Page 186 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

“Who do you belong to?” he growled, pulling out and thrusting deep again.

“You.”

Another deep, powerful thrust that had me crying out and my body rippling around his cock.

“Again,” he demanded. “Tell me again.”

His hips snapped again, the brutal thrust hitting that spot inside me that had me damn near crying in pleasure.

“I’m yours! I’m yours! I’m yours! I’m yours!”

Only moans left my mouth, but I knew he heard the words by the way he pounded into me a fraction harder. His hand moved between us, his thumb pressing on my swollen clit, circling it. The noises leaving my throat weren’t mortal or from any known language. My skin prickled with heat, and pleasure shot from my core to my toes. He dipped his head and bit down on my nipple hard enough to send jolts of electricity to my very center. I screamed and clenched around him as he slammed into me, his thumb pressing down on my clit. My body shuddered, and I came apart.

“Samkiel!”

He gripped my hips in both hands, holding tight, making sure I stayed on him as I shattered around him. He growled and pulled out, fighting my body’s hold on him. Without pausing, he thrust back into me, so deep this time my belly clenched. Another orgasm washed over me, my body clamping down so hard on him he groaned. My name tore from his lips as I felt his cock twitch inside of me, but it was what I heard in my head that melted my heart.

“My akrai. My Dianna. My love.”

SEVENTY-FOUR

DIANNA

“Are you sure that food is even good?” I asked.

His laugh echoed inside the large ice box. I placed my hand under my chin, watching the muscles flex across his back and admiring the tiny red scratches marking his skin. He turned, his arms full, and bumped the door closed with his hip. My lips twitched when I saw that more scratches marred his chest, along with a scattered pattern of bite marks across his neck. An overwhelming sense of pride filled me. I’d marked him.

“Mine.”

His eyes flicked to me, a soft smile playing on his lips.

“You read my mind?”

He didn’t say anything as he set the assortment of fruits, vegetables, and greens on the table. They were so colorful, a few colors I’d never seen before. I sat back down on the wooden bench, wincing at the ache between my legs.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his eyes watchful.

“Yes.” I smiled back. “Just a little sore, but good sore. Happy sore.”

“Ah.” Pure male satisfaction filled his eyes, and he smiled to himself. He flicked his wrist, and an ablaze dagger formed in his hand. I had never seen this one.

“Good sore,” he repeated smugly.

I shook my head. But even I had to admit that he had a right to his cockiness. He had made good on his promise from earlier, and our wedding night had turned into our wedding morning, then afternoon and evening. Now here we were, finally in the kitchen after he’d fucked me into oblivion and back.

I rested my chin on my hand, watching him cut up the assortment of food. The long wooden table could host up to fifty, but it seemed more for serving or prep work. The kitchen was massive, but I knew it was nothing compared to the actual dining hall. A metal rack hung above a massive stove, dust-covered pots and pans hanging from it. Samkiel had said the place smelled rancid when he’d found it. He had cleaned up and gotten rid of the worst of it, but dust and debris still littered the floor.

“Did I tell you I forgive you for leaving me again?” I asked as he chopped and minced, placing the assortment in a different bowl.

“Yes.” He smiled, glancing up at me. “But I promise I won’t again.”

I knew he wouldn’t. It was strange but familiar, the bond between us finally being the closest it could be without the marks.

In between bouts of lovemaking, we had talked, and I told him everything. I felt his pain over the loss of our mark and the still-aching wounds my lies had created in his heart. I told him about seeing Gabby and how, even though I loved it, I knew it was the final time I would see her. He shared the burden of those bittersweet emotions, kissing away every tear I shed. Now, there were no more secrets between us, and I intended to keep it that way.

I smiled at him as he picked up the bowl and moved to the stove, continuing to make whatever it was he was making. I knew he was starving after our eventful two days. My eyes dropped to the healed bite mark on his left pectoral. I definitely wasn’t hungry anymore.

I raised up on the bench slightly, watching him for a moment. “Samkiel, this place still isn’t exactly clean. Are you sure that food is safe?”

---