I wanted her so deeply, so completely, that even if she rejected me, even if her words tore into my skin like blades, I wouldn’t care. Just to have her, to touch even the edges of her bewitching angelic soul, would be enough. Especially now that I lived only for her.
I knew Damien felt the same. I saw it in the way his gaze lingered on her, in the stillness of his posture that barely restrained the primal instinct of the sea-dragon inside him. He tried everything to keep his beast buried beneath his skin by only watching her, not touching, as he was too terrified to break her, fearing he might lose himself in her completely.
While I was already lost, tasting the secret sweet nectar between her legs, which had wrapped around my waist while I’d been inside her. Gwendolyn needed the touch just as much as me. There was no way I’d ever let her go.
She was all mine, forever. The object of my affection, my obsession and my possession. Even love was not enough to describe what I felt for her.
My dearestlittle demonhad been strong for far too long, carrying the burden of misunderstanding and loneliness. Now,she would never be alone again. She was the most beautiful flower that nature had ever created, abandoned by light, seeking the shadows. And as long as these shadows were mine… they’d not only devour her, but also protect her. To cradle the single petal too beautiful, too fierce, and too fragile for the sun.
I knew the awareness of being bonded to more than one man overwhelmed her, stirring up a sea of emotions inside her. I didn’t want to add any weight to the storm she was already feeling.
Gwendolyn felt homesick for a place that didn’t exist, and now that she was here, she was too baffled by all the emotions that awaited her. It wasn’t my aim to heighten these emotions or even worsen them, but I needed her help, I needed her strength—and most of all, I needed her love.
While Damien went to speak with Sparrow, I tried to pull Gwendolyn from the weight of her darker thoughts. We sat across from one another at a small table on the balcony, its view spilling out toward the Ancient Springs, a sacred river blessed by the ancient goddesses and gods of the Elven Kingdom, their silver waters catching the dying light of the afternoon.
I requested that Marielle bring us some food for breakfast, as that always seemed to lighten her mood—especially sweet pastries, including a tower of cream puffs, almond cakes with spun sugar and Gwendolyn’s favorite red apple tarts.
“You should eat a little bit,” I told her softly, unable to hide the concern in my voice. I’d do anything just to make her happy, even if it means beginning a war with whoever was the reason, she felt this way.
I hated how much control the past still had over her. I reached across the table, brushing my knuckles along her cheek, pressing a tender kiss on her forehead.
“What about you, Xavier?” she asked, to my amusement. She was such a curious, beautiful little thing, but also such anattentive little demon. A dangerous combination that owned every inch of my infatuation.
“I don’t need much. Not food, at least.”
Her brow furrowed. “So, what do you survive on?”
“You are the only thing I will be tasting tonight.”
“You can’t possibly just survive from that…” Her voice had a teasing tone, almost like she didn’t believe me.
I gripped her chin softly. “The delicious piece of heaven between your legs is the only thing, the absolutely only thing, that gives me the sustenance I so desperately crave.”
With every word, I felt how her body started responding to me already, filled with need and want.
“You just spent hours delving into memories filled with sadness and darkness. Let me be your tool to receive the pleasure you deserve,” I begged, stroking her face.
“Did you just offer to be mytool, Xavier?” she asked, seeming as shocked as I was, as the words slipped out of my mouth.
“If that’s what it takes for you to be happy again.Use me. My body’s purpose is to pleasure you. So, use me.”
Before she could respond, I lifted her onto my lap, guiding her body with practiced ease. She let out a soft gasp as I adjusted her against me, my hands already gliding beneath the fabric of her dress. The softness of her skin beguiling my senses, especially the ones that were connected straight to my cock.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her breath catching.
“What does it look like I’m doing to you?”
I loosened my cuffs with a slow roll of my sleeves and then I captured her sweet lips with mine, our tongues fighting for dominance, but hers faltered beneath mine. I reached down to lift up her dress, gathering the hem of it between my fingers.
“You want to take off my clothes… here?” Her beautiful face blushed, her body heating up. But there was still some sort of resistance, like she wanted it, and yet something seemed to holdher back.
“Why this look?” I asked, my fingers gripping her face, studying her.
“I’m just… overwhelmed,” she finally admitted, her voice soft, almost unsure. “By everything that happened… and what Damien said. About us being connected.”
She didn’t meet my gaze right away, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress. Something she had done already at the Vampire Dinner due to her nervousness. But this feeling wasn’t what caused my anger, it was the flicker of shame in her voice—not because she didn’t want it, but because she didn’t know if she wasallowedto want something so deep, so permanent. Something with more than one man.
“Why do you feel ashamed?” I asked, brushing my knuckles against her soft skin again.My skin.
