Chapter Fifteen
Landon
My gut was a jumble of nerves and excitement on the short walk back to Dashiel’s bedroom. Earlier, I’d admittedly snooped a little after my shower, but I just wanted to take everything in, to discover everything there was to know about my mate.
But I didn’t find answers just in his room. It was like the whole cottage had wrapped around me in a warm embrace. Its timber walls and crackling fire chased away more than just the chill. It felt lived-in, loved, safe, and a place where the world couldn’t reach me.
Somehow, in the small amount of time I’d been inside this serene place, it had begun to feel like home. I already found myself wanting to stay longer, to wake under its roof for days while soaking in the quiet comfort it offered.
But first, I needed to complete our bond.
With my fated mate.
An elf who had saved my life. An elf whose quiet strength was matched only by his kindness. An elf who was powerful without cruelty—unless someone hurt his fated mate. He was patient and so effortlessly wonderful that I couldn’t imagine how I ever lived without him.
Dashiel was everything I never realized I was missing from my life, and somehow Fate had led us to each other. For the first time in years, the future didn’t feel uncertain.
Dashiel stopped just inside the doorway before turning toward me. The fierce warrior who had torn through a warehouse to rescue me was gone, and standing before me was simply... my Dashiel.
His warm, soft green eyes swirled with desire for me. “Landon—”
“You’re beautiful,” I blurted, and then released a choked laugh as heat climbed up the back of my neck. “I mean, you’re handsome, gorgeous, and… you make me nervous,” I admitted.
His gaze widened. “I do?”
I nodded and smiled. “But in a good way.”
His shoulders relaxed slightly. “I feared perhaps tonight had been too much. The warehouse, being kidnapped, meeting my family. I worried it would push you away, and yet you are here with me.”
I stepped closer and placed my hands on his hips.
“I couldn’t imagine another place to be, because if I did, you wouldn’t be there, and I want to be at your side.
I want more talks, walks, dinners, and kisses.
I want to sit on the couch with you, lie in bed with you, and…
” My face burned and cock throbbed. “I’m looking forward to figuring out what we like in the bedroom.
” My voice cracked. “But just remember that I, ah, I haven’t done any of this before. ”
He leaned down and kissed my temple, my forehead. “I know.”
“I mean…” I gripped at his waist. “I might screw up in some way, and I want this to be good for you, but I worry that it won’t."
Dashiel cupped my cheeks, shaking his head. “No, my beloved. You already make my days shine with your time. I… I will admit I am nervous too because you mean everything to me, and I worry that I will not be enough. That you will be disgusted—”
I pressed my fingers to his lips. “Never. I’d never be disgusted in any way. I want you bad, Dashiel. My cock is so damn hard from just the thought of being inside you. That’s if you want it like that…. I could try to bottom, but I think I need to work up to it.”
Dashiel smiled wide and let out a joyful laugh.
“My precious mate. It would be brave of you to let me enter you, but you do not need to worry about that now. Maybe one day. But I would be honored to have you within me. It arouses me to a point where I may make a fool out of myself and release too soon.”
Grinning, I rose onto my toes and wrapped my arms around his neck, dragging his mouth down to mine. “Hell, Dashiel, the way you talk even makes me hard. Maybe we can fumble through this together and learn what we like.”
“I want nothing more.”
“But… you have to be honest and tell me if there’s something I do wrong or you don’t like.”
“I will as long as you do the same, my beloved.”
“Yeah, I will.” I kissed him again, trying to push everything I was feeling into it.
Dashiel groaned into my mouth, wrapping his arms around me, holding me tightly to him. Like he was worried I would go somewhere.
I wouldn’t.
Couldn’t.
I wanted to stay with Dashiel forever, after all.
When we pulled apart, I mustered the courage and reached for the hem of his shirt. I looked up into his burning gaze before he nodded slightly.
With a smile, I slowly lifted the fabric. Dashiel raised his arms, allowing me to remove it, and the moment I dropped it to the floor, I forgot how to breathe.
He was beautiful.
No, stunning.
Lean muscle shaped his chest and stomach, his skin smooth in the soft bedroom light.
I swallowed hard. My lust for the man rose higher and stronger than anything I’d ever experienced.
Dashiel watched me carefully with a small pull to his brows. “Too much?” he asked.
I shook my head immediately. “No.” I laughed quietly. “I’m just….” I looked him over again. “Wow.”
Color touched the tops of his ears, and it was so damn cute that the sight made me smile wider.
“I didn’t think elves blushed.”
“We do.”
“That’s good.”
He tilted his head. “Why is that good?”
“Because now I know I can fluster you.”
His smile returned. “I suspect you shall discover that often.”
I went onto the tips of my toes again, and if he wasn’t already ducked down, I wouldn’t have been able to brush my tongue over the pointed tip of his ear, making Dashiel shudder.
My eyes widened in glee. “Sensitive?”
“Very,” he growled.
I hummed under my breath before I sucked and tongued at the tip.
Dashiel’s body vibrated, and the deep, almost keening, noises he made shot more arousal to my cock. It throbbed and ached.
I had to have him.
I wanted to be inside him, and that realization was heady.
Dashiel straightened when I hooked a finger in the front of his pants.
As I unbuttoned them and then drew the zipper down, Dashiel watched my every move, his hooded eyes swimming with so much heat.
I slowly pushed them down his long legs and noticed that there were no boxers in sight, so his erection bobbed when it was instantly free.
He stepped out of the pants and kicked them away while I took a step back and simply stood there staring at him.
Beautiful.
It wasn’t that long ago that I’d spent days wondering whether I could be attracted to a man, and yet, standing here now, there wasn’t any doubt left.
My pulse raced.
Everything inside me wanted to be closer. To touch and lick every part of him. My heart hammered as I quickly removed the borrowed clothes he’d left for me, only my movements were now clumsier and rushed.
As soon as I was naked, I stepped closer until only inches separated us. “Can I touch you?” I asked quietly.
Dashiel’s expression became impossibly tender. “You may do anything your heart desires.” His fingertips brushed lightly against my arm. “But I need you to understand… if we choose one another tonight, we complete the bond.”
I had a feeling he worried I hadn’t fully understood that. Smiling up at him, I nodded. “I know.”
His eyes searched mine.
“I promise I want you, Dashiel. For the long haul. I won’t regret this in any way.” I reached up, resting my hand gently on his cheek, our bodies brushing against each other, drawing out sharp breaths. “I don’t want to go a day without you in it, my elf.”
His eyes closed briefly, and when he opened them again, they shone. “My beloved….” He pulled me gently into his arms and kissed me.
A moan slipped from his mouth into mine, and I returned the needy noise with equal desire.
My hands wandered over his back, feeling warm skin, strong shoulders, and hard muscles beneath my fingertips.
The embrace felt impossibly right.
Like I’d finally found where I belonged. And someone who belonged to me more than anyone else in my life.
His palms slid over my skin, drawing out more noises and driving my desire higher.
When we finally separated, I rested my forehead against his chest. “Dashiel….”
I want you. I need to be inside you.
When I looked up at him to tell him just that, his thumb brushed gently across my cheek. “There is no expectation.”
He’d read my loss of words wrong. Yes, I was nervous, but this man would be mine.
Smiling, I moved a hand down over his stomach, which tensed under my touch, and then lower to wind it around his erection.
His eyes widened, then hooded as he groaned while I jerked him off. I thought I would freak a little out over touching my first dick, but I loved the feel of his hardness in my hand. I loved that I was drawing out those little breathless sounds.
“My expectation is to fuck you, Dashiel. Do you want that?”
He moaned and nodded. “Please.”
“Will you get on the bed, on your back, for me?” I asked, nipping at his jaw.
“Anything.” And he went to do just that.
It was lucky his bed was huge because my elf was a big man, and one I was going to be inside of. My cock jerked at the thought.
Christ, I wanted him so damn much.
“Lube and condom?” I asked.
His cheeks and ears flushed. “There is no need for them. I—” He cleared his throat.
“For elves, our bodies get us ready for our fated mate in every way. I am… slick already.” He glanced away and blew out a breath.
“As for condoms, human diseases do not affect us, and we do not have any such thing in our land.”
Goddamn, that’s hot.
I thought it would feel weird or different hearing it, having Dashiel naked, and knowing he was ready for me… but all that registered instead was the desire to taste, to explore all of him. My body ached with the want I had for this man. My elf.
Grinning, I nodded. “That’s good to know.” I kneeled on the end of the bed between Dashiel’s spread legs. “Does that mean you don’t mind me finishing inside you, love?”
His blush deepened, but his eyes warmed at the endearment. He bit his bottom lip and nodded.
Leaning down, I pushed his legs wide and asked, “Can I ingest this slick?”