Chapter Forty-Seven - Leigh
“Ready?”
I don’t get to answer. Wilder hoists me up, bridal style.
I gasp, tightening my grip around his neck.
He gently kicks open the bedroom door, carrying me over the threshold into our darkened suite.
I’m still in my wedding dress, and I’m itching to get out of it.
My cheeks are flushed from dancing. A smile stretches across my face.
I can’t fucking believe it. We are married.
“Let’s get some lights on in here,” Wilder says.
I blink, adjusting to the darkness. Wilder waves his hand, still managing not to drop me. Dozens of candles burn.
Soft-looking rose petals litter the floor and the bed.
My eyes water. It is beautiful, like a moment straight out of a scene in a movie, and it’s Gianna’s doing.
When I see her again, I must thank her in a big way.
She honestly thought of everything, while I was morbidly focused on the portal.
Everything is exactly as I imagined: beautiful suite, soft candlelight, achingly handsome husband. I’m the luckiest girl in the universe.
Using my hand, I wipe a tear from my face.
It’s hard to believe I traded my soul for Aradia’s several hours ago.
Without thinking about the big picture, I trapped myself in Mictlan.
I’d been so focused on repaying Aradia for everything she did for me and our country that I hadn’t thought about how my choices would impact me or my future.
I’d been brash, and that brashness almost cost me my life. Not to mention this perfect moment.
We left our reception early, and I have no regrets. Our marriage is about us and no one else.
Wilder sets me on my feet, gripping my hand as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear. I squeeze him back. I’m not going anywhere—today or any day. We are bound through sickness and in health. Till death do us part.
The gods gave us another chance. I’m not going to squander it.
“It is beautiful.”
“Perfect,” Wilder replies in a whisper.
I face him, feeling the intensity of his gaze.
His green eyes glow with an inner light, and I can sense their penetrating power stripping me bare.
My hands tremble as I struggle to remain still under his focused attention.
He looks at me with such adoration it’s clear that he loves me, and there’s no way to express how happy I feel in this moment.
He is gorgeous and loves me enough to want to share his life with me.
Our souls are bound, just like our hearts.
I want to show him how much I love him and how thankful I am that he didn’t leave me behind, even after I begged him to.
“There was a moment where I didn’t think this day would ever happen,” Wilder admits.
I caress my thumb over his. His skin burns with the warmth of his solar powers. I place his hand flat on my chest. His eyes widen. “You feel that?” He nods. “I’m real.” His heartbeat is like a caged animal. “You’re real.” I moisten my lips. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“Promise?” he rasps.
“Promise.”
I press my lips against his. Wilder kisses me back, breathing life into me.
Deep-rooted frost melts from my muscles, and I coil my arms around him.
Our kiss turns molten. His touch is nothing short of a brand.
My tongue teases his lips, begging for entry.
He gives me what I want and more, massaging his tongue with mine with expert strokes.
I’m his, no matter what.
Wilder draws me closer. I chase his kisses, eager for more—another taste, another touch. I swallow his love like nectar, until I am drunk on his touch, drowning in his kisses. I thread my fingers through his soft hair and give a gentle tug.
“I want to eat you up,” he murmurs against my lips.
“I’d like that.”
We erupt like a supernova. I gasp, and his tongue dives into my mouth. I suck on it, savoring his taste. Wilder grips me around my waist too tightly, suffocating me, and I retaliate by pulling his hair, drawing a delighted groan from deep within his chest.
My pebbled nipples rub uncomfortably against my dress.
“Get me out of these damn clothes,” I demand, untying his hastily retied bow tie.
Wilder undoes the silk buttons, but it’s not fast enough.
“Hurry.”
Wilder pulls the loosened fabric apart, tearing it into ribbons.
I yank the skirt down until it encircles me like a halo on the floor, and stand in my fancy white lace underwear. Wilder stares at me, his pulse jumping in his throat.
“How’d I get so lucky?” he breathes.
“Touch me.”
Wilder releases an appreciative sigh. He kneads one of my breasts over the fabric with one hand while unhooking the bra with the other.
The strapless garment joins the rest of my belongings on the floor.
He stoops, sucking one of my nipples into his mouth.
I gasp, burying my hand in his hair, holding him against me.
Heat spreads between my thighs until it is unbearable.
I undo his pants, then grip him. He sucks in a breath, and I slide my hand up and down his throbbing shaft.
Wilder kisses my neck, teeth grazing the tender flesh.
He reaches behind me, palming my ass with both hands until his thumbs hook into the elastic of my panties.
I release him. He slides my underwear down my shaking thighs, and he crouches to the floor, eyes locked on mine.
“Lift.” He taps one calf, then the other, until I am completely nude.
With hooded eyes, Wilder slowly rises, unbuttoning his shirt.
He takes it off, and I barely blink. My mouth waters as he kicks off his patent leather shoes.
They go skidding across the hardwood floor.
He removes his pants next until we are both naked and panting.
He’s godlike, glorious, and I want more from him.
We lunge for each other. Our limbs and tongues entangle.
I cry out. It hurts how much I love him. My heart expands painfully with each reverent touch and kiss. I let it. The pain reminds me that I’m alive. That we made it out. Together.
Wilder massages my slick entrance with skilled fingers.
I moan into his mouth. Fuck.
He kisses my lips, trailing them over my jaw. Every soft touch cuts me open, and I bleed for him all over the rose-petaled carpet.
Wilder draws back to look at me. Tears sting my eyes as if I have perfume in them.
I take his hand and guide him to the large bed.
He sits, and I climb onto his lap. I straddle him, rubbing my wet center up and down his hardness.
His gaze travels south, watching my every movement with starving fixation.
“I’ve been fantasizing about this moment—about you—all day,” I whisper hotly into his ear. I lift. He grins as I sink onto him. My brows draw inward.
“Fuck you feel amazing,” I whimper.
“I’ve fantasized about you, too.”
I take a deep breath, then another. “Say my name.” I grind against him, taking every inch that I’m able. “Say it,” I demand again, searing his skin with messy kisses as I lift and lower my hips. A force builds and builds inside me.
Wilder grabs my ass, rearing up inside me. “Leigh,” he gasps.
I shake my head. “My full name.”
Wilder kisses me deeply. My insides coil tighter. “Leigh Amaris Raelyn-Dunn.”
I moan. Yes. “Again.”
“Leigh … Amaris … Raelyn … Dunn.” He accentuates the words between deep thrusts that leave a mess in his lap.
“Shit, I’m yours,” I whisper, breathless.
Wilder chuckles, then holds me tighter as I lift and drop my hips.
I squeal as he lifts me. He flips us around, lowering me onto the bed with him on top.
He looms over me, and I widen my legs, cradling his body between my thighs.
Sliding into position, Wilder eases his way back inside me.
His attention never leaves my face as he feeds me every torturous inch of him.
My eyes roll back as I arch. Gods, will it always feel this goddamn glorious? “Right there, yes, you’re so good at this.”
Wilder pistons his hips. My moans start soft, then get louder as his movements turn more erratic, both of us chasing the release we so desperately crave. I tighten my thighs around his hips, keeping him deep inside.
“Wilder.”
“Yeah, princess?”
“I love you.”
Wilder curses. He pulls out, then drives himself back in. I could die like this. But … I go when Wilder goes.
Together.
“I’m close,” I warn.
Wilder presses his forehead to mine; sweat lines both our brows. “A little longer.”
I nod weakly, my orgasm cresting.
Wilder sits back on his haunches and positions me back on top of him. Back in control, I am more desperate than I was before. My orgasm is imminent.
Wilder sinks his teeth into my left breast. I scream, chanting his name as I come.
His hips jerk, one final thrust before he pulses inside of my still trembling body. I hold him tighter, nails leaving half-moon marks on his tattooed skin.
Neither of us speaks.
We sit silently as the candles surge around us, breathing heavily in the rose-scented suite.
I don’t need to say a word. My reverent touch says it all.
I will love him forever.