Page 71 of A Trial of Fate

My legs began to tremble as he continued right where he left off, thrusting fingers into my opening while he swirled his thumb across my clit. There was a slight sting of pain that caused me to flinch, and Gilen immediately slowed, sensing my shift.

“I’m sorry… I forgot,” he said with a heavy, heated breath. “Wow. You really haven’t been with anyone before, have you?” Gilen retracted his fingers and gently began working my clit again. “Don’t worry. I will make sure you are ready for me.”

Moving me beneath him on the long grass, he kissed me again. Slowly, this time, Gilen began vibrating his fingers against me in an intoxicating rhythm that gradually filled me with pleasure without the sting of pain from before. I threw my head back, relishing in the pleasure that danced wildly through me. My pulse quickened as he nibbled on my bottom lip before migrating his kiss down toward the base of my neck. He turned his delicious mouth onto my nipple again, teasing it with licks and pinches from his teeth. The wind-up began to spin in my center, swallowing me as a deep thrumming need throbbed between my legs.

“You are so wet, Sky…” Gilen growled as his magic began to flood out from him in intense waves. “I want you,” he demanded as he continued fucking me with his hand.

I ground my clit against his palm, the intensity becoming almost too much to bare. Gilen released a deep, amused chuckle as he slowly released my nipple from his mouth.

“Why are you stopping?” I asked, almost breathless.

“You are very responsive for a female who has yet to lay with another male,” Gilen teased with a cocky grin.

“I’ve had boyfriends in the past,” I countered, barely able to catch my breath. “I’m not a naive prude.”

“I can see… and taste that,” he answered as he sucked on his fingers before kissing me. I ran my hands along the thick cords of muscle that framed his body, desperate to explore every inch of his sculpted frame. “But… has anyone ever kissed youhere?” His finger returned to dance along my entrance, stilling my breath in anticipation of what he intended to do.

My stunned silence was all he needed to hear. Gilen’s hoodedeyes sparked with lust as he lay me on my back in the grass. His fingers traced along the sensual curves of my hips as he slowly began to worship my naked flesh. His fingers gently slid over my skin, causing me to shake with anticipation.

Licking his lips, Gilen parted my knees and greedily dove into my center. I arched my back as a heightened wave of intense pleasure rocketed through me. His tongue played with the bundle of nerves at the top of my opening. He teased me, rapidly moving his tongue and flicking my clit before devouring me whole. He stayed here until I was thrusting against his face, reaching the edge, on the verge of shattering in climax.

“Not yet,” he said with a taunting purr as he pulled away, wiping his face before moving to kiss my lips again. “I want you to comewithme… while my cock is buried deep inside of you.”

Holy Gods—Mother and Father. This was it.

Gilen positioned himself between my dripping entrance that throbbed with desire. “I want you, Gilen,” I rasped. “I want this.”

Gilen softened his lustful gaze on me, and a deep sense of longing flooded through my middle. He bent down to lightly kiss my lips, slowly moving his kisses across my chin toward my ear and then down to the base of my neck.

He reached down to shift the head of his cock, so it was lingering just outside my entrance. “I want to claim you as my mate, Skylar.”

Time itself stopped.

I grabbed his face between my hands, my heart pounding inside my chest with every mixed, crazy emotion someone could feel.

“What did you just say?” I felt my animal spark to life in my center, highly aware and alert. Instinct was driving me to push back and fight against his confession to claim me.

“I want to claim you as my mate. I can feel your animal’s power, Skylar. She is there, right below the surface. Tonight, when I claim you, we will be able to combine our powers, and my mark will save you from the trials. I will claim you as mine.”

“Am I yourmate, Gilen?” I asked the question even though I didn’t need it. My animal answered for me.

When Gilen had said he wanted to claim me, she exploded with chaos. She did not want to be claimed by his roc. If she could speak to me with words, I could only imagine what type of colorful language would come out of her mouth.

Confused by my hesitation, Gilen pushed himself up onto hisforearms and shifted backward. “Skylar, it doesn’t matter if you are or not. I wantyouas my female. You will carry my children and help me create a dynasty that will be unchallenged for centuries. That fire of yours will finally be tamed, helping secure my station as alpha and protect our pack.”

Like hell it didn’t matter.I shoved at his shoulders, pushing him farther backward.

“Why?” I roared, my rage bubbling just below the surface.

“What do you mean, why? How can you even ask that? After all we have been through? Since we were kids, this pairing was made for us.”

“By whom?” I demanded. I knew Magnus would never agree to something like this.

“Since my father learned of your healing magic. As the daughter of a former alpha, you were already a desired match as a mate regardless of your mother’s blood… But once your healing powers emerged, it was decided.”

“But not by me!” I screamed, utterly outraged at the thought of this.

“Why are you getting so upset?” Gilen asked. “You care for me, Skylar. Our animals might not be a mated pair, but that doesn’t matter. When we kissed for the first time under the willow tree, I knew you had feelings for me. You can’t deny it.”

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