Page 45 of Fae's Mate
“Oh.”
“But if this is what you want… I will give you anything.”
“I wantyou,” I admit.
“Then you shall have me,” he promises, dipping his head to kiss me again.
My heart thunders in my chest as his mouth consumes me and I can barely breathe. My mind tries to focus on what he said; that this is usually the part where I accept the bond, but I can’t think straight. His mouth, his body, his scent, it is all so distracting. His entire presence overwhelms me, and my thoughts fog as I lose myself in him.
I reach between us and unbutton his jacket. His mouth doesn’t leave mine, as I peel the sides away from him, and he wrestles his arms from the sleeves, tossing the jacket on the floor.
Reaching down, I press my palm against his erection before I work the laces. His mouth pulls away for a moment as he sucks in a breath.
He grits out my name, his voice full of desire, before his lips are back against mine. I push my thumbs under the waistband of his trousers and slide the fabric over his hips. He isn’t wearing anything underneath, and as his trousers fall to his ankles, I know I have unleashed his cock, but I dare not look down, not yet.
As he steps out of them, he reaches around me and tugs at the laces down my back. He makes quick work of them and before I can catch my breath; he is peeling the dress away from my shoulders as I tug my arms free. The fabric momentarily gathers at my waist before falling to the floor in a pool of apricot tulle and I am bare before him. He reaches behind him, and tugging on the collar of his shirt, pulls it over his head and discards it along with the rest of our clothes.
I let my eyes drop, as his hands come to rest on my bare shoulders, taking in the broad expanse of his chest, the soft fair curls covering it, and the sculpted muscles below. Every inch of him is toned to perfection, as if he has been entirely carved from wood, smooth and hard, and begging to be touched. I can’t help myself. I run a hand from his shoulder, down his chest, fingers resting on his abs, which ripple under my touch. My eyes drop lower, to the pulsing erection between us, his prominent head already beading, and the sight of it makes my mouth water, and my corethrob. He is breathing just as heavily as I am, and when I look back up at him, he is assessing me with the same heated adoration as I am him.
He kisses me quickly, then leads me by the hand towards his bed. I momentarily admire his broad shoulders, muscular back and tight backside, before he peels back the sheets and clambers into bed. Rolling to face me, he holds the sheets up while I slide in beside him.
I shimmy closer, and he leans over me, tenderly brushing the hair from my face and the way he looks at me…
His expression is so tender and full of… is that love? All this time I had thought it was only lust, but even as I think it, I know that isn’t true. The connection between us is real and goes deeper than physical attraction. Acknowledging the fact, only emphasizes that I have been denying it.
He snakes a hand around my waist, his touch sending sparks across my skin, his fingers gently tracing up my spine.
I look at him then, really look at him; the warm russet of his eyes, the thick golden-brown curls that frame his handsome face. His palm skims over my hip and down my thigh, leaving branded skin in its wake. His fingers glide along the inside of my knees, then higher, tickling along my inner thigh. The anticipation makes me tremble.
Unbeckoned, my mind considers the moment I leave this realm to return home. The thought of it… it’s as if someone has plunged a knife into my chest. My heart seizes and my eyes water, as I realise I cannot leave him.
“Wait,” I whisper, as I wind an arm around his waist and press a palm to his chest, right over his heart. His wandering hand pauses.
“You’re right. Our first time together should be when we accept the bond.”
His brow furrows as he considers my words. “Seki,” there’s a strange sort of agonised look on his face. He really was going to forsake tradition for me. “There is no rush. I won’t force you to decide—”
“I know,” I tell him gently, pressing my palm to his cheek.
I take a deep breath, readying myself to take the leap. “I’m terrified,” I confess.
“You needn’t be,” he soothes, his hand gently caressing my thigh.
I can’t help but smile at him. He hasn’t realised yet what I am trying to tell him. I quickly kiss him before continuing.
“I’m terrified ofleaving. I was so sure that’s what I wanted, but… I thought about it and… just the thought of leaving you breaks my heart. It’s ridiculous. I have known you for little more than a fortnight, but I…” I swallow the lump in my throat as my thumb caresses his cheek. “I want you to claim me,” I whisper.
Shock tears across his face. “Don’t tease me Seki,” he pleads.
“I’m not teasing you,” I promise. “I’ve made my decision.”
I plant a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth as he stares at me, disbelief twisting his handsome face.
“You mean it? You really mean it?”
“I mean it,” I confirm, beaming up at him.
“Oh Seki,” he breathes, his eyes watering as he leans down to kiss me. “My Seki, my mate.”
