Page 65 of Magic in My Bones

When Dorian followed me over the edge moments later, our magic created a feedback loop of pleasure and power that left us both trembling and gasping. The mark on my forehead blazed with warmth, but not with its usual dark energy. This felt like transformation, like something ancient and powerful being rewritten by the strength of our connection.

We lay there for a long moment, both panting heavily. Dorian's weight on top of me was comforting rather than crushing, grounding me as I slowly came back to myself. He pressed soft kisses along my neck and jaw, murmuring words of praise and affection that made my heart swell.

Eventually, Dorian carefully withdrew, both of us wincing slightly at the sensitivity. He disposed of the condom and grabbed a warm washcloth from the bathroom, gently cleaning us both up. The tender care in his actions brought tears to my eyes.

“Are you all right, love?” Dorian asked softly, concern etched across his features as he noticed my watery eyes.

I nodded, my face heating, but I didn’t try to hide it. Instead, I reached for his hand, lacing our fingers together. “I’m… more than alright,” I whispered, my voice still a bit unsteady. “It’s just a little overwhelming to feel this…safe.”

Dorian’s expression softened, and he brushed his thumb over my knuckles. “You’re safe with me, mo chroí. Always.”

He settled back down beside me, gathering me into his arms. I nestled against him, feeling the warmth of his body, the steady beat of his heart against my back. His fingers traced idle patterns along my arm, grounding me, and I felt myself relax even deeper into his embrace.

We lay there in comfortable silence, letting the quiet of the room envelop us. The gentle rise and fall of his breath lulled me into a peaceful drowsiness, and I realized how vulnerable I’d let myself be, yet how right it all felt. With Dorian, I didn’t have to hide, didn’t have to question whether I was enough.

“I like it here. Like this.” I admitted quietly, feeling the weight of the words but also the relief in saying them out loud. “Being here… with you? It’s like coming home every time you put your arms around me.”

Dorian pulled me closer, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of my head.

The cottage settled around us like a living thing, spirit lights dimming to a soft purple glow. Even Bones seemed content, his skeletal tail making a gentle clinking sound as he curled up in his bed. A phantom wind chime played somewhere in the distance, its notes sounding like an ancient lullaby.

I felt more than saw Dorian smile against my hair. “The cottage approves of you,” he murmured sleepily. “It's never felt more like home than when you're here.”

A comfortable silence stretched between us as my eyelids grew heavy. Just before sleep took me, I felt his arms tighten around me, a final, reassuring embrace that told me I was exactly where I belonged.

23

Afterglow

Dorian

Morning light seeped throughthe edges of the velvet curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. I woke slowly, my senses first registering the warmth pressed against me before anything else. Ren was nestled against my chest, his breath slow and steady, his hand resting over my heart as if it belonged there.

Our magic had twined together during the night, creating delicate patterns of silver light that danced across the walls in the early morning sun. The cottage's wards hummed contentedly around us, as if pleased to shelter this moment of peace.

I didn’t dare move. I didn’t want to break the spell of this moment, so rare and perfect. My eyes traced the curve of his face, peaceful in sleep. Without the weight of his worries, his features were softer, almost boyish, and I found myself captivated by the faint part of his lips. I’d kissed those lips again and again last night, each touch more intoxicating than the last.

I let my hand rest against his back, my fingers idly brushing over his skin. Memories of the night before flooded back, and I smiled to myself. Ren had been fearless, guiding me with a quiet confidence that left me in awe. He’d shown me so much trust, so much of himself, and it was impossible not to feel humbled by it.

He was breathtaking like this, vulnerable and radiant all at once. Lovely didn’t even begin to cover it. I brushed a stray lock of hair from his face, my chest tightening with a sudden swell of affection.

I leaned in, my lips ghosting over Ren's forehead. I pressed a feather-light kiss there, then another to his temple, his cheek, the corner of his mouth. Each touch was a whispered incantation, a spell to gently rouse him from slumber.

Ren stirred, a soft sigh escaping those tempting lips. His eyelashes fluttered, and I was struck anew by the depth of his gaze as he blinked awake. “Dorian?”

“Good morning, love,” I whispered, unable to keep the reverence from my voice. “I hope you'll forgive me for waking you.”

A lazy smile spread across his face, quickening my pulse. “Mmm, I think I can find it in my heart to pardon you,” he teased, voice still husky with sleep.

I captured his lips in a proper kiss then, slow and tender. Ren responded with a delicious eagerness, his body melting against mine.

As we kissed, I marveled at how Ren's lips felt both familiar and thrillingly new. Each brush of his tongue sent a delightful shiver through me, like the whisper of a benevolent spirit. My hands roamed the landscape of his body, tracing the gentle slopes and valleys with reverent fingertips.

Ren's touch was equally fervent, his touch leaving trails of warmth across my skin. He nipped playfully at my lower lip, eliciting a soft gasp that dissolved into a chuckle. This dancebetween us felt lighter now, unburdened by the uncertainty of the night before. We moved together with an easy grace, two souls perfectly in tune.

Ren's hands slid down my back, igniting sparks along my skin, before grasping my hips. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he pulled me atop him, our bodies aligning like perfectly fitted puzzle pieces. His desire was evident, pressing insistently against my thigh, and I felt my own arousal building in response.

“Again?” I murmured, my voice thick with want.

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