Chapter 34
VESSA
Axe takes hold of my legs from underneath, hoisting me up. My arms curl around him instinctively, welcoming the heated embrace. We round the corner, bursting through a door to what must be the main bedroom.
Tilting my head, I take in the grandeur of the room. Every corner of the chamber is filled with candlelight and rustic gold furnishings. A fireplace is garnished with a halo of stars, as is the frame of a gorgeous full-length mirror that hangs adjacent to a shelf of more antiques. Next to the elegant bed sits a desk with an extravagant vase of burgundy roses and a gift-wrapped box that catches my eye.
He sets me down beside the nightstand and stalks towards the fireplace. He finds a box of matches on the nearest shelf and strikes a flame before tossing it on the pile of logs.
Rather than staying put, I pad over to the desk, running my fingers over the package. “What’s this?”
“Open it.”
I peel back the colorful paper, which reveals a sturdy box of oak, stamped with a swirling manufacturer name. “Made in Sylo”—interesting. My thumb flicks up the latch, eyes widening. It’s a flawless set of blades with pearl handles.
“Are these . . . ?”
Axe returns to my side. “Pure silver, yes. My mating gift to you. I had Tesni personally select them.”
“They’re beautiful,” I whisper. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think to get you anything.”
His grin pulls hard on my heartstrings. I lean into his hand as he brushes a piece of hair from my eyes and tucks it behind my ear. “You’ve already given me more than I’ll ever deserve.”
Raising my heels, I show my thanks with a feather-light kiss to the corner of his mouth.
“So short," he jests. "I'll have to come up with lots of creative ways to kiss you. Who knows, maybe there's a stepladder hidden around here somewhere."
"Shut up! It's not my fault."
Axe's laugh pours out warm and sinful. "Oh, I'm not complaining.”
I close the lid and turn around to approach the mirror. Maintaining eye contact through the reflection, I first kick off my heels, unclasp my silver bracelets, then remove the other jewelry and gloves, setting them on the desk. When my hands reach behind for the first button of the dress, Axe is already behind me, ready to take over. One by one, he works his way down my spine. Only when the garment hits the floor do his eyes meet mine in the mirror, holding momentarily before taking in the sight of my corset. Neither of us are brave enough to acknowledge how shallow our breaths have become.
Gently, he turns me around, though his eyes never leave the frame. I peer at the new ink that marks my shoulder. A sun cradling an intricate crescent. A vine winds around the half circle, moonflowers blooming at each pointed end.
It’s us.
When I look back at him, Axe is already stripping the rest of me with his eyes. My pulse pounds as I unlace the bodiceand peel off the matching red panties, letting them drop to the floor. A muscle strains in his jaw, his composure hanging on by a fraying thread.
There I stand, utterly bare.
I reach for the top button of his shirt, only for my wrists to be captured.
“I think it’s about damned time I had a taste of you, Vespera.”
He nudges me backwards, down onto the bed. But he makes no attempt to reach for me. A feral gaze sweeps over my figure, the chill in the air rousing the peaks in my breasts. By now, there’s no denying the sap that’s pooling at the source of his desire. And to think, he’s barely eventouchedme.
Reclining completely onto my back, I bite my lip, willing myself to relax. But there’s just no way. Not when lightning dances in his eyes.
“Open your legs.”
For a terrifying moment, my heart stops. Cursing under my breath, I part them slightly.
“All the way,” he clarifies, that timbre dropping to sinister depths.
Heaven help me.
Spreading to my fullest ability, I peer up to behold his lethal stillness. Something snaps in his eyes as he kneels before me. The dissolution of restraint.
