Page 134 of A Broken Throne of Bronze

Chapter Thirty-Five

Viridian opens my chamber door slowly and steps inside. Without turning around, he presses it shut behind him before making his way to me.

I rise to meet him, and his lips find mine. His arms circle me, and the safety I feel while he holds me is unparalleled. I press my palms to his chest, gripping his shirt.

He breaks from the kiss, touching his forehead to mine.

“How is your father?” he asks, voice low.

“He’s all right.” I sigh. “For now.”

But that could change any minute.

Viridian hums in agreement, as if he knows what I’ve left unsaid.

“And Acantha?”

“She’s well,” I say. “She’s strong.”

His hand finds my face, thumb brushing back and forth against my cheek. “That seems to run in the family.”

My mouth curves into the hint of a smile.

“How are you?” Concern tightens his mouth. “I know things were…” he pauses. “Not well between us when you left.”

Now, finding his eyes, I smile. “I’m perfectly all right, now.”

His mouth perks up. “I’m glad.” Then his expression turns serious. “Would you like to talk tonight? About what you saw?”

“No,” I murmur, my eyes falling to his lips. “That can wait until tomorrow. Right now,” I say, my body thrumming with desire, every trace of fatigue stowed away for the moment, “I want to kiss you.”

He raises his brows, expression darkening. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” I say. Then, placing a hand to the back of his neck, I pull his face down to mine.

We collide. His mouth is no longer gentle, no longer soft. No, now, he kisses me with such need, it’s as if I am the only thing in the universe that will ever quench his undying thirst. I run my hands through his hair, grabbing fistfuls of it while I draw him in, closer. He responds, arms snaking around me and clutching my torso.

“Please,” I breathe. Right now, there’s only one thing on my mind. One thing I so desperately need. “Let me have you. All of you.”

“Are you sure?” Viridian’s voice constricts, the way it does when he’s anxious or unsure of himself. “You know what this means. Once it’s in place, the mate bond cannot be broken.”

“Yes,” I tell him. And I mean it. Every fiber in my body has waited for this moment. I’ve never been surer about anything in my life. “I want this. I want you, Viridian. Now and forever. Every part of me is yours.”

“Gods,” he grinds out, eyelids fluttering. “You have no idea how long I’ve been dying to hear you say that.”

Biting my lip, I let out an exhale.

My lack of experience suddenly makes me self-conscious. “You should know that I’ve only been with one other man.” I don’t dare let myself think about the others he’s been with—how much more experienced they are at pleasuring a male compared to me.

But he only licks his lips, looking at me like a man starved.

“There hasn’t been anyone else for me, Cryssa. No one but you.”

“You…” I pause. “You’ve never…?”

Viridian steps closer to me until I’m backed up against the wall. He grabs my face with one hand and tilts it up to his own.

“I may have never been with a woman, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t repeatedly dreamed of fucking you senseless until you’re screaming my name.”

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