Page 19 of Gua rdian of Blood and Shadow

Javier’s boots shifted closer, and he gripped my jaw, tilting my face upward. “Look at me, Luna,” he said. Raw emotion made his voice ragged, dragging my stare up to lock with his. The depth of the rage and sorrow shining in his eyes made my breath catch.

I blinked, setting a string of tears free.

A growl ripped through his chest, and he leaned in, his lips crashing against mine. His grip shifted from my jaw to my neck, and he angled me against the back of a couch. The kiss ended as abruptly as it started, leaving us both breathing hard.

I strained against his hold on my neck, reaching for his lips. Craving more of his kiss. His touch. His everything.

“You should save your energy for thecommunion,” he said. Likehewasn’t enough. “I can call them back if—”

I pushed against his hand until my words came out hoarse. “No,” I said. “Just you. Now.”

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AdarkchuckleshookJavier’schest, and he leaned in, barely brushing his lips over mine. “No blood,” he breathed.

“Fine.” I smiled against his lips as he deepened the kiss, but his hand remained on my neck, allowing him absolute control over the moment.

Javier’s other hand settled on my hip, his fingers kneading. Without warning, he turned me around, our kiss breaking when his mouth drew out of reach. His hand snaked under my shirt, then dipped into the front of my leggings. I sighed as his fingers slid between my lips, pinching my clit. He teased me with long, slow, deliberate strokes of his hand.

I tilted my head to the side, arching my neck in invitation.

“No blood,” he rasped, tightening his hold on my throat. His breath was hot against my flesh, and he grazed his teeth over my earlobe but didn’t break the skin. “Every moan and sigh that slips from that pretty mouth is all mine, and when this tight little pussy clenches around my cock, it won’t be bloodlust or the bond that makes you come,” he promised. “It will be me fucking you until you scream.”

Pleasure shivered through my core as his words quadrupled the effects of his masterful touch. Each slide of his fingers brought me closer. Closer. Closer.

“Oh gods,” I gasped, pleasure coiling tight. “I’m going to come.”

He withdrew his hand from between my thighs and pressed his palm flat against my lower abdomen, leaving me teetering on the edge of release.

I whimpered, my hips rocking, seeking. Nothing to rub against. Nothing to push me into blissful oblivion.

“Not yet,” Javier whispered against my cheek. “Not until you want it so bad that it hurts.” His hand slid from my belly to my hip, tugging down the waistband of my leggings to expose my ass. He teased between my legs from behind, trailing his fingertips through my wet heat but purposely avoiding my clit.

“Fuck, Luna.” He sank two fingers into my core, and I groaned at the delicious invasion. “This is mine,” he said and curled his fingers, teasing the spot inside me that made my knees weak. “I’m yours to command, but this—this sweet little pussy begging me to fuck it is all mine, isn’t it?”

I squeezed my eyes shut and laid my head back on his shoulder. If he kept doing what he was doing, he wouldn’t need to touch my clit to make me come.

Like he sensed my thoughts, Javier pulled his fingers out and smacked my ass. My body jerked, my eyelids snapping open at the sharp sting. He massaged my ass cheek, rubbing away the pain and teasing my entrance with his fingertips.

“Tell me this is mine,” he said, his hold on my neck tightening with his demand.

“It’s yours,” I gasped.

His hand between my legs withdrew again, and I heard the clink of his belt buckle. A moment later, the blunt head of his cock nudged my entrance. “Tell me you’re mine,” he demanded, sliding his shaft through my swollen lips.

“I—” My voice caught when his head grazed my clit, and my legs trembled. “I’m yours, Javi,” I choked out, arching my back. Opening myself to him. “Please. Please let me come.”

He pulled back until he was once again teasing my entrance.

“Javier!” Desperation triggered mywill, and my next words thrummed with power. “Let me come, please!”

Javier let out a dark chuckle. “I’m your Prime Consort,” he said, his words smooth as silk, rough with promise. “That won’t work on me.”

I wailed, raw need tearing through me. “Please, Javi.”

“Not yet,” he said and thrust into me. His hand slid over my hip, his fingertips digging into my pubis, tugging on the skin around my clit but not touching it directly. “Fuck,” he hissed, pulling out and slowly pushing back into me. He brushed his lips along the line of my shoulder. “Your pussy is clenching me so tight, begging me to fuck it hard.”

“Please,” I whined. “Yes. Gods, yes.”

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