He peered closer to my face, imperceptibly squinting. “Your eyes…” He trailed off, surprise overtaking his features. We both stood on the knife’s edge of desire, our bodies flaring and responding to our emotions.
Dom gripped my jaw, bringing my gaze back to his. “Tell me you’re mine,” he demanded.
I studied his face, full of everything I didn’t know I needed. “I’m yours, Dominus. I think I’ve always been yours. I just didn’t know it.”
His fingers scored my scalp, tangling with my hair. He tugged on it, angling my head up as his other hand stroked down the side of my face. I licked my lips.
“You are mine, Liora, and I yours. As sure as the dawn.” Reverently, he leaned forward, his lips brushing mine. I sighed into him, my hands snaking their way up his chest, savoring the wall of muscle beneath. Hope burned through the fear that tried to coil around my tentativeness. Safe. I was safe. The last vestiges of my resistance fell away. And I staked my claim.
Our lips touched, teased, pressed, exhaling their fervent prayers. His tongue caressed my softly parted lips. He was smoke and fire, honey and sharp edges. Our hands searched, gripping each other tighter, our bodies igniting. Our movements turned feral. For we were both starving.
Dizzy, floating, all of my senses zeroed in on the sensuous man before me—his masculine scent, his muscular arms, and broad chest—a firm, stabilizing presence. It was as if I were his precious metal, and I would let him melt me down in any way he pleased.
I ravenously felt my way around his mouth, savoring his tongue. I bit his lower lip as I fought to contain my moan. His forearms flexed, gripping my hips. He kissed down my jawline, nipping my shoulder while my hair twisted in his grip so he could move my head to the perfect angle. He mercilessly licked his way up my needy throat.
We grew hungrier, our bodies heating the air around us. If I was flint, he was the striker, and together we detonated. His teeth grazed my jaw. I leaned back savoring the drag, but I wanted more. So much more. He swallowed my moan with a devouring kiss as I rocked further into him. His arousal pushed against me, igniting every nerve.
My heart literally skipped, jolting me. It was as if time had stalled, and it was only us, only ever us, and the stars. We paused, staring into the galaxies of our eyes. When I finally came back to myself, refocusing, I gasped.
Our magic swirled around us in an ethereal ballet. His shadows and my water twisted, braiding around themselves. Bands of light shot out in glittering strobes from amidst the undulating waves of magic. Tiny pieces of metal and ice floated, suspended in the air like fireflies. The glow of the hearth reflected on their shimmering surfaces, refracting the tiny bands of light that continued to intermittently zip out. Dom and I intertwined our fingers, wondrously captivated by the strange magical dance unfolding around us, our physical explorations on pause.
In the midst of our enchantment a single magenta thread appeared, weaving its way around us. It encircled our wrists, and curled around our waists, cinching us closer. The thread separated, migrating to our collarbones. It curled and swirled around itself, morphing into symbols, where it silently embedded into our skin. A tender sting seared the delicate flesh on my chest, right below my clavicle.
I pulled down the collar of Dom’s shirt to get a better look, but as I did the thread dissolved into nothing, leaving behind a small, faint, glimmering silver symbol right above his heart. It stood out even among the runic writing that now pulsed brightly beneath his skin. Thoughts would not form when feelings overrode me.
I was a furnace, insatiable when it came to the taste of him. I could feel the thump of his heartbeat as it synced to my own. I needed it all. His lips crashed back into mine. My hands devoured his body. His fingers traced every dip and curve of mine. Our magic writhed. Heavy and energized, soft and aggressive.
Not releasing his mouth from mine, he scooped me up off of the counter. I spilled my cup of tea as he whirled me out of the kitchen. Laughter burst out of me, but Dom growled in response at my attempt to break our kiss.
My arms wrapped around his neck and my legs twined around his waist. He cupped the back of my head with one hand, the other tightly gripping my ass as we ascended the stairs. I winced when he accidentally walked me into the side of the stairwell, a mumbled apology within the haze of our delirium the only response.
We entered his bedroom and I drew back for a gasp of air. I glanced around at his large room. Exposed beams framed the ceiling, and a glass door opened to a balcony facing the jagged mountain peaks.
Dom never took his eyes off of me, frustration pinching his voice. “You should probably know that Xuri had organized for a coracite paste to be dropped off, to lighten your hair. Though I like it as it is, she seems to be aligned with your mother that hiding its color is imperative.” He followed my gaze out the window, then turned back to me, sighing. “And since we have to leave tomorrow, we should probably take care of that now. But the choice is always yours.” His shadows grazed my body as he awaited my response.
I groaned at the thought of doing my hair at this very moment, when all my body screamed for was Dom. Or sleep. Or both.
“Xuri told me how it works; let me do this for you.” He bit my earlobe.
“You want to color my hair?” It sounded surprisingly dreamy, if a little bit of a letdown.
He sat me down on his bed, then eased out of his shirt, exposing his chest and the silver filigreed mark now emblazoned above his heart. I reached out and touched it. I pulled my own top low to see the imprint on my own chest. They were identical.
“Do you recognize the symbols?” I asked him.
“It’s Sarulien. I’ll look it up later.” His strong forearms flexed, drawing my eyes greedily in their direction. Gods, those weredistracting. He gently tucked his arm around me, lifting me as though I might break. “We have matching tattoos now. The realms have conspired to mark you as mine.” He carried me to the bathroom. Setting my feet on the floor, he handed me an oversized robe. It smelled distinctly of my general.
I removed my pants and top, leaving only my chemise on. I wrapped myself in the plush robe before stepping into the copper tub large enough for three people. My legs extended into the empty space. He grabbed a container filled with the coracite paste and sat on the edge of the tub. Scooping a glob of it in his large hands, he massaged it into my scalp, gently tugging on my hair.
I observed the luxurious space, draping my arm along the edge of the tub. The copper bowl rested in front of a window overlooking the snow-topped mountain peaks, their summits faintly glowing below the light of the twin moons. The window spanned the width of the far wall, extending from floor to ceiling.
Majestic hemlock trees stood guard with their fringed evergreen needles swaying to the tune of the wind. Matte-black, slate stone provided a decadent texture to the walls of the bathing room, complementing the smoothness of the black-marble floors whose white veining seemed to glow from the moons’ illumination. Candles burned in ornate metal holders, hovering along the walls and countertops by the power of Dom’s magic, lending a quiet intimacy. It smelled like Dom and reflected his personality perfectly.
His hands in my scalp were pure decadence. If I had the proper vocal cords, I would have purred. The windows reflected the concentration in his narrowed eyes as he methodically coated each strand. I sank deeper into the tub with his hypnotizing kneading.
When he deemed his work satisfactory, he twisted my hair up, securing it with a clip to give it the proper wait time for the lightening to take effect.
My eyes slowly shut in both fatigue and tranquility. Without opening them, I inquired, “How will I wash this all out?”
