Page 162 of Daughter of the Serpent

Just one. But it was enough. Enough for her to feel the searing heat of him, to know that if she reached out, if she touched him - everything would come apart.

His voice dropped lower, rougher.

“I don’t just want you, Sylvie.”

His eyes burned - molten, fierce, like embers catching fire.

“Ineedyou.”

Her breath hitched.

“And it terrifies me.” He swallowed hard, his eyes burning a hole straight through her. “Because the moment I make you mine…” His voice dropped to a near growl. “I’ll never be able to let you go.”

A shudder ran through her.

“The moment I claim you…” His eyes darkened, something feral in their depths “…whatever is holding me together will unravel.”

She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. The weight of his words crashed into her like a wave, pulling her under.

He wanted her.

Neededher.

Just as much as she needed him.

And it was exactly what she wanted, needed to hear. Her fingers curled at her sides, aching to touch him. To feel him. To pull his lips to hers, and feel him come undone under her tongue. Her pulse thundered, heat curling through her veins as she took a slow, steady breath.

"Then claim me." She challenged.

His body went rigid.

"For I am already yours."

His gaze snapped to hers - shocked.

She stepped closer.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. His fingers twitched at his sides - like he wanted to touch her, like he was holding himself back with the last tattered threads of restraint.

So she reached first.

A whisper of her fingers brushing over his - gentle, barely there, but enough.

"And whether you try and deny it or not, there's nothing you can do to change the truth."

She stepped forward - toward him, towardeverything.

"Axel, I havealwaysbeen yours."

Then, shefeltit.

The slip, the doorway. The bond ushered open, igniting her skin, her soul. She latched onto it, unwilling to let it go, let it slip away before he could shut her out.

It all hit her at once.

Emotion - raw, overwhelming - crashed into her like a wave, drowning her in everything he felt, everything he had tried to keep from her.Anguish. Need. Want.It struck her deeply, the force of it so strong she staggered back, gasping.

In an instant, his hands were on her, crushing her to his chest. A possessive growl rumbled - low, and primal, as his fingers slid intoher hair gripping into it, tilting her chin up, and then - he devoured her.

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