Page 104 of A Trial of the Heart

“Yes.”

“I created it.”

The next second, if almost by magic, the clouds parted overhead, and the moonlight danced across the meadow, bringing to life the ebony-stemmed flower from my dreams. They fanned open, revealing the vibrant orange and silver pedals that stretched out to the sky. I gasped, clutching onto Daxton’s arm with one hand while the other flew to my gaping mouth. I couldn’t hold back my tears if I wanted to. This was the meadow from my dreams. My place of solace in times of turmoil and defeat, and this place was all created byhim.

“I’ve been dreaming about you my whole life, Daxton.” I turned and looked into his storm-gray eyes that shone with a depth of love and devotion that made dreams a reality.

“Youaremy mate.” Tears fell to my cheeks as Daxton pulled me closer to him, cradling me in his arms as the rest of the world faded around us. “I love you,” I murmured, turning my head to kiss his cheek. “I love you,” I breathed again, trailing a light caress across hisbearded chin. “I love you,” I repeated once more, the words falling short of how deeply I felt.

Grasping my chin between his thumb and finger, Daxton guided my lips to his and kissed me. The world beneath my feet gave way, and I could have sworn I was flying. I parted his lips with my tongue, tasting his sweetness that intoxicated my senses, leaving me numb to anything but him.

A strong surge of desire overtook me as his hands crept up from the bottom of my shirt. His rough palms fondled my hardened nipples, teasing them between his fingertips. Slowly, I trailed my hand along his growing shaft, needing to feel him, touch him, taste him in every way possible. My arousal lit up like a candle as our kiss deepened. Consumed by the feeling of him, I moaned into his mouth.

“Do you want this?” Daxton rasped as he forced himself to pull away, his hooded eyes blazing with desire that was solely centered on me. “You have a choice,” he said, his deep voice trembling. “I’m in love with you, Skylar Cathal. My heart will always belong to only you, but if you don’t want this bond…” He paused to steady himself. “If you don’t want the mate bond, we can stop.” His tone shifted with a hardened edge. “I need to know because, once I take you, once I taste you and devour you fully, I willneverallow another toevertake my place.” Gods, the intensity of his stare, the way he held me, the pure essence of this male was mind-altering.

“You belong to me,” I answered with a low growl in my throat, my power rising within me alongside my animal’s acceptance. “You’remine, Daxton Aegaeon.”

I wouldn’t allow any other to ever claim me—nor would my animal. Daxton was the only one who ever could. “And I willingly accept our bond… Even if it’s not sealed. I can’t deny feeling the threads of it connecting us. But, regardless of a bond, I’ve already decided that there’s no one else for me. I love you. I’m yours.”

The smile spread widely across Daxton’s decadent lips. He looked at me with nothing other than pure ecstasy and bliss. “I love you,” he declared once more, his heated gaze traveling down my torso. “Are you wearing my shirt?” he asked playfully.

“Guilty.”

A deep growl of approval echoed in his throat. “You have no idea how fucking hard that makes me. To know that even when I’m away, you wrap yourself in my scent and keep me tucked around your perfect body.”

“Show me,” I said.

“See for yourself.” He chuckled, taking my wrist and guiding my touch toward his pulsing length.

“Cocky, are we?” I teased, as I pressed my palm against him. “Would you like me wearingnothingbut your shirt?” I whispered into his ear.

“I’d prefer nothing.”

Daxton bent to lift the bottom of his tunic I was wearing, devouring my already taut nipple in his mouth. He meticulously swirled his tongue around the pink-skinned bud and sucked on it until it hardened like the silver peaks surrounding us. I moaned loudly, lacing my fingers through his free-flowing hair, leaning my head back and soaking in the haze of pleasure. He migrated to my other breast, coveting the previous one with his hand as I whimpered in delight. The ever so fucking delicious pleasure of his mouth on my skin, of me in his arms, of our love for each other… was downright sinful.

Quivering beneath his touch, I rasped, “I’m calling on your promise.” His mouth made a popping sound as he released my nipple from his lips. “I believe you promised to make me come with your mouth,fingers, and then finally, that delicious cock of yours the first time you had me—”

“Making that beautiful voice of yours hoarse from screaming my name over and over again.” His hooded eyes closed as he raised to kiss me hard and fast. “I remember,” he purred. “And I believe I told you the first time I fucked you, you wouldn’t be able to leave my bed.”

“Yes,” I said with a heavy breath, my chest rising and falling rapidly against his. “Something like that.”

“Then I know exactly where we should be then.”

In a silver flash, Daxton teleported us from the earthy meadow onto a soft, luxurious surface clouded in shadow and darkness. My back lay on plush bedding, with Daxton looming over me. My thighs opened to take the weight of his body while his forearms rested on either side of my head.

“These need to be on.” He waved his hand, illuminating the fae lights in what I soon realized must be his room. “I need to be able to see all of this gorgeous body I’ve been dreaming about taking for months.”

I didn’t bother to notice the details of his room. The only thing that drew my attention was the gorgeous male with far too many clothes on.

Daxton remained deathly still as I moved to sit up. His intense stare bore into me, waiting for me to take the lead. My fingers danced along the opening of his tunic, feeling the hard muscles of his chest rise and fall with each heated breath. Looping my arms around his neck, I pulled his lips to mine. Daxton followed my guided touch without hesitation, eagerly coveting my mouth with his.

This kiss was different from before. It was soft, gentle, and above all else, it conveyed the depth of hislove and devotion to me. Whatever I needed, I knew Daxton would do everything in his power to see it done.

My hands wandered to the bottom of his shirt, and I hurriedly pulled it over his head and tossed it onto the floor. Gods, this male was absolute perfection.

Kissing him once more, I pressed a palm to his chest, taking my time to admire his sculpted physique carved from hundreds of years of battle training. My fingers danced along the tops of his shoulders and the marks adorning his skin before I threaded my fingers into his hair along the nape of his neck.

As I shifted to lean forward onto my knees, Daxton froze, granting me full control. My lips moved to find the scar I’d made the night we first met. I kissed across the swirling tattoo designs that danced along his skin, the only place on his body that was inked.

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