She didn’t hesitate. "I love you."
“And I love you. Does that mean we don’t need clothes?”
She rolled her eyes, but her smile was wide. “Shut up and kiss me.”
I devoured her lips, hungrily and desperately, my finger tangling in her hair as I walked her backward toward the bed. She sankonto the mattress, dragging me down with her, her lips never leaving mine.
She was just as sweet as ever, and her lust had me clamoring to free her from her clothes. Her body was soft and lush against mine; every arch of her back and wiggle of her hips turning my cock to stone.
She was so utterly beautiful. So perfect.
“You’re mine, Meera,” I growled. “All mine.”
“Oh yeah? Prove it.” Her words were husky and full of need.
So I did, worshiping her body until the room was filled with the sounds of her gasps and moans as I showed her just how perfectly mine she was.
Epilogue
Meera
TheMonsters&MagicCharity Gala was exactly as extravagant as I’d imagined. The Darlington Museum’s banquet hall had been transformed into a glittering palace, with towering chandeliers casting prismatic light over swaths of shimmering fabric.
Graham cleaned up dangerously well. The perfectly tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders and slim waist, the jacket having been modified with discreet openings to accommodate his wingsand tail. The dark fabric made the gray of his skin look even more striking. His horns gleamed under the chandeliers, and when he turned to smile at me, my breath caught.
He was ridiculously sexy. And he was all mine.
Then there was the way he looked at me, like he wanted to tear off my dress and lay me out like a buffet on the table. I needed to get away before we made a scene because I wasn’t sure I’d want to stop him if he tried.
We were waiting for the main course after a starter ofscallops seared to golden perfection, served over a silky citrus beurre blanc when an aerial silk performance began at the front of the hall.
I leaned into Graham. “I’m going to go say hi to Elana. She looks like she could use some backup.”
He followed my gaze to the nearby table where Elana sat with Desmon, Carly, Seth, and his mates, and Mateo and Eva. Mateo usually handled security for the event, but this year, Elana had needed him more. This was her first time at the gala since her ex-husband was finally behind bars. She looked radiant in a deep emerald gown, but her smile was tight.
The reason for her discomfort was clear: a table of stiff-backed wizards kept watching her with pinched expressions. They were her ex-husband’s friends, or what passed for friends in their circles. They wouldn’t try anything, though. Not here at such a high-profile event, and not with her at Desmon’s table. Their glares were especially venomous toward Seth, who’d traded thestuffy Wizard Elders Council for a far more interesting gig as Desmon’s personal wizard.
Graham nodded. “I’ll be here.”
I made my way over, weaving through the tables. Elana’s face lit up when she saw me. “Meera!”
I gave her a big hug. “You’re handling this like a pro.”
Elana grinned. "Thanks.” Then, in a lower voice. “Though Mateo’s acting like those assholes are going to steal me away if he so much as blinks.”
“He just cares about you.”
“I know. But I wish one day I could exist without bodyguards.”
“That’s what those magic lessons are for. Are you coming by this week?”
After some trial and error, I’d realized that I had a teeny, tiny bit of magic after all. Not much, but enough to join in the weekly “lessons” Tansy was giving to Elana at the penthouse. After decades of having her magic siphoned off by her ex, it had taken Elana a long time to refill her well. Years. She also never learned how to use her magic since they raised her to be a source of magic and energy for her future husband. Those old wizards never did view women as anything but chattel.
So, despite having only realized and begun training her powers, Tansy took it upon herself to teach her Mom all she knew. All of us with magic joined in. Despite her innate talent, Elanastruggled just as much as the rest of us, mostly because her body kept putting up guards against it. But it was two hours of laughter and chaos, and I loved every moment of it.
Before she could answer, a familiar voice, low and full of authority, interrupted.
"Ah, there you are."
