Page 31 of Sacrifice

“Ah, fuck…I’m gonna—” I cut off, choking out the words. “I’m close.”

“Inside me…please,” she begs.

That’s all it takes.

Her begging, her need…it’s my undoing.

I explode with a force that rattles my bones, her name a raw growl from the depths of my throat. Aisling clings to me, her nails digging into my back, branding me as hers. This is more than just flesh and heat; this is a melding of souls in the most carnal way. Her taste lingers on my tongue—complex, intoxicating, the kind of flavor that marks a before and an after.

“Rook,” she gasps against my mouth, her breath hitching.

“Shh, love…” I soothe, even as I struggle to catch my own breath.

Our bodies remain locked together, gradually descending from the high. She’s still pressed against the cold wall, her legs wound tight around me, her dress a bunched up mess of fabric at her waist. Our chests heave in synchrony, her heartbeat pounding beneath my palm.

“Couldn’t wait,” she murmurs, her voice laced with the remnants of urgent need.

“Good.” My lips brush against her sweat-slicked forehead. “Don’t ever wait for this…for us.” My voice is thick with emotion, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us like the humidity before a storm.

Aisling smiles, that wicked, wanton smile that speaks of shared secrets and broken rules. In her grey eyes, there’s a spark—a promise of chaos and comfort all rolled into one. I can’t help but mirror her expression, knowing full well the danger and delight she offers.

“Never again,” she whispers, sealing the vow with a kiss that’s soft now, tender, a stark contrast to our earlier fervor.

But it’s no less powerful, no less meaningful.

It’s a new beginning, a pledge written not in words, but in every touch, every look, every shared breath that says we belong to this moment…

…and to each other

Chapter fourteen

Aisling

The room feels like a cocoon, all soft shadows and hushed tones. Rook and I are tangled in each other—skin to skin, breath mingling. His chest rises and falls against my back, a calming rhythm in the aftermath.

“Hey,” he murmurs, his voice rough with the remnants of earlier exertions.

“Hey yourself,” I reply, my words floating on a contented sigh. The lamp on the bedside table casts a golden halo around us, and for a moment, it’s like we’re the only two people left in this screwed-up world.

His fingers trail over my shoulder, a light touch that sparks tingles across my flesh. He’s careful, always so careful, as if he understands the raw edges beneath my surface. Maybe he does; maybe that’s why I’m here with him now, instead of with my pack.

I need this…his gentleness, his care.

Fuck, I can’t believe I waited this long.

“Your hair’s a mess,” he teases, brushing a stray blonde lock from my face.

“Guess you’re to blame for that,” I shoot back, rolling to my other side to face him. Our noses brush, and we both chuckle before our lips meet. It’s a soft kiss, not one of those earth-shattering ones—you know, where the world fades and all that. No, this is different.

More like a promise whispered in the dark.

We pull back slightly, our foreheads resting together. I can feel his smile without seeing it.

“Didn’t peg you for a romantic,” I whisper, my lips curving into a smile that feels strangely vulnerable.

“Only for you, Stargazer.” His thumb caresses my cheek, and I lean into the touch, savoring the warmth.

“Good answer,” I murmur, closing my eyes and letting myself just be—for once, not an omega with power or a pawn in some game.

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