Chapter 19 #2
“Gods, what’s happening?” My voice shook with panic.
When I tried to lift off of him, his fingers curled, his claws pinching but not breaking the skin at my hips.
His closed eyes opened, that fiery gaze more fierce than I’d ever seen it.
With gentleness, he rolled us until I was beneath him again, and he was still seated between my open thighs, his cock deep.
The intensity of his expression almost scared me. He used one hand to slide a damp lock of my hair off my cheek.
“I did not think the gods would do such a thing.” His voice was deep, serious, dangerous.
“What have they done?”
His hand slid into my hair until he cupped the back of my skull. “They have given you to me.”
His cock swelled more until I felt that sting of my virgin pain again. “Ow,” I cried, a tear slipping from my eyes.
“No, darling.” He swept his lips where the tear had fallen, kissing my cheek, whispering against my skin. “This pain will turn into pleasure. For it is a gift to us.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, crying now, for there was an overwhelming emotion sweeping through me that I didn’t understand.
“What you’re feeling is called knotting. It happens only between beast fae male,” he lifted his head to look me in the eyes, “and his gods-given mate.”
“What?” I scoffed. “That makes no sense.”
“You are angry at the gods? For giving you to a monstrous beast fae?”
“No, you idiot. I’ve simply never heard of such a thing. Tessa even told me no beast fae lord has ever bound himself to a light fae.”
“They haven’t. But the gods have done this, and that means only one thing, Jessamine.” His voice still verged on threatening, all while he soothed me with brushes of his lips along my jaw and throat.
“What does it mean?” I arched my throat, giving him better access.
“You are mine,” he growled. “And no one is going to take you away from me.”
It was a promise and a threat.
He began to slowly grind his hips against mine since the knot held his cock deep. Helpless to the ecstasy setting my body aflame, I hooked my heels at the back of his thick thighs and ground with him, chasing the pleasure that was sending me toward a second climax.
My fangs descended, the urge to sink them into his flesh an urgent compulsion. But I wasn’t sure if the naiad Zella had lied to me. What if it was poison? What if I was the monster my parents always said I was? I held back from that darker desire.
“Gods, save me,” I whispered, climbing higher and higher until that second orgasm ripped through me.
He rumbled a deep growl, his cock pulsing again, releasing a flood of his seed, allowing him to pump in and out again. His cock slid on a slick glide as his orgasm lasted longer than mine, a wet mess between my thighs when he was done.
I didn’t know what to think or say, for this wasn’t at all what I’d thought would happen. He stared down at me, holding his weight above me, sliding his cock out though I felt it heavy on the inside of my thigh.
“So,” I swallowed hard, “this means you are keeping me with the clan…even beyond winter?”
His stare reached into my very soul, those beastly eyes more serious than I’d ever seen them.
“This means I’m keeping you for always, Jessamine. Until death.” He squeezed my nape gently where he still cupped it. “Even if you leave me, I’ll follow. I’ll be helpless to it.”
Frowning, I asked, “Helpless? So the gods tell you to do something and now you’re doomed with a skald fae you never wanted?”
He chuckled and reached between my thighs, placing his hand over my mound, sodden with his seed. I jumped.
“I believe this proves I wanted you before the gods told me you were mine.” He gently slid the pad of one finger through the slick of my folds.
I moaned, my clit sensitive but a shiver of pleasure sliding through me anyway.
“So sensitive, is my mate.” He grinned, his fangs sharp.
“Stop teasing me.” I pushed his hand away.
He rolled onto his back and stood, laughing under his breath. I watched him, admiring his muscled buttocks, his tail swishing as he dipped the towel into the water and returned. He knelt beside me.
“Open your thighs, darling.”
While I was still embarrassed by his teasing, I opened them, helpless but to obey.
Helpless.
What were the gods thinking binding us together? His clan wouldn’t like it, even if he said he didn’t care.
Then he tenderly wiped between my thighs, thawing my heart further to him. He frowned.
“What is it?”
“There’s a bit of blood. More than I realized.”
“That happens for virgins.”
He arched a brow at me. “I’m aware.” He returned his attention back, gently dabbing at my sore flesh before he closed my thighs and tossed the towel aside. “I don’t like it.”
“Is Lord Redvyr squeamish at the sight of blood?” I teased.
He pulled a fur over both of us, hauling me against his chest. “I simply don’t like seeing your blood. It makes me angry.”
I soothed a hand down his chest until I heard that pleasing purr in his chest.
“I’m fine. More than fine.”
Pressing his mouth to the crown of my head, he whispered, “Truly? This doesn’t frighten you?”
“Oh, no. I’m absolutely terrified.” I turned my face up to his. “But as long as you’re with me, I’ll be fine.”
He pressed a soft kiss to my lips, coaxing my mouth open to taste me gently. “I’ll always be with you. That’s a promise.”
I settled against him, my cheek to his chest. I don’t remember if he said anything else, my mind drifting as I listened to his heart beating steadily beneath me, lulling me quickly into a dreamless sleep.