Page 74 of Vows Forged in Blood

I let out a ragged exhale and lean down to kiss her again.

“I’m ready, Alaric,” she breathes and positions the head of my cock at her entrance, settling her other hand on my hip. I hiss in a sharp breath as the head kisses her wet heat.

And then, I let go completely, giving myself over to what my body desperately wants. What itneeds. What the bond between us is demanding.

Chapter 37

DAHLIA

Alaric pushes inside and it’s fucking glorious. And tight. And maybe a little uncomfortable. He’s big. And big is an understatement, but it’s a delicious kind of big. The kind that makes you quiver and ache and think about for the rest of your life.

He’s been so careful to keep a tight rein on his control, but now, it’s like something else has taken over. Something primal and possessive and beyond arousing. I worry for the briefest moment, those words from long ago echoing in my head:

I could kill you easily.

Easily?

Easier than breathing.

But I know, Iknow, that he won’t hurt me. Even though his control has snapped, I feel into the depths of my soul that he can’t hurt me, no matter what. He slides inside me in one long, measured thrust and I arch my hips upward at the pleasure of it, the fullness. My toes curl and I dig my fingers into his back, crying out in pleasure. He waits a moment, sweat beading on his forehead as he holds himself still.

“Al…right?” he chokes out and I can tell it’s taking all of his strength to stop, to make sure I’m ok. I can only imagine what his instincts are screaming at him to do right now.

“Yes. More.Please, Alaric,” I beg. It’s a tight fit, butmy godsdoes it feel euphoric. I don’t want him to stop. I want him to keep going. I want him to give me everything he has to offer. To claim me. I’ll admit, I don’t know exactly what that means, but something deep inside my soul somehow understands even if my mind doesn’t, and it fuckingyearnsfor it.

He shudders all over at the words and then he starts moving, pulling back and slamming forward again. I gasp and moan, digging my nails into his skin and hiking my thigh over his hip. In and out, over and over, the sounds of our bodies coming together, the harsh echoes of our breathing, and the popping of the wood in the fire the only sounds in the room. Our chests slide together, slick with sweat, my hair sticking to my temples with it. He grasps my wrists and moves my hands away from his back, pinning them above my head. My entire body arches up to meet his as he thrusts, both of my wrists locked in one of his big hands. The other grips my thigh, shifting it higher on his hip and allowing him to move even deeper.

“Gods, you feel so good, Keeva. Been waiting centuries for you,” he pants before kissing me again. Our lips crashing together as he pounds on and on.

“Alaric, oh gods, right there…” I can feel my orgasm building already, that tight coiling in my belly like a snake preparing to strike. He pushes himself up and holds my gaze, and then I turn my head, exposing my neck. He groans, as if it’s the most glorious thing he’s ever seen, but like he isn’t sure…

“Please,” I beg. “Please, Alaric. It’s yours. I’m yours. I want you to…”

That snaps whatever was holding him back and he leans down, kissing and licking before sinking his fangs deep into my throat.

I scream something unintelligible, my back bowing at the most intense pleasure I’ve ever felt. My orgasm rips through my body like an explosion, leaving nothing but ash and smoke in its wake. He sucks and pounds, groaning against my skin, and…and…

“Alaric,” I gasp. “It won’t stop…I can’t stop…”

The orgasm goes on and on, not crashing down as it usually does but somehow building and building, like an enormous wave. My entire body convulses, the pleasure so intense it’s nearly painful, but I never want it to stop. The feel of his fangs, the pull as he drinks, the feel of his cock thrusting and filling me—it’s all too much.

I scream again as the orgasm intensifies, slamming into me like a battering ram. That tidal wave finally crashes and it shatters me completely, my entire body and soul splintering into a thousand tiny pieces and drifting out into the ether.

“Keeva!” Alaric roars, and I feel him come in a rush, shattering with me. He pounds harder, slamming between my hips as he pumps so deep inside. My climax finally subsides, as Alaric’s does, both of us slowly coming back to earth. He collapses atop me, burying his face in my neck, licking the spot where his fangs were just moments ago lazily, his body shuddering every few moments. My body is a boneless puddle, and all I can do is trace my fingers along his back as I fight to catch my breath and make sense of what the seven hells just happened.

He exhales heavily and rolls to the side, pulling me with him so that we’re face to face. He reaches out and strokes my cheek gently, pushing hair away from my face and running a finger along my nose, then my lips, then my cheek bone. It’s as if he’strying to convince himself that I’m really here, that this is really happening.

“Did I hurt you?” he asks quietly, a note of real fear in his voice.

“Not at all,” I say and he gives me a look. “I will probably be a little sore—I’m not sure if you’re aware of this or not, but you have agiantcock, High General.” He laughs loudly at that, smiling in a way that I’ve never seen before and I can’t help but grin back. “—but no, you didn’t hurt me. You didn’t grind my bones to dust or drain me dry.” He flinches and I reach out and cup his cheek, loving the feel of his scruff beneath my palm. “I’m fine, Alaric. That was…gods, that was amazing.”

He studies me for a long minute. “You’re…sure?”

I lean forward and kiss him, slow and languid, and he runs his hands over my body leisurely, exploring every curve.

“So…so, it’s true then? I’m…your mate?” He’d implied it before, and the truth of it was evident by his survival from the silver poisoning, but I need to hear him say it. I need to hear the words from his lips, no one else’s.

“Yes,” he says, running his fingers through my hair. “I don’t know how—I’ve never heard of a human mate before—but there is no doubt. These things are…it’s difficult to explain, but our kind have instincts that are never wrong and cannot be denied.” Takara explained it to me as best she could back at the camp when I awake. “I thought for a time I could deny them, that I could keep myself away from you and not acknowledge what was screaming inside of me, but it was inevitable. You are mine, Dahlia. You have been since the dawn of time, since both of our souls were but specs of stardust in the heavens.”

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