“I guess he’s right,” she yawns. “We should get some rest.”
I nod, feeling the urge to touch her but I hold back. Instead, I keep my eyes on hers, wrapping her in a shroud of comfort and safety. I feel it drift over her, making way through her doubts, questions, and fears, and calming the very essence of her soul.
Briar's eyes drift shut. Her lashes flutter, fanning against her pale cheeks. Slow, even breaths cause her chest to rise and fall. The soul bond calls to me and it's her sleep and relaxation that allows me to rest.
The trees and starry sky blur as my eyes follow suit. No sooner than I had drifted off, the sounds of waves crashing against the sandy shores of an unknown grove filled my ears. I open my eyes and look around me, finding rays of sunshine bathing the golden dunes in a blinding light. My feet sink into the warm sand as I follow the sound of feminine laughter. Raven locks bellow in the wind like a curtain of dark silk. A light blush dusts the same snow white features that haunt my every waking hour.
"Kane," Briar says happily. She runs over to me, skirts flapping in the wind. "You came!"
The excitement in her voice is punctuated by the force in which she leaps into my arms. Lips graze my neck and my mind goes blank for a moment. There are no shadows here besides those that rest in my eyes.
It's a dream. "This isn't real."
She pulls back, looking at me as if there is no fear or worry anywhere inside of her. "Why not?"
"Because my world isn't this bright," I reply. "The skies aren’t blue and the air isn’t scented with citrus and the salt of the sea. You don’t trust me and you aren't this sweet to me. You never look at me like this."
She playfully narrows her eyes. "How am I looking at you?"
The coy smile on her raspberry lips makes my heart beat faster. Like you could love me. My instincts tell me not to say anything so reckless, but I'd be lying if I said my heart didn't want to. "You look happy, Briar."
The lie tastes rank on my tongue. Briar doesn't suspect anything. Her smile only grows and she inches her way up my body, kissing me with a passion that is now familiar between us.
Before I can act, Briar pushes me toward the ocean. I stumble and splash into the frigid waters, choking and sputtering. My pride is wounded, but the swift press of my bride's lips stills my rage. I've never felt such peace, even before I became Death. Briars love is dangerous and tempting, wrapped in a pretty package of false hopes and danger.
Even so, I can't bring myself to care. Not here. Not in a world where we can be who we truly are without fear of judgement. I fist my hand in her hair, tilting her head to the perfect angle. I swallow her moan and gorge myself on the heady mixture of fear and longing. Small, delicate hands trace nonsensical patterns against my chest. I walk us out of the water and lower her to the sand. My body covers hers from head to foot, settling my weight on top of her without crushing her petite frame. I pull away to stare down at the woman who will be my wife, my queen, and watch as she bites her lip. My thumb pulls the plump, kiss-swollen flesh from between her teeth. I dip down and kiss her until I feel her toes curl against my back.
My fangs sink into her bottom lip. The sweet metallic tinge of copper fills my mouth. Briar’s taste is like a rare wine, perfectly aged with subtle notes of other flavors that intrigue my complex pallet. She arches off of the ground, chasing me down as I break the kiss once more. She swipes her tongue across her bloodied lip and groans. Her eyes flicker between blue and the familiar grey I’ve come to adore. Bright, white light surrounds her. I look beyond the thin veil that conceals her power. The sound of harps playing accompany the rustle of her enormous white wings. If only she could see herself through my eyes.
Briar lunges towards me, shoving me onto my back before she straddles my hips. She rocks against me experimentally and sucks in a harsh breath. The crackle of her power flows over us both and I feel intoxicated by it.
“Can you feel that?” she moans, tossing her head back as she grinds her core against my erection.
I clench my jaw so hard I fear my teeth might crack. My hands gently touch her hips but I give release, allowing her to take the reins for just a moment. Her body finds a natural rhythm as she chases that delicious friction that’s still so new to her.
I’ve never felt anything like it. The raw, animalistic sex I once had with Lilith can’t compare to this one act of submission. With Lilith there were teeth and claws, magic battling for dominance. But this isn’t about Lilith, this is about my queen, giving in to the pleasures we both long for so deeply.
I roll over, trapping Briar beneath me once more. My hands wrap around her wrists as I pin her hands above her head. Sweet, sweet, submission. Fear and excitement bridge us together. Her eyes drop to my lips and her obedience is rewarded with a soft peck. The most tormented moan rips from her chest and I open up the barriers, allowing our bond to complete the circuit. It sweeps me away with the force of a rushing river, carrying me towards an agonizing conclusion, but I’m helpless to stop
