Page 64 of Of Daggers and Deceit

“I know,” I whispered back, my hands drifting lower to grip his. “I was so stupid, Bodhi. So stupid, and I’m sorry for pushing you away. I’ve always wanted this with you. I just didn’t think I could have all my dreams living in this city.”

He didn’t speak, simply choosing to watch me. Anxiety simmered beneath my skin the longer he didn’t move or speak, though he didn’t pull or push me away. I needed to convince him.

“I understand if you can’t do this, if you don’t want this because of what I’ve done to you in the past. I’m sorry.” I lowered my head, an act I’d done often tonight.

His hips shuffled beneath me as he rose up on the palms of his hands, forcing my body to slide down his, now straddling the tops of his thighs. He moved closer until our breaths mingled and his nose nudged mine, prompting my gaze upward.

I followed his silent command.

“There is nothing in this world I have wanted more than this. It has been the worst kind of torture to have your dreams dangled in front of you every single day, but every time you try to reach for it and take it, they dance tauntingly out of your grasp,” he whispered, his breath spooling across my cheeks warming them.

I scarcely breathed, too afraid to move, though my fingers curled in on his stomach.

“But I need you to understand this, Raya. My dreams are to spend the rest of my life with you. To build a family and a home. To laugh and find joy and adventure within every day I might have left.”

I swallowed painfully. I didn’t want to think of death. I wanted everything he did. Not in the Haven, but outside of it.

His lips drifted to my ear. “But I fear that acting on those dreams will make you dance away from me again. So, tell me, Raya: is this what you truly want?”

I exhaled my held breath. I wanted everything he did, more than ever, but I knew we would never achieve them in the Haven, though we could outside of it. I turned my head towards his ear. I knew now. There was no longer any of the hesitation left that I once held.

“You are everything to me, Bodhi, and I want it all with you,” I confirmed fiercely before placing a gentle kiss to his neck.

I felt the heave of his chest against mine seconds before his mouth was at my neck, dragging his tongue along it. My lips parted.

He was scent marking me, a claim significant for an Alpha. He sucked at the skin there, soft at first, nipping teasingly at the flesh as I tipped my head back, relishing in his touch.

He huffed in satisfaction, his nose nudging my neck with every touch of his lips against my skin. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured, continuing his path down towards my collarbone.

My hand slid higher up his chest to wrap around the back of his head, his attention causing desire to stir low in my gut. Intuitively, I ground my hips down onto him, seeking more pleasure.

Without warning, he sucked hard on the skin at my neck, his teeth pinching the flesh but not piercing it. I cried out in surprise, the flick of his tongue quickly soothing away the pleasurable spike of pain.

Desperately, I turned my head and captured his lips with fervent intensity. We tumbled back down to the bed as his hands gave way and wrapped around my back, our lips never leaving each other’s.

My skin buzzed with every touch of his, like a healing balm to the wound my soul had endured earlier in the night, replacing any doubt with hope, dismay with wonder.

Bodhi’s hands stroked my thighs as we lost ourselves in each other’s touch. It was only a kiss, but it promised so much.

Everything about this moment felt natural, like we were always destined to fold together in this way.

His mouth left mine, his kisses dragging down my neck, his nose nudging my head to the side to allow him more access. My mouth fell ajar from the various sensations rippling through my body, his lips whispering sweet words against my skin.

“You’re mine now, Raya,” he murmured as he licked a trail up my neck, claiming my mouth again and preventing my reply.

My hands raked up the back of his head, stroking my fingers against his short hair, just the way he liked. I ground my hips harder into him, feeling the growing bulge between my legs.

Fingertips met my hips, stilling me as his kisses slowed and stopped. I lifted my head, a brief flare of panic renewing itself in me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to prevent my voice from heightening. Was he backtracking now?

“Nothing’s wrong,” he replied. “In fact, everything is finally right. But I,” he paused, taking a moment to think, “I had thought I was never going to catch you. I want to savour it and do everything right before we cross that boundary.”

I opened and closed my mouth. He was right in some ways, but I didn’t know if we had that kind of time. That aside, I drew away and blinked at him as he grabbed my hands and held them in his.

“I won’t ask what happened to you tonight, Raya, but I know something did,” he began, and my heart rate skipped up. “I swear, I can almost feel it, feel you, at times. That’s how aware I am of your presence.” His voice was a low murmur. “We have forever to learn each other in this new way, and I want to enjoy it slowly.”

Then, he leaned in and kissed me lazily on the mouth before drawing my body back down to the bed, tucking me in front of him, his body curled protectively around mine.

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