Page 52 of Shrine of Fire

“I promise,” I panted. “I didn’t know you wanted me so…”

Words failed me as he drove into me again. “I want you every second of every hour of every day.” He pulled out of me slowly and slid back in. “I would bed you every night and wake you up with my head between your legs. The only time I would let you leave the bed would be to fuck you on the floor or bent over a counter.”

I moaned at the cascade of images.

“I would take turns with Hashir, coming inside you, and then letting him knot my cum inside you.”

Desire rioted inside me. “I want to do that again. That was amazing.”

“Figure it out.” He nipped my shoulder again. “Or I will arrange it for you. And I won’t be subtle.”

“Yes, delta.” My breath caught again as he slid back inside me, a slow pace that dragged each ridge along my inner walls. I struggled to drag in breath, my mind blanking out from the pleasure. He worked my body like we’d been doing this for years.

Like we were bonded, and he could feel each spark of my pleasure like his own.

Tear sprang into my eyes, and I buried my face into the towel again.

That was never going to happen. We were never going to be bonded, and the thought sat like lead in my heart.

Like he sensed the minute my mood shifted, Aki paused, his voice soft. “Too much? I tell myself to be gentle with you, and then I lose my mind.”

“I love it. I want it.” My voice was thick. “But sometimes the sensations are overwhelming.”

“They are.” He pulled me up against, so my back was pressed against his chest. I still had leverage against the counter, and he thrust slowly inside me. He rained kisses along my shoulders, my neck, stroking my clit gently, working me back up.

I whimpered, breathing deep. I let him carry me closer and closer to orgasm, and, when we both came, with a soft cry I turned my head and bit his shoulder.

Maybe I couldn’t bond him, but I would mark him. Show the world that, even for a short while, he was mine.

The next morning, I made good on my promise to Aki. After everyone else had left for the dining hall, I pulled Hashir back into bed with me for amazing morning sex, before sending him on his way, too.

It made me late to the meal, but I brushed it off as having needed extra sleep. I hated that Aki was right, but I felt much more settled, especially since I could smell both my delta and my alpha on me now.

They weren’t mine, not really, but my omega hindbrain refused to think of them as anything butmyalpha andmydelta.

Stefan was entertaining our hosts, along with Lord Baylin, and I slid in next to my fiancé, kissing his cheek before helping myself to another impressive spread of food.

Stefan glanced at me, but he didn’t betray if he was feeling sad or jealous about scenting Aki and Hashir on me.

For a few hours, we talked about the land, the locals, and told stories. Afterward, Chief A’Cuiric volunteered Cuan to take Stefan and I on a tour of the castle.

We agreed and followed the massive beta out of the Great Hall.

Cuan gestured down the first hallway we reached, one with a long collection of suits of armor running down the wall on both sides. “I don’t know why you’d want a tour, since we won’t be living here, but I guess it won’t hurt.”

“And does that bother you?” Stefan cocked his head. Ceremonial axes, swords, and shields of past great heroes decorated the stone walls along with many tapestries. “If you are against the match, we won’t push it of course.”

“No, no.” Cuan gestured with his hands, his energy taking up the entire space of the massive hallway. “It would be a great honor to my people if you were to choose me to be part of the Royal Pack. Don’t listen to me, I have the bad habit of thinking before I speak.”

“Not so bad a habit,” I said with a smile. “I like knowing what the other person is thinking.”

“Why do you refer to Nova as your betrothed?” Stefan cocked his head. “But talk about being chosen?”

Cuan coughed and rubbed the back of his neck. “My apologies. It’s our custom, to assume we are betrothed until we find reason otherwise.”

Some of the panic that I’d missed an important detail released. “I’m glad we’ll have time then,” I said, taking a step closer to Cuan. “To decide how we suit.”

Cuan didn’t quite meet my eye. “Yes of course.”

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