Bearly Bewitched (Mystic Hollow #4)

Chapter 48

FORTY-EIGHT

V ail felt her cheeks heat but couldn’t stop smiling. She knelt to meet Daisy’s eager gaze. “I would love to be your aunt for real. As for the rest...” She glanced up at Kaine, her heart skipping at the soft look in his eyes. “Maybe we should take things one step at a time?”

“Fine.” Daisy heaved a dramatic sigh. “But you’re not getting any younger, you know.”

This time everyone lost it. Even Burke’s usual dignity cracked as laughter echoed through the garden. Kaine pulled Vail back to her feet and into his arms, his chest rumbling with mirth.

“Out of the mouths of babes,” he murmured against her hair.

Vail buried her face in his chest, shoulders shaking with suppressed giggles. “She’s not wrong though,” she admitted quietly. “About taking too long. About wanting a future with you.”

His arms tightened around her. “We have time,” he promised. “All the time we need.”

“Okay, that’s enough being cute in public,” Romi declared. “Inside, all of you. We all need food after that mess.”

Vail let Kaine lead her inside, his hand warm and steady in hers. Looking around at their gathered family—because that’s what they all were now, bound by love and choice rather than just blood or magic—she felt something settle in her chest. Something that felt like coming home.

Later, there would be time to plan and rebuild. To strengthen the academy’s restored wards and help their students process recent events. But for now, she was content to lean into Kaine’s solid warmth, surrounded by laughter and love, finally ready to embrace every part of this future they’d build together.

Even if that future apparently included a very determined young witch with grand plans for the next generation of magical education.

When they got to her home, Vail showered and slipped on her pajamas before Kaine came into the bedroom with a cup of tea for her.

“Madame Zephyrine said this would help you relax and sleep.”

She took the tea, sipped and set it down. “Thank you, Kaine.”

“You don’t need to thank me for caring.” He pulled her close, giving her a gentle kiss. Vail leaned into it, tightening her hold on him. He cupped the back of her neck, prolonging the kiss.

Kaine pulled her off the ground, turning them. Their noses bumped as she leaned back, taking in his scent. He smelled like sweat and liberty. He set her on the bed and crouched in front of her. He grabbed her hands, looking deeply into her eyes as she looked down at him. He kissed her hands, gently brushing his lips against her skin.

She swallowed as he looked at her like she was his world. “Vail, I love you.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she felt a rush roll over her body.

“I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”

She smiled, feeling pure bliss surrounding her. She nodded. “Me too.”

She grabbed him, and pulled him into a kiss. This kiss was rougher with nothing but love behind it.

They fell back onto the bed, and Kaine hovered over her. He deepened the kiss, his fingers working on the hem of her pajama shirt. She wasted no time getting to his jeans. She wanted his skin against hers. She wanted to seal themselves together. She wanted him to mark her and for everyone to know she was his. She’d never realized how much of what she wanted involved this one man.

He unbuttoned her shirt, and her breast hardened in the cold air. He leaned back, looking at her, his eyes raking over every inch of her body.

His fingers grazed over her nipples, and a gasp left her lips. Kaine smiled. “I love every inch of your body, Vail. From your sweet mouth to your little toes and everything in between.”

She could see he meant it, and as his fingers roamed over her stomach, she felt a pull in her gut. She bit her lip, watching him look at her in amazement.

He pulled her shirt the rest of the way off and kissed her shoulders, his hands cupping her breast. She bit hard on her lip. The contact was like a direct wire to her clit.

He massaged them before running his hands down her stomach, grabbing at her pants. He slid them free, leaving kisses on her hip bones.

She grabbed onto the sheets, wanting more. Kaine read her emotions because he slid her legs wide and kissed her thigh. He growled, and she looked down at him.

He stared at her sex, looking at it with pure desire. She swallowed, realizing the hold she had over him. He bit on her thigh, looking up at her. She arched her back at the contact, and he growled once more.

His finger slid over her folds, testing the waters. She pressed her lips together to keep the sound in but wanted more. Even this was almost orgasmic.

He slid his finger up, rolling it over her clit. Her toes curled, her back arching off the bed.

Kaine kissed her thigh, sliding two fingers into her. She moaned, unable to hold it in anymore.

“More … Kaine … please.”

He chuckled, but he kept the slow, torturous motions as he thrust his fingers into her. She was so close, and he knew it.

“Do you want to come, Vail?” He purred the question, and she nodded, grasping the sheets.

“Yes,” she said, almost yelling.

“With my fingers or my cock?” he asked, driving his fingers deeper into her.

She didn’t care. She was too close to coming to care.

“Or …” Kaine hummed, and then his tongue slid over her clit. It was overwhelming, and she cried, feeling on the very edge. She was just a flick away from getting what she wanted.

“Please,” she begged.

Kaine hooked her legs and ran his tongue over her once more, then sucked on her clit. She cried out as she came hard.

She panted, unable to catch her breath. Kaine pulled himself up and smiled at her.

He undid his pants and knelt between her legs once more. She dropped her knees wide, watching his eyes rake over her body once more.

“God, you’re so fucking hot, Vail.” He leaned forward, planting his hands above her shoulders. “You made me the luckiest man alive.”

She blushed at his words as she felt the same about him. She didn’t think she’d ever find someone who would love her as much as he did.

He grabbed her hips, and he paused. It wasn’t like they hadn’t fucked before, but this was different. This wasn’t like before.

“Kaine.” She reached a hand up, running it along his chest. “Claim me.”

It was all he needed to hear before he slowly slid into her. She took him in, adjusting to his length and girth. Her head rolled back as he ground himself completely in her. He kissed her neck, nuzzling into her arms.

And for one solid moment, they were connected. His cock was in her, and she didn’t think he could ever get closer to a person. And for the moment, everything felt perfect.

Kaine growled in her ear, and he slowly slid out before dredging back into her. She moaned, digging her nails into his skin.

It was what she wanted … needed.

He kissed her neck and down her shoulder, keeping up his pace. She felt the build-up once more in the pit of her stomach.

Kaine pulled a hand free, grabbing onto her hips. He bit her earlobe. “With your hand, rub your clit.”

She did as she was told. The touch made her jerk, but she didn’t back away. Vail rolled her finger over her clit, going with each thrust Kaine did. She felt so close, and she knew he was as well. She heard it in the way his breath quickened, and his hand grew tighter on her hip.

“I’m going to mark you as mine,” he said, and she whimpered as she nodded. She wanted him to do it.

Suddenly, Kaine’s nail dug into her skin, and the pain sent her over. She cried out as she came hard. But Kaine only thrust deeper into her, making her come over again.

Kaine kissed her, and her body went limp. She slumped onto the sheets, feeling Kaine brace himself. He leaned back and rested his forehead on her chest as he panted to catch his breath.

She looked down at her side, seeing the mark Kaine had made. She was his.

“I love you,” she whispered.

Kaine’s head snapped up, and he smiled at her. “And I love you.”

She ran her fingers over her mark, smearing the blood. “To forever?”

He looked at her fingers and grazed his finger over her mark. He nodded. “To forever.”