Page 99 of His Bride

We play in the bushes, a sexed-up game of chase. Each movement is filled with an electric tension, building and building until I finally make my move and bring her crashing down beneath me.

I kiss her. Long, slow, sweet kisses that have heat, hidden bite, and when she’s a mess, I kiss my way down, suck on her nipple, teasing the tip with my tongue, then leave a trail of kisses down her stomach. The closer I get, the more I smell her—that heady, musky scent of arousal that drives me insane.

She’s writhing beneath me now, a glorious image of decadent surrender, and I brush my lips all around her sex, purposely avoiding that one area where she needs it most.

“Caelian,” she moans, unable to keep her hands to herself, weaving her fingers through my hair.

I lick and tease and taste, slowly working her up to a frenzy, her hips bucking as she tries to get me to that one spot that will push her over the edge.

Her skin is flushed, glowing in the moonlight as she opens herself wider to me. The scent of her is intoxicating, and I lick my lips, unable to resist any longer and finally drag my tongue up and through her slit, lapping at her clit.

Her cries echo into the night, her fingers tightening in my hair like she doesn’t know if she wants to pull me closer or push me away. It only takes a few strokes and some skilled sucking for her to break into pieces beneath me.

I make sure I give her enough to ride it out, to reach that peak and come back down before I move on top of her, reach between us to line up my cock, and sink into her.

“Fuck,” I curse, burying my face in her shoulders.

She gasps, head thrown back as she arches into me, and I groan, overwhelmed by the sensation of being sheathed in her heat. She’s captured all my senses. She’s everywhere, yet I still don’t have enough of her. I’ll never have enough.

Her legs wrap around my waist, pulling me deeper into her, the sounds of ecstasy spilling from her lips. I know exactly how she likes it—hard and fast but with a rhythm that allows her to savor each thrust. And so, I deliver.

I bury myself into her over and over again, the sound of our bodies colliding in raw passion filling the room. Each time I retreat, she pulls me back, matching my every move, and I’m holding out, keeping my control tethered because she needs to come again. I need her to fall apart just one more time before I follow suit.

“I love you,” I rasp into her ear, my breath rapid, unsteady. “I love you so fucking much, New York.”

“Oh, God. Caelian. I love…” I thrust in deep. “Oh, fuck.” Her pussy walls tighten. “I love you…” Deeper. “I love you…too. Fuck!”

Her nails bite into my ass, and she’s pushing me deeper still, rolling her hips as she comes. It starts in her cunt, and the waves crush and crash into me, setting me off, and my cock twitches into her, and I come.

I let go with a guttural roar, pouring myself into her, pleasure splitting and tearing, and then stitching me back together in a euphoria that nearly blinds me. I’ve never had this kind of sex before her—the kind that binds and breaks, shatters and releases, leaving you satiated yet craving more.

I cling to her, our sweat-slick bodies entwined as we ride out the aftershocks of our pleasure, and I kiss her gently, tenderly, languidly. Everything is heightened, the world around us faded to nothing, and I breathe her in.

She’s my air.

My life.

My everything.

Epilogue

GIANA

Iwalk into his office and smile when I see him sitting behind his desk.

Alexius. TherealAlexius.

His hair’s longer, and he’s lost weight, but I think the most shocking thing is he isn’t in a suit. Instead, he’s wearing running shorts, a t-shirt, and sneakers. But I still feel the power emanating from him.

Nicoli almost had him nailed, but not quite. He’s the power center of this family. King of the Dark Sovereign, and even dressed like this, there’s no doubt in my mind about his authority, his control over the invisible strings that keep the family together. The grand patriarch of an empire, his aura undisputed and unchallenged.

He looks at me, and at once I’m hit by the intensity of him. But his face is friendly. “Giana.”

“I…first, I’m sorry for what my father brought upon your family. And that includes me. But I want to officially let you know my father’s retired from the business.”

He waits.

“My father wasn’t the most powerful, but I know Aurelio wanted something from his businesses and alliances.” This is all coming out wrong, so I take a breath.

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