Page 155 of Protected in Darkness
“Tell me,” he urged.
“I love you, Obsidian.”
His head lowered, his lips brushing her neck as their bodies moved together as one. Her body knew exactly what it sought, her hips shifting with his, rocking, the two of them whole for the moment, complete. His love overwhelmed her. She could feel it, the weight of it as it shielded her from all sides, keeping her safe.
But there was something he was holding back.
Not his body. He gave her that willingly, easing the ache as he brought them both the release necessary to sate the heat. For a few minutes, Penelope allowed it to be her sole focus. Kissing his cheek, his neck, she borrowed Obsidian’s strength, willing him to feel the love she had for him. She wanted this. Not just now. For eternity.
It became clearer as they moved together, as his emotions seeped into her.
“Penelope…” Obsidian moaned softly. “Ayreme …love me.”
“I do,” she promised, holding on to him as the pleasure intensified, her core coiling tightly as it sought the release only he could give her. “Obsidian…”
He lifted his head, his silver gaze glowing brightly as he thrust harder, deeper. She was overwhelmed by it, completely surrounded by his love. It was the most incredible feeling, to know he would care for her, that he would pledge his life to her.
“I want this,” she whispered. “You. The mating. I want to be yours, Obsidian.”
She wanted it more than air. The conviction surprised her, almost as though it was coming from a part of herself she’d never connected with.
Obsidian’s movements became more frantic, driving deep inside her until she was blinded by the pleasure, driven higher than she’d ever gone before. And when her body shattered, she cried out his name.
His head fell back as he roared. She could feel him pulsing deep inside her as he succumbed to his release. Only then did the ache dissolve, her body becoming her own once more. How long that would last was anyone’s guess.
“What’s happening?” she asked, realizing his eyes weren’t returning to normal. They continued to glow brightly, even as he rolled off her, pulling her with him.
Penelope curled up along his side, draping her arm over his torso, holding him close.
He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I love you,ayreme.”
“Do you not want this, Obsidian? The mating?”
“It’s more than what I told you,” he whispered. “Not as simple as I made it out to be, Penelope.”
The torment in his voice had her lifting her head, meeting his glowing eyes. “What did you leave out?”
He swallowed hard, held her stare. “In order to turn…” He inhaled deeply, exhaled roughly. “Oh, God, Penelope…”
His breaths rasped harshly, as though he was choking back the emotion.
Cupping his face, she urged him with her eyes. “I’m willing to die for you,” Penelope assured him. She knew that was in the plan. But it didn’t matter.
“It’s not that simple.” His chest heaved, a strangled sob escaping. “I have to kill you, Penelope.”
Jerking back, she scrambled until she was sitting up. “Kill me? As in … what?” Because there was a big difference between putting her into an eternal sleep and shooting her in the head. Both were tragic and hard to wrap her mind around, but she was willing to succumb to the former. The latter … not so much.
He propped himself up against the headboard, stared straight ahead.
“It’s not only about you dying,” he growled. “It’s the act, the sacrifice.”
“My sacrifice?”
He shook his head. “Mine.”
Frowning, she waited him out.
“Death isn’t meant to be fun,” he growled.
