I lean over her, pressing my chest to her back, changing the angle so I’m hitting deeper. She cries out, and I feel her tightening around me, getting close again.
“That’s it,” I murmur against her ear, one arm wrapping around her waist to hold her steady while I drive into her. “Come for me again. I want to feel you.”
My other hand slides around to where we’re joined, fingers finding her clit, circling with the same rhythm as my thrusts. She’s so sensitive still from her first orgasm that it only takes a few touches before she’s trembling.
“Theo—oh god—I’m—”
“I know.” I increase my pace, fucking her harder, deeper, my fingers working her clit. “Let go. Now.”
She breaks.
Her entire body locks up, a sob tearing from her throat as she comes. The Ether explodes outward, light flooding the kitchen so bright I have to close my eyes. She clenches around me so tight it’s almost painful, and that’s all it takes to push me over the edge.
I bury myself deep with a groan, my own orgasm tearing through me. I can feel myself pulsing inside her, filling her, and the feeling is so intense it’s almost transcendent. The visions flash faster—our future solidifying, the bond stronger than it’s ever been.
For a long moment, we just breathe, both of us shaking.
Then I carefully pull out, immediately mourning the loss of her heat. I turn her in my arms, pulling her against my chest, holding her while we both come down.
She’s trembling. I press kisses to her temple, her cheek, her lips—gentle now, reverent.
“Okay?” I murmur against her hair.
She nods against me, arms wrapping around my waist. “More than okay.”
I lift her back onto the counter, stepping between her legs again, gentler now. She’s still catching her breath, skin flushed and glowing with Ether-light.
She rests her forehead against mine, fingers tracing idle patterns on my chest. “You’re dangerous.”
“So are you.”
I retrieve the shirt from the chair, helping her back into it, then pull my pants up, and we just hold each other in the soft lantern light.
“Well,” a voice drawls from the doorway, “I’m never going to be able to look at this kitchen the same way again.”
We both freeze.
Jace leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, grinning like the cat that caught the canary.
“How long have you been standing there?” I ask, trying for casual and probably failing.
“Long enough.” He pushes off the doorframe, sauntering toward the pantry. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
“For what?”
He grabs an apple, biting into it with a sharp crunch. “Not interrupting sooner. Some of us have self-control.” His grin widens. “Well. Most of us.”
Bree lifts her head, cheeks flushed. “Jace—”
“Relax, sweetheart. Your secret’s safe with me.” He winks. “Though you might want to do something about the Ether-glow situation before the others come looking. Pretty sure the whole sanctuary can see it from here.”
He’s right. The silver mist is still curling lazily through the kitchen, pulsing softly with residual energy.
“Get out,” I say, but there’s no heat in it.
“Already gone.” He heads for the door, then pauses, looking back over his shoulder. “But seriously—next time, maybe pick a room with a lock?”
Then he’s gone, his laughter echoing down the hallway.
