Page 190 of Once the Skies Fade

Calla

Reluctantly, I retreated, slipping away from Matthias but remaining close enough to feel the warmth of his breath upon my lips.

“Well, that certainly beats our first kiss,” I said, breathily.

Matthias placed a kiss on the tip of my nose. “I should hope so. I mean, you were unconscious for that one.”

Sitting back, I regarded him with an annoyed glare. “As if I could ever forget.”

“But the question remains,” he started, darting his tongue out to wet his lips, which sent a flash of desire surging through my core. When he didn’t finish his thought, a questioning hum thrummed in my throat. His hands shifted to the front of my hips so that his thumbs drifted lower to the seam of my pants. Why in the stars did I have to be wearing pants? Though he seemed intent on not letting poor wardrobe choices wreck his plans to undo me. Expertly finding that sensitive bit of nerves, he pressed against me in slow circles until my chest heaved with quickening breaths.

“What question is that?” I asked amidst shallow gasps, echoed by his own as my shadows continued to stroke him under the blankets.

“Do you think I can beat my previous attempts at pleasing you?”

Flashing him a glare of challenge, I pursed my lips as if seriously contemplating his query. “I don’t know, general.”

“Hard to imagine I could be any better?” he offered, brow rising, his thumbs continuing their mischievous movements.

Angling my hips, I pressed into his hands. He smiled when a rogue moan escaped my chest.

Lifting one shoulder, I said, “We do need to see if you’re healed enough to make the journey home after all.”

His hands slipped away from me, and I nearly whimpered in protest until I realized he was merely shifting to lift my tunic up over my head. If sitting up caused him any pain, he didn’t show it as he eagerly brought his lips to one peaked breast and then the other, giving each one the attention they craved—replacing his tongue with sweeps of his thumb when he switched sides. My head fell back as my eyes closed and my hips rolled against him, letting his hardened length press into the aching spot he’d abandoned.

Everything burned with need.

Every inch of me cried out for release.

Slipping my fingers into his hair I pulled his head back and claimed his lips once more. Whether he could read my mind or sense my desire through our bond, I didn’t care. All that mattered was that his hands were slipping under my waistband and—with a few less-than-graceful maneuvers—removing my irksome clothing. All the while, my shadows did their part to shift the blankets out of our way and reveal his eagerness.

He had been remarkable before, but having him melt into me now was a whole new realm of pleasure I never knew existed. I closed my eyes on burgeoning tears. I’d known even the first times we were together that something was different with him, something magnificently and confusingly different, and now Iknew why. He was my mate. I was his. The stars had formed us for each other, bound us to each other. Meant for us to be one, in every way possible.

Pushing him back down to the bed, I braced myself with hands on his chest as I moved my hips with his, relishing in how we fit so perfectly together.

“Look at me, Killer,” he whispered around ragged breaths, and I obliged at once, knowing I’d find nothing but acceptance and understanding in his eyes.

He lifted a hand to my cheek, stroking his thumb against my skin—not once losing the rhythm of his body with mine.

“There she is,” he said, and I couldn’t fight back the smile that tugged at my open lips.

“I hate you, general,” I said, a tear slipping out to greet his calloused fingertip.

“I want all your hate,” he said and tugged my face down to meet his, kissing me once before he whispered against my lips. “Give me all your hate, Killer.”

The command in his tone was like a breath blown on hot embers, sending fresh flames to roar inside me and pushing me harder and faster against him. Up and up we climbed together with heaving breaths and tear-stained kisses. Pausing briefly at the peak, I marveled at the gift the stars had given me in my mate. Smiling up at me, he sealed his lips to mine once more, leading us off that precipice and catching me in his arms with trembling contentment and pure fated bliss.

Chapter 96

Calla

Even with everything Niko and Sasha had done for us, allowing us to remain for a few more days until Asher and his brothers’ scales had regenerated, we all seemed more than eager to leave Dolobare and the nightwalkers behind us. We landed back at my castle in Arenysen just as the sun was slipping over the edge of the forest. My guards greeted us, promptly taking Ami to the dungeons to await her trial. My stablehands helped us remove the harnesses and saddles from the dragons’ backs, but to my surprise, only Asher shifted into his human form.

Matthias reluctantly released my hand as I stepped forward to speak to my friend.

“Leaving so soon?” I asked, my gaze flitting to his two brothers briefly.

Asher dipped his chin low. “Afraid so. I need to get back to this job in Wrenwick.”

---