Page 45 of Kissed By the Sun

He looked like I’d slapped him. “The bond?”

I nodded. “You wanted to see if we could control it, maybe even get rid of it, but I don’t know where we stand now.”

Thorn’s face had gone carefully neutral. “What do you want to do?”

“No. You already feel guilty if I say one way or another you’ll just go along with whatever I want to help assuage this unnecessary guilt you’re feeling. Besides, I asked first.” I stuck my tongue out at him and he finally grinned at me, which made my heart do a somersault in my chest.

Thorn's grin faded, and he took a deep breath. "I did ask about the bond," he admitted softly. "But not for the reasons you might think."

I felt my heart constrict, unsure of what he meant. "Go on," I urged, trying to keep my voice steady.

He reached out and took my hand, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my skin. "I asked because I wanted to understand it better. To know if there was a way to... strengthen it."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Strengthen it?" That was the exact opposite of what I’d been expecting.

Thorn nodded, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "Being apart from you, thinking I might lose you? It made me realize how much I need you, Senara. Not because of the bond, but because of who you are. The bond isn't just some magical connection forced upon us. It's a reflection of what's already there between us. I don't want to control it or get rid of it. I want to embrace it, to deepen our connection."

Relief washed over me in such a huge wave that I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Oh, Thorn..."

He cupped my face with his free hand, his touch achingly tender. "I love you, Senara. Bond or no bond, that won't change. But if we can use this connection to grow closer, to understand each other better, I want that. If we can use it to help shoulder each other’s burdens, I want that. I want all of you."

My heart soared at his words, and I leaned in, pressing my forehead against his again, needing to be close to him. "I want that too," I whispered. "I love you, Thorn. And I'm not afraid of this bond anymore. Not if we face it together."

He smiled, a rare, unguarded expression that made him look years younger. "Together," he agreed, sealing the promise with a kiss that left me breathless and yearning for more.

After a moment, Thorn pulled back slightly, a mischievous glint in his eye. "So, are you ready to face an Elven High Lord, or shall we hide out here a bit longer?"

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. "Oh, I think we can spare a few more minutes," I said, pulling him in for another kiss.

As our lips met again, I felt a subtle shift in the bond between us. It was as if a door had been unlocked, allowing our emotions to flow more freely. The intensity of Thorn's love washed over me, mingling with my own feelings until I could barely tell where mine ended and his began.

We broke apart, both slightly dazed by the newfound depth of our connection. Thorn's eyes were wide with wonder. "Did you feel that?" he whispered.

I nodded, unable to find words to describe the experience. Instead, I focused on projecting my emotions through the bond, letting Thorn feel the depth of my love, my trust, and my commitment to him.

His breath caught, and he pulled me closer, burying his face in my hair. "Senara," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I never imagined it could be like this."

I gently pulled back so I could kiss him again and as our lips met, I felt a surge of warmth flow through me, as if the bond itself was rejoicing in our decision. The connection between us seemed to pulse with renewed energy, wrapping us in a cocoon of shared emotion and understanding.

“Senara, I know you’ve been through a lot, but I need you. If you can't, that's okay, but let me show you how much I need you, how much I love you.” Thorn’s words were a soothing balm on my soul and through our connection I could feel his need, and it made me ache for him. I knew that if I didn’t satisfy that ache soon I would go mad from it.

I gazed into Thorn's eyes, seeing the raw desire there, mirroring my own. The bond between us thrummed with anticipation, heightening every sensation. "Yes," I breathed, my voice barely audible. "Show me."

With a low growl, Thorn swept my hair over one shoulder, exposing the skin there and the tiny strap of the night dress I was wearing. He hooked a finger under it and let his knuckle gently trail down my shoulder as he brought the strap with it. His touch was reverent as he repeated the action on my other arm. I shivered, overwhelmed by the intensity of his gaze and the emotions flowing through our bond.

The straps hadn’t come off completely and the material clung to my breasts. He moved toward me, gently pushing me back on the bed before lavishing my nipples with his tongue through the thin, silky material.

Everything was doubled, the pleasure I felt, the pleasure he felt and making me feel good, all of it washed over me. Each caress sent sparks of pleasure coursing through my body, amplified by the bond until I was trembling with need.

I reached for him, pulling him closer, desperate to feel his skin against mine. As our bodies entwined, the bond between us blazed to life, merging our sensations until I couldn't tell where I ended and Thorn began. When he shifted so he was between my legs, I couldn’t tell if I was the one who unlaced his breeches, or if he did it himself.

His fingers slid into me though and spread me wide, readying me for his cock. “Gods, I need to taste you, to know that this is for me alone.”

“It’s only ever been for you, Thorn. My body, my soul, it’s all tied to yours. Claim me.”

Instead of licking my pussy the way I expected he just pulled his fingers from it and sucked on them, groaning at the taste.

“I will claim you as many times over as I need to. I’ll taste your pleasure on my tongue every time that perfect self control of your shatters, but right now I need to be inside you.”

---