“Lucien.”
The room nearly exploded as I grabbed her waist hard enough to pull her hard against me again before kissing her hard enough to stop her from laughing at me.
Nina was still smiling when I finally pulled back slightly.
“You look offended.”
“You are weaponizing sacred intimacy.”
“You love it.”
Yes. Yes I did.
Then the teasing finally disappeared beneath something hotter and heavier while the bond wrapped tighter around both of us. Hands. Mouths. Heat. Everything blurred together afterward into sharp breaths and tangled sheets and Nina dragging me back every single time I tried to pull away long enough to think clearly.
Just both of us ruining each other completely while silver shadows and fire spiraled wildly through the room reacting to every touch between us. The bond shattered through both of us completely while silver fire exploded across the room hard enough to shake the palace windows themselves.
Nina lay sprawled half across my chest afterward breathing hard while silver shadows drifted lazily around the dark ceiling above us.
Her fingers traced absent circles against my skin while I brushed tangled hair back from her face. Then she stared up at me with that same dangerous amused expression she always wore right before causing trouble.
“You’re staring again.”
“You’re still here.”
The teasing faded slightly after that.
“Well yeah,” she murmured. “You’re my husband now. Kind of stuck with me.”
God. This infuriating woman. I kissed her forehead once before lifting both of us from the ruined sheets entirely.
Nina blinked. “Where are we going?”
“You started multiple fires.”
“That sounds fake.”
Silver flames were literally still burning across one wall.
“…Fair.”
The bath chamber filled with silver steam afterward while Nina stayed wrapped around me lazily like she had no intention of existing independently ever again.
She made a soft sound the second I lowered her carefully into the warm water before leaning back against my chest.
“This is nice.”
“That sounded surprised.”
“I expected more demonic drama after supernatural marriage sex.”
My wife definitely needs a filter to her mouth.
Then her eyes drifted half closed while I washed silver ceremonial paint from her skin piece by piece beneath warm water and drifting shadows. And she relaxed against me while the completed bond settled warm and steady through both our souls.
Mine.
The realization still hits hard every single time.
