Chapter 18 Bonding Time
Caspian
Juniper let out an adorable yelp when we left the beach and headed up the walkway to my beachside home. It was a slender two-story with a balcony to make the most of the ocean view. Ivory siding was trimmed in navy.
“Is this your house?” Juniper squeaked.
“Yeah,” I said, smirking. “You like it?”
“Mmhmm,” she hummed. She wasn’t looking at the house, but up at me with so much trust in her eyes, I could hardly contain the joy bursting out of me.
I’d hurt her so badly, and I thought for a moment that she would never forgive me. I’d already imagined a miserable existence watching my lovely mate from a distance, unable to have her after I’d screwed up beyond redemption. I didn’t deserve her, but she wanted me anyway .
The cord between us pulled tight. It stole my breath, sending a shock through me. Juniper’s lips parted in a silent gasp. She felt it too.
I shoved the back door open and headed for the stairs. It was a relief to find the kitchen and living room empty. I tossed my coat over a chair to dry.
We’d built the house with three master suites, and Malik had the downstairs suite, while Adrian and I were both upstairs. I scaled the steps quickly, holding Juniper tight to my body. Her tears had faded away, and she stared at me like she couldn’t believe I existed.
My bedroom door banged open, and I kicked it closed behind us. Juniper’s eyes widened, and her breathing quickened as I carried her into the walk-in shower and set her on her feet on the tile. Twisting, I turned on the water so the cool spray hit my back and washed away the sand and salt.
My clever little witch grabbed my shirt and worked the buttons, revealing my naked torso. I let it fall off my shoulders onto the floor.
The water turned warm on my back. Already, she was unbuttoning my pants and dragging them down my thighs. It was easy to step out of the rest of my clothes and kick them aside.
I dragged the straps of her dress over her shoulders and slid the wet fabric down her body. She stood, only soaking wet panties clinging to her body.
Starting at her ribs, I dragged my hands down, feeling the curve of her waist, the fullness of her hips. My thumbs hooked in the panties, and I pulled them down. She stepped out of them gracefully.
She reached for me, but I gripped her hips and moved her under the shower’s spray. Her hair was the color of wet sand as it clung to her tan skin. The water slicked it down so it streamed down her back and over her shoulders.
Reverently, I hooked my index finger under her chin and tipped her head back so the rest of her hair was rinsed clean. Her hands splayed across my stomach, magic sparking at her touch.
“Caspian,” she whined, sliding her hands down as she looked at me through heavy-lidded eyes.
“Juniper,” I answered, turning her again so the water ran down her front.
She spluttered and tipped her head back to rest against my chest. Her hands went to my forearms as I ran my hands over her curves, making sure all of the sand and salt was washed away.
“Please,” she whimpered. My hands trailed lower. She squirmed against me, her nails digging into my skin with how desperate she was.
I dropped to my knees, rubbing my hands over her hips and ass before moving to her inner thighs. She let out a low moan, shifting so my fingers skimmed her core. Grinning wickedly, I tightened my hold on her legs, keeping her still.
Her perfect ass was inches from my face, and I placed a kiss on one cheek. She moaned again, encouraging me. Giving in to my desires, I opened my mouth and bit down on the soft flesh. Her back arched as her hands went to the tile to brace herself.
Pulling back, I admired the teeth marks left behind. I hadn’t bitten hard, but satisfaction filled me. I’d leave my mark all over her body, filling her until she thought of me every second of the day.
“Caspian,” she cried again. “Please, I need you.”
My cock was so hard it felt like I’d die if I didn’t get inside of her. It was tempting to shove her back against the wall, hike up her leg, and push into her heat, but this was our first time, and I wanted it to be perfect.
Her hand drifted to her breast, cupping herself like she needed some relief to the aching desire we both felt. I’d give her everything she needed soon enough.
Rising, I kissed up her spine and over her shoulders, sweeping her wet hair aside so I could bite the muscle that connected her shoulder to her neck. It tensed under my teeth, and I licked the spot as I pulled away. She was so fucking perfect.
Juniper twisted in my arms. She grabbed my waist to steady herself and then dropped to her knees. My mind went blissfully blank as she looked up at me with eyes the color of ocean depths.
“Love, you don’t need to do anything,” I said, cradling her head .
She blinked. “You got to taste me. It’s my turn.”
Without waiting for my reply, she closed her mouth over the head of my cock. Her tongue swirled over me, and I had to throw out my hand to brace myself against the wall.
Without warning, she took me deeper, running her tongue along my shaft. When she pulled back, she sucked, her cheeks hollowing, and I let out a low curse.
She repeated the motion, and I swore my soul nearly left my body. I was not going to last, and even though I had every intention of fucking her several times before morning, this was too soon.
Panting, I used my hand in her hair to gently stop her. Her lips popped off my dick, and I had to take a steadying breath.
“Baby, you can do whatever you want to me later . Right now, I want to come inside of your perfect cunt.”
Her pupils expanded at my filthy words, the black overtaking the dark blue. I loved how responsive she was.
Reaching past her, I turned off the water. Grabbing the nearest towel, I dragged it over her body and mine. It was impossible to dry us off properly when she was pulling me down so she could kiss my neck. Each brush of her lips undid me, remade me as hers.
Forgetting the towels, I lifted Juniper until her legs wrapped around my waist again. It was only a few steps from the bathroom to my king-sized bed. I didn’t care that her hair was soaking wet. The sheets would dry quickly .
Her breath came out in a low whimper as I lowered her onto the bed. Unwilling to stop touching her for even a moment, I dropped to my elbows and let some of my weight press her into the mattress. She was so soft under me.
My little witch pulled my mouth down to hers, her kiss fierce and demanding. I poured all of my devotion into that kiss, giving her everything. She bit my lower lip, and my hips jerked, shoving my cock against her thigh.
Juniper broke the kiss. “Please fuck me, please.”
Groaning, I rested our foreheads together.
“I will, but I need to find condoms. I haven’t been with anyone in a couple of years, so I don’t exactly keep them on hand,” I muttered, hating myself for not picking some up as soon as I realized who Juniper was to me.
“I’m on birth control,” she said, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip as those expressive dark eyes searched my face. “And I got tested after we separated. I’m all clean.”
“Me too,” I murmured, resting my forehead against hers. “Are you sure? I’m sure Adrian has some.”
She was deadly serious. “You’re my fated mate. I’m sure.”
Hearing her call me her fated mate was intoxicating. I wanted to kiss and lick her all over, make her scream my name again and again, but right now, I felt like I would die if I didn’t bury myself inside of her so deep she never forgot the feeling of me .
“I love you,” I whispered.
Her lips parted to answer, and I sheathed myself in her heat with one thrust. Her back arched, pressing her breasts harder against me.
Fuck, nothing has ever felt so good.
I took a second to gather myself. She whimpered, pushing her hips against me. Reluctantly, I pulled out, only to thrust in deeper.
Juniper’s eyes squeezed shut at the intensity. I brushed her hair back. “Eyes open, little witch. I want to see you.”
Eyes like night stared back at me, her expression softening and lips parting as I rolled my hips. Each of her exhales came with a small whimper that sent sparks down my spine.
With each stroke, we strengthened our bond, turning the tether between our souls into unbreakable glowing gold.
I set a gentle pace, exploring what made her eyes glaze over and adjusting my position until she twisted the sheets in her hands, turning her head and panting. I needed to see her come undone.
Despite the urge to rut into her, I kept steady and was rewarded by her body tensing as she let out a wordless cry. Her inner walls clenched around my cock as she came.
I slowed, but her magic surged between us, and it felt so fucking good, I couldn’t hold back my orgasm. Knowing I was filling her with my cum sent another wave of pleasure through me as I stayed deep inside of my little witch.
Through the haze, I covered Juniper’s mouth with my own. Her tongue brushed against mine as our bodies slowed. As we broke apart, she let out a sweet little groan that I wanted to hear again and again.
I kissed her and then pulled out. She pushed up onto her elbows and watched me as I cleaned her up. Her eyes sparkled as she gave me a shy smile. A single tear trailed down her cheek, and I swiped it away with my thumb.
“What’s the matter, love?”
With a rough exhale, she rubbed the heel of her hand over the same spot. “Nothing, I’m okay. It’s just a lot of emotions.”
My chest tightened, that cord between us tugging. Gingerly, I climbed up the bed and settled beside her.
“Tell me what you’re feeling.”
She fit perfectly against me, and I couldn’t help pulling her closer. It took her a moment to gather her words, but I would stay here with her in my arms forever.
“I’ve never had a partner treat me like this, like I’m precious. You’ve been so gentle. I feel so safe and taken care of.” Another tear caught in her lashes. “Don’t get me wrong, I like when you’re rough, but this was exactly what I needed.”
“I’ll always give you what you need,” I murmured, kissing her forehead. “You might have to ask sometimes. I’m not a seer,” I joked.
She let out a breathless laugh as I wiped another tear from her flushed cheek.
“I’d do anything for you,” I said, needing to be sure that she understood me.
Her exhale was long and jagged. “We have some things to figure out.”
“Are you hungry?” I asked softly. If she felt overwhelmed, my instinct was to feed her.
“Not really,” she said. “Honestly, I’m super tired. There’s been a lot of magic back and forth, and then the crying, and then all of that mind-blowing stuff you just did to me.”
It worried me that she was so tired, but likely she hadn’t recovered fully from expending all of her magic earlier that day. After she rested, I’d make sure she got a full meal.
“Alright, rest, little witch,” I murmured, pulling my duvet up over us.
She nestled against me, her head on my favorite pillow and her damp hair splayed over my sheets. It was my fantasy come to life. It didn’t take long for her lashes to flutter closed and her breathing to even out.
I could have gotten up and taken care of whatever was needed, but I finally had Juniper in my bed, and I wasn’t going to miss a second of it. For ages, I watched her sleep, until finally I drifted off too.