Chapter twenty-five
Amaya had thought she’d been ready for the world to know about her mating, but realistically, she hadn’t been prepared.
Luckily for her, she worked alone for the most part, so while she’d had to answer questions at every stop along her day, it hadn’t been so bad.
What had given her pause was the way people she’d worked with for years had looked at her.
Some had outright treated her like a pariah, while others had given her a wide berth.
Some part of her could understand their wariness. Punishment would come from what she had done and no one knew what form it would take. Keeping away from Amaya kept them safe from any fallout and she couldn’t blame her co-workers. Still…it had been uncomfortable.
She was used to spending her days being unperceived.
No one outside of the sacred garden staff knew she existed, but now, just walking through the Archive, all eyes had been on her.
Being who she was, she didn’t let it faze her.
She kept her chin up and her shoulders back, but now that she was home, her body wanted to collapse from the stress.
As she passed the foyer, she frowned. The house was quieter than usual. The staff was usually setting up for dinner this time of night. Curious, she rounded the corner into the dining room and gasped.
The whole dining room had been transformed.
The lights were off and the only illumination came from the table.
Thin gold candle holders covered the surface from one end of the table to the other, the small candles giving the whole room an intimate vibe.
Flowers were set up in every corner, roses in shades of red and pink scenting the air.
There were only two place settings set with heavy crystal dinnerware and a plethora of silver cloches in middle of the table.
The smells were heavenly. Her day was forgotten as she moved further into the room.
Levi stepped from the shadows, holding out a glass of wine for her. She happily took it, dazed.
“What is all this?”
He stepped closer to her and pulled her into his arms. “I realized that our mating was something that happened more as an accident and I wanted to replace it with a new memory. One where we choose each other.”
A lump formed in her throat. “Levi,” she whispered, her eyes trying to take it all in.
“Come sit, beloved.” He guided her to the head of the table, sitting her in the chair on the left.
He took her bag from her shoulder and placed it in the chair next to her before sitting at the head of the table. Amaya was speechless. This was her first experience with romance and it left her breathless. She looked up to find Levi’s eyes on her.
“This is beautiful, King.”
He smiled and his pleasure filled their connection. “I wasn’t sure if you would like it.”
Her shoulders relaxed for the first time today and she stretched out her legs under the table. “This is just what I needed after the day I had.”
“What happened?” He grabbed her hand, nibbling on her knuckles.
“Well, it’s safe to say that news of our mating is out.”
“Does that bother you?” His gaze traced her face, his eyebrows bunched in concern.
Amaya shrugged. “I don’t care who knows about our mating. But I feel like the world is holding their breath to see what our punishment will be.”
Levi growled. “I look forward to the first person that tries to step to me about you.”
She pulled her hand back and brushed the top of her hair with a sigh. “No one would dare approach the King of the Bayi. Me, on the other hand…”
“Do you honestly think I would allow anything to happen to you?”
“It’s not about what you allow, King. You can’t watch me twenty-four seven,” she pointed out.
“That’s what Bronx is for,” he assured her. “They would have to get through him to get to you, and trust me, that shifter is good at his fucking job. It’s why I entrusted your safety to him.”
That comforted her and she adjusted in her chair, ready to put the whole topic aside.
“What’s for dinner?”
“Pot roast.”
She busted out laughing. “That’s not romantic, King.”
He smiled, his eyes sparkling. “But I asked Ms. Anita what your favorite meal is and that’s what she said.”
Her cheeks hurt from how wide she smiled.
Giddy happiness filled her and Amaya wanted to dance in her seat.
It was hard to imagine they would’ve gotten here from the way they started their relationship.
He winked at her as he opened the cloche closest to him.
The smell of the garlicky goodness rose, and her mouth watered as he uncovered the lamb chops inside.
“Feeding me will get you big points every time,” she told him, clapping softly.
Levi chuckled. “Noted.”
He uncovered the mashed potatoes and glazed string beans and Amaya smiled in appreciation.
She had laughed at the pot roast, but she was a simple girl and she loved that he catered to that.
He fixed her plate for her and she wasted no time digging in.
It amazed her how well the two of them carried a conversation.
There were no awkward lulls or nervousness.
Levi made her comfortable in a way she never was around people outside of her mother and Tracy.
After dinner, their dessert was a simple homemade pineapple sorbet that melted in her mouth. Amaya closed her eyes to savor the taste. When she opened them, she found her mate staring at her, abject hunger lighting his eyes.
“Good?” was his husky question.
She nodded, her stomach clenching as he licked his lips.
“Let me see,” he murmured, leaning forward.
Levi licked her lips first before sliding his tongue between them.
The coppery taste of his wine met with the sweetness of her dessert and somehow worked to amp up the lust between them.
He gripped the back of her head and held her in place as he devoured her mouth.
Lifting from her seat, Amaya sighed as Levi set her on the table in front of him.
She reached back and pushed his empty plate away to give her space. “Are we done eating, then?”
“Oh, I’m just getting started.” His voice was husky, his eyes darkening as lust tightened his face.
Levi tugged the back of her legs until she was on the edge of the table. Amaya went back until she was leaned on her elbows. She was happy to have worn a skirt today.
Her mate unleashed his claws and rent a tear right down the middle of the maxi skirt. He kissed her knee before rubbing his face against her thigh. She released a contented sigh, happy to have him touching her.
“Pretty ass pussy,” he murmured.
He kissed her, dragging open-mouth kisses up her thigh.
She sucked in a breath as he reached the apex of her legs.
Levi parted the lips of her sex with a hungry growl, his tongue swiping up and circling her clit.
Amaya arched her back as he pulled that nub into his mouth, sucking tightly on it.
Her moan bounced off the wall as he ate her pussy expertly.
She cradled his head, keeping him in place as his tongue lapped at her.
His nails gripped her thighs, the pain of the sharp points heightening her pleasure.
She arched her back as the first climax snuck up on her.
A low moan was dragged out of her as she rocked against his tongue, sweet release tightening her legs.
Levi chuckled darkly, pulling away from her pussy. Before she knew what was happening, Levi bit into her thigh and started feeding from her. His pheromones were pumping out of him and taking her under. Levi’s eyes were closed and he moaned, the sound tightening her womb as her center leaked.
Opening his eyes, he speared her with a hungry look as he sucked on her thigh.
He reached up and his fingertips traced the outside of her pussy before sliding into her.
Amaya threw her head back and rode his fingers.
The sensation of him feeding from her while simultaneously fingering her had her primed for another orgasm.
Her clit throbbed in anticipation. She crashed into the climax, whimpering as her body seized in pleasure.
Levi licked his bite closed and stood, his eyes bright, the pupils red as the beast within him rose. Amaya tucked her bottom lip between her teeth in anticipation.
He fit his dick at her entrance and growled as the walls of her sex pulsed around him.
“Grip that muthafucka, baby doll,” was his gruff order.
She relaxed her muscles, moaning as he pushed in further. “More,” she panted.
He obeyed immediately, bottoming out, the bite of pain arching her back. Her pussy clenched hard, sending goosebumps up all over her body.
“Greedy fucking pussy,” he murmured, driving in and out.
Amaya could hardly catch her breath as her mate fucked her, his grip on her leg tight. He slowed his strokes and pulled her leg up onto his shoulder.
She hissed. “Too deep.”
“Nah, you can take it, lil baby.” He didn’t stop, pounding into her body, setting her nerve endings on fire.
If she thought that was all he had for her, she was sadly mistaken.
Levi gripped her waist tight with one hand and used the other to wrap around her ankle, bringing it closer to his mouth.
His fangs pierced her skin and Amaya fragmented, another release torn from her without warning.
Her mate continued to piston in and out of her body, once again building a fiery climax, one that felt too big for her body to contain.
Levi grunted as he fed, a dazed and drunken look on his face as he used her body for his sustenance. It made her feel powerful and heightening the intimacy between them.
“King,” she whispered as her body tightened with the force of her oncoming orgasm.
His lids lifted and red had completely overtaken his eyes.
A hungry animal stared down at her as he sucked on her skin.
Full body chills went through her and Amaya canted her hips to take him deeper, letting him know that there was no part of him that she didn’t accept.
Levi separated his mouth from her ankle, blood still staining his lips.
He released her leg and leaned down for a kiss her, sharing her life’s essence with her.
She greedily sucked on his tongue, holding him tight as his strokes became erratic. “Come for me, King.”
Levi cursed and gripped her waist tighter as he pumped into her until his body stiffened and he came. He shuddered with aftershocks as he buried his head in her neck.
“God damn, you take my breath away,” he drunkenly murmured.
Amaya slid her hand up his back and cupped his head, holding him tight to her. Emotion swamped her, heady and all-consuming. She knew the feeling tightening her chest but was almost afraid to acknowledge it.
Was she in love with Levi?