“Beautiful,” my mate said. He placed a reverent kiss on my thigh. “Perfect.” Another kiss. “Mine.”

By the time he withdrew, my limbs felt like jelly. I sprawled on the bed, boneless and breathless. Sweat glistened on my flushed skin. Osen stood and stripped off his clothes, revealing the defined muscles and swirling tattoos beneath. Firelight flickered over his tusks and dark green skin, giving him a wild, animalistic beauty.

He crawled up the length of my body and kissed me deeply, letting me taste myself on his lips. The head of his cock pushed against my folds, spreading me open inch by agonizing inch. My body stretched to accommodate his girth, a delicious burn that had me gasping for air. I arched my hips, urging him on, but he paused just long enough to meet my gaze.

“Say it again,” he commanded. His pupils were blown wide with desire, his arms shaking with the effort of holding back. “Tell me you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” I panted, grabbing his ass and pulling him deeper. “Goddess, I’m so yours.”

Then he was moving, and stars burst across my vision.

Each stroke was perfection—deeper, harder, faster. The drag of his cock inside me lit sparks deep in my core, pushing me higher and higher.

“Gods, Miranda,” Osen hissed. His eyes were dark with lust as he looked down at me. “You feel so fucking good wrapped around me.”

All that honorable, civilized control snapped and his hips slammed harder against mine. One large hand gripped my thigh, hiking it higher around his waist. The new angle had me seeing stars, pleasure building with each thrust.

I raked my nails down his back, earning a growl of approval. Osen’s teeth scraped over my mate mark, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through my body. My magic surged in response, crackling just beneath my skin. I felt wild. Untamed. Like I could shatter the world with a thought.

“That’s it,” he rumbled. “Let everyone hear who you belong to.”

His fingers found my clit, rubbing tight circles as he pounded into me. I was close again, teetering on the edge of bliss. “Osen,” I panted. “I’m going to?—”

“Come with me,” he commanded.

A few more thrusts, and my world went white. I screamed Osen’s name as my body clenched around him. He growled against my throat, hips stuttering as he followed me over the edge.

We lay tangled together, both panting heavily. Osen’s weight was a comforting pressure, grounding me as aftershocks of pleasure rippled through my body. He nuzzled my neck, pressing gentle kisses to the mark of our bond.

“I love you,” I murmured, running my fingers through his hair.

Osen lifted his head to meet my gaze. The tenderness in his eyes made my heart swell. “And I love you,” he rumbled. “My brave, beautiful witch.”

He rolled to the side, gathering me against his chest. I curled into him, savoring the warmth of his skin against mine. His fingers traced idle patterns along my spine as we basked in the afterglow.

“Was that a proper human wedding night?” Osen asked, amusement coloring his tone.

I snorted a laugh. “I’d say it exceeded expectations.”

“Good.” His chest rumbled with laughter, and those idling fingers swooped closer and closer to my breast. “ThoughI believe I heard something about needing to consummate multiple times?”

Heat pooled low in my belly at the hunger in his voice. I propped myself up on one elbow, trailing my fingers down his chest. “Well,” I purred. “Far be it from me to break tradition.”

“Such a stickler, you are,” Osen agreed, cupping my cheek and drawing me in for a kiss. “Guess we’ll have to keep going until dawn.”

Until dawn. And then forever, together.

EPILOGUE

MIRANDA

“Perfect!” I arranged the last bundle of dried lavender in its woven basket, letting the calming scent roll right over me. The display looked inviting—herbal remedies in amber bottles, sachets of tea blends, and crystal-infused bath salts arranged on vintage wooden crates. Professional but approachable, just like I’d imagined.

Except for the fresh wood shavings that kept blowing across the dividing line I shared with my neighbors. I dusted off some stray slivers and shot a glare at Torain. He flashed me that shit-eating grin, knowing full well he was driving me mad. Who knew mating an orc with a younger brother would mean I gained a younger brother?

“Don’t make me hex you,” I warned, flicking my fingers in his general direction. “I’ll turn you into a frog.”

“Even if you were still a full-fledged Sister of the Winking Brown Eye or whatever you called yourselves, you couldn’t turn me into a frog,” Torain scoffed, whittling another curl of wood from his block.