Page 131 of A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers

"Say it again," I murmur against her mouth.

"I love you, Atlas." She moans, meeting my hungry gaze with one of her own.

"I've been in love with you since I kissed you in Bava," I admit.

"All this time?"

I nod and she crashes her lips against mine, tightening her legs around my torso.

I drag her away from the wall and carry her to the bed. Gently, I set her down and rip my jacket off before unbuttoning my dress shirt. I toss it on the floor, my eyes not leaving hers for a moment. I bare myself, scars and all, to her and she doesn't shy away. When she bites her bottom lip, something within me snaps and I'm ready to claim her as mine.

She sits up and reaches behind her back to unfasten her dress, but I'm not letting her do what I've been itching to do all night. I snatch her ankle and drag her to the edge of the mattress. Hovering above her, I drag my fingers down her legs until I reach the heels she's wearing. One after the other, I untie the ankle straps and flick the shoes over my shoulder. Her hands wander across my chest, down my shoulders and my arms. When she reaches for my pants, I pull back just out of her reach.

"Ah, ah, ah," I bend forward, leaving a trail of kisses from her neck down to her breastbone. "Don't be impatient."

"What?" she teases breathlessly, arching into my touch. "You don't want to see me naked?"

"I've waited a long time for this moment." My violet eyes meet hers as my shadows slip around her wrists, rooting her to the mattress. "I won't be rushed. I'm going to take my time with you, Strenlys." I kneel before her, pressing her legs apart.

"I thought you only bent the knee to your king." She smirks as my hungry eyes meet hers. To my delight, she involuntarily shudders as my fingers skim up her smooth legs.

"I'll kneel, crawl, do whatever it is you ask of me, so long as you're mine." I kiss her inner thigh and she moans lightly.

"Get me out of this dress," she curls her legs around my torso and squeezes. "Now."

"Impatient and demanding," I tease and slide above her.

"I want to feel you."

"You will," I promise, a wicked smile plays across my lips. "After I've had a taste."

I pull her dress up to her waist, dip my head between her legs, push her panties aside and thrust my tongue inside of her. She cries out, letting her head fall back. I lick her again and again and again. My cock hardens with each and every moan she whimpers.

"Atlas," she gasps, arching her back.

Although she's still pinned to the bed, my shadows split off to finger through her hair and caress her neck before slipping beneath the front of her dress and circling her pebbled nipples. She hisses and her eyes roll back. I lift her hips up, so I have a better angle and allow myself to feast on her. I haven't been able to shake the taste of her since our encounter in the cabin. I've thought of little else, craving her. She's mine. This woman is mine.

I slip two fingers inside as I stroke her with my tongue. Her legs tremble and I know she's close.

"Come for me," I command, her breathing fragmented.

"Atlas," she groans quietly, but I want more than whispers. I want this whole damn castle to know who she belongs to.

"Scream for me," I flick my tongue against her. "Scream my name and I'll let you come."

Her eyes shoot open and meet mine. "People will hear us," she says, her cheeks turning rosy.

"I know," I suck on her and enjoy how she shivers. "Scream for me, love, and I'll make you come."

I pump my fingers in and out of her faster, her slickness dripping down my hand and spilling onto the sheets. Her moans increase as my pace quickens. She grows louder as I flick my tongue over the right spot, and she throws her head back when my shadows pinch her nipples.

"Atlas," she gasps, "You're about to make me…"

"That's right," I bite her inner thigh. "Let everyone know that you're mine."

As she spills over the edge, she screams, and I don't make any effort to muffle her ecstasy. She clenches around my fingers, and I let her ride out her wave of pleasure before slipping my wet hand in my mouth for one last taste of her.

I get up from my knees and crawl over her, kissing her lips. "I love how you taste," I whisper in her ear. "Now take my cock like a good girl."

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