Page 67 of A Petal in the Crown

Janelle placed her hand over Erik’s, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up at the sun. Erik smiled as he watched understanding wash over her face, her mouth popping open and her eyebrows raising. "You really think… You think it could be possible for more than just Lea and Gray?" she asked, her voice soft.

"I don't know," Erik said. "Not forsure. But I know that if there were ever to be another pair of mates, it's us."

"Okay," she whispered, leaning forward and raising her hands to his buttons.

"Wait, I'm not done," Erik said, dropping to one knee. "I want you to marry me. Please. Because no matter what happens once we try to seal the bond, it doesn't matter. You're mine, and a mark on our chests isn’t what proves that. Our love—our commitment—that's what’s going to make this last."

A sob burst from Janelle’s throat, and Erik kissed her cheek. "Hey, you promised," he said with a grin.

"I promised I wouldn't gag, not that I wouldn’t cry," she laughed through her tears, throwing herself into his arms. "I would marry you this second. I would marry you every day, no matter what the gods say about it."

"Tonight then? You’ll marry me?" His eyes sparkled with joy. "Do you really mean it?"

Janelle’s smile grew wide, almost matching Erik’s. His entire body warmed, and his heart pounded with a happiness he hadn't felt in ages.

She leaned up on her tiptoes, throwing her arms around Erik’s neck. She kissed him in response, her tongue molding against his in a resounding yes. He looked overhead to make sure there wasn’t a single branch or cloud between them and the celestial body that ruled their magic.

Erik reached for Janelle’s tunic, still dusted with flour, and pulled it over her head. His eyes raked over her pale skin, taking his time memorizing every inch of her body. He called fire into his hands as he cupped her breasts, burning away the thin fabric with ease, taking special care to avoid burning Janelle’s skin.

Dropping to his knees, Erik pressed his lips to her navel as his fingers went to the waist of her pants. Janelle kicked off her shoes, her handscoming to rest on the top of Erik’s shoulders. His scruff tickled her stomach as he pressed kisses to one hip bone, then the other, wiggling her pants off until she stood completely bare before him.

Flames licked up Erik’s arms as he slowly stood, already thick and hard in his trousers. He wasted no time, pulling his shirt over his head and stepping out of his own pants. He lifted Janelle in his arms, laying her down into the soft grass and crawling over her, pressing kisses as he went. The inside of her calf. Her thigh. Her waist and breast, then her lips. He groaned as she speared her fingers into his hair, pulling him closer until every inch of their bodies aligned.

It was ecstasy, just the contact of their skin, and Erik slid a hand between them, craving more. More touching. More kissing. Justmore. He slid a single finger through her folds, teasing as he explored her slowly. Savoring every moment with this woman who was to become his wife.

The word made his cock jolt, and unable to stop himself, he pressed a finger inside her, slowly stretching her as she moaned out. Their kiss deepened, their tongues saying everything they needed too, sharing each other's air. Erik pressed in a second finger, then turned his hand to use his thumb to circle her clit.

Janelle broke their kiss as a gasp escaped her throat, her fingers digging into Erik’s shoulders. She bucked on his fingers, and he leaned back to watch, the sight nearly driving him mad. He pulled back, desperate to taste her, but Janelle put a hand to his chest and pushed him onto his back.

She climbed on top of him, a wicked glint in her eyes as she grabbed him in her hand. She raised up on her knees, holding him at her entrance and sliding his thick length back and forth, wetting him and then, in the most glorious display of earth-shattering beauty he’d ever seen, Janelle threw her head back as she sank down on his shaft inch by inch until he was fully sheathed inside her.

Grabbing her hips, he pinned her down against him, circling his hips as she adjusted to the fullness. Janelle bit her lip as she lifted herself up, then slid down again, faster this time. She leaned forward, changing the angle and driving him impossibly deeper as she began to truly ride him, using his body for her own pleasure.

The sight made him almost come, the pure rapture in her hooded eyes and her open mouth. Erik met her every movement, thrusting whenever she rocked back, his hands pulling her down harder and harder.

Their speed increased, Janelle moaning with every thrust of his hips. Her fingernails dug into his chest as they climbed together, higher and higher until Janelle’s movements became less rhythmic, her walls pulsing around him as she cried out.

Erik flipped her over, settling between her thighs as she continued to cry out beneath him. He pushed his fingers through her hair, tilting her head back and claiming her mouth, swallowing his name on her lips.

Lifting her leg, he thrust again and again, Janelle’s orgasm continuing on as he pounded into her, his rhythm becoming frantic as he found his own release.

"I love you," he said, pressing his forehead against Janelle’s and thrusting one more time, whispering praises as he found his own release.

Erik stilled, tasting Janelle’s lips once more. "Marry me?" he asked again, their foreheads still pressed together.

"You think amazing sex would make me change my mind?" she asked, biting his bottom lip, and Erik laughed as he pulled out of her, nipping back at her jawline.

"I want to hear it," he said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"I’ll marry you," Janelle said, her face softening as she pulled back slightly, her eyes searching Erik’s skin. The disappointment he saw there was heavy, so obvious Erik didn't need to look to know what she was, orwasn’t, seeing. There was no mate mark. But surprisingly, he wasn’t sad. Not even a little.

Erik cupped her face between his hands. "So beautiful," he murmured, gazing at her smooth, unmarked skin. He’d expected disappointment if the bond didn’t snap into place, but in reality, all he felt was gratitude. He was lucky. Happy. Regardless of what the gods thought, Janelle was still the love of his life, mate or not.

The gods may not have blessed them, but he hoped they would have no mercy on anyone who tried to tear them apart.

Chapter 43

Lea

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