Page 51 of Dreams of Ash and Smoke

His strong hands grip my hips, pulling me in closer to him with each thrust. Our lips meet in a fiery, passionate kiss as I tug on his hair, guiding his face toward mine.

A low, guttural groan escapes him and gets lost in our intense embrace. As I find myself completely surprised by my own actions, I realize that I have never felt this way before. With Dryston, my libido was never this high, and I never craved physical intimacy like this. But with Eryx, it feels natural, like it’s meant to be. I want him with every fiber of my being, now and always.

“So greedy, Seren Fach.” I moan at his words.

“What does that mean?” I ask about the nickname in a gasp as he rubs me against him.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” He plays with me.

Fingers tangle in his hair, I pull him closer in a moment of frustration. He chuckles softly against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. Lost in the sensation, I can’t even remember what I had asked for. All that matters now is how much I need him.

His lips find my aching nipple and he bites down gently, drawing out another moan from deep within me. My hand moves between us, urgently pulling at his pants to release his throbbing erection. In one smooth motion, I line him up with my pulsing center and slowly sink down onto him. A guttural groan escapes from his lips as he fills me completely, his hands grasping onto me tightly.

He breaks away from my nipple momentarily to capture my lips in a passionate kiss. His tongue dances with mine as our bodies move together in perfect rhythm. With every thrust, the pleasure builds within me, threatening to consume me entirely. His other hand finds its way to my clit, sending electrifying waves of pleasure through my body.

The sensation becomes almost overwhelming, causing my movements to become choppy and erratic. But he guides my hips with skilled hands, helping me ride the wave of ecstasy. The bird tattooed on my hip feels like it’s come to life, tingling with intense pleasure just like the rest of my body.

I know it won’t be long before I reach my peak, but I don’t want this moment to end. Every touch, every sound from him drives me wild with desire. And in this moment of pure bliss, I know there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here with him

“Oh gods,” I gasp out as his cock presses against the sweet spot inside me. The pressure builds in my abdomen, bringing me closer and closer to the edge.

“Come on, Seren Fach, almost there sweetheart.” His words talking me through it push me over into my climax. “Come for me, love.” He grunts out. Whimpers leave my throat as I do exactly what he says, with no control over my body. My breathing is uneven, my heart beats fast.

My body is still reeling from his movements as he continues to thrust inside me, but I can’t wait any longer. With a sly smile, I climb off his lap and drop down to my knees on the hard floor. I take him in my mouth, savoring the taste of him that I missed out on last night. It’s a strange feeling, willingly pleasuring him like this, but it’s also exhilarating.

As I bob my head along his length, I taste myself mingling with his distinct flavor. Spit escapes the corners of my mouth, but he firmly grips my hair, making my eyes water as he pushes himself deeper into my throat, cutting off my air.

But I don’t mind. In fact, I relish in the intense pleasure of it all. Eyes wide open, I gaze up at his handsome face as he releases himself into my throat, unable to stop me from holding him there until he finishes.

With a satisfied smirk, he pulls out of my mouth and lifts me off thefloor to meet my lips once again. “You are absolutely stunning, Verena,” he whispers against my lips. He looks as if he wants to say more. I watch he hesitation in his eyes before it flickers to something more. “Ever since you arrived, I have been falling for you. You are the shining star in my dark night sky and I will cherish you always, fated mate or not.” His words send a wave of warmth and adoration through my entire being.

After our moment of passion, we slowly regain our wits and hastily get dressed. I slip back into yesterday’s clothes before I can change into something new, while he patiently waits for me to be ready. As we walk toward my room, I feel a warmth in my heart that has been absent since my mother died. It feels like a long-buried door has opened, revealing a part of myself that I had forgotten existed.

* * *

We walk into the dining hall together silently. All eyes are on us from his family and the staff. I watch as Hadeon studies Eryx closely while Ruelle and Esmeray smirk. Their mother, Calanthe, watches us with a simple motherly content smile as if she knew all along. A servant starts pulling my chair out but Eryx holds up a hand, preventing him from doing so before sliding out the seat himself. My cheeks grow hot as I sit, the remnants of our time this morning still on my mind as I am reminded by my deliciously sore center. “Thank you,” I tell him quietly, watching the smirk on his face grow at my timid embarrassment. Unlike my previous relationship, though, his smirk isn’t condescending. It’s playful and welcoming as it eases my nerves.

“How are you doing, Verena?” Calanthe asks me, breaking the tension from the room. I jump in my seat and turn to see her and everyone else watching me with almost knowing looks. Or am I just being paranoid? Esmeray snickers at my jumpiness and I shoot her playful daggers.

“What?” I ask, unsure on what she means. She can’t possibly be askingabout my morning.

“After yesterday? I can not imagine the trauma from it. Dryston is a vile being. How are you, dear?” She repeats sweetly. I try to slow my beating heart down to a normal pace.

“It was definitely surprising. But, the entire ordeal was an eye opener. Thank you so much for asking, Calanthe.” We start eating the breakfast silently. While chewing, my eyes continuously find Eryx right next to me at the head of the table. And when his eyes meet mine, a blush dusts my face before I look away in haste.

“Marry me.” His words cause me to inhale as I swallow, causing food to trail down my throat wrong. Forks are dropped from the sudden noise.

I start choking until the piece of bacon is forced upward with the help of Ruelle patting my back like a baby trying to burp.

“Verena,” He starts again softly, facing me. My eyes are watered from the choking but I wipe them swiftly before looking at him with wide eyes, glancing at everyone else staring in bewilderment. “Since you arrived, I haven’t a clue on what to do with you. You are a gift from the Gods. You awakened something inside me. From the profusely running around barefoot to the wandering in the woods alone to finding out you are my fated mate all along…” a gasp from Ruelle surrounds us, “I want to love you forever. I want to be yours and have you be mine. I want to survive this upcoming war with you by my side and regrow this country together. Marry me, Verena, and love me always.” His eyes haven’t left mine a single time.

As I try to control my ragged breathing, my chest heaves in rapid succession. The weight of the moment hangs heavy in the air, a mix of anticipation and fear. His words have the power to shatter everything, but his sincerity stops me from running away. I know that if I were to say no, he will let me leave without hesitation — even if it meant breaking his own heart. With a deep breath, I finally respond. “Of course I will.” My voice is barely above a whisper, but it carries a sense of joyous certainty. He rises from his chair and stands before me, placing his hands gently on my cheeks as he pulls me into a tender kiss. In that moment, all of my doubts and fears fade away, replaced by a sense of warmth and comfort in his embrace.

Chapter 26: War Plans

Verena

“So you think you have power deflection?” Esmeray asks me as we train on sparring mats.

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