Page 62 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

“I wasn’t aware there were other options.”

She was defiant, unable to play the same games with her best friend as she did with Renatus. They’d been dancing around this for long enough and after everything that had happened, she was ready for it all to be out in the open.

No more secrets.

Verian was silent, though his eyes flicked to her lips more than once. Fine. If he would do nothing about it, then she would.

Without warning, Vita wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing their lips together in a quick kiss. She pulled away for a moment, taking in his reaction.

Wide-eyed shock transformed into a knowing smile, and without hesitation, he cupped her cheek and brought her back to him.

The scent of mint enveloped them, his soft lips melting the remaining tension away. His fingers tangled in her hair, his other arm circling her waist and sliding her closer. A sensation of calm washed over her, as if all was right with the world. She was safe, treasured. It was obvious in the way he brushed her hair and gripped her waist, ran his tongue over her tender lips and whimpered into her mouth.

That familiar weightless sensation—the one she also felt around Renatus—was upon her, like she could float right up and touch the glowing moon itself.

When she pulled away again, his brows furrowed in question, chest heaving in and out. Electricity flashed between them as the goddess looked on.

Silently, Vita unlatched his breastplate and spaulders, still dressed in his guard uniform. Her hands shook, the years of anticipation bubbling over in barely contained excitement.

Verian took over, removing his armor and then eyeing her seriously.

“Are you certain this is what you want? I’m not sure there’s any going back if we do this.” His voice cracked with emotion, with years of longing spread through a lifetime of friendship.

“I do want this, Ver. I want you. I don’t just want to be friends anymore.” She paused, so many thoughts going through her mind even as the pulse of desire overwhelmed her. “But I… still want to be with him. Renatus. I don’t want to make a choice.”

A smile pulled at Verian’s lips, making her heart flutter once again. “I would never ask that of you. If you are comfortable with… more than one partner, then so am I. I want you to be happy.”

Light filled her chest, like she was a star sparkling in the night sky. She grasped his face, kissing him firmly, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, practically pulling her onto his lap.

It was all too perfect. All those times she had wanted to kiss him, coming down to this moment, this perfect moment, the world fading to oblivion. Verian nibbled at her lower lip, gentle at first, then more resolutely as the raw, all-consuming flames burned through them both.

His fingers tangled into her hair, slowly lowering her until her head rested on one of the prayer pillows. She giggled, grasping his tunic and pulling him down on top of her. She couldn’t imagine another moment without him, apart from the person she trusted most.

Verian bit his lip as he hiked up her dress, his fingers grazing up the sensitive skin of her inner thigh. He paused at her clit, circling his fingers firmly, a spark of lust shooting through her limbs. With a gasp, she arched her back as he worked her sensitive nerves, pausing his motion only to slide his fingers up and down her slit, her arousal wetting her undergarments.

“Verian,” she breathed, her body relaxing into his touch.

“Yes, sweet girl?” he asked with a devious smile.

“I need you.Now.”

He grinned, unlacing his pants as quickly as his lithe fingers could work.

Where Renatus was ice, Verian was flames, every touch burning her with hedonistic desire. He slid her undergarments off and she could wait no longer, tugging him down to meet her, to envelop her, to encompass her with his boundless presence.

Their lips were one as he entered her, her cunt slick with the want and need of years.

“Oh,Vita,” he murmured into her mouth, letting his cock work its way in, holding still for a few moments as he settled himself fully inside of her. “Gods, you are utter perfection.”

Her heart swelled at the words, at the expression of adoration on his face, at the sensation of him filling her. A divine connection, as if the Gods themselves decreed it. At least that was how it felt as Verian began to build up his thrusts, spreading her legs wide so she could take every inch of him.

The fire was building within as he plunged into her over and over again. Their lips parted, and she grasped at his ass, pulling him into her in time with his thrusts.

“Vita, I—,” he started, but a moan caught in his throat and his words faded away.

She didn’t have time to think about what he’d wanted to say, letting out her own cries as he hit the perfect spot again and again. Their lips tangled and their tongues danced, the temple reverberating with whimpers and moans. His rhythm was hard, fast, growing erratic as tension coiled in her stomach.

Suddenly, he groaned, pushing up without removing himself, his thrusts turning slow and shallow. It was a moment before Vita understood, the warmth of his seed spilling into her, coating her insides with its sticky heat. She let out a deep sigh, mirrored by Verian’s a moment later as he pulled out.

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