Page 48 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

Her entire body threatened to burst into flames, and he glided in and out before he added a second. Curving them and hitting a spot so perfect her vision erupted in darkness.

“I have thought about doing this since the first moment your lips touched mine.” His carved body lowered. Nipping against any bit of flesh his mouth found. Lower and lower and lower, settling his shoulders between her legs before those lips found her inner thigh and nipped. “Of every sound I would cause you to make.”

Alora whimpered, squirming underneath that bite. Her body a mess of raw need and desperate formore—more, more, more.

For him.

“Of how you wouldtaste.” Those sinful lips curled, baring his teeth. Pleasure ripped from his throat. In a painfully slow trail of his tongue, Garrik licked until he reached the apex of her thigh.

Desperate pleading moans tore loose as her blood went molten. She couldn’t think past that touch. The entire realm narrowing on it, on where the next one might fall. Arching just enough, shifting her hips just enough to?—

Garrik roughly chuckled, his hot breathright there—right where she wanted him to?—

He hooked his arm around her thigh, drawing her impossibly closer until she felt his breath flutter across her center. Strong hands claimed her, sinking into her muscle with fierce possessiveness as he growled, “You’re mine.”

She didn’t have time to shudder at the words.

Like a beast uncaged and ready todevourits kill, wholly ravenous, Garrik plunged his tongue inside. Dragging that addicting tongue so torturously up her center until it danced across her swollen nerves.

He flicked a taunting lick, cursing when her hips bucked, greedily lapping and swirling his tongue against her. She eased her hips with the rhythm, moving with him. Over and over, losing the last thread of her control.

An unbridled moan ripped through her.Rapturous and delirious and begging for more as he feasted like a dying male given the first bite of new life.

“That’s it.” The veins in Garrik’s arms swelled as two fingers sunk deep inside, twisting and hitting the spot that had her chasing oblivion.

And he didn’t stop—by the stars, he didn’t stop. Ruthlessly working that spot until she was certain she’d transcend to the gates of Stars Eternal.

“Come for me, my darling.Let me taste you.”

It was enough—his addictive voice—his need.

Release built low in her stomach. Her inner walls clenched him tight while her entire world spiraled and shattered and rearranged.

Oblivion was real, and the stars met her there.

Garrik covered her with his mouth as fire exploded down her spine. Stroking her through the waves, carrying her to the stars he’d promised to send her to.

Powerful arms lifted and settled her against his heaving chest. Garrik fell against the bales and cradled her. Nuzzling her in his lap as she panted from a pleasure she’d never truly known.

And in his eyes … she saw a gleam of …something.

The world seemed to still, and her eyes burned, collected tears as she thought?—

“You are safe, darling.” Unease settled in his voice. He caressed her cheek that was covered in warm tears.

No, no. That wasn’t it. And of course she was. He’d never proven himself otherwise. But there was no point hiding her thoughts. He saw it dripping down her face.

Shaking her head, she admitted, “I … I’ve never…” Scarlet flushed her cheeks, evading his eyes. Unable to speak the words that with Kaine … with Kaine, she had never …

By the care, the knowing in his gaze, Garrik understood. “You have never experienced the release of lovemaking.” He said it so plainly and without judgment, she wasn’t embarrassed to nod. “He was a fucking fool to be blessed by such an exquisite star and not worship the air you breathed.”

Liquid lined her eyes. Not because she didn’t believe him, but?—

“You areevery-starsdamn-thing, Alora.”

She did believe him.

It didn’t seem to matter what Kaine had done. Because he would never have the chance to right it—not that he ever could. And laying there after what she and Garrik had done. Afterfeelingthe truth in Garrik’s words…Feelingwhat his touch could do…

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