Page 18 of Taken By the Fae King

The door across the way creaks open, and I hold my breath as Kyven steps through the threshold. He wears a similar sheer robe, but it is so dark I cannot make out his features beneath the fabric.

His gaze locks onto mine, and for a moment, time seems to stand still, suspended in the space between us.

With a grace that belies his size, he crosses the room, his movements fluid and confident. When he comes to a stop before me, my gaze travels over his broad shoulders and the chiseled planes of his chest and abdomen.

I have seen images of male anatomy in books of medicine, but they did not look quite like him. He is larger than I expected. His shaft is lined with ridges along the top and rows of smaller bumps along the side. A large bulb of extra tissue rings the base. His manhood is hard and erect, straining against the sheer fabric of his joining gown.

Careful to retract his claws, he cups my chin, tipping my face up to his. His violet eyes search mine. “Are you sure you wish to do this?”

My heart hammers in my chest. I’m nervous, but it is tradition to consummate the marriage on the wedding night. It is how the union is sealed. “Yes.”

“You are more beautiful than anything I have ever seen,” he whispers as he studies my face. His pupils expand so that only a thin rim of color is visible around the edges. He leans down and gently brushes his lips to mine with a tenderness that takes my breath away.

His masculine scent surrounds me—a delicious and heady mix.

One kiss bleeds into another until I’m no longer sure where one ends and the next begins. I open my mouth and his tongue finds mine, curling around it.

He slides his hand around my waist and pulls me closer. A soft moan escapes me as he molds my body against his and threads his fingers through my hair, tipping my head up to angle my mouth to his own as his tongue strokes against mine in a sensuous dance of give and take.

Without breaking our kiss, he lifts me into his arms and walks to the bed. I’m breathless and panting as he lays me gently beneath the blanket. He crawls over me. Bracing his weight on his elbows on either side of my arms, he captures my mouth in a searing kiss as he settles between my thighs.

I inhale sharply at the hard press of his length against me. We’re still dressed in our joining robes, but the material is so thin fluid leaks from the tip of his manhood, leaving a trail of warm liquid along the tender flesh of my inner thigh.

He cups my left breast in his palm, and I moan as his thumb brushes over the sensitive peak before he trails his hand down my body and grasps the hem of my dress, pushing it up to my hips.

He kisses a heated trail along my jaw. He moves down my neck and I gasp as something sharp stings my skin.

He pulls back and fear spikes through me. His eyes are obsidian black, and his fangs are fully extended.

CHAPTER11

KYVEN

Her eyes are wide as she stares up at me. The acrid scent of her fear thick in the air around us drowning out the sweet scent of her arousal only moments ago.

Quickly, I lift away from her and stand from the bed. “You are afraid of me.”

It is not a question, but I pray that she denies it.

Her entire body trembles slightly as she pulls the blankets to cover herself. “I felt your fangs on my skin,” she murmurs. “Why?”

Inwardly, I curse myself as I retract my fangs. She is human, not Fae. I should never have assumed that our ways would be the same as theirs. “It is instinct to mark one’s mate during the first joining,” I explain. “Forgive me. I should have realized…”

“Your eyes.” She swallows hard. “They were different… completely black.”

“I am sorry I frightened you, but I promise that you have nothing to fear from me, Grayce. I would never harm you.”

She relaxes slightly at my words, and the scent of her fear begins to dissipate. Even so, I want only to reassure her. I would sooner take my own life than ever harm her.

I pull a fur blanket from the bed. “I will not come to your bed again until you wish it.”

“You do not care if we consummate our marriage?”

I meet her gaze evenly so she can see the truth of my words. “I vow that I will never take anything you do not willingly give.”

I spread my blanket on the ground. “I will sleep on the floor.” She opens her mouth to speak, but I quickly add, “Rest now, Grayce. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow.”

Without waiting for her to reply, I lie down and stare up at the ceiling. Her shadow moves in the darkness as she shifts onto her side, curling beneath the blankets.

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