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She tasted right. She felt right. Every touch was magic, and she was right there with him in the middle of the spell. If he hadn’t been so desperate, he’d have played with her for hours, but as they touched and teased each other, their desires grew stronger, deeper and increasingly intense.

“Cyrus,” she moaned, “please...I need...I want...” She thrust herself upward, searing his aching length with her hot, wet, and silken folds.

Lost in her, he changed his position—she opened her eyes—and he slowly slid inside her, filling her, stretching her, and then stopping just for a moment to relish the strong velvet clasp that robbed him of his breath.

“We fit,” she whispered breathlessly.

“Like we were made for each other,” he whispered back.

“It’s...” She moved just a little. “It’s wonderful...”

And that was all it took. His control shattered and his body followed its instincts, thrusting into her like a man starved of sensation.

She was with him all the way, her fingers grasping his forearms as he held himself above her, her eyes on his face, her rapid breaths caressing his skin and her hips lifting in answer to his powerful thrusts.

The final moments for Cyrus were...well, indescribable. He filled her, barely hearing her muffled scream as she let go but gasping as her inner muscles spasmed and drained him completely.

He didn’t want to crush her, but couldn’t stop himself from collapsing on top of her.

“Don’t move,” she muttered. “Just don’t move. This feels...like bliss.”

“All right,” he replied softly. “But I’m worried I might be too heavy for you.”

“You aren’t.” Her hands lazily ran up and down his spine. “It all feels just wonderful.”

To his surprise, he found himself in complete agreement.

For the first time in his life, making love to a woman, this woman, did indeed feel just right.

Chapter Nineteen

Maelin awoke alone, in a luxurious bed, with the sound of birds singing outside.

For a few long moments she had no clue where she was, and then she remembered—last night. Cyrus. Oh dear God, Cyrus.

Her body tingled at the memories, and she took a huge breath, sighing with delight as her skin shivered once more. The way he’d touched her, the way she’d responded...it took her a few moments to return to reality.

After their loving, she remembered, he’d moved the boat a little further away from Caelemar, and not ten minutes after he’d started the engine, they were at a proper dock.

Lights just inland indicated a house of some sort, but she nearly lost her breath when she saw it in the moonlight. A cross between a country home and a fairytale palace, there were beautiful gardens, stunning cliffs that gave the house an air of impregnability, more than a few turrets, and tall windows with lights shining out across the lawns.

“Welcome to Drake’s Nest,” he said quietly.

“I don’t know what to say, Cyrus.” She slid her arm through his as they began to walk along the stone wharf to steps leading upwards. “It’s so beautiful. And it’s yours?”

“My family’s,” he corrected. “Been with us for generations. And not many people have visited, Mae. Only the important ones.”

Her heart threatened to melt all over again, and she tugged him to a halt, forcing him to look at her. “I am so full of emotions right now, Cyrus, I feel like there’s a storm inside me close to exploding.” She gazed into his eyes. “I am touched, honoured, moved...and humbled by the trust you’re placing in me. Something tells me this beautiful sanctuary of yours is a private, if not secret, hideaway. You can rely on me to keep it so.”

He met her gaze calmly, but reached out and ran a finger down her chin. “I never imagined meeting someone with such an incredible strength of character, Mae. Nor did I ever imagine I’d fall in love with her when I did.”

She managed to smile, even though tears were stinging the backs of her eyes. “That makes two of us.”

That declaration demanded a kiss or two, and for a moment the only sound was the shush of the ocean and the rustle of trees in the restless air around Drake’s Nest.

“Come. You need to sleep, and here there can be no question of impropriety. I have servants aplenty to see to your comfort, and we shall have breakfast together under the eyes of my very proper butler.”

Mae nodded. “’Tis best. And a good plan.” She sighed. “Tomorrow we must return to the problem at hand. But for what’s left of our time together...” She moved away from him and took his hand, “take me to your home and put me to bed.”