Page 71 of Bound In Stone, Claimed In Fire

Heat blooms in my chest. “Sariah,” I murmur, voice catching. “I… I’d like to mate with you now, in the fullness of our bond, if you want.”

Her cheeks flush, a slow smile curving her lips. “Yes,” she breathes, tugging me toward a patch of overgrown moss within the old courtyard. “Let’s make our vow complete.”

Anticipation courses through my veins, laced with a gentle thrill that reminds me we’re free to choose each other without illusions. She sets her staff aside, and I shrug off what remains of my battered clothing. The morning air kisses my skin, a faint chill raising goosebumps, but Sariah’s brand pulses with heat that banishes the cold. We kneel on the moss, the worn stones behind us bearing silent witness.

This time, our union is neither about synergy to heal mortal wounds nor frantic merging to repel illusions. It’s a slow, deliberate act of love. She slips her cloak from her shoulders, exposing bruises and fading scars, each one telling a story of battles fought. My heart aches with admiration.She’s so strong, so beautiful, so wholly my mate.

She reaches for me, hands skimming over the faint runic lines on my arms. I meet her gaze, seeing the same swirl of gratitude, longing, and quiet joy. Her brand glimmers, synergy humming in the background. We lean in simultaneously, lips meeting in a tender, languid kiss that speaks of newfound hope rather than fear.

She tastes like relief, tears, and something sweetly addictive. I cradle her waist, careful of bruises, guiding her closer until our chests brush. Her brand surges with gentle arcs of light that flutter against my dull runes. A sigh escapes my throat as she parts from my mouth, trailing kisses down my jaw, neck, and collarbone. Each press of her lips ignites a soft hum, synergy weaving between us.

I let out a trembling breath, sliding my palms over her sides, mapping each contour. Our bodies still carry the remnants of exhaustion, but the deeper well of affection spurs us on. She arches into me, brand flickering as she murmurs my name in a voice laced with promise. The morning breeze rustles overhead, scattering leaves into the courtyard.

With unhurried reverence, we sink onto the moss, limbs tangling. The synergy coursing through our bond is a gentle crescendo, not the frantic wave we harnessed in battles. She threads her fingers through my hair, a soft moan escaping her lips as our bodies align in a slow, rhythmic dance. I marvel at how different this is from any synergy-fueled lovemaking before—we’re no longer desperate to survive, but celebrating life.

She shifts, meeting my gaze, cheeks flushed. “You’re truly mine,” she whispers, a statement of fact rather than question.

I nod, breath ragged. “Always,” I rasp, sliding a hand up her spine. My runes flicker in agreement, synergy intensifying. She lowers her mouth to mine once more, and the final barriers fall away. We lose ourselves in a lazy exploration that affirms every vow we just spoke, each sigh and gasp an echo of trust.

Time blurs, measured by the quickening pace of our bodies—her hips rolling against mine, the slick heat of her pussy gripping my cock with every slow, deliberate thrust. The soft hush of the pine-scented breeze mingles with her gasps, the glow of synergy sparking brighter wherever our skin meets.

"Kaelith," she moans, nails scraping down my chest. "Gods, you feel—ah—so good inside me."

I groan, burying my face in her neck, my voice rough with need. "You’re perfect. So wet, so warm—fuck—I could spend eternity like this. I could combust in your arm, my love, and I’ll smile as I take my last breath."

She arches beneath me, her thighs trembling around my hips. "No dying on me, just pleasure. Gaze into my eyes and see I’m only speaking the truth," she whispers, and when I do, her eyes are dark with love and want. "I need to see you break apart in my arms, Kaelith. I crave to feel how you explode in me."

“My life, my everything…” I moan, caressing her body with my eyes and my hand grabs her hair as I bury my face in between her generous breasts.

Our murmured confessions spill between kisses, raw and unfiltered. "I love you," I rasp, thrusting deeper, watching her lips part in a silent cry. "Every scar, every battle, every damn illusion—it was worth it to be here with you like this."

Her pussy clenches around me as she whimpers, "Say it again."

"I love you. Forever. I’ll say it over and over again if need be." My hand slides between us, thumb circling her clit, and she sobs my name."Come for me, Sariah. Let me feel you fall apart."

The brand’s pulse matches the frantic rhythm of our hearts, magic coiling tighter with every shared breath. When her climax hits, it’s a radiant burst—her back bowing, her pussy fluttering around my cock as she chants my name like a prayer.

“Kaelith!” she screams, her body shaking from the earth-shattering orgasm.

“Sariah, I’m coming!” The sensation drags me under with her; I come inside her with a guttural groan, my wings flaring wide as pleasure fractures through me. Colors explodes in my head, my mind fracturing at the sheer sensation of the uncontrollable pleasure igniting my very core.

A tremor of ecstasy ripples between us, underlaid by that same gentle healing—her magic soothing my battered soul, my touch mending her bruised spirit. She shudders in my arms, breath catching, tears glittering on her lashes. I cradle her face, pressing our foreheads together as the synergy’s wave peaks and recedes, leaving behind a serene hum in every cell of my body.

"Stay inside me," she murmurs, legs still hooked around my waist. "Just… for a little longer."

I kiss her, slow and sweet. "Always."

When she finally slumps against my chest, I hold her close, our hearts hammering in tandem. We lie tangled in the moss, sunbeams painting gold over our sweat-slicked skin. Her laugh is breathless, satisfied; my tail curls possessively around her calf as my wings sag in exhausted surrender.

"We are one," she whispers.

"Truly," I agree. There’s no fear in the word—only peace.

Minutes pass in a haze of lazy affection, fingers stroking across each other’s skin, exchanging quiet kisses. My chest feels lighter than air, a strange sense of renewed energy suffusing me despite my earlier weariness. She kisses my jaw, lips curving into a small grin when she notices how my tail curls around her ankle in a protective gesture.

She props herself up on an elbow, hair brushing my shoulders. The brand glows softly on her wrist, synergy flaring in gentle pulses. “That was…” she starts, then laughs at her own loss for words. “I can’t describe how perfect this is.”

I brush a stray lock from her forehead, marveling at the love shining in her eyes. “Nor can I,” I murmur. “We fought illusions, fear, condemnation. Now we stand—well, lie—here, free to love each other in the open sun.” I pause, tears pricking. “Thank you for trusting me enough to let me be your vessel, to share your magic freely.”

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