Page 151 of Ravenous

The incubus traced them from Ravinelun. The cave collapsed into nothingness as they tumbled through the dark to fall into hell, or whatever lay beneath it…

Chapter 58Meera

Only an hour left until the portal opened.

Her breath misted the cool air, her heart beating so hard she could feel it in her fingertips.

Lowell had no reason to think she’d come at all. Would he show anyway?

Mist ringed the base of the Mount like a pale moat, the ground silvered by moonlight.Will he show?The Skein seemed to hush with her anticipation, night creatures quieting as if to listen…

Footfalls sounded behind her.

She whirled around. Tears rushed hot to her eyes when she saw Lowell racing through the mist, joy carved across his beloved face.

“Ach, love, no tears.” He lifted her off her feet and spun her around until laughter shook both of them. “When I heard naught from you, I dinna dare hope.”

“Here I am. This step is huge for me, so see that I don’t regret it.” Emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Had he ever looked at her so consumingly? Had his eyes ever burned so green? She would make a thousand pacts with Hecate for even this one embrace.

Forehead against hers, he rasped, “I’m proud of you. So bloody proud, my ireful witch.” He set her down, hands framing her face. “We’re early, so I’ll bide my time by kissing you.” He pressed adoring kisses along her jawline, her cheeks, across the bridge of her nose.

Doubts dissolved as magic sizzled under her skin like a live wire. Then his mouth claimed hers, and heat roared between them. A struck match tipped to oil.

The kiss bruised and deepened. A maelstrom of desire and connectedness seemed to hit them both. They assailed each other. The moon heightened every gasp, every groan. Clothes fell away until they were naked under its light.

“I want you!” she cried against his mouth. “More than I’ve ever wanted anything. Can think of nothing but you.”

“I feel the same.” His voice was rough. “You’re a fever in my blood. I turned my back on everything tonight.” His people. His religion of matehood. “But I will no’ live without you.” Against her damp neck, he growled, “Say you’re mine. Say it!”

“I’m yours,” she whispered. “I devastated my life for you.”

A savage sound escaped him—pleasure, relief, possession. He kissed her like a male who’d found his forever.

When they broke for a breath, she said, “Take me, Lowell. Take what’s already yours.” She felt the way she did before casting a new spell: nervous but eager to enjoy the outcome. “It’s time.”

He swallowed thickly, nodding once. “I’ll claim your body under this moon.”

Their own form of claiming.

He cupped a breast, weighing it as his thumb circled her nipple. His other hand descended past her belly and slid between her thighs to find her slick and open. “Gods,” he groaned. “So wet for me.” He delved a big, hot finger inside her—slow, deep—readying her. With practiced precision, he worshipped her.

She wantonly rocked to his touch, glorying in the slick sounds. “More.”

He worked in a second finger, as he’d often done before. He’d been preparing her for exactly this. He’d once told her he would be her first. He was about to fulfill that vow.

Her body would regenerate from any injury except the slight one about to happen. She was ready for this step, soaking his palm. “Now, Lowell.”

He nodded and slipped his fingers free. He gripped her backside, clutching her curves. “This arse will be the death of me. I’ll need a thousand years just to work through my awe of it.” He lifted her with effortless strength, and her legs wrapped around his waist. “You sure about this?” He notched the broad tip of his cock against her entrance.

She nodded. “Positive.”

His gaze locked with hers as he lowered her onto him. “You took a chanceon me.” He gritted his fangs as he let her slide down, inch by inch onto his throbbing shaft. “You’ll never regret it.”

Her tightness was no match for slickness and gravity. When her virginity yielded, he shifted her slightly, then eased her down over his stiffened flesh.

Once she’d taken him as deeply as she could, pain pinched. She couldn’t hide a wince.

“I’m sorry, love.”