Chapter 43
VALANCE
I loved the way Kormac’s eyes sparkled in the firelight as he climaxed.
I loved the way his cock throbbed inside me, how it released so much of his seed.
How his lips fell to mine, his moans seeping into my mouth as he shuddered the rest of himself into me.
And I loved how pleasure became a powerful wind, whipping me up into heady clouds.
I climaxed again as he did, stroking myself to a second state of bliss from his pounding.
Exploding all over my hands, making such a sweet mess.
It didn’t take long for the pleasure to fade, for him to be holding me from behind as the pain returned to attack me.
I tried to get him to fuck me again, but he refused, insisting we talk.
At least it was warm in this house, our bodies shielded from the howling wind outside.
“I made a terrible mistake, Kormac,” I finally said. “I’ve ruined everything.”
“You did lose your head,” he replied. “But your grandmother would’ve made that wish regardless.”
“Then is it my destiny to fail?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
“I hate this, Kormac. I hate everything about it.”
He kissed the back of my neck. “We can fix it. Just because she has the power, she doesn’t have your army. You had to win the dark fae over. Now she has to do the same.”
“Do you think so?”
“I have to hope.”
I turned to face him, resting my forehead to his.
“I don’t want a throne, Kormac. Not really.
All I’ve wanted is a quieter life than the one I was born into.
I love luxury. I love palaces. But they are only riches, not richness.
They don’t offer nights of conversation and lovemaking, exploring the world together.
Holding the hand of your beloved, watching the sun rise and set.
I want those things. I want a better life.
But I can’t have that. Not without pain.
” I sighed against him. “My friend Maeve used to talk about exploring the human realm, asked me if I ever thought about it. I did, many times. Now I think it sounds wonderful. Somewhere new, somewhere that isn’t Faerie. ”
“Valance…”
“I’m sorry, Kormac. I don’t know what to do. I’ve let you down.”
He planted a soft kiss on me. “You haven’t let me down.”
“I couldn’t stand it, seeing you dead again, knowing Florent and his ilk wanted to hurt you, to take you from me again. Deny you a future with their toxic weapons. I couldn’t have that. As soon as I saw you dead again, I knew what I had to do. My reason died.”
“I… I think…”
“Kormac?”
He blew out a breath. “Hellpiss…” There was a struggle going on behind those eyes of his.
“What is it?”
“I think… I think I love you, Valance.”
I froze, stunned by his words.
“Shitting hellpiss!” he hissed. “Oh, gods. I’m sorry, I—”
I kissed him. “I think I feel the same.” My heart became a drum, sending its beat all the way into my throat. “I… I do. I.. I love you, too.”
He blinked at me, sitting up. “Do you really?”
“I do. Do you?”
“Yes. I know it’s strange, but I’ve fallen for you. Really, really fallen for you.”
After everything I’d done, I shouldn’t be smiling, should not meet this wave of happiness head-on. But I did. I let it crash into me, take me with it.
“Oh, Kormac. I’m in love with you. I cannot live without you.”
The soul bond enjoyed that statement very much.
And so did I.
“From the stars,” I added.
His hands traced my chest, fingers exploring the inches of my slender frame. I watched his journey under the shimmering firelight, greedy lust back in his eyes.
“In love with me,” he said.
“Yes.”
“I’m in love with you.”
He smiled, then bent to kiss my ribs. His tongue slipped from his mouth, drawing circles across my flesh.
My body erupted in gooseflesh, my back arching slightly in response to his wet touch, to the bristly caress of his stubble.
“Do you like that?”
“Yes.”
He licked and kissed, then sucked on my skin. A slight tingle of pain melded with pleasure. I giggled at the sensation.
“It’s been a while since I’ve received a love bite,” I said.
He tapped the redness he’d marked me with. “There are plenty of them in your future.” He caressed the side of my face. “Because we’re going to make ourselves a future. Whenever you’re ready, when you’ve taken as much of a break here as you need, we’re going to fight. For us. For more love bites.”
I sat up and pulled him to me. Holding me so tightly. “You really were sent to change my life.”
“You’re welcome, my sexy prince.”
I chuckled. “I like that.”
“It’s true.”
Steely fury took hold of me. “I’m ready to fight.”