Page 56 of In the Blood

“Rafael. He threw you across the room. You hit your head… and broke your arm.”

“Thatbastard. You healed me? How?” He looked down at his arm with knitted brows, then licked his lips. I watched his pupils dilate as he realized what I’d done. Nearly all the green in his irises was gone as he said, “Y-you gave me your blood.” It wasn’t a question.

Before he was even fully healed, he was on top of me with the sharp stare of a predator, making my heart leap into my throat. “I can still taste you on my tongue. You’re going to drive me mad… I need you. Now.Please… Can I bite you? I promise, I won’t hurt you.”

I couldn’t say no. After what had just happened, I didn’t want to. Seeing him unconscious had shattered me. I didn’t want to hold back—I wasdoneholding back.

“Yes,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.

Before I had a chance to reconsider, his canines were scraping along the flickering pulse above my collar bone. For one fleeting moment, a wave of heart-stopping pain pierced through me as he bit down. I inhaled sharply, ready to shove him off—but before I could, a wave of sensation washed over me, making me shudder. There was a sweetness to the sting.

He released a low groan, while the soft pressure of his lips sent a cascading waterfall of pleasure down my spine. And then my soul was on fire with red-hot desire.

The magic that tethered us together felt primitive in its pull—ancient in its hypnotic power. He could have all of me. I was his; he could drain me if that’s what he wanted. As long as this feeling didn’t stop.

I was throbbing, aching, burning—absolutely obliterated by this tidal wave of lust. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that it was a dangerous level of pleasure. This feeling was too powerful—this Golden Prince, too perfect.

He drew back, looking as unhinged as I felt. “Are you okay?” Galen asked shakily, wiping tears from my eyes with his thumb. My emotions were so heightened. Seeing him broken on the floor, then experiencing euphoria minutes later… It was as if I was having an out of body experience.

I was floating, detached from reality, as I peered down on the scene below. Galen’s mussed bronze hair and his grey velvet tunic, coated in dark crimson stains. Me, splayed on the ground, staring up at the ceiling, holding a hand over the swollen bite. Us, lying together on the marble floor, in a pool of Galen’s blood. It would take a crew to clean this up.

His lips were the cleanest part of him. The copper smell of his blood was overpowering, making me feel queasy. My neck throbbed where he’d bitten me, but it didn’t hurt. I silently hoped my healing magic would work quickly. As much as I’d secretly wanted it, I didn’t want it on display.

I eventually found my voice and replied, “It felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest, from how much you made me feel—how much youmakeme feel.” A small truth.

He looked drowsy as he kissed my cheek. “I feel the same. I’ve bitten humans, but never a faerie. Neveryou. That was... other worldly.”

“Literally,” I giggled. His strong arms wrapped around me and I didn’t want him to let go.

Galen and I spent the remainder of the day in my room, making up for lost time: Talking, sleeping, cuddling, and kissing. He’d been gentle with me since the library, refraining from anything too physical, as if having me close was pleasure enough. The Queen expected us at dinner, but he boldly declared that she could be disappointed and instead ordered food to the room.

Lusha drew me a bath, turning pale when she saw the state we were in. He excused her until morning, asking for her discretion. She nodded ferociously, before turning crimson and fleeing the scene.

I should’ve resisted any scenario that suggested we were involved, but it felt so nice to be taken care of. He bathed and massaged me with sweet-smelling oils, dabbing at the small hurt on my neck, coveting every inch of me. It made me feel loved like a child. We drank wine in front of the fireplace, then fell asleep in each other’s arms.

The next morning, Galen woke me up at sunrise, pressing into my backside. I couldn’t hold in my grin, as I realized he was real, and this wasn’t a dream. I felt a hot puff of breath behind my ear, then his splayed hand on my stomach, as he began to explore me.

I gasped as his fingers made their way down my navel. “I’m ticklish,” I hissed, arching away from him.

A low growl left his throat as he yanked me back, lifting one of my legs, and opening me wide. “That’s because you’re a delicate flower. I wonder… is your nectar as sweet as your blood?” he asked before dipping his fingers between my thighs and spreading my petals.

He traced slow, deliberate circles aroundthatspot—the one that made me jolt and shake every time his fingers brushed against it. As I began to whimper and clutch the bedding, he pushed a finger inside of me, keeping just enough friction on that little bud to drive me crazy. We moved together as I trembled beneath the touch of his hand.

I was still experiencing shockwaves when Galen flipped me around, face to face, and guided me to his erection. Trailing curious fingers alonghis length, I experimented with what he responded to. I wrapped my hand around, gliding it over velvety steel.

He took slippery nectar from between my legs, rubbing it up and down his shaft, while he watched me with heavy-lidded eyes. I copied his movements, feeling curious and eager to please—studying him as he twitched and groaned. It was surprisingly rewarding—to be the one controlling his pleasure. When he reached his release, he spilled onto my stomach, shuddering.

He noted my look of surprise and said, “If we have sex and I release in you, it could produce a baby. I’m on a tonic that would prevent such a thing. Has anyone ever explained this to you?”

“I’m well read,” I said with false bravado. Adeline had explained the basics. It didn’t stop me from feeling completely over my head.

“Humans have such a short lifespan, yet they spend a third of it staying chaste.” He said with an edge of condescension. I buried my face, but he pulled my hands away. “No, don’t feel ashamed… sex is natural—as natural as eating, drinking… as natural asmagic, to a Fae. It’s yourcustomsthat are backwards, not you.”

He was wise not to laugh or even smirk as he made sure I knew the ins and outs of procreation. After our conversation, I could feel hard evidence of just how much he’d liked our talk. “Has corrupting me turned you on?” I asked mockingly.

His entire face lit up. “You have no idea. I’m dying to taste you. Do you trust me?” I nodded slowly, heart racing, as he climbed over me.

“Do you taste sweet like honey? Or something fruitier? Melon, perhaps?” he asked with a husky tone that vibrated against my skin, as he moved lower and lower. He made his way down until his head was between my thighs. He spread me open, meeting my apprehensive gaze. The sight was both erotic and anxiety-inducing. I protested, trying to sit up, when I realized what he was about to do.

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