“An alternate future? You've lived an amazing life, Vervain.”
“It's only just beginning.”
I turned to straddle him and lowered my lips to his. And I finally let myself fully enjoy our kiss. I let myself feel it; feel everything I'd been denying. I moaned into Viper and rubbed against his sleekly muscled chest. Viper's breath quickened as he rolled me onto my back, covering my body with his. We both knew it was time; there had been enough waiting. The barriers were finally down and there was only one more line to cross.
I ground up against his hardening shaft as I squeezed his ass to draw him forward, and Viper started to undo my robe as he settled between my thighs. The passion that had been building between us trembled along my skin, driving me into nearly mindless need. But then Viper pulled back and stared down at me.
“Do you love me, Vervain?” Viper asked urgently, his gaze roaming my face. “Have you finally accepted us? Or are you doing this to get back at them?” His jaw hardened. “I love you too much to waste this moment on vengeance. If this isn't love for you, I'd rather wait.”
“I just needed one last push,” I whispered gently. “I needed to see their treachery once more before I let them go and let myself love you.”
“Say it,” he growled and brushed his lips over mine. “I need to hear the words.”
“I love you, Viper.”
Viper made a rumbling, satisfied sound deep in his chest as he flung my robe open then reared back and tossed the covers aside. With anxious hands, he pulled the robe out from beneath me and tossed it away too. I waved a finger and his pants disappeared in a much easier fashion. Viper chuckled, a deep, masculine, virile sound, and then kissed me again. Triumphantly. Ferociously. Adoringly. So much emotion was in his kiss that I couldn't translate it all. I reeled beneath his love, thoughts jumbled as he eased out of our kiss to make his way down my throat and to my breasts. I sighed as he took his time there, caressing and kissing me until I writhed beneath him.
Viper lifted his head to declare, “I love you, Vervain,” then he lowered himself between my thighs and started lavishing all of that love on me.
Fists gripping the sheets, hips rocking up into Viper's kiss, and lips parted on cries of rapture, I let myself fall into the well I'd been hovering over for so long. I forgot about the men who had betrayed me, and the husband who still waited for me in Faerie. I forgot about conquering the world. I forgot about the war with the Gods and that with the humans. All I could hold in my mind was the man I held in my arms. Sin black hair, poison green eyes, and a tongue that was proving his name wasn't just about his magic. I clutched my new lover to me as I cried out that name, telling him over and over that I loved him at last. That this was real. Our love was real. And I was going to hold onto him with every piece of magic in my soul. I would never let this man go.
My viper. My vicious lover. My star god pulled from the Void, come to me through magic and will and liberation. Our love would outlast the stars that were his namesake. It would outlast war and hatred and betrayal. When everything was gone, there would still be this steadfast emotion between us.
“Viper,” I whispered, “it's time.”
My reborn lover surged up and into me at my urging, his shaft parting my sex to merge us in the most primal way. The way of creation. The way of Gods. The way of lovers. We cried out together through the bliss of that sacred union. Then Viper started to move inside me; sleek as a snake and deep as a sword. I impaled myself on his body; took him into me and accepted our love at last. And it was beautiful. Opening my heart to Viper freed me in so many ways.
I clawed him closer, my breaths coming more and more rapidly, and then rolled him onto his back and rode him hard. Passion had me in its grip, and I wouldn't deny it this time. I was grabbing onto it with both hands and daring it to buck me off. Viper held my hips and watched me, eyes glowing with magic and love. I ground my sex against him as I leaned my head back luxuriously, my hair pooling over his thighs. Ecstasy spread beneath my skin, setting me to trembling. So near. Just a little further. A little deeper.
“Vervain, I'm close,” Viper panted.
I sped up even more, our flesh slapping together, and when our climax took us at last, I struck instead of him. Teeth lengthened into fangs, I took my lover's throat in my jaws and bled him. His essence poured into me; blood in my mouth as he came in my sex. Life. Full of life; full of Viper. His blood opened his mind to me, revealing his recent memories and emotions. I saw myself through Viper's eyes; lying beside Trevor. I felt Viper's aching sorrow; the agony of watching me with men I had loved. The fear and panic of facing men who I'd chosen long before I had called his soul to me. And I got glimpses of that soul in the memories that rose inside him while he had watched me. Viper wandering the Void, restless despite the peace of that realm. Anxious to be reborn but certain that he couldn't leave until she came. Until he heard her call. Then he felt me there; the touch of my magic on him. The touch of my soul on his. And he had
