Page 90 of Blood Bound

“Darick,” she whimpers. “Please…”

Her hips rock against me, seeking friction. I slide a hand between our bodies, my fingers seeking out her most sensitive spot. When I find her clit, I circle it slowly with my thumb. Rowan gasps, her body jerking at the contact.

I continue my ministrations, alternating between light, teasing touches, and firmer pressure. Rowan’s breathing grows ragged as pleasure builds within her. Her fingers dig into my skin as she grinds against my hand.

“That’s it, beautiful,” I murmur encouragingly. “Let go for me.”

I increase the speed and pressure of my movements, sliding a finger into her slick channel and then watching in awe as Rowan comes undone above me. Her head falls back, exposing the graceful line of her throat. A flush spreads across her chest as she nears her peak.

“Darick!” she cries out as her orgasm washes over her. I feel her body tremble against mine, her inner muscles clenching rhythmically. The sight and scent of her pleasure is almost overwhelming.

As the aftershocks subside, Rowan slumps against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, pressing tender kisses to her hair. For a moment, we simply hold each other, basking in the intimacy of the moment.

But soon, the ache of my own arousal reasserts itself. Rowan must feel it, too, because she shifts her hips, aligning our bodies. The head of my cock nudges against her entrance, and we both groan at the contact.

“Please,” Rowan whispers again, her eyes locking with mine. “I need you inside me.”

I grip her hips, guiding her as she slowly sinks down onto my length. We both gasp as I fill her completely. The tight, wet heat of her body envelops me, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to thrust up into her immediately.

We stay still for a second, soaking in the intense sensation of our joining. Then Rowan begins to move, rising and falling in a steady rhythm. I match her movements, our bodies finding a perfect harmony.

As our passion builds, our movements become more frantic. Rowan rides me harder, her nails raking down my back. The slight pain only adds to my pleasure. I thrust up to meet her, driving myself deeper with each stroke.

I can feel my release approaching, but I’m determined to bring Rowan to climax again before I let go. I slip a hand between us once more, my fingers finding her clit. I rub it in tight circles, timing my movements to match our thrusts.

Rowan cries out, her inner muscles spasming around me. The added stimulation pushes her over the edge.

“Darick!” she cries as she comes again. The pulsing of her body around mine is too much to resist. With a final, powerful thrust, I follow her over the edge.

Wave after wave of pleasure crashes over me as I empty myself inside her. For a timeless moment, there is nothing but blinding sensation, and the feeling of Rowan’s body joined with mine.

As we come down from our shared high, Rowan collapses against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, holding her close as our breathing gradually returns to normal. I press tender kisses to her forehead, her cheeks; anywhere I can reach.

“That was…” Rowan trails off, seemingly at a loss for words.

“Incredible,” I finish for her. “You’re incredible.”

She lifts her head to meet my gaze, and the emotion I see in her eyes takes my breath away. There’s a vulnerability there, an openness that I’ve never seen from her before. In this moment, all of her walls are down.

“I love you,” she whispers, the words so soft I have to strain to hear them.

My heart, that cold, hard thing that’s served little use to me for so long, seems to stutter in my chest. For centuries, I’ve guarded myself against this very thing. Love is a weakness, a liability that immortals can ill afford. But now, I can feel it, and hearing those words from Rowan’s lips, I feel anything but weak.

“I love you too,” I respond. “More than I ever thought possible.”

Rowan’s eyes fill with tears, but she’s smiling. She leans in to kiss me softly, pouring all of her emotion into the gentle press of her lips against mine. When we part, I rest my forehead against hers, savoring our closeness.

For the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel truly at peace. Whatever challenges lie ahead – and I have no doubt there will be many – I know that we can handle them. Rowan has become my anchor, my home.

Sliding out of her reluctantly, I sink back onto the bed, taking her with me. As we lie there, tangled in each other’s arms, I allow myself to hope for a future I never dared dream of before. A future with Rowan by my side, facing whatever comes our way. It won’t be easy – nothing worth having ever is – but I know with absolute certainty that she’s worth fighting for.

I’ve given everything for her, after all.

I tighten my arms around her, inhaling her familiar fragrance. There will be time later for explanations, for sorting through the complexities of our situation. For now, I’m content just to hold her, marveling at the miracle of feeling her in my arms.

How the hell did we make it this far?

I watch Rowan’s chest rise and fall with each breath, marveling at the peaceful expression on her face. The tension that had lined her features earlier has melted away, replaced by a serene calm. My fingers trace lazy patterns on her skin, loving the warmth and softness I find there.

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