Page 128 of Visions & Shadows

“Yeah, because of our bond and my destiny,” she mutters. “I get it.”

“I’m not talking about your destiny right now,” I snap, my tone way too harsh. “This is about us. Just you and me. Man to woman.”

Confusion flutters over her face, and it has me spelling out the words to her. “I love you, Alchera. Why do you think I got upset whenever you spent time with Storm? Fuck, I wanted to rip the man’s head off when you smiled at him.”

Her lips part in shock, and I watch as she struggles to accept what I’m telling her.

“I love you,” I repeat the words, my tone a little gentler. “When I say there’s no one more important to me, I mean in every aspect of my life. Only you matter to me.”

A solid minute passes where she can only stare at me, utterly stunned, before she whispers, “I didn’t know.”

I can feel she’s holding back, too scared she might be misunderstanding what I’m saying.

Closing the distance between us again, I press my mouth to hers.“I’m not kissing you to heal you. I’m kissing you because I want to taste you.”My tongue dives into her mouth.“Because I desperately need to claim you as mine so no other man can steal you from me.”

Happiness trickles into her heart, and it makes the corner of my mouth curve up before I begin to devour her.

Holy shit. Raighne loves me.

I can’t believe it.

As I hear her thoughts clearly, I feel all her emotions and what it’s likefor her to kiss me. With nothing standing between us any longer, I can see through her eyes, experience everything she experiences, and hear everything she thinks.

Oh God, he tastes so good. Please don’t let this be a dream.

“It’s real, my little dreamer, and you better brace yourself because I’m claiming all of you tonight,”I tell her mentally.

“All of me?”

I lower my hand to her thigh and brush my fingers over her skin until I touch the scrap of lace that’s been testing my limits the entire fucking night.

“All. Of. You.”

Nervous anticipation pours through her, then her panicked thoughts sound up one after the other.

I’ve never been with a man.

What do I do?

Shit, what if I’m not good at it?

Oh my God. It’s really happening.

Calm down. Be cool. Just follow his lead.

Holy fucking shit, am I really about to have sex with Raighne?

I chuckle into her mouth, finding her thoughts endearing.

Pulling slightly away, I rub my finger over the lace as I say, “Deep breaths, my little dreamer. Don’t worry. Let me handle everything.”

She nods, the nervous expression not easing from her face.

I brush my mouth against hers and inhale the quivering breath escaping her lips.

Looking deep into her eyes, I say, “I love you so fucking much. Don’t ever block me from your mind again.”

Alchera nods, and when my finger strokes over her slit, she lets out a sharp gasp.

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