Page 34 of Oracle's Reign
He nodded.
“How about this? Right now, we aren’t talking about the empire or politics or what anyone else wants or expects. Right now, it is just you and me.”
“All right.” He stretched the words out, tilting his head to the side as he puzzled over her goal.
“I love you. I want to wake up next to you every day and spend the rest of my life with you.” She put a finger over his lips, stopping him from responding. She wasn’t done yet. “Will you marry me, Peroen?”
The question clearly took him by surprise. He didn’t seem to be able to form words. Then he gave up trying to speak and answered in the clearest way he could. His mouth met her hers, and it was more than a kiss. It was an act as necessary as breathing. She fell back against the bed, and he went with her.
It took considerable time before Peroen spoke. First, he helped her remove all her clothes—and his—and kissed everyinch of her. Then, he lined up their bodies and looked into her eyes. “Of course I’ll marry you, Yslie. You are the only future I’ll accept.”
She surged up, he thrust, and they lost themselves in the promise of the future they both wanted. She cried out his name as she came, muffling the sound against his shoulder. She held onto him, not wanting the moment ever to end. He didn’t stop, and it was too much, not enough, everything.
“My Yslie,” he growled against the curve of her neck. “Always mine.”
He bit her, right at the delicate curve where neck and shoulder met and she shattered once more. This time, the word that tore from her throat was “yours.”
Peroen’s release filled her, the sensation intensifying her own.
“Just to be clear,” Peroen grunted, long minutes later, “I’m yours, too.”
Her hand reached up, her fingers brushing over the indent his teeth had made in her skin. “I know. I’ll claim you next time.”
His eyes went dark as he watched her touch the mark. “Did I hurt you?”
She shook her head. “It felt wonderful. Though, I’m going to blush myself to death when we go back down for supper. I don’t think my tunic will cover this.”
“I’ll aim for somewhere less noticeable next time.” His gaze drifted lower, settling on her breasts.
Yslie shivered, as if he were already dragging his teeth against her flesh. She swallowed. “We should probably get up. Go tell Pianti and the others that we’re getting married.” Her brows drew together. “You are fine getting married faster than expected, right?”
“Yslie, I will marry you at any moment you choose.” His lips quirked up. “Though I advise you not to pick this very moment,as we still have some time before supper, and I don’t feel the need to rush downstairs to talk to anyone else yet.”
He traced a finger over the curve of her hip and kissed the spot between her breasts.
Unsurprisingly, they ended up being late for supper, but Yslie was too happy to die of embarrassment.
