CHAPTER 3
Zarreth
Jess stops on the way out and pats me on the shoulder, giving me a goofy smile. “Take care of our girl,” she says. What the fuck? I don’t need her to tell me that. I will always take care of my girl.
Once she’s gone, I lean against the wall, crossing my arms, studying my mate. She looks at me, her eyes greener than usual, thanks to her red-rimmed eyelids. She’s been crying. Did she actually let go, let some of her grief out?
I sit next to her, the mattress groaning under my weight. “Are you okay?”
Shaking her head, she curls around a pillow, a tear slipping free.
“I almost lost it today,” she says quietly, “thinking about Nate. I cried to Jess.” She looks at me, that faint glow in her eyes catching the light.
“I could’ve killed her. I know better than to open up like that. I’m so fucking selfish.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You are the furthest thing from selfish, and you wouldn’t have killed Jess. I’m sure she pulled away as soon as she felt anything, and she’ll do that next time, and the time after that, until you have more control over your power. She’s a smart girl.”
Her sigh is heavy as she shrugs. “I’m just so tired of feeling this way. I don’t know how to make it stop.”
It fucking kills me watching her suffer, not being able to comfort her. “I have an idea.” I stand, holding my hand out to her. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?” She places her hand in mine, and I lead her to the door, snagging a blanket on our way out.
“Somewhere to make it all stop, even if it’s just for a little while.” I wrap the blanket around her shoulders and shoot into the sky.
She sighs, her face relaxing as we soar over the trees. I’ve never understood why humans thought heaven was real, but flying with my mate in my arms makes me realize it might exist, right here in the sky. Maybe the humans are on to something.
It’s only a couple minutes until we land in a clearing not too far from Beauty Lake.
I’ve only been here once, but I’ll never forget it.
The smell of pine trees and wet earth take me back to the first time I saw it after returning from the Dark Realm.
Frankie on her knees, her tears soaking the ground when she realized we were finally safe.
We swoop down and land under the only tree in the clearing. With a flick of my hand, tiny flames rise into the starlit sky, drifting like fireflies while I spread the blanket out.
“It’s beautiful,” she says, looking around.
I lift her chin so her face is tilted up to mine. “You’re beautiful.”
Laying on the blanket, I pull her close and wrap my wing around her. She snuggles in and we watch the stars. Our hearts beat in unison now that we’re mated, and it's the only sound that matters to me. I listen to it every night when she sleeps, even when she thinks she’s alone.
Her hand runs down my chest. “I can’t believe I ruined Nate’s birthday celebration. I really wanted to be strong for him. For you guys.”
I slide my hand to her waist, finding the warm skin under her shirt. My thumb moves in slow circles meant to ground her, not take anything from her. “You didn’t ruin anything. Ronin is staying for the entire week, so we have plenty of time to celebrate together.”
She rises onto one elbow and studies my face for a long second.
Then her mouth pulls into a slow smile. Her fingers find the waistband of my pants, tracing my hip bones with the faintest touch.
And like an adolescent boy, that’s all it takes before I’m hard.
“I would go the rest of my life without ever being inside you again. I mean it, Frankie. You’re everything to me.
Sex doesn’t matter, but if you don’t stop touching me like that… ”
Her cheeks flush and one of her fangs drag across that pouty bottom lip.
I want to follow that fang with my tongue, feel it break my skin, taste the copper it would leave in her mouth.
But I don’t. I never do. Her body calls to me in ways that rip through my control, but I will not take a single thing she isn’t ready to give.
But Gods do I want to bury my head between her thighs, making her scream out to her God, to me. Especially when she looks at me that way.
She moves her hand to my lips, shushing me with a finger. “Shh, I want to try something.” Heat shoots through me, but I lock it down, reminding myself to take it slow.
She straddles my waist, letting her fingers explore my chest and torso.
My head falls back, eyes closed as I relish the feel of her soft hands.
But soon the warmth disappears, so I peek through one lid, making sure I didn’t somehow scare her off.
And I’m glad I did, because I’m gifted with the sight of her back arching as she pulls her shirt off.
My cock twitches when her full breasts come into view.
The sheer fabric covering them does little to hide her pink nipples.
Her dark curls fall around her shoulders as she tosses the piece of clothing aside.
“Are you sure?” Goosebumps form over her collar bone when I trail my index finger across it.
Nodding, she reaches behind her to unclasp her bra.
“I’m sure.” She slowly pulls the straps down, lowering it just enough to reveal the top curve of her breasts.
The moonlight hits her eyes and softens her skin.
Godsdammit, she’s gorgeous. Her fingers fidget with the loose straps like she’s unsure. “You’ll stop when I say, right?”
I hold her gaze, making sure she knows how serious I am. “Yes, I’ll stop right then, not one moment longer. We don’t have to go any further than this. I’m perfectly content just looking at you.”
She smiles, and everything in me pulls toward her. If all I do is look at her the rest of my life, I will die a happy male. Her bra drops completely, and I groan at the sight of her pink, soft nipples. Of course, I’m not going to argue if we go further.
She moves closer, her breasts brushing against my chest, and whispers, “Will you kiss me?”
I focus on her mouth, taking in their shape when her lips part for me. “Is that what you want, little mate?” My voice comes out deeper than I intend, but she doesn’t falter. Her fingers get lost in my hair, her mouth only a centimeter away now.
“Yes.” The word comes out faint, almost trembling.
It isn’t our first kiss, but the moment her mouth touches mine, a fire rushes through me.
She must feel it, too, because her fingers rise to her lips when we pull back.
She starts to speak, but decides against it and drags me back in.
Her tongue finds mine. Her hips grind against my bulge.
And her moan…fuck, her moan. I flip her beneath me and follow the curve of her neck with my mouth, kissing along her collar bone.
“Yes, please. Keep going,” she begs as my tongue slides over her nipple. I suck gently before pulling away and finding the other, making it equally as hard. “Oh God, more. I want more.” Her pleas make me want to plunge deep inside her, but I don’t.
I take my time giving her what she wants, undoing her jeans and pulling them down her long legs, leaving her in a teal blue thong. I’m pleased with the amount of muscle she’s worked for over the past few months. She’s been training hard, and it shows.
I work my way back up, slowly kissing and licking each thigh.
I don’t go straight for her pussy, even though it’s begging for my attention.
Instead, I move between her legs, barely letting my lips touch that sweet opening.
If I edge her enough, maybe it’ll overpower her anxiety.
Maybe she won’t have a panic attack. Maybe.
Every time I graze my tongue over her clit, her hips buck toward my mouth. “Please baby,” she pants. “I need it. I need you to taste me.”
I want to draw this out. I love making her beg, but I’m afraid she’ll overthink it, so I dive into her warm, smooth flesh, with my tongue licking and sucking. I plunge my fingers in and out of her, going deeper with each thrust. She’s so fucking wet. Tastes so fucking good. I needed this so badly.
She grips my horns, grinding herself into my face. Fuck yes! I keep moving my fingers and lapping at her clit, my chin soaked. Her moans get louder and louder. She’s right on the edge. That’s it baby. Let yourself feel it. Let go.
My scalp tingles, and my horns straighten, when magic moves through her hands.
“Oh, God! I’m gonna come,” she moans.
I press my hand into her stomach, not giving her a chance to overthink. Holding her down, I sink a fang into her little swollen clit and fuck her with my fingers.
“Fuck!” she screams as she comes on my face, her body shaking. I drink her up, savoring every last drop. She did it! She fucking did it!
I don’t wait for the orgasm to subside. I want to see if I can give her another one without triggering her.
I push myself to my knees, keeping hers over my shoulders.
My cock is rock hard when I take it out and rub the head over her clit, sliding the length between her folds.
I want to bury myself in her wet pussy, feel her stretch around me, but I wait.
Is it better to take it slow so she can stop me if her panic sets in, or do I take that decision so she doesn’t have to think about it at all?
Gods, I want to feel her quiver from the inside when she comes again. It’s all I can do to pull away and reposition myself so I can taste her once more.
But then she begs, “Please, baby, just the tip. I can handle the tip, I promise.”
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! There’s no way I’ll be able to stop at just the tip. No fucking way.
“I need it,” she begs again.
I blow out a sharp exhale, steadying myself. Fuck, okay just the tip. I can fucking do this. I grab my length and slowly inch myself in. She’s so tight, so fucking wet, it’s almost impossible to stop at just a couple inches.
“I missed this so much,” she whimpers.