Page 139 of Dark Fate

The room is thick with his grief and the curl of steam, our collective woes crafting an atmosphere that's almost got a personality of its own, heavy enough to lean on.

"Angel, stop."Rhylandyanks me right into the tub with him; more water spills out the sides. I land smack on top of that hard, tattooed chest of his. He gets a firm hold on my hair at the nape, making damn sure I'm staring straight into those deep blue seas of his. "This ain't your load to bear—Gods, I knew I should've kept that shit to myself," he exhales long and hard, his eyes losing that fierce edge, going all gentle like a calm after the storm.

Tears are winning the battle, turning me into a sob-fest extraordinaire, every bit of his past torment echoing through me. "No—don't ever keep things from me,Rhyland." the pain starts again, and tears have a mind of their own, "I-just. I hurt…it hurts….so much for what happened to you."

It's the damn bond; I'm feeling every high and low of his, and he's riding the waves of mine—A bond that, as it turns out, is solely the product of his magic and blood—a crucial detail I need to hash out with him—the whole Soul-Tie situation.Rhyland's eyes search mine, and he's holding me tight against him, fingers of one hand buried in my hair, the other hand firm on my chin, and then—his lips crash against mine. It's like he's out to consume all the air I have. His kiss is a fierce mix of agony, love, loyalty, and recognition.

"Then I'll just have to make you stop," he vows, breaking just long enough to steal my breath and give it back in the space between us.

"Y-yes, plea—" My words are abruptly snatched away, severed before they can fully form asRhyland's growl rumbles through his chest as he rises, clutching me to him like I'm the last solid thing in a spinning world, striding into the bedroom. My clothes are nothing but tatters in seconds, shredded by hands that can't bear a second more of separation. His kisses are fervent, charged with a hunger born from too damn long a wait. I'm there matching his urgency, giving as good as I get because hell, I'm done waiting, too.

Danica

65

His lips trace a fiery trail across my skin, his tongue exploring every inch of my body. I’m burning up from the heat radiating off him. He finds my nipple and sucks it into his mouth, sending electric sparks through my entire being. My back arches as I run my hand through his unruly hair, urging him to take me completely.

He pushes me back onto the bed, spreading my legs with his own, nestling between them.

“Don’t cry for me,Angel. I will endure any pain, any suffering, for you—for us.”

My heart aches with profound sorrow, consumed by the urge to weep. The thought ofRhylandenduring unimaginable cruelty tears at my soul. His unwavering devotion and unyielding love have captured my heart so completely that it feels as though it rests in his gentle hands—and that's where I want it to remain forever.

His dedication to us is a force so powerful it humbles me. That he would willingly endure heinous torments to protect our bond and future testifies to the depth and purity of his love. It’s a love that transcends pain and fear, willing to sacrifice everything for our connection.

I realize now my heart is no longer my own, and I have no desire to reclaim it. It belongs wholly toRhyland, just as he belongs to me. Our souls are irrevocably intertwined by a love that knows no limits and fears no darkness. As I gaze upon this beautiful, broken warrior who fought so valiantly for our love, I silently vow to cherish and protect the precious gift he has given me—his heart, his devotion, and his unbreakable spirit.

“The only tears you’re gonna shed,” he says, voice thick with a promise, and kisses my lips. “Will be from nothing but pure pleasure.”

I’m craving his pleasure like a junkie in need of a fix. I’m talking about that mind-blowing, earth-shattering, panty-dropping kind of love that consumes every inch of your being—I swear, those lips must be laced with some addictive substance because one taste, and I’m hooked, desperate for another hit.

And his promises? Damn, the way he whispers those sweet nothings in my ear, his hot breath sending electrical currents through me... it’s enough to make a girl weak in the knees. I need those whispered vows of devotion like I need air to breathe, clinging to them like a lifeline in the midst of all this chaos.

His touch, presence, and unwavering devotion are the anchors I cling to in the tempest of emotions that threaten to sweep me away—I’m ready to get lost in everything that is him and let our passion be the glue that holds me together when everything else seems to be falling apart.

His mouth devours me, lips and tongue tracing wet trails down my neck. With one hand, he pins my wrists above my head, his hold unyielding as he savors every inch of my skin. I moan uncontrollably as he ravages me with his passionate kisses, igniting a fire within me that cannot be tamed.

Jesus! I’m already getting wet just from his skilled mouth alone. Seriously, this man has a knack for revving my engine with the slightest touch or teasing kiss. It’s like he’s got a direct hotline to my libido, and he’s not afraid to dial it up to eleven.

I swear, he could probably make me come with little more than a smoldering look and a well-placed whisper. It’s almost unfair how easily he can set my body ablaze with desire, leaving me aching for more of his delicious stimulation.

His hand snakes between my trembling thighs, his fingers instantly finding my throbbing center. “Fuuuck,” he growls in a low, lustful voice. “You’re dripping,baby.” He expertly circles my swollen clit, sending waves of pleasure through my body.

Without warning, he plunges deep inside me, filling me with his thick cock that steals my breath away. Our eyes lock—his a fiery passion and love that drives me wild.

I wrap my legs around his hips, begging for more of him. This is our language of love—raw, passionate, and unbridled. But he’s in control, moving slowly and deliberately to make sure I feel every inch of him inside me. My breath hitches as he hits that perfect spot deep within me, sending shockwaves of ecstasy through my body.

“You’re the anchor that keeps me from going overboard, my damn salvation, and the love I never thought I’d find or even fuckin’ deserve.”Rhyland’s ocean-blue eyes are aflame with passion and desire as they cut through to my very soul. “You’re the light that cuts through my darkness, my fire, and all fucking mine.”

“Yours,” I whisper against his lips.

His deep, rumbling words stake his claim over me, igniting an inferno of desire within my core. Each possessive declaration, each dominant command, is a spark to my already smoldering passion, setting my body and soul ablaze with need.

His assertion of ownership, his unwavering authority over me, is an aphrodisiac like no other. It intoxicates me, a potent elixir of his unyielding dominance and my own wanton submission.

I crave his mark, branding me with his words and bite. Every growled "mine" and forceful "you belong to me" is a delicious reminder of our unbreakable bond and primal connection.

I’ll never tire of being claimed so completely by my Viking king. I hunger for the thrill of surrendering to his dominance, of being wholly owned by this powerful, magnetic man.

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