Chapter 27 #3
The wall she’d beat against mere hours ago taunted her, and Lunara dropped her gaze, gathering her bodice together and pretending it was urgent she button it up again.
Before she could finish, Brand swung her into his lap to straddle him. The new position forced her to look at him, to bare an entirely different part of herself that Lunara wasn’t sure she was ready for anyone to see.
“I know.” He made no comment about her state, only smoothing the linen down to cover her, his palm warm through the layers.
“I’d have to be an idiot of the highest order not to have noticed there was something.
” His smile was rueful, shy. “As long as you didn’t torture any innocents, or murder a litter of puppies out of spite, I don’t really care what those secrets are. ”
“You will. You’ll—”
His arms came around her, his forehead pressed to hers. “What is any of it in the face of our mating?”
Lunara’s chest constricted. It couldn’t possibly be that simple. Nothing was ever so straightforward.
Her body couldn’t decide what to do. With so many years spent running and hiding, pretending she was dead, the desire to bolt was second nature. Easy. Familiar.
So why did she find herself wanting to lean in and risk everything?
Brand should have recoiled on hearing she had something to hide, giving her an excuse to disappear. To guard her heart and remain at least somewhat intact. Instead, he was offering her life. A future that wouldn’t be spent alone in darkness.
Sisters save her, but Lunara wanted it so desperately that she was almost sick with longing, the consequences be damned.
‘Do not fear…’
“Swear to me…” Lunara swallowed, her lungs so tight with terror she could hardly speak.
“Swear to me that I can trust you. Please. I can’t give my heart just to be left hollow when you hear the truth and…
and turn away from me because you decide it isn’t worth it.
I’m already petrified. Being tossed aside…
” She shook her head, huffing. “I know what I’m asking for, wanting your oath but giving nothing.
That it’s probably too much. That I’m no one. That—”
Brand growled. “No one? Luna.” He gripped her nape, his markings lighting up in a sudden flash.
“There is no one in this world above you now. No one more important. I will swear to anything you ask and count it a privilege. A blessing, for being able to say my mate has found me worthy of her needs, however challenging. So yes, you have my vow. On the Sisters, I swear it. But”—he gave her a little shake, his nose grazing hers—“only when you’re ready.
Only if you feel it’s necessary or have a desire to share.
As much as you are trying to find your trust, know that you already have mine.
I know you, even if I don’t know everything about you. ”
Something small and broken within Lunara shifted, as if jagged pieces fell back together and suddenly weren’t cutting so deep.
“I’ve been alone for so long.” Her voice cracked, a ghost of itself. “I don’t know what to do. How to be.” It hurt to say, but he deserved the small admission.
“Does anyone ever really know what they’re doing?
” Brand asked quietly. “I certainly don’t, most of the time.
” He lifted her hand and placed a soft kiss on her palm before laying it against his chest. Her touch was met with a pounding, staccato rhythm—a beat that matched the furious hammering within her exactly and had a lump forming in her throat.
“But I do know that this, here, is for you. That I’ve never felt its like, as though my heart is trying to break me apart in order to get to you. That it’s yours.”
That’s… He… This is…
“Perhaps we could figure out the rest together.”
He looked so vulnerable as he said it that she couldn’t help but press her mouth to his. Anything to erase that growing uncertainty from his brow.
The kiss was tentative at first, a brush meant only to soothe. But as it heated, his teeth grazing her lower lip, her fingers tangling in his hair….
There was no such thing as Elder Councils or Keepers.
No such thing as fear or hurt or loneliness.
As the ache of her bones. Brand’s words, his touch, erased all of it, filling the newly vacated spaces with dangerous things like promises and new dreams. A sense of rightness that refused to be ignored.
He said they could figure it out, and she believed him.
So, reveling in the possessive clamp of his hands on her body, Lunara gave in.
She dug her nails into his chest, leaving the last of her trepidation there in biting crescents. “Together,” she whispered against his lips, panting.
His eyes snapped open, searching hers. “Do you mean it? You’re sure?”
The most monumental question she’d ever been asked.
“Weeping moons, this is insane, but…” There was no going back. “Yes.”
“My mate!” Brand roared to the cave ceiling, throwing his head back with a booming laugh.
The freest she’d ever seen him—and it was nothing compared to when he rested his ear against her, closed his eyes with a contented sigh, and whispered, “Blessed Sisters, my mate,” like it was worship.
Oh, my stars, he’s…
The realization that he was listening to her heartbeat, like she’d done so many times to him, brought a fresh wash of tears spilling down her cheeks.
Lunara lightly traced the puncture marks she’d left behind. “My mate,” she said softly, bewildered—almost a question.
He straightened, his possessive touch drifting up her thighs and taking her skirts with it. “Say that again.”
“Brand.” Breaths coming faster, she let her own hand drop to the waistband of his trousers. “My mate.”
“Yours.” Fingers digging into her bare hips, he ground her against himself. “Fuck, I’m all yours.”
The strange material of his pants was soft, so thin she could see every bulging outline, but it was all wrong. She wanted to feel him. On her, inside of her.
Brand bucked when she gripped him through the fabric. Her palm ran his hard length down and back up, again, before seizing and frantically loosening the drawstring.
Holding her tight, he raised to his knees and shoved his pants down with one hand, freeing himself.
He was… there weren’t words. A thrill ran through her seeing his size, the beaded drop clinging to the tip as it jutted toward her. She moved to seat herself on him, desperate to engulf his straining cock with her body. To put it right where it belonged.
“Wait. Stop.”
Lunara blinked, confused, hovering mere inches away from ecstasy.
“We can’t. Not yet.” Brand’s chest was heaving, his eyes wild.
“Making love to you would complete our bond.” One arm around her back, he tilted her away as he gripped his base, dragging the head through her arousal with a shuddering groan before bringing it forward to tease her clit.
“Would seal us together for eternity.” Side-to-side, so slowly she wanted to scream.
“I don’t see the problem,” she rasped, his hold too sure for her to move and take what she really wanted.
His lips peeled back, as if his actions were torturing him just as much. “The problem is that I refuse to do it outside of a warm bed, where I can take my time.” He drew out the last word even as he rubbed himself harder against her, faster. “Already, this is madness.”
Where Lunara found the audacity to say her next words, she didn’t know.
“I think, Brandir aht Bordoroth, that I would have you anywhere. Even a damp, mysterious cave with death lurking outside. Especially then.” She grabbed one of his horns and forced him to look at what he was doing, to tempt him into more.
“I want to see you come apart. I want to feel it—before the Veil.”
“Fuck.” He slapped himself against her, tearing a cry from her lips.
“No. We’re getting out of this. And when I finally have you wrapped around me”—His lids fluttered, muscles corded with restraint as he ground their bodies together—“I swear you will be cradled by silk sheets and down feathers, and we’ll stay there for days, until I’m pried away against my will.
” Shite, the ridge of his cock was absolutely intoxicating.
“Since we have none of those things—no bed, no time—feeling will have to wait, little moon.”
“Then show me.”
“You want to see?” Brand laid her back onto the platform, giving her a perfect view of him spreading her wetness down the length of himself.
He bit his lip as his fist pumped, the fingers of his other hand skimming her calf, her thigh.
“Then watch. Watch what just the thought of being inside you does to me.”
“Oh, shite.”
Muscles tense and corded, teeth sunk into his lip—witnessing Brand pleasure himself was unlike anything else. Up and down, every fierce stroke was fuel on the fire burning within her.
Lunara could hardly breathe when his movements became erratic, his stomach tightening. With a final squeeze to the inside of her leg, Brand covered the head of his cock and arched, coming with a strangled gasp and groan.
He was stunning straining above her, brows drawn, eyes never leaving hers as his other hand kept working to draw out every shuddering drop.
Lunara summoned a cloth from the ether as Brand collapsed next to her, the ease of the action a blaring reminder she’d blooded her true mate. Taking his hand, she kissed the back of it and cleaned his fingers, the salty-sweet scent of his release doing funny things to her. Mouthwatering things.
“Has anyone ever told you how magnificent you are?” She moved lower, dragging the linen over his abdomen. “I think you might be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, Brand.”
The flush already suffusing his cheeks deepened, and she would have sworn his lip trembled as he stared at her, a look of utter devotion painted across his face.
She moved to grip his length, using the excuse of cleaning to touch him again. “I wish—”
A shriek sounded, cutting her off.
Brand was on his feet in an instant, closing his trousers in a rush.
Another high-pitched screech, followed by a series of strange clicks that seemed to skitter along the walls, dust tumbling from above.
Light engulfed Brand as he grew, the rage overtaking him in the blink of an eye. “Time to go, little moon,” he rumbled, kneeling and stretching out an arm.
She didn’t think to argue. Not with that sound still snaking its way down her spine, leaving goosebumps in its wake. “What was that?” she asked as he scooped her up.
“Doesn’t bloody matter.” Greatsword in hand, he made for the far side of the room.
“If it’s down here, it isn’t good. Shield up.
And Luna?” He tilted her face with one gigantic finger, forcing her to look at him.
“I meant it—we’re getting out of this, so no more flirting with the Veil. I’d hate to have to follow you in.”
Maybe it was the fact that Brand looked absolutely dead serious.
Or maybe it was the cold panic seeping into her bones as another splintering howl sounded.
Either way, as he crumbled the stone between them and the chasm’s horrors, Lunara couldn’t help the bubble of hysterical laughter that escaped her.