Page 79 of The Witch's Spell
“Alden,” I say as I pull away from his kiss.
“Yes, Aurora?” His mouth finds my neck, and he presses kisses along my throat. Even all these months later, I still feel flutters in my stomach when he says my name like that.
“I love you.Somuch. You know that, right?”
His laughter rumbles through me. After planting a gentle kiss on my jaw and thrusting a bit deeper into me, he says, “I know. I love you just as much, little witch.”
My lips find his again, one of my hands curling into his thick dark hair, tangling it at the nape of his neck.
Steam from the springs rises up around us, keeping us warm as we writhe against each other, breaths gasped and bodies coiling with the need for release. I reach down with one hand to touch myself, and my head drops onto Alden’s shoulder. He does all the work for us, gripping me and grinding my body against his. All I have to do is rub my clit and surrender to him, letting him carry me higher.
His fingers tighten on my ass cheeks, and he increases his pace, bouncing me atop him, his dick sliding so deep into me and stretching me out so far that it’s already taking me to my peak.
“Alden,” I whisper.
“Aurora,” he says in return.
And then I lift my head and let it fall back as an orgasm crashes through me. My pussy spasms around him, and he fucks me all the way through it, not letting himself cum until I’m gasping and trembling from my release.
His heat fills me, and I watch his face as it contorts into what looks like a mixture of pleasure and pain, his brow furrowing and his dark eyes scrunching closed. When he’s drained everything he has into me, I tighten my ankles around him, his length still buried inside me, and wrap my arms around his neck, holding him as tightly as I can with my big belly between us.
“Everything okay, little witch?” he asks, breathing heavily as his hand traces up and down my back.
“It’s more than okay,” I tell him, letting my eyes close as I yawn, feeling sleepy now from the heat of the hot springs and my release. “Everything’sperfect.”
Chapter 38
Faolan
TODAY IS THE WINTER SOLSTICE and the first day of Yule, and it’s snowing. I wanted to grumble when I saw the flakes drifting down from the gray sky, but Aurora was delighted, and it chased some of my gloom away.
After today, our days will start getting longer, one brief minute at a time. And it reminds me that this cold won’t last forever, that in a few short months the sun will warm the earth and spring flowers will start to grow, and I’ll get to see Aurora walking barefoot in her garden.
Probably with a child strapped to her back.
My eyes flick to her as she stirs a large pot over the low-burning flames in the kitchen hearth. She’s been preparing food for days now. It’s been excruciating not being allowed to feast on the cookies and cakes and breads she’s been baking. Even now, as I sit at the kitchen table, my eyes drift over the many assembled plates and platters filling the counter and every free space on Aurora’s shelves. My mouthwaters just thinking about stuffing myself later. I want to eat until I pass out and then sleep through the rest of the winter.
Harrison is sitting on the table in front of me, watching Aurora as well.
Ever since I snagged him out of the air and kept him from blowing away in Thorne’s wild storm, he’s treated me differently—like he’s finally accepted me. And even though I wouldn’t admit it to anyone, least of all him, his warming up to me makes this place feel even more like home. He was the last step, the last sentry I felt I needed to be allowed past totrulyget to Aurora.
Shifting my cup of cocoa to my other hand, I reach for Harrison, letting my fingers hover an inch or so away from him. He flicks his tail and sniffs my hand. Then he pushes his soft head into my palm, letting me scratch him behind the ears and under his chin.
Aurora tosses a glance over her shoulder at us, and though her lips rise into a small smile, she says nothing.
I take another sip of cocoa just before there’s a knock on the front door.
My stomach turns.
Aurora has a whole celebration planned, but I can’t say I’m looking forward to it. I guess the knight’s family is in town, and Lydia and James will be coming over as well. Thorne is still here—probably for good, though I don’t want to think aboutthatright now—and the cottage is going to be bursting at the seams.
My plan is to steal a platter of cookies and slip away into the forest at the first opportunity. It’ll be quiet out there, and I’ll be able to watch the stars without having to talkto anyone. I’d much prefer that over having to smile and laugh and pretend I like socializing. But I think Aurora will understand. Actually, Iknowshe will. Hell, she’ll probably even join me, at least for a short while.
The wooden floorboards creak, and Alden’s heavy footsteps pad from the parlor, where he was dozing in front of the fire, into the foyer. Unbothered, I continue scratching Harrison beneath the chin and sipping my cocoa.
Untilhissmell hits me.
If I were in my wolf form, my hackles would be rising.
