I brush his lips with mine as I trail my hands lower down his sculpted abs. His hands graze my nipples, and a glorious sensation ripples through my core.
“Get on the bed,” he growls.
“Make me,” I whisper into his lips.
As he lifts me with ease, my back hits the bed, and he’s on me in a moment. I curl my legs around his hips, pressing him further onto me. He glides his cock up and down my folds.
“You’re so wet for me,” he whispers.
“And you’re wasting time. I want you, Torque. Hard and fast. Give me what I crave, and then we can whisper sweet nothings.”
He lines himself up, then thrusts inside. I cry out in pleasure, getting used to the sensation of being filled, and then he moves.
His strokes are powerful, slamming into me, my breasts bouncing between us. He leans down and pulls one of my nipples into his mouth, the additional sensation driving me wild.
I grab onto his hair and pull, positioning his head to look at me. His fangs descend, and his eyes glow with fire. I push a bit of magic down the bond, watching as he jerks from the shock.
A snarl comes out of him, and he flips me over on my stomach so fast I barely have time to brace myself. He slips in, pumping hard. The sound of skin slapping echoes around the enormous room.
This angle lets him hit the exact spot I need. Peering over my shoulder at my mate, I touch myself. My sensitive nub responds right away, and I buck at the contact.
“Come for me, little witch. I want to see you shatter.”
I match his thrusts, slamming against him and adding to the momentum. One more brush of my fingers and stars burst inside my eyes as I squeeze them shut.
My release comes in waves, crashing me over the surface again and again. Torque slows his pace to stretch out my orgasm, but when I clench around him, he can’t help himself.
After several deeper strokes, he comes with a moan, collapsing on top of me. Our bodies tangle together, and I find my head propped on his chest and my leg wrapped around him.
“That was more than I could have ever imagined,” he says, kissing the top of my head.
“Yeah, it was okay.” I try to hide my smile in his chest.
He squeezes my side, and I let out a laugh. He continues to tickle me until I’m out of breath and threatening to use my knife.
“You’re beautiful like this. Your laughter makes my heart full.”
“You mean naked and underneath you?” My smile won’t go away. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. It’s lifted a dark cloud from my shoulders. For once, I can breathe.
“I’m fond of that, too, but seeing you this comfortable and at ease with me is everything I could have hoped for.”
He kisses me on my nose and eyes before coming back to my lips. It’s such a sweet gesture that it makes me squirm with discomfort. I’m not used to someone showing me affection.
“I should probably go,” I say after he breaks the kiss.
“You’re staying with me. Now that I’ve had you, I won’t let you go again. You are mine, Anima, and I am yours, always.”
Sitting up in the bed, I pull the surrounding sheet up to my chest. “I want this, Torque, but I’m not used to this.”
“You mean someone loving you?”
My mouth opens in a large ‘o’. “What did you say?”
“I said, I love you. I’m not afraid of my genuine emotions, and you shouldn’t be either. Open yourself up to the bond and look deep inside. You’ll find me there, a constant.”
I close my eyes and listen to our bond. It flows through all of me, giving me comfort and making me feel warm and safe inside.
I let out a sigh of relief as I fold myself back into his arms. “I didn’t know magic like that exists.”
“It’s the fated mate link. You can only ever experience it with someone you’re mated to. As we grow closer, it will become stronger, and you won’t have to look for it. It will always be there.”
I wrap my arms around him a little tighter, taking in the comfort that I will never be alone again. This may be new to me, but, for once in my life, I’m going to do something for myself and not because others tell me to.
Fourteen
TORQUE
She falls asleep in my arms moments after she connected the bond. I can’t help but squeeze her tighter as I watch her breathing. She’s all I’ve ever wanted in a mate, and now that we’ve explored each other, it’s all I want to do.
Forget wars or reigning kings. I want to squirrel her far away, where no one can find us. Live our lives in peace. Maybe have children and grow old together. Nothing is more important now.
Thunder rumbles, and lightning strikes to lighten up the sky. The wind blows harder into the room and pulls open the curtains.
A giant crack sounds, and I’m up and to the window before it ends. Outside in the darkness, fire is moving toward the castle. The forest is lit up, a blaze overtaking the sky.
People file out of the castle, but as soon as the gardens are full of revelers, they creep from the shadows. Soldiers wear my brother’s coat-of-arms across their chests.
“What happened?” Anima asks, lifting my arm so she can get a better look.
As soon as she realizes what’s going on, she throws open my closet and rifles around. “What are you looking for?” I ask, pulling on a pair of pants and a t-shirt. I can fight in anything; my blood armor will protect me.
“Clothes. I’m not wearing a dress to fight.”
She pulls a pair of boxers out of the drawer and throws a t-shirt over it. She ties it in a knot at her side, so it’s form-fitting. Forgoing
