“My heart and soul belong only to you,” he whispered. “From this night until eternity, it is I who will ensure your strength, provide you with light, and accept the same in return should you willingly accept me.”
Penelope’s eyes turned glassy with unshed tears. “My heart and soul belong only to you, Obsidian. From this night until eternity, I will accept your strength and your light, and give you mine in return.”
Fusing his mouth to hers, Obsidian kissed her, their bodies joined as one.
In that instant, images began flashing in Obsidian’s mind. All of her memories, every second of her existence came into his head. She tensed beneath him as he covered her body, continuing to move inside her as they merged, minds, bodies, souls. First the memories, then their combined strength. Her fingers tightened on his as she thrust her hips upward. He drove into her, deep and slow, cherishing the feel of her. Her body vibrated beneath his as she absorbed his energy, his powers.
For one breathless instant, his strength was depleted, draining out of him entirely, leaving him completely vulnerable. For that brief moment in time, he was as human as she had been, mortal, defenseless.
“Obsidian!” Penelope cried out as he ground his hips against hers, burying himself to the hilt in her tight sheath.
“Drink from me,ayreme,” he commanded, bringing her wrist toward his mouth as he lowered his head closer to hers.
As though she’d been waiting for that moment, Penelope sank her fangs into his neck at the same time he pierced the vein in her wrist. It was then they merged completely. The shockwave that hit him was so powerful, he nearly lost his grip on her hands. Obsidian clasped her fingers firmly as his strength returned with a vengeance, far more powerful than before.
Penelope whimpered, then her body clamped down on him so violently Obsidian hissed, unable to stave off the release that threatened. He bucked his hips, driving into her once, twice. When he came deep inside her, Obsidian threw his head back and roared, the thunderous echo extinguishing the candles, leaving them together in darkness, the only light coming from within.
Penelope was panting, her eyes wide as she stared up at him. The slow smile that pulled at her mouth kick-started his heart, his breaths slowly returning to normal.
He licked the wounds on her wrist, closing them. “That was…”
“Incredible? Cataclysmic? Life changing?” she supplied as she sealed the wounds on his neck.
Obsidian chuckled at the giddiness in her tone.
Releasing her hands, he gathered the stones, set them aside before rolling, bringing Penelope with him. He was still hard, still lodged deep inside her. When she was straddling his hips, Obsidian sat up, holding her tightly as she began to move, grinding her hips, taking all of him inside her.
Her arms curled around his head, fingers sinking into his hair as their bodies moved together once more. Two halves of a whole, intimately joined, completing one another in a way nothing else ever would.
This time, when he came deep inside her, it was with the knowledge that he would spend the rest of eternity with her at his side, and he at hers.
A sense of peace settled over him, perhaps the most compelling emotion of all.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Thursday, August 15, 2019
PENELOPEHADTOADMIT,THISNEWFOUNDPOWERleft her awestruck even though she had no clue what to do with it, how to harness it.
Every one of her senses was heightened. She could smell the sweetness of the rose oil in the adjoined bathroom, the heady aroma of sex, along with the potent, musky scent of the male she adored. She could hear the gentle lap of the water, the strong, steady beat of Obsidian’s heart. She could see the silver fibers in the comforter beneath them, the dust motes drifting in the air. And she could still taste the richness of Obsidian’s blood that had passed over her tongue.
But it was her sense of touch that Penelope was mesmerized by. Obsidian’s smooth, warm skin against her palms and her cheek. It would take time to acclimate to this heightened awareness, but for now, she relished it, seeing the world as Obsidian did.
A tremor danced down her spine, following the gentle sweep of Obsidian’s fingers as he brushed them over her back. She didn’t want to move, her body sated and heavy, content to remain where she was, draped over Obsidian’s enormous body right here in their own paradise.
Of course, she knew the real world was taking place on the other side of the door. They would emerge eventually, join the others. Only this time, Penelope would be strong enough to ensure heramsouelot’ssafety, protect him the same way he protected her. Loving him, cherishing him…
A tear trickled down her cheek, dropped to Obsidian’s chest.
His head lifted, silver eyes watching her. “What’s wrong,ayreme?”
She felt it then, the wash of his emotions as they stole over her. Love, admiration, gratitude. He was as content in this moment as she was. Penelope smiled to herself, loving that she had that connection with him. While she’d always retreated from the empathy she felt for others, Penelope didn’t feel the need to do so with Obsidian. In fact, she wanted to explore it because it meant she would be able to protect him in all ways, offer him strength, love.
“Nothing,” she assured him. “Absolutely nothing.”
Truth was, she’d never been happier in her life. For the first time, she felt as though she truly belonged.
When Obsidian moved her to his side, Penelope propped her head on his chest, ran her fingers over the taut muscles of his abdomen.
