“Callum,” Seren groans, and I’m lost again, powerless to do anything but drape myself over her and line myself up at her entrance, push forward into the tight embrace of her body.
My star feels exquisite.
Perfect, like the two of us were made just for this. Made to fit together. Made to never be apart.
I bottom out, press my knot against her, and she moans again, panting at the tight fit and delectable stretch. One hand reaching beneath her, I find the place we’re joined and the swollen bud of her clit just above it. Rolling it under my fingers, I withdraw and sink deep once more, and again, finding the rhythm that suits us both and flirting dangerously close to the orgasm that’s already threatening.
But there’s one more thing the primal, demon side of me craves.
One more claim I want to make.
It’s presumptuous, too soon, yet I can’t stop myself from pressing my chest against her back, running my fangs over her shoulder, the nape of her neck.
Seren cranes her head back, bares her throat to me, and the wave of instinct that washes over me is enough to steal my breath.
Bite her. Mark her. Claim her.
I press my fangs to her pale, tender skin, then pull back before I get ahead of myself.
“Star.”
“Yes,” she breathes, then says it again, more certain this time. “Yes. I want it.”
I bite.
My fangs sink deep, and she gasps, stiffens, but the pain passes in the space of a few heartbeats.
Her blood pours into me hot and rich and delicious, the most intoxicating wine I’ve ever tasted.
At the same time, I press my knot into her. It’s a tight fit with her like this, but she strains and presses against me, determined to take everything I have to give her.
With one last thrust, one last deep draw of her, my knot fits inside and pleasure consumes us both. Magick blooms like a garden around us, lighting up the forest and sparkling on every drop of falling rain, pulsing hard with each wave of our shared climax.
It’s an ecstasy like nothing I’ve ever known.
Deeper, more consuming, imprinting into every inch of muscle and sinew and bone. Like our bond itself made manifest, wrapping tight around us both.
With just enough sanity left in me to roll to a more comfortable position, I hug my witch against me and ease us down onto our sides. I spread one wing above us, not as effectiveas I’d like at keeping out the rain, but enough to shelter from the worst of it.
Breathing hard, I bury my face in Seren’s neck, run my tongue over the mark I left to clean up a spare drop of blood and help its healing.
When I do, she clenches down on me, and we both groan.
