Page 122 of Fated

He pulled them down slowly, the fabric sliding against my skin, leaving me trembling as I stepped out of them. He pressed a soft kiss to the curve of my waist before rising back to his full height, his hands gliding possessively over my hips before settling behind me once more.

He stood there, taking me in, his eyes roaming over every inch of my exposed body. I watched him in the mirror, my heart racing at the desire and admiration in his gaze. I had never felt more beautiful, more desired than at that moment—reflected in Ash’s eyes.

His wings vanished, and he pressed a kiss to my temple before turning away and disappearing into the closet. My heart pounded in anticipation and disbelief as I realized what he was doing.

Sure enough, when he returned, he was clutching the diamond-adorned crown in his hands, the glint of its jewels catching the light. My breath stalled, and my hands balled into fists at my sides, desperately trying to steady myself as nerves threatened to overwhelm me.

His eyes found mine, dark and intense, filled with something deep—something primal. There was no hesitation in his gaze, only certainty. My unsteady hand came to rest on his arm, my voice hoarse and low, almost inaudible. “Are you sure?”

He didn’t answer with words. Instead, he stepped forward,placing the crown on my head. Then he moved behind me once more, his presence like a protective shadow.

Goosebumps erupted across my skin, a shiver running down my spine as the weight of the crown settled, not just physically, but emotionally.

“Breathtaking,” he whispered, his voice rich with desire as his eyes lingered on our reflection. His fingers trailed a slow teasing path down my ribs, each touch sending tingles through me. “Do you have any idea what you do to me, Areya? How impossible it is to look at you and not want to worship every inch of you?”

A soft whimper escaped my lips as I squirmed against him, unable to stop my body from instinctively arching closer, craving his touch.

When his hand lifted to cup my breast, a soft gasp broke free from my lips. His thumb brushed over my hardened nipple, slow and deliberate, each stroke sending ripples of heat spiraling through me.

His lips found my neck, pressing hot, lingering kisses that burned against my skin. I tipped my head back, surrendering completely, granting him access as his lips dragged slowly up the line of my neck. The moment his mouth found the sensitive spot just beneath my ear, a soft sound escaped me—one I barely recognized as my own.

“You’re so beautiful like this,” he murmured, his voice a low, reverent hum that settled deep in my belly. “So perfect.”

“Ash …” I whispered, unsure if it was a plea, a warning, or a declaration. Maybe it was all three.

His hand moved to my face, his thumb grazing my cheek with a tenderness that made my chest tighten. Gently, he turned me to face him, his molten eyes burning with an intensity that stole my breath.

“I want all of you, Areya,” he murmured, his voice shaking. “Every thought, every piece of you that you try to hide. I want your heart, your fears … everything.”

Tears pricked my eyes at the profound vulnerability in his voice, at the way he looked at me as if I were something sacred. My trembling hand rose to cover his, my voice soft but steady as I said, “I’m yours, Ash. All of me.”

His breath hitched, his eyes searching mine as if trying to absorb the weight of my words.

“Say it again,” he whispered, his voice rough, almost pleading.

“I’m yours,” I repeated, firmer this time, my heart swelling with the truth of it. “I’m yours, Ash. Completely.”

A smile curved his lips, devastating and full of emotion. He clasped my face in his hands, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip with such tenderness that it sent another wave of heat rushing through me. Then he leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss that was slow and consuming, yet achingly deliberate.

His tongue traced the seam of my lips, coaxing them apart, and when I gave in, he deepened the kiss. The glide of his tongue against mine was searing—a slow, sensual dance that left me breathless and clinging to him. Every stroke was unhurried, teasing, and claiming, as though he wanted to draw every ounce of me into him. His teeth grazed my bottom lip, eliciting a soft gasp, before his tongue soothed the spot, pulling another low, unrestrained moan from my throat.

Slowly, he turned my body, guiding me back until the edge of the bed met the back of my knees. I sank into the soft mattress, my body molding into its embrace as he followed, his weight pressing down on me in the most intoxicating way.

My fingers tangled in the back of his hair, twisting in the soft strands as I arched into him. His hands roamed down my sides,brushing over my breasts, his touch firm yet achingly gentle, as if he were committing every curve to memory.

When he finally pulled back, his lips were swollen, his breathing uneven, and his gaze burned into mine with a hunger that left me weak. Lowering his head, his mouth found the hollow of my throat. He lingered there, his tongue brushing against my skin, his breath warm and unsteady as he trailed searing kisses from my neck, down to my collarbone.

Each kiss was slower, more purposeful than the last, his mouth leaving a burning path down my body. I threaded my fingers into his hair again, clutching at the soft strands, anchoring myself to him. He pressed a sensual kiss to the swell of my breast, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peak before moving lower. His hands caressed my sides, following the curve of my waist as he kissed his way down my stomach, his lips grazing my skin in a way that made my back arch instinctively.

“Ash …” I breathed, the sound barely escaping me as he paused, his lips brushing just above my hipbone.

His hand gently nudged my legs apart, and my breath caught. A sudden wave of vulnerability washed over me, crashing into the haze of desire. I froze, the weight of the moment pressing down on me in a way I hadn’t expected. I felt completely exposed—laid bare before this beautiful, god-like man who looked at me as though I were his entire world. My thighs pressed together instinctively, a surge of self-consciousness rising within me like a tide I couldn’t control.

He stopped immediately as his gaze lifted to meet mine. The intensity in his eyes softened, giving way to something gentler, something reassuring. He shifted, his strong arms cradling me as he lifted me effortlessly and laid me fully on the bed.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing—a promise wrapped in warmth. His words settled over me likea balm, quieting the storm of emotions raging inside me. He reached for the blanket at the foot of the bed, pulling it up over my body, his hands brushing lightly against my skin as he tucked it around me.

Chapter 30

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