But it's enough.
He moves.
Not slowly. Not carefully.
Hemoves.
One second I'm straddling his lap, my hands braced against his chest. The next, I'm being lifted—effortlessly, like I weigh nothing—and repositioned. His hands slide beneath my thighs, his palms cupping my ass as he stands in one fluid motion.
My legs wrap around his waist instinctively, my arms flying up to lock around his neck.
"Holy shit—"
He's already moving toward the oversized plush furs piled in the corner of the suite. His wings unfurl slightly, the massive membrane stretching as he lowers us both onto the soft surface.
The volcanic stone floor radiates heat through the thick furs. The temperature is perfect. The lighting is dim, the only illumination coming from the golden glow of his veins.
He lays me down gently—so gently it's almost jarring given the raw intensity radiating off him—and hovers over me.
His frame is massive. Overwhelming. His shoulders are so broad they block out the rest of the room. His wings are partially extended, the leathery membrane creating a canopy above us.
I'm completely surrounded by him.
And I've never felt safer in my entire life.
"Tamsin." His voice is a low rumble, vibrating through my chest. "I need you to understand what is happening."
"I—"
"This is not just arousal." His hands slide up my sides, his claws hooking gently into the hem of my sports bra. "This is a fated-mate biological response. My body recognizes you as mine. It will not let you go. Itcannotlet you go."
My breath catches.
"Are you—are you asking for permission?"
His jaw clenches. The golden veins pulse brighter.
"I am telling you that if we do this, there is no going back. The bond will seal. Permanently. You will be mine, and I will be yours, and nothing in this world will be able to separate us."
I should be terrified.
I should be running.
Instead, I reach up and cup his face with both hands, my palms warm against his stone skin.
"Then seal it," I say.
The sound that comes out of him is inhuman.
A growl. A purr. Something deep and primal that vibrates through my entire body.
He peels my sports bra off in one smooth motion, the fabric tearing slightly as he drags it over my head. My breasts are exposed to the heated air, my nipples tight and aching.
His eyes drop to my chest.
"Perfect," he says. "You are perfect."
"I'm really not—"
