“That was fucking amazing,” she sighed.
He laughed. “I don’t know if I can handle your scandalous new mouth.”
“Imagine how shocked Xenia will be,” she chuckled before her voice faded to a whisper. “I miss her so much.”
He hated the pain and longing in those words. “She and Cael are on the outskirts of Rhamnos. He sent me a windwhisper earlier this evening. They’ll be back in the colonies in a few days.”
She flew upright, robbing him of her soft warmth, and he reached for her, but she batted his hands away.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He bit his lip, both to stifle his laughter and to distract from the urge to bury himself back inside her, insanely aroused by the sight of her fire. “I was planning to, but got a bit distracted by you riding my co—”
“Bastard,” she huffed, smacking his chest. He snatched her hand and kissed her fingertips. “A few days!” Her eyes sparkled with relieved joy and she leapt back into his lap, pressing sloppy kisses all over his face and neck.
And he wished to have good news to share with her every second of every day, if only to inspire such a reaction.
She nestled down onto him, laying her head against his chest once more and trailing light fingers along his jaw—a lover’s intimate touch. His feathers rattled at the contact and she snorted a laugh. “Have I found your spot?”
“You’ve foundallmy spots, beautiful.” He noticed her new ink for the first time. “You got your cover-up.” He pulled her wrist towards his face, admiring the artistry of the Typhon steel dagger. The tip of the patterned blade kissed the dip at the base of her palm.
“Blade up, fear down,” she said with a wink.
“Murderous.” He ran his tongue along the tattoo, loving the quiver of pleasure that cascaded through her body.
She rubbed at the wound on her upper shoulder, already closed thanks to the blood he’d been sharing with her. “You marked me.”
He sat upright, scooting back and pressing his wings against the headboard, and Cassandra straddled him, wrapping her folded legs around his hips.
He cupped her cheeks, drowning in her inquisitive gaze as fear prickled down his spine. He struggled to find words to express what had happened to him in that moment. “I just… being inside you was… it felt too good. And when you said you were mine, I had this overwhelming urge to... Should I not have?”
She captured his lips, scattering his worries, then shifted in his lap. She was still completely naked. And very wet. His cock thickened, begging for round two.
“I’m honored to bear your mark, Tristan,” she said. Her smoky eyes blazed so fiercely that the beast inside of him released a victorious howl.
“You’re going to need to hide it,ma’anyu,” he admitted.
“Ma’anyu,” she pondered, her eyebrows furrowed. “That’s what Hector called his consort.”
“It’s what marked partners call each other,” he said, running his thumb along the mark. “It meansunbreakablein Aramaelish.”
“That’s very beautiful,” she whispered, rubbing her cheek along his hand.
“The mark means far more than the mingling of our scents. If anyone were to see it—”
She kissed him, then shrugged. “I’m used to wearing high necklines.”
He chuckled at her irreverence, remembering the high-necked robes she’d worn as a Shrouded Sister. “And I’ve just conveniently guaranteed that I’m the only one who’ll be allowed to see you naked.”
“All my other Fae lovers will be terribly disappointed,” she pouted.
He flipped her back onto the bed, settling himself between her soft thighs.
He gripped her chin and thrust his tongue into her mouth. Giving her a taste of what was to come. “Don’t test me, Cass,” he growled, inching into her.
She moaned, a sound he’d never tire of hearing, then encircled him in her arms, stroking his feathers as she angled her hips, taking him deeper.
“I kinda like you all growly and possessive,” she giggled. “Ma’anyu.” He thrust into her again. Hard. She cried out, giggles abruptly severed.
