Page 106 of Secrets of Avalon

I plan to exhaust you completely and fall asleep with you draped over my body, sweet girl. How does that sound? I ask privately through our bond.

Absolutely perfect, she answers back in my mind.

A soft blush colors her cheeks and the shiver that ripples through her body makes my cock hard and my steps quicken.

We round a corner, and as we approach the doors to my bedroom suite, Kellan moves ahead, checking the bedroom and adjoining rooms. "All clear, Domina," he says, his voice low. “I’ll be just outside this door if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Kellan.” She flashes him a small smile.

The Drakonii gives me a respectful nod and steps out. The heavy door thuds shut behind us. Through the thick wood, I hear Kellan's boots scrape against stone as he takes his position.

“I don’t think he likes me,” I say under my breath as I turn back to my mate.

Melinda stands in a pool of sunlight streaming through the high windows. Her eyes, bright with desire, lock onto mine. Any trace of fatigue has vanished, replaced by a hunger that matches my own. “By the gods, you are beautiful.”

She smiles and I cross the room in three long strides. Melinda's arms rise, welcoming me. As they loop around my neck, I crush my lips to hers. The kiss deepens, fierce and urgent. Our tongues dance, tasting, exploring. Heat builds between us, a living thing. When we break apart, we're both panting, chests heaving.

I scoop Melinda into my arms. She weighs nothing, but she is everything. Her warmth seeps into me, igniting every nerve. I carry her towards the massive four-poster bed, it's dark wood gleaming in the afternoon light.

"The fates have truly blessed me, sweet girl," I murmur against her ear..

I let her slide down my body, savoring every point of contact. The curve of her breasts, the softness of her stomach, the swell of her hips – all rub against my rock-hard cock as she descends. When her feet touch the ground, I'm achingly aware of every inch separating us.

"We won't be interrupted this time," I growl, my fingers finding the shoulders of her dress. The fabric, delicate and gossamer-thin, offers no resistance. With one sharp tug, I rip through both the silk and undergarments. The fabric slithers to the floor, pooling around Melinda's feet.

She stands before me, gloriously bare. My breath catches in my throat. Sunlight gilds her skin, turning it to molten gold. Shadows play in the dip of her collarbone, the valley between her breasts, the curve of her waist. She's a work of art, a goddess made flesh.

"Hawke, the dress!" Melinda gasps, her eyes wide.

I step closer, eliminating the space between us. "I'll fix it for you later. Or make you another." My lips find her neck, zeroing in on the spot where I marked her. I drag my fangs across the sensitive skin, relishing her shiver. "So beautiful, my love."

Melinda's breath hitches. "My love?" Her voice trembles, hope and vulnerability mingling in those two words. "Do you love me, Hawke? I’ve felt it through our bond, but this is the first time you’ve called me that."

I pull back, needing to see her face. Two fingers beneath her chin tilt her face up to mine. Her eyes, deep pools of honey-brown, search mine. In their depths, I see questions and fears.

"I love you with every breath," I tell her. Each word carries the weight of a vow, heavy with promise and devotion. "With every part of me. I think I have since the very first time I saw you."

My free hand finds the small of her back, fingers splaying wide. I pull her closer, eliminating any space between us. Her soft curves mold against the hard planes of my body, a perfect fit. The heat of her skin seeps through me, warming me to the core.

"I will love you through this life and the next," I continue, my eyes never leaving hers. In this moment, I pour every ounce of conviction, every fragment of my soul into those words. They're more than a declaration–they're a binding oath, as unbreakable as the bond we share.

Melinda's eyes, those deep pools of honey-brown I could lose myself in forever, shimmer with unshed tears. I watch as emotions flicker across her face–wonder, joy, and a love so fierce it takes my breath away.

Through our bond, I feel the echoes of her heart. Her joy bubbles up like a spring, pure and sweet. Her love wraps around me, warm and all-encompassing. And her desire... it crashes over me like a tidal wave, threatening to sweep me away into a heaven I’ve only ever imagined.

And I embrace it. I let myself be carried by the current of our shared emotions. My lips find hers again, capturing them in a kiss that's both tender and passionate. She should never again question my devotion, never fear losing me. I will spend every day showing her, in words and actions, just how deeply she is loved.

"I love you, too," she whispers against my lips, her breath mingling with mine.

Those four words, so simple yet so profound, send a jolt through me. I've known it, felt it through our bond, but hearing her say it... it's like the final piece of a puzzle clicking into place. In this moment, despite the chaos swirling around us, despite the uncertain future, I am whole. I am home.

The air between us crackles. My heart pounds, a thundering rhythm that matches the pulse beneath Melinda's skin. I crowd her toward the bed, each step deliberate, my eyes never leaving hers. The back of her thighs bump against the mattress, and a shiver of anticipation runs through her.

"Up you go, sweet girl," I murmur. "Spread those legs for me. Let me taste what is mine."

Melinda's eyes darken, pupils dilating with arousal. She crawls backward onto the bed, her movements graceful and enticing. As she settles against the pillows and parts her thighs, I'm struck anew by her beauty. She's a goddess, and I am her devoted worshiper.

I lean forward, savoring the sight before me. With gentle hands, I part her folds, revealing the glistening evidence of her desire. I blow a cool stream of air against her most sensitive spot, watching in awe as her body responds.

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