Page 50 of Fated Exile

"Do you know why the statue of Rae glows when we're nearby? Because when I look at you, I feel sure and confident in my skin. And when I touch you... I know you feel the peace of it. I know you were lost and alone when you came here. I saw it in your eyes."

"I was." I whimper as he pushes his hand between my legs and nips at my jawline. "I didn't think I'd ever belong here. But when you look at me and make me laugh, it's like... like the last seven years never happened, and I've always belonged."

He draws his mouth away from my skin and brackets my face with his broad hands, pressing his hips forward until I can feel his arousal against my thigh. The irises around his pupils are bright silver now, ethereal and glowing faintly with an inner light. As he licks his lips, I spot his canines, slightly lengthened and sharpened. The fingers that he drags across my shirt are tipped with the hint of claws, tearing through the fabric but never coming close to damaging the skin. My wolf surges to the surface at the sharpened touch, panting and wanting. Wetness gathers between my thighs and arousal peaks my nipples against my shirt.

Finn's voice is low and strong as he tells me, "You do belong here, Delilah. This land is yours to heal and protect, and this pack needs you to lead it, though we don't deserve you. If I could erase the suffering you've felt, I would—even though one of the things I love the most about you is how strong your trials have made you. Every obstacle you face, every hardship you have to overcome... it doesn't faze you. Nothing will be more beautiful to me than that."

"And no one makes me happier than you make me," I tell him, dragging my sharpening fingers across his shirt. A growl leaves my throat as the fabric tears, and I impulsively yank it off completely, not caring how the shirt falls to tatter on the ground. "You accepted me so easily, Finn. For that I'll always be grateful. Now take off your goddamned clothes."

He chuckles, low and warm. "Delighted to."

I expect him to peel his pants off or at least unbuckle his belt. But the wolves inside of us are both cresting to the surface, their instincts taking over. Finn's silvered eyes lock with mine as he reaches down, pierces the layers of his clothing, and rakes his claws across it. Ripping the flaps of denim and cotton away, he tosses it all—then grabs my shirt and effortlessly tears it off, leaving me in just my underwear and him in... well, nothing.

I've seen him before without clothes on, but it all feels different here in the Mating Circle, beneath the moonlight and torchlight, with the pack flame red and indecent as it licks his skin. His hips are a narrow V, the broadness of his shoulders powerful and stark. He stays still and lets me look at him, muscular chest rising and falling, his abdomen tensing as I look down at the length of him and feel my pulse race.

There's a smell of anticipation in the air, hot and thick. I'm suddenly glad for the ancient magics that built this place, which keep unwanted pregnancies and sickness at bay during the Mating Ceremony. If we had to fumble with anything else, I think I'd die.

Licking my lips, I take a single claw-tipped finger and raise it to my breastbone. Then I draw it down my front in a single, sharpened line, parting my bra and tearing my underwear open. As the cloth flutters to the ground, Finn takes his turn studying my naked body, his eyes full of raw and naked hunger.

"You're beautiful, Delilah."

His voice is husky and low. His hands clench the air, hungry and grasping—and then, in a single fluid movement, he steps towards me and grabs my body in his hands, drawing me against his naked and aroused front.

"I want to touch and taste every inch of you. And I will, night after night, once we're mated. But my wolf..." Dipping his lips to my neck, he lets out a low and strangled growl, his claws digging into my skin until I gasp in arousal, the length of him nestled against my thighs. "My wolf can't wait any longer. We must be joined."

A keening noise leaves my throat, and my eyes flutter closed as I feel my wolf insist on the same thing. My blood has pooled between my thighs, which part at the brush of his hand. The apex of my body is throbbing and wanting, wetness meeting Finn's touch where he slips his fingers.

Our mouths meet in a sudden and hungry kiss, tongues dancing and lips moving frantically. I gasp as he grabs my thighs and hitches my legs up around him. My peaked, aroused nipples brush against his chest, and I moan, wriggling against his body.

Finn's teeth brush against my skin, his lips moving down to my neck. He bites me—then slowly brings our bodies down to the ground, kneeling on the ancient stones and drawing me up into his lap in a single, fluid motion. My hands fall to his strong, broad shoulders, the scent of coconut and vanilla filling my nose, laid on a tantalizing bed of campfire smoke. Our eyes meet, mouths opening and lips skimming against each other, and he positions our bodies together with a groan that turns into a pained growl.

I push my ankles against his back and draw him into me. Gasping, I shudder at the feeling of him entering me, a sensation I've wanted for so long. Since the moment I met him, maybe even before that, because I didn't know what I was missing until right here and now. He's warm and smooth inside me, strong muscles surging up to pierce my body and rock me against him. I lace my fingers behind his neck and gasp aloud, thighs trembling and body shaking as I open up to him.

The feeling of Finn inside me is electric and alive in a way I didn't know sex ever could be. He pulls me into him and pushes until I'm shuddering, joined to him completely. My nipples ache as they brush against his skin, and I search for his mouth with mine instinctively, moaning against his tongue as I find it.

Finn shifts my weight forward and onto him, then leans slowly back, drawing my body down on top of his. He splays my legs open and thrusts up inside me, making me gasp as every nerve in my body comes alive. Shifting my weight, he twists us around and over so that he's on top, his lips skimming my neck and clavicles, leaving trails of hungry heat behind.

Then he's rolling his hips and murmuring against my skin. "Gods, Delilah... I can feelallof you. Every bit. Can you feel me?"

Reaching up, I dig my fingers into his hair and let my awareness ripple out for the first time since the ceremony began. As I do, I feel his pleasure, a sharp and hungry thing that drives him to thrust deep inside me, searching for more. He sees the look in my eyes and feels the response of my body as he finds a certain angle, and repeats it with a slow and deliberate thrust that spins me apart.

I can feel the weight of his gaze on me, the growing pleasure inside his body at my movements. Drawing my legs up, I bring him inside me more and press my heels against his lower back. He groans, and I bite my bottom lip, enjoying the flash of arousal I feel from our connection.

"Trust me, Finn, I can feel you." I gasp at the twin pleasures of his and mine echoing through my mind, at the way it feels when he bears down on me. I feel him enjoy it as he tweaks my nipple and loves both the touchandthe feeling of me being touched. "Whatever you do, don't stop...that...Oh!"

Shivering, I surge up against him, my eyes falling closed at the sensations he's sparking deep inside me. Finn thrusts inside me over and over again, drawing pleasure from me like a bow draws notes from a violin string. His mouth drops to my neck and finds the place that makes me whimper and growl. My fingers dig into his back and shoulders, claws piercing his skin. But the scratches are barely there before they're gone again, healed by the energy pouring into us, awakening the most powerful versions of our werewolf selves.

Finn brings our mouths together again, kissing me deeply. He leans his weight forward on his right hand, rolling his hipsjustright, while at the same moment he twists my nipples until I cry out. Twisting beneath him, I gasp, shudder, and clench with rhythmic spasms as the pinnacle of desire washes over my body.

He draws me through it, pushing me up to the edge higher and higher. Sensations roll and crest over me, my body responding to his every motion and movement. The thrust of his hips keeps going, the rhythm never stopping or slowing, until I feel like I might fall apart from it all.

Then he's bringing me down again, pressing his lips on mine in a gentle kiss. I moan into his mouth and press my heels into his back, clenching around his buried length. With a warm chuckle against my skin, Finn pushes my hair back to drop another kiss on my neck... then shifts my weight again and rolls over so that I'm on top.

I gasp, adjusting my legs and leaning forward against him. Suddenly, I'm aware of the sheen of sweat slicking my skin, of the pulse of warm light all around and the presence of others near the edge of the stones. But there are no eyes on us, the gazes respectful and distant, four familiar men nearby with their backs turned... for the most part. So despite the sudden exposure, I draw myself up on Finn's length and enjoy the spasm that crosses his face as he brushes against my wet and still-throbbing body.

"You want me on top, hmmm?" Putting my hands on his chest, I wriggle back and forth until he growls and digs his claws into my thighs, trying to draw me down for more. "Just remember that if I'm on top, that means I'm in control. And I'm not going to let you get there so easily."

He rolls his hips up and huffs in frustration as I dodge his attempt, letting him slide against my abdomen instead.

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