Chapter 15
fifteen
MERRILY
We went to our bedroom after we were done eating, and set me down on the edge of the bed. The majority of his shadows clung to my skin, and I wasn't sure how much of that was because he put them there, or because of our connection.
I could feel his tension leaking through the bond, with just a hint of excitement. The excitement made me more hopeful for how this was going to go.
He stepped back.
"Alright, Gray. Tell me the rules," I said, leaning back on my palms just a little bit.
"You stay fully clothed." He crossed his arms, studying me. "And on the opposite side of the room."
"I'm not staying on the other side of the room from you, and I'm not staying fully clothed," I stated. "I can put my pajamas on, if you want me to wear something."
"The less clothing you wear, the larger the chance that I lose control. The clothes stay on, and you're going to hold a knife the whole time."
"You're not going to attack me. If you were mindless enough to try, the bond would stop you.”
He studied me, his eyes still narrow. "This is a risk. I'm not completely myself in my true form."
"I'm the one who wanted to take the risk. I can handle the consequences. I'll wear my pajamas, and sit next to you. No knife."
A trip to the hospital after failing knotting was the worst-case scenario. Yes, that would be hellish, but I'd survive.
I didn't think there was any way he'd lose control to the point of hurting me, though.
"Fine. I'm probably going to end up feeding on you the whole time," he warned.
My face warmed. I'd forgotten about that. Because we were mated, he didn't have to slip into my dreams anymore. "Alright, deal."
I made my way to the closet. Grayson had unpacked my bag at some point, putting my stuff away with his. I'd need to go back home for more of my things soon, but it wasn't a priority.
I changed into a thin, soft tank and a pair of matching shorts in the same fabric, forgoing underwear entirely before I padded back out. When I saw the naked man sprawled out on the mattress in front of me, I stopped abruptly.
He sat up against a couple of pillows, one arm tucked behind his head, and the other hand wrapped around his cock. It was barely moving, but my gaze went to his erection immediately.
"Your desire feels fucking good through the bond, Mer."
I could feel his, too, and it was intoxicating.
I resumed my walk across the room.
Grayson was on the side of the bed closest to the closet. I could go around to reach my side... or I could not.
I bit my lip, hesitating slightly before making a decision.
My mate’s gaze was dark as it followed me directly to his side of the bed.
His hands found my hips as I lifted a leg over his thighs, straddling him. My hands skimmed his chest as I slid over him, and he reluctantly let me go after I settled beside him.
"You should get under the blanket," he said. "It'll be safer if I can't touch you."
"I'd rather you touch me."
Lust flared on his side of the bond, and a quiet groan escaped him. "My magic will go wild when I shift. Don't let me fuck you until after my knot’s swollen, no matter how good my power feels. I won’t know how much control I’ll have until I’m in that form.”
"I won't let you." I rolled onto my side so I could see him easier, and watched him shift.
A ripple went over his body, and horns appeared on his head. The tip of his spade-shaped tail slipped out from beneath his leg, and his cock grew a little thicker.
His magic changed, with him.
I sucked in a breath at the sudden feel of it washing over my skin, warm and needy and breathtakingly-strong.
My gaze lowered to his tail as it slid beneath me, and with one smooth motion, it pulled me closer to his side. Grayson's irises were red when I looked up again. His hand landed on my bare thigh, squeezing my leg firmly.
He inhaled deeply, and his magic heated further.
My lips parted, my hips arching, pushing me closer to him.
He lifted my leg to push his thigh between mine, and I ground against the thick muscles.
His magic grew hotter, making me burn for him. I wasn't mindless, but it took me a moment to be confident in gaining control of myself despite the intense flow of his power.
"I'm not supposed to be riding your thigh," I breathed, as Grayson took another deep inhale. The slight tug against some invisible part of my lower belly told me he was feeding on my lust, and somehow, it just made me want him more.
"But you do it so well."
A quiet moan escaped me.
He dragged his hand down the length of his cock, and suddenly had my complete attention.
He stroked himself again.
And again.
His nails had sharpened and lengthened. I wasn't sure if they could pierce my skin or cause him problems, but I wanted to find out.
Grayson growled, and his power flared again. "If you want to watch me come, you have to drench my thigh."
"That's not what we talked about."
It would technically still follow the rules. He wasn't trying to fuck me, and he definitely hadn't lost control completely.
His hand went still. His cock throbbed in his grip, and my core clenched.
"Grayson," I protested weakly.
"If you want to watch me, you fuck my thigh."
His tail hooked in the back of my shorts, and slowly dragged them down. His sharp nails joined in, and the fabric was literally torn away moments later.
The slickness of my core felt orgasmic as I ground against him just a little.
It shouldn't have felt so good—but it did thanks to his magic, his touch, and his massive body.
He stroked his cock again, slowly, while I rocked my hips almost wildly.
His tail slid between my legs, and when the tip of it teased my clit, I came hard.
My slickness coated his thigh as I panted, coming down from the high to watch a satisfied-looking Grayson stroke himself a little rougher than before.
His breathing grew heavier, and he came with a low growl. The base of his cock swelled as he came all over his abdomen, and I watched in hot fascination as his knot grew and thickened until it was definitely too big to slip out of any woman's body.
"What does it feel like?" I asked, lifting a hand to it.
When I looked at him, silently asking permission, he dragged my hand to his cock, wrapped it around his knot, and squeezed hard.
He snarled as he came again, coating my hand with his release.
"How long does it last?" I murmured.
"A few minutes if you leave it alone. Up to an hour if you don't."
"An hour?"
He grunted in agreement, closing his eyes and gritting out a quiet curse. "Yeah. You should probably let go."
"Why?"
"Because I'm having a really hard time not rolling you over and fucking you until this knot deflates."
"Could you hurt me?"
"No. Can't fit it inside you now." He swore viciously. With a jerk of his tail, he had me flat on my back with my thighs open wide. "Don't move. I didn't grind my claws down."
"What do you mean, don't—oh, god." I choked out the word as he filled me with four of his fingers. His thumb stayed on my clit, pressing hard, as he came all over my hand again.
"You seem like you're in control," I gasped out, my body trembling from the effort it took to stay still as he circled my clit slowly with his thumb.
I came hard, crying out loudly, and sucked in deep breaths as everything spun.
His claw grazed the side of my clit, and the moan that escaped me was so, insanely needy.
"I'm in more control than I expected. Not fully, though."
"I'm supposed to enforce the rules."
"Fuck the rules." He gritted the words out.
"You wanted me to be in charge. If you want to be inside me until your knot is gone, I have to be on top."
He growled. "No."
"Then you don't get to fuck me."
He hissed another curse. His cock throbbed in my hand. I loosened my grip, and he muttered something under his breath that sounded like "Fucking stubborn fae queen".
Then he pulled his fingers free, dragged me onto his lap, and buried his cock inside me. The slickness of my pleasure and his release made the tight fit manageable.
My lips parted with the sudden stretch, and when my opening met the top of his knot, I knew he was telling the truth.
There was no way in hell it would fit inside me. Not right now.
He snarled and rocked my hips for me, fucking me from below.
"Wrap your hand around it. I want it to last," I breathed.
Grayson's eyes were hot as he wrapped his hand around his knot while I moved my hips slowly, riding him.
His shadows looped around my arms, and my eyes widened as they pinned them behind me without going anywhere near my wrists.
"That okay?" he asked.
I nodded slowly.
"Tell me when you need a break," he warned.
"You tell me when you need a—" I stopped speaking as the full force of his magic finally crashed into me.
It was pure fire, in the form of blazing need.
I came with a scream of pleasure, using his cock as his shadows flicked my clit. He roared as he came again, those sharp claws grazing my breasts just lightly enough not to draw blood.
We climaxed together, over and over, until the swell at the base of his cock finally began to shrink.
I held his eyes when it was significantly smaller, and sank over his deflating knot, taking the swell inside me.
The stretch of it was new, and surprising, but not painful.
A wild look filled his eyes, and Grayson rolled me over, fucking me from above until his knot was gone and we were both trembling messes.
Then he dragged my bare, sticky body into his arms, and held me to his chest with an iron grip until we were both solidly asleep.
I was starting to think we'd make up for all of the missed sex in my centuries of virginity within the first year we spent together.
And yeah, I was definitely here for it.