Chapter 16
RONAN
She was fucking breathtaking.
I couldn’t keep my hands off her. I couldn't stop tasting those lips—soft, full, sweet like syrup strawberries, and I was more than happy to drown in them.
Her silver eyes caught mine, flecks of violet hiding like secrets she hadn’t even told herself yet.
And those freckles—little constellations scattered across her skin —I was pretty sure the universe had drawn them to mess with me.
Honestly, it should be illegal to look that good.
But I was lucky. I was totally addicted.
And trust me, I don’t get addicted easily.
I’ve wanted her the moment I saw her in those woods with that dragon.
The pull between us—violent, magnetic, Inevitable—scared the shit out of me.
It still does because I have never felt like this, I’m not allowed to.
Hunters of the Veilguard aren’t meant to love; we were only trained to serve Velmore and Vespera.
No attachments. No weakness. No distractions.
But none of that matters anymore.
Because when I look at her, duty might as well be a joke. All I see is something I’d throw myself into without a second thought—something worth breaking every rule, burning every bridge, and still wanting more.
We will be signing our death warrants the second we go against the queen—but my Cherry? She has a real shot at ending this and ending her.
Burning the whole rotten kingdom to the ground and building something better in its place.
And I’ll be right there with her—every damn step.
Let them come for us. I don’t care what it costs or how bad it gets. I’d watch this world crumble into ash and smile through the flames if it meant she got to tear Vespera from the throne.
Because if she’s willing to set everything on fire, I’ll be the one handing her the matches.
Her hands clutched my neck like she was afraid I’d vanish if she let go, and I didn’t even bother giving her a second to think as I kissed her. Pressing her against the glass, I felt her shiver, arching into me, and I couldn’t help the smirk that spread across my face.
Her body moulded to mine, soft where I was hard, and I gripped her hips, grinding into her until her moan quivered against my lips, setting me on fire. I kissed her harder, deeper, tasting her everywhere, drunk on the scent of her skin.
“I need you so fucking bad.”
Her lips brushed mine as she whispered, “I need you too.” Her head tipped back against the cold glass as I rocked my hips against hers.
I was hard, aching for her. And we hadn’t even taken off a single piece of clothing. Just kissing and touching and breathing each other in. But my body was already on edge like I was a damn teenager again.
Kissing down her neck, letting my teeth graze her skin, I murmured, “Have you ever done this before?”
Yeah, part of me hoped she would say no. Not because I thought it made her mine, but because I wanted to be the first to touch her like this.
She has others, I’m not stupid. Malrik is obsessed with her and gives her creepy ass gifts that make her smile, so I don’t question it.
Out loud.
Kieran watches her, thinking none of us notice, but I do, and I have also noticed he hasn’t touched another woman since he met her.
Darian, the uptight twat, has something against her.
Acts like she’s the plague since he saw her in the woods after she told us about her magic and that Vesperas' blood was one of the key ingredients for it to work. I have seen the way his body reacts every time she talks. There’s history there—something he refuses to talk about—but he sure as hell doesn’t shut up when it comes to complaining about her.
He mutters shit under his breath about her that makes me want to rip his damn arm off and beat him with it.
But he wants her. I would bet my secret chocolate and cherry muffin recipe on it—yeah, the one I’ve never told a single soul, not even Kieran, who tried to bribe me with a bottle of aged whisky.
That man doesn’t know his audience.
Darian’s too much of a prideful, broody bastard to admit it.
“Kissed?” She asks with a breathless laugh, her legs tightening around my waist just as I lightly bite down on her neck.
I chuckled against her skin and dragged my lips up her throat. “No, baby. I meant—have you ever been fucked?”
I pulled back just enough to meet her eyes, brushing a kiss across her jaw, then her cheek, taking my time before finally locking eyes with her.
Her silver gaze didn’t waver. “No,” she smirked softly as she leaned in and kissed the tip of my nose. “You’d be my first.”
That was music to my ears—and I swear to the gods, my dick twitched like it was celebrating.
“I’ll be gentle,” I pressed another kiss to her cheek, letting my mouth linger.
The first time I would, at least. I had all damn day with her. There was no way I was letting her leave my bed for anything, except maybe food and the bathroom. Basic needs and all that shit, but other than that? She was mine.
If the others came home and I was deep inside her, well, I don’t give a shit. They can either leave again or stay and listen to her screaming my name. I’ve lost count of the sleepless nights I’ve had due to Kieran and his endless line of bimbos.
Fair's fair.
Her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging me up until I had no choice but to meet her gaze. She looked… furious.
Maybe I can kiss it away.
“I don’t want gentle. I won't break.”
Heart hammering, I swallowed hard. Damn.
That fire in her eyes—holy hell—it did something to me.
I know she wouldn’t break. She’d survived more than most, and she did it on her own.
Steel wrapped in velvet, a storm disguised as silk…
and I wanted nothing more than to test how unbreakable she could be.
Still, I hesitated. Not because I didn’t want her—fuck, I've never wanted anything more, but because I knew the first time was supposed to hurt, not like I had taken someone’s virginity before.
That’s why I wanted to be gentle with her; she deserved that, and I felt honoured to be taking it. That she trusted me.
Also, I’m a guy, I have no fucking clue how it feels for them, and not to toot my own horn, I’m pretty fucking big.
I was going to make this woman feel worshipped. Desired.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I said softly, brushing my thumb over her cheek.
She leaned up and kissed me—slow, sweet, the kind that made the world tilt for a second. And just when I was about to say something cheesy or ridiculous, she wriggled out of my arms.
I let go, reluctantly, my hands dragging down her sides. She slid down my body with that wicked little grin —the one that made my heart skip like a damn lovesick fool and my dick throb.
I’m utterly screwed, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
When her bare feet hit the floor, her grin turned soft, nearly knocking the breath out of my lungs.
“You could never hurt me.”
Then she dropped to her knees.
Fuck me. That’s a beautiful sight.
Her hands skimmed slowly down my chest as she did, until she reached the waistband of my joggers.
“I’ve never done this either,” her voice was soft, her fingertips tracing a featherlight line along my thigh. “I have read about it, though.”
I don’t doubt that for a second.
My mind flashed back to the book I had found in her place, the one that got me so hard and flushed red like a girl. The page I skimmed through burned into my brain forever, and it was something I never thought I would like.
I exhaled through my nose, trying to keep it together. Her white hair was a wild mess, the oversized hoodie swallowed her frame, and she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. Sitting there on her knees, looking up at me with those beautiful silver eyes and very swollen lips.
Yep. I was done for.
I stroked her jaw gently, trying to centre myself and failing miserably.
“Please take me out,” I rasped.
My voice cracked, and I didn’t even care. I’d beg if she wanted. Hell, I was two seconds away from exploding in my damn pants. I’d crawl on my hands and knees for her touch.
She licked her lips, eyes glinting with mischief. “You beg pretty,” the words rolled off her tongue as her fingers worked the drawstring with maddening patience.
Then, slow enough to make a saint lose their mind, she peeled it down, and I sprang free—hard, aching, slick with anticipation. I groaned, low and rough, at the relief of being released, and damn it… the way she looked at me had me ready to lose myself entirely.
Her gaze dropped to my cock, eyes widening, lips parting as she took me in. Every detail. Every inch. That look—open, fascinated, fucking hungry—sent a jolt straight through me, and I knew I’d never get enough of her like this.
I braced myself against the glass, clenching my fists, trying not to fall apart right there and then. Every instinct in me screamed to grab her, to beg her to take whatever she wanted from me. I was already hers, and she didn’t even realise it.
Her mouth closed around me—warm, wet, perfect—and I nearly lost my mind. Stars shot across my vision, and I bit down on my lip so hard I tasted blood.
Shit, if heaven exists, it's right here, on her tongue, wrapped around me, and I'm never letting go.
My whole body locked up, a raw, broken sound tearing from my throat before I even realised it.
I forced my eyes open, needing to see her—and damn, there she was, eyes half-lidded, lashes fluttering as she explored me like I was something worth worshipping.
Her hand wrapped around the base, fingers snug, sending a jolt of pure heat straight up my spine.
Nothing has ever felt like this. Not even close. With her, it’s not just physical—it's electric, primal. Every cell in me feels alive, humming with need, with the urge to surrender.
A soft moan slipped past her lips, vibrating straight through me and making my hips twitch. She traced her tongue up my length, claiming every inch, and I couldn’t hold back the low, guttural groan that escaped me.