Page 148 of Steel Heart Iron Claws

She bucks her hips as the headboard groans under her tight grip. “Gods, Basten. Don’t stop!”

“That’s it, little violet. Come on my face.”

Her trembling muscles finally give in as her climax crests, erupting from her throat as a cry she can barely muffle against her sleeve in time. I keep sucking at her clit relentlessly to milk every last twitch and throb out of her.

Spent, her thighs slacken. Panting, she gathers her skirt and sinks backward off of me to the side of the bed.

Her eyes are unfocused. Lips glistening and swollen. So damn beautiful that I never want that look to leave her face.

“Here,” I coax, pushing to my own knees to guide her to lay flat on the bed. “Be a good girl. Lay back.”

Every move makes pain ricochet throughout my body, but I clench my molars and ignore it. I take my cock in my left hand, stroking gently, so full of need that if I don’t get inside her in the next ten seconds, I might combust.

I press a hand to her shoulders to ease her down.

Still dazed from her climax, she gapes. “No—you’llreallyhurt yourself, Basten. You said you wouldn’t!”

“I lied, darling. Now, get on your back. I want to watch your face this time when you come.”

Before she can pout at me again, I silence her protests with a kiss. She gives in, surrendering to her own desire, warring with my lips as she sinks back on the small mattress. I wedge my knee between her thighs, one hand going to stroke the soaked fabric of her panties.

“Are you ready for me?” I break the kiss to ask.

Her hips wiggle, her breath so shallow that she can’t speak.

I hike up her dress and take my time sliding her satin panties down her legs. Then, I take a moment to stare at her perfect pussy, glistening and ready for me to worship it.

While I watch, I rub my tip along her folds, reveling in the way my touch makes her breathe so shallow that her tits bounce. I’ve dreamed about this so many times. Taking her. Making her mine. It’s almost enough to make me believe Immortal Alessantha rearranged the world for us to be together.

But that fae bitch isn’t even awake. How do I know?Because no fae would ever let us be this happy if they had the power to stop it.

No—we have to make our own magic.

“This is how I want it,” I murmur, tenderly sweeping the hair off her face. “I always want it this simple. Just you and me.”

“You and me,” she echoes, her soft eyes swallowing me whole.

I take her slowly this time. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure my ravaged body gives me much choice. Our first time having sex in the confectionary was wild. Desperate. Sugar-coated.

Or rather, the first time forme.She’sexperienced us having sex countless times. I want her to tell me about every sizzling, hair-pulling, sweat-soaked romp. But this time, there are no fireworks. No explosions. Just a steady burn that has me worshipping her with every slow thrust.

When we come, it’s together.

Eyes locked.

Both our palms pressed against one another’s mouth to keep us quiet. Our bodies tremble then melt together, limbs fitting perfectly together as I gather her in my arms.

She lays against my chest, gently tracing the circular scars from the buck’s antlers.

“Do you think you can stand? Ride a horse?” She keeps her voice a barely-there whisper, even though we’re no longer trying to muffle the sounds of our sex. Her pulse picks up as she glances anxiously at the curtain.

“When you’re ready to leave, I’ll be ready, too. Name the day.” I keep my voice low, too, though it itches at me that we both instinctively whisper.

We shouldn’t have to. Vale gave us permission to leavetogether. So why does the air still hold a chill like something is wrong?

“You think your father will try to stop you?” I ask haltingly, hesitant to voice my thoughts.

She twirls her hair around one finger pensively. “He can’t. If anything can be trusted in this kingdom, it’s a binding deal. He even said so himself. I know that he wants me to stay here, but he can’t force me to.”

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