Page 45 of Faeheart
Wild let out a low laugh. “This whole tetrad thing is really complicated, isn’t it?”
“Seems like it.”
“Well,” he said, kissing me on the cheek and sending a pulse of warmth through my body. “As long as you’re cool with not being monogamous, I don’t think we’ll have an issue. Alpha wolves are supposed to be great in the sack. And Caden’s plant powers? Well, let’s just say I’ve heard dryads can do some incredible things with their magic.”
A jolt of excitement coursed through me before pooling in my groin as I imagined all the ways they might spice things upin the bedroom. I felt the heat flush into my cheeks as I tried to push them away, but the images kept pushing through. Wild just chuckled beside me.
“Don’t worry,” he said softly, kissing my cheek again. “We’ll take it slow. Nothing says we have to complete the bond today or even this week. Let’s just practice our magic and take our time getting to know one another, alright?”
I nodded, pulling him tighter against me. “Alright.”
Chapter 17
Elias
It had been three days since Wild and I chose to give our bond a shot. Caden and Atlas had done their best to give us space, but I was still feeling too nervous to push things very far. Of course, that didn’t stop me from sleeping next to Wild every night with a raging hard-on. Wild was just as horny as I was, but he was a gentleman too, always patient as I tried to find my courage. Usually, we ended up jerking off together with some light touching, but I hadn’t been able to go any further than that.
For some reason I thought the first time I had sex, the nervousness would just disappear.Forever. But instead, I found it to be the ever-present irritation at the back of my mind. My brain kept trying to convince me that my attraction to him was wrong, that it wasn’t allowed. I knew that was my upbringing talking, a sense of impropriety infecting every selfish urge I’d ever had. But I wasn’t going to let it win. I needed some time to work through it, that was all.
Wild, sensing my internal struggle through our bond, had been nothing but understanding. He never pushed or made me feel inadequate for my hesitation. Instead, he’d taken to leaving little gifts on my pillow. Fae flowers that glowed softly in the dark, crystallized dewdrops that tasted like summer mornings,small tokens that saidI’m thinking of youwithout any pressure attached.
This morning was different, though. I woke to find Wild already dressed and sitting by the window, the emerald journal open in his lap. Pale morning light streamed through the glass, catching the copper highlights in his hair and making him look ethereal.
“Morning,” I murmured, stretching beneath the silk sheets.
He looked up with a smile that sent warmth cascading through our bond. “Good morning, beautiful. Sleep well?”
The casual endearment still made my heart skip, even after three days of hearing it. “Better than I have in weeks. What are you reading?”
Wild’s expression grew thoughtful as he closed the journal. “More of Sorrel’s notes about the soul recognition process. Apparently, there are... stages to it.”
I sat up, suddenly more alert. “What kind of stages?”
“Well, we’ve already experienced the initial recognition - that overwhelming buzzing sensation when we look at each other.” His fingers absently traced the journal’s leather binding. “According to this, the next stage involves what he calls ‘emotional synchronization.’ Our feelings start aligning more closely, boundaries between our individual consciousness becoming more fluid.”
Through our bond, I could sense his mixture of fascination and apprehension at the prospect. It mirrored my own complicated feelings perfectly.
“And after that?” I asked, though part of me dreaded the answer.
“Physical manifestation of the bond. Which means...” He gestured vaguely at himself. “My fae form will start asserting itself more strongly. I’ll have less control over when the changes occur.”
I’d only caught glimpses of Wild’s true fae nature, the way his eyes glowed when his emotions ran high, how flowers seemed to bloom brighter in his presence, the otherworldly grace that marked his movements. The thought of seeing him fully transformed was both thrilling and intimidating.
“Is that why you’ve been so patient with me?” I asked quietly. “Because you’re waiting for these stages to progress naturally?”
Wild set the journal aside and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from his skin. “I’m patient with you because I care about you, Elias. Not because of some mystical timeline.” His hand found mine beneath the covers. “But I won’t lie. Knowing there’s a natural progression takes some of the pressure off. We don’t have to force anything.”
Relief flooded through me at his words. The bond between us pulsed gently, carrying his sincerity and affection in waves that made my chest tight with emotion.
“Thank you,” I whispered, bringing his hand to my lips and pressing a soft kiss against his knuckles. “For understanding.”
“Always,” Wild replied, his green eyes crinkling at the corners. “Besides, I’m enjoying the slow build. Makes everything more... intense when we do get there.”
The heat in his gaze sent a shiver down my spine, and through our bond, I felt his desire kindle in response to mine. It was still strange, this constant feedback loop of emotions and sensations, but I was starting to find comfort in it rather than anxiety. Besides, I liked feeling those twitches in his jeans. They turned me on far more than I wanted to admit.
“Speaking of intense,” Wild continued, standing reluctantly, “Caden and Atlas want us to try some serious magical practice today. Apparently, Atlas found something in the crimson journal about tetrad battle magic.”
I groaned, falling back against the pillows. “Do we have to? We’ve been practicing non-stop.”
