Page 184 of XOXO

That’s what I was.

Lucky to see such a beautiful woman before me, ready to give me anything and everything I ever wanted. With the heart of a saint, the body of a goddess, and the soul of a warrior, Ember was nothing less than an image of perfection.

Her expression showed the tremendous amount of love she held for me—a completely immeasurable amount which was never bound by simple words, nor used against me for personal gain.

She offered me her affection with no expectations of anything in return.

Even though I was twice her size and had extraordinary Vampire strength, she would throw herself into the face of death to save me.

I’m not sure if she knew her love had already saved me . . .

More than once.

It saved me from the unhappiness that was once my jaded life.

It rescued the relationship I had with my father.

And when the time came, and I needed her blood to survive, without hesitation, she slit her wrist and fed me, bringing me back to this realm.

Her love did that. Her love gave me life.

And then our souls bonded, entwining as one.

Now written on the map of time . . . carved into the strongest stone . . . stamped on my tender heart . . . and burned into our souls, our love was everything, causing me to yearn to be fed nothing but it for eternity.

I cherished our bond.

Nourished it even.

I basked in our love, consuming it any chance I had, never getting my fill.

Always longing for more.

Always needing more.

Her love was everything, and I knew I wouldn’t survive a single day without it.

“Are you okay, Val?”

Her tender voice brought me back to reality. My heart fluttered, beating against my chest like a thousand horses on fresh soil.

Not wanting to concern her, I swallowed down my feelings. “I’m okay, my hertis rote.”

The term of endearment meant heart’s root, because that’s what she was.

Like the tree of life, her love sustained the roots to my heart, making me feel like my life meant something—worth more than a mountain of gold.

She owned my heart now, and as I peered into her face, her mouth curled at the corners, her compassionate smile assured me it would forever be safe with her.

And that made me lucky.

She was mine.

And I . . . was lucky.

Shaking off my daze, I dragged my eyes away from her face, ready to continue worshiping her body.

Curling two fingers, I dipped them into her opening, collecting some of her juices. When I pulled my fingers out and spread her wetness up her center, stopping at her clit, the muscles on her thigh twitched. I tipped my head down, kissing the quivering skin, making my way toward the apex of her legs.

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