I flush beneath his careful appraisal, but then I sense his appreciation through the bond, and that makes me soften and melt. He likes what he sees. He thinks I’m beautiful.
A rush of warmth flows through the tether between us, followed by waves of steadfast devotion, hunger, and possession.
“So beautiful,” he says in a voice roughened by desire.
He suddenly rises to his feet, and I watch with bated breath as he removes his trousers. As he pushes the garment down his sculpted body, my mouth goes dry when his huge, rigid cock springs free. I suspected he would be sizable, but I hadn’t quite expected something so intimidatingly massive.
A rush of heat floods my face and travels lower, pooling deep in my core.
Then I take in the rest of his naked form… his muscular thighs, his defined calves, every inch of him hard and powerful.
Do all highborn fae males have thighs as thick as tree trunks?I can’t help but wonder, and I cannot look away.
When he turns to toss his trousers toward the chair that holds my discarded dress, I nearly gasp at the sight of his well-formed buttocks, every bit as sculpted and muscular as the rest of him.
He turns back to me, and I flush at the way his cock juts out so proudly. He seems entirely comfortable standing in front of me, not a trace of self-consciousness on his face. Instead, his demeanor is shameless, perhaps even arrogant. For a reason I can’t fathom, this only causes the persistent ache in my center to deepen.
Shall I stand here for a while longer so you might continue to admire me, little moth?he asks down the bond.
“No,” I whisper, flushing. “I want you to join me.”
He steps forward and lowers himself onto the furs. Cupping my face, he leans down to press a soft kiss to each of my cheeks. His enticing winter scent—freshly fallen snow, peppermint, woodsmoke, and spices—washes over me, and I quiver as his hands drift down my thighs.
His chilled fingers trace slow, maddening circles against my skin. Heated pleasure quakes through me, and I can’t seem to stop trembling with the desire to feel him closer, claiming me as his.
Holding my gaze, he guides me to lie back on the furs and climbs on top of me. He pauses for a moment, studying my face and searching my thoughts for any hesitation. I offer him a soft, encouraging smile in return.
He parts my knees wide and settles himself between my thighs, allowing his hardness to press directly against my aching core. Gripping the base of his cock, he glides himself through my wetness a few times, coating the tip of his shaft in my essence. Whenever he grazes over my clit, my center lifts upward without conscious thought, and a moan breaks from my throat.
Then he positions himself directly at my core and grasps my hips. I hold my breath as I wait for that first thrust, praying it won’t hurt, yet wanting it despite the possibility of pain.
“Gideon,” I whisper, reaching for him with one hand. I cup the side of his face, tracing his high cheekbone.
His eyes flutter shut, and he leans into my touch with a low growl. The tip of his shaft remains pressed to my core, but not quite inside. “Isabel,” he whispers in return. “My little moth. My mate.”
Opening his eyes, he tightens his hold on my hips.
Then he starts pushing inside me, stretching me, filling me. Just as he pauses, seeming to meet some resistance, I experience a twinge of pain. I know what it means, and I know it can’t be helped. This is my first time, and there might be some discomfort. But I still don’t want him to stop.
To my surprise, he releases one of my hips and presses his palm directly above my pussy, so very close to where our bodies are joined. I glance down just as a blue light emanates from his hand, and that twinge of pain inside me promptly vanishes.
Healing light. I gasp when his mind brushes against mine and I realize what he’s doing. He’s using his winter magic, his powers of healing, to help take away my pain. And it’s working.
He places a gentle kiss to my forehead, then resumes moving, and after two more hard thrusts, he’s fully buried inside me. I glance down, and tears prick my eyes to think he could be so thoughtful. So caring. I was prepared to accept the pain, and perhaps there was even a part of me that was anticipating it ina way… but now that I’m only feeling pleasure, that delicious achiness and pulsating warmth, I suppose I can’t complain. Gratitude swells within me. I run a hand up and down his chest as I hold his gaze.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice cracking.
He leans down and nuzzles his nose against mine, a sweet, wordless gesture that makes my heart contract.
Eventually, he removes his hand from between us. The blue glow hovers over my lower stomach for a few seconds before fading.
The pain doesn’t return, though he’s definitely all the way inside me. I feel every inch of his girth.
I’m going to resume claiming you now, little moth, he sends down the bond.If you feel any further pain, you must tell me at once. Do you promise?
“I promise,” I whisper.
He tightens his grip on my hips, slowly withdraws, then presses forward again with a force that steals my breath. I cry out at the surge of pleasure, the quickening in my core, and I feel a gush of moisture leak from my center to coat my inner thighs.
