Page 45 of Blood of Two Crowns

“Hands…”

Kiss.

“As I tear their throats out.”

I drew back to see Zurie’s reaction. Her tears had stopped, and her pupils had blown wide with desire. I greedily filled my breast with the scent of her arousal as a grin curled my lips.

Zurie’s voice was little more than a moan of need.“Fuck, I love you.”

Chapter

Twenty-Four

ZURIE

Never in my life had I felt so seen. So appreciated. So understood.So loved.At my words, my mouth crashed down to Keres’. I took her lip between my teeth, biting hard enough to draw blood so I could suck it away. Moaning my pleasure as I sucked it into my mouth and released it with a loudpop.She fisted the front of my dress, groaning into our kiss before hastily pulling back. “How much do you like this dress?”

It was perhaps the most beautiful dress Bernard had ever made for me. I grinned against her lips.“Burn it for all I fucking care.”

Keres chuckled against me as she tore the silk panelling in half. My palm-sized breasts jiggled at the sudden motion.

“So fucking perfect,” she whispered reverently as she knelt, tearing the skirting open. Her lips parted in awe as she discovered I’d worn no undergarments. Silk pooled around my feet as Keres’ hands skated up my thighs, and she gently buried her face between my thighs, taking in another lungful of my scent.

“Godsdamnit, where have you been all my life?”she growled.

My heart clenched with an emotion I hadn’t felt since Rumiel.

“Hiding,”I whispered.

Keres looked up then, wearing more adoration then I’d ever seen directed at me. Adoration I hadn’t earned or deserved, but I was too unfathomably selfish and starving to entertain the idea of denying my heart what it wanted.

“You never have to hide from me.”

“I’m a monster, Keres.”

“Oh, but darling, I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

Keres stood, picking me up like I weighed nothing and tossed me on the bed before climbing over me. Fisting my hair in her hand to bare my neck. “I want you to be mine, Zurie. Only mine. Tell me you want the same.”

My heart swelled with so much love for her that it pressed upon my throat. And it was nothing short of terrifying. Anytime I’d ever give my heart to someone, it had only ever ended up broken beyond repair. My voice wavered, and I failed to stifle the tremble of my bottom lip. I’d never felt as vulnerable as I did in that moment.

“I already am.”

Keres searched my eyes as if waiting for abutto follow. I had none. Irrevocably, this female had stolen every wretched part of me, and for the first time in all my years, something new and innocent and beautiful began to blossom.

Her lips upon mine felt like glorious nature reclaiming and infusing new life into the dead and decaying.

Keres willed away the flowing dark red, one-piece silk garment that I’d had Bernard make for her. It had been billowy enough to give the illusion of being a dress but actually had pant legs, as was her preference. I’d instructed him to make it backlessandlow-cut because I longed to devour her every moment of every day, even if it was only with my eyes.

Most of ourjoiningshad been rough and passionate, but what we shared had turned into something else. Something tender and unspeakably beautiful. Something both of us had always longed for but never had.

Keres’ lips and tongue teased my already sore nipples to needy points as she expertly worked my clit with a teasing caress of her fingers. “My greedy heart wants to hear you say it, love…”

My hips writhed as that coiling, tingling energy approached its peak under her ministrations.“I’m yours, Keres.”

“Such a good girl,” she whispered against my throat as her fangs lengthened to sharpened points. “I’m going to mark you now…”

My orgasm felt like the birth of a thousand stars.“Gods, yes.”

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