He captured her lips in a bruising kiss as her body exploded with scintillating heat, her limbs trembling and her mind shattered.
She shuddered against him as he squeezed her closer, his chest crushed against her back, drinking down her moans.
For one heart-stopping moment, she could’ve sworn her soul left her body. Floated into the Halfway before crashing back into her. Was she still the same person she’d been an hour ago?
As her senses returned, she realized he hadn’t yet climaxed, was still moving inside her.
“What are you waiting for?”
“Didn’t want to distract you.” He smirked, then kissed her nose. “You fucking earned that.”
She’d never felt so used up, sodesiredin her entire life. Sated in the best way. She leaned her head back against his shoulder, sucking gently on his earlobe. His powerful body trembled, and she clenched around him, urging him toward his ownverywell earned release.
He kissed across her jaw and down her neck, then clamped his teeth on her shoulder. He increased the pace of his thrusts, tightening his arms around her breasts and waist. His fangs dimpled her skin, holding her in place but not sinking in.
His hot breath tickled as he pounded into her, crushing her against his chest and roaring his climax against her flesh. She immediately came again, aftershocks of ecstasy sparkling through her spent limbs.
Ronin fell forward, curving over her back and slamming his right palm into the mattress as he held her against him with his left. They panted in tandem as he pulled out, then turned her over and settled her against the bed.
“Are you okay?” he asked, adoration a fierce glow in his golden blue eyes.
She cupped his cheek. “Never felt better in my entire fucking life.”
He chuckled, then lowered his mouth to hers, pressing a gentle, reverent kiss to her lips before he pushed off the bed and bounded for the bathroom.
He returned with a towel, cleaned between her legs, then tossed it to the floor and climbed back into bed. Circling an arm around her waist, he hauled her against his warm, sweaty body and threw a leg across her thigh.
His nose roved through her hair as he released a contented sigh. “Fuckme, Mireille, that was…”
“I know.” She placed her hand atop his on her waist, entwining their fingers.
“Has it ever been like that for you before? With anyone?” His voice was a cracked whisper.
“Never. You?”
He shook his head against her hair.
It was all either of them dared say before Mireille closed her eyes, and, enveloped within Ronin’s powerful embrace, promptly fell asleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
The next morning began mostly the same in the Cathedral of Bones, with a knock at the door—that human servant with the breakfast tray.
The part that was spectacularly different was where Mireille found herself when the knock woke her.
Warm and safe and protected within Ronin’s arms.
Dawn’s buttery light caressed the pines outside as she cracked her eyes open, greeting the morning with a smile.
Sheneverdid that.
Twisting around, she found Ronin awake as well, wearing a sleepy grin.
Mireille was pleasantly surprised by the lack of awkwardness between them, given everything that had transpired the night before.
“Good morning,” he purred.
She demurred, his gaze flicking to her mouth as she bit her bottom lip. “Good morning to you, too.”
