Page 1 of Reign of the Beast

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~Mia~

Three Months Later

The flames lickedthe logs in the fireplace, the satisfying crackle, a soothing soundtrack to the peaceful reverie encompassing me.

Everything was perfect.

The warmth of the fire, its refreshing cedar scent.

The muted light of my bedroom suite, softly illuminated by a mere half dozen candles situated around the room.

And… him.

I sank deeper into him, as we lounged on my pastel-blue chaise, my back to his front.

“Content, sweetness?” he breathed into my hair, his arms tightening around me.

“Always, with you.” I wove my fingers in his.

“I love you,” he said, nuzzling the side of my neck.

I moaned at the delicious tingle that resonated through me, making my core clench with need.

It was always that way with him. Just the slightest brush of his mouth, his fingers, had me turning into putty in his hands.

And I loved it. I loved how he made me feel.

There was no freer feeling than surrendering to his touch, to letting myself go so completely, to allowing myself to be loved by him without reservation.

It had taken a while for me to get to this point, to divest myself from the shackles of my inhibitions. Even though I trusted him more than I had ever trusted anybody else, there had still been a part of me that had been holding back. With the volatile secret of my heritage, it had been instilled in me at a young age not to trust anyone.

But I’d come to accept that Ryker Morgan wasn’t just anyone.

He was my confidant.

My best friend.

My first love.

And he would be my last too.

The true love of my life.

I tilted my head to look deep into his mesmerizing emerald-green pools. “I love you.”

Heat flared in his eyes and the next thing I knew, he was grasping my hips and flipping our positions.

His powerful body covered mine, enclosing me with his warmth, his love surrounding me.

Safe.

I felt safe.

And wholly cherished.

“Mia,” he groaned, regarding me reverently.

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