Page 48 of The Rowan
“Astor means a lot to me. He’s my brother, my cadre, and I would love nothing more than to see him happy with anyone, which includes you, even if you’re my mate. But I want you to be prepared.”
“I am. I just have this feeling I can’t explain. It’s not love, not yet, and maybe not ever. I only know I have to try,” I reassure him, relief filling my voice.
“Oh, lass. Let’s hope Astor isn’t the master of his own destruction,” he says quietly. “Regardless, I’m glad you told me, and I’ll be a lucky dragon if you’re my mate. Can I kiss you now and find out?”
Without replying, I reach up and pull his lips down to meet mine in a passionate kiss. It’s like meeting the sun. Desire pools between us, while an overwhelming feeling of warmth takes over my entire body. I can feel tiny threads from his soul reaching out and binding with mine. With our souls tethered, his essence pours through me, showing me everything about him. Valerian’s soul is pure and light and filled with the ages of living. Mine is young in comparison, but they merge easily, as if they are the same. Amazed, I pull back and gaze up at him.
I see my feelings of wonder and awe reflected on his face. Still holding me in his arms, he stares down at me. “Lass, I can’t believe I asked you to wait. When I saw you in Alric’s arms, I wanted to rip his head off. I knew I wouldn’t be able to make it in time. In that moment, I knew with every fiber of my being, I wanted you as my mate.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I promise you, I’m not a stupid man. Forgive me?”
Feeling sassy, I say, “Maybe. I see groveling in your future.” Then I sober, thinking of the night’s events. “We were pawns in other’s agendas. Although Caro wasn’t here, the witches wouldn’t have moved against me if Caro hadn’t approved it. I must have made her nervous. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow.”
He growls. “I don’t like the thought of you going after them. Who are you planning to take with you?”
“I’m not going after them yet. I simply want them to know their plan failed. And I’m going to ask Astor to go with me. They hate him, and I want my message to be loud and clear,” I explain, my voice hard with fury.
Valerian picks me back up, kicks the door closed and sits down in the chair by the fireplace with me in his lap. “Lass, I want you here with me tonight. Even if it’s just holding you tight, I need to feel you in my arms and next to me. Will you stay?”
“Are you going to carry me around forever?” I jokingly ask, but secretly, I love it. For a tall woman, I rarely get carried, and it makes me feel cherished and desired.
His arms tighten. “Until I can get Alric’s face out of my mind, maybe.”
I smooth the frown line between his brows before using my finger to trace his features. Mine. He’s mine, and in a way nobody else has ever been. Although I love my adopted parents, I’ve never had someone to claim solely as my own, a person who’s willing to stand beside me for the rest of my life. Whether it’s short or long, he’ll be there, and while neither of us love each other yet, the mate bond tethers us tightly together.
“Tell me,” he demands, stroking my hair back from my face.
“You’re the first person I’ve ever called mine. And as mates, we’re bound by our souls for eternity, but I don’t think mates are the only important connections. Giving someone a piece of your heart is equally important. Both bind you to a person. You loved Moira fiercely, and her you, and your love was strong and real. I’m amazed at this feeling of being your mate and I’ll treasure it forever, but someday, I want your heart, too,” I state quietly. “Not today, but one day, when nothing matters more than telling me you love me.”
Valerian’s amber eyes search mine before he nods. He pulls me close and captures my lips in a deep, luscious kiss. His pouty lips claim mine, sealing our pact with fire, imprinting his taste on my tongue.
He stands up and carries me over to the bed. Without breaking our kiss, he lowers us down, settling between my legs. For eons, we kiss, learning and savoring each other, grateful for this pause before the storm. We break and stare at each other, the silence only broken by the sound of our breathing.
His amber eyes are darker, closer to molten gold. I inhale, and my breath catches. Mine, he’s all mine. I don’t realize I’m saying the words until he repeats them. A tidal wave of desire sweeps us up, immediate and all-consuming. We dive into each other, clothes flying everywhere, hands touching with uncontrollable frenzy.
“Lass, I want to learn every inch of your body, map it like it’s my own. But right now, I just need…to be inside of you,” he rasps. He slips down to my core and licks my slit from top to bottom.
Gasping, my legs fall open, making room for him. “Hurry,” I plead. With a tug on his hair, I bring him to my clit, moaning when he circles it with his tongue. “More.”
He picks up my hips, bringing my pussy up to his lips to devour every inch of me, licking, sucking, and nibbling on my clit, then fucking me with his tongue. It’s been so long and I’m so turned on, it takes a mere minute for me to come.
My hands clench the sheets as I buck up into his mouth. My orgasm rolls through my body, and I moan.
He continues to kiss and taste me until he feels the tremors subside. “You’re so beautiful when you come,” he drawls huskily. Sliding up my body, he positions his cock at my entrance and slowly slides into me.
Moaning, I shift and widen my legs to pull him closer. He’s so big, his cock stretching me, making me restless for him to move. “Fuck, you’re big, dragon. I need you to move, but slowly.”
He grins and slides out an inch. He groans. “Damn, lass, you’re so tight. Give me a second.” With a slow inhale, he pulls out halfway, then slides back in. “Fuck me, you feel so good. Maybe too damn good.”
He continues to give me time to adjust with slow thrusts. Sweat beads on his brow as he rocks back and forth, his cock getting harder with each pass.
My body finally loosens its stranglehold, and all I feel is pleasure. “Harder. When you slide back in, I need it harder.”
In the middle of pulling out, he thrusts in hard and groans. His pure gold eyes stare down at me, cataloguing every response. “I love sliding in and out of your pussy. It’s so slick. My cock wants to slide out to the tip, feeling every quiver on my shaft, before slamming back into you, diving deep until my balls meet your ass.” He groans. “And then do it all over again.”
“Valerian,” I breathe, and my pussy flutters around his cock. “More.”
“I need to be deeper,” he rasps and withdraws. He quickly picks me up, flips me to my knees and sinks back into me. “Not enough.” Grabbing a pillow, he places it under my hips, angling me almost straight up, and slams into me. “That’s it, lass. I’m so deep inside you, I can’t feel where I end and you begin. And your ass…so beautiful.” He caresses my ass as he slides in and out.
“Stop playing,” I demand. “I’m so close, Valerian. My mate. Mine. Fuck me.” Incoherent words spill out of my mouth. The edge is right in front of me, I just need him to move faster.
