Page 24 of Between Soul and Vessel
I knelt between her parted thighs, drawing my fingers up them as I took my time admiring the changes to her body. Her breasts were indeed much, much fuller—brimming with milk for our daughter. And then there was her stomach and that darling little bump, thankfully still present. I quite liked seeing it, through every stage of her pregnancy.
There, she had created life.
And although I had given her the seed, it was she who had spent nine months growing and tending to it. It was she who’d suffered the late nights, the morning sickness, the discomforts of growing another. It was she who’d screamed with the cry of a warrior as she gave birth to our daughter. A memory played out in my mind, of how strong she had been on the day of her birth. The way her hand had crushed minewith her immortal strength. The way she had cried when she first held her in her arms.
The way we both did.
“You females are a wonder,” I said, marveling at her. “All that you went through in order to create our daughter.” Slowly, I shook my head. “I am in awe of you.”
“It was worth it, and I would happily do it again.” She smiled at me. “Actually, I will, as soon as my monthly cycle returns.”
“My love . . .” I raised a brow. “Don’t you think it’s a bit soon?”
“Have you looked at yourself?” she asked, raking her heated gaze down my body. “When I see you, all I can think of is making babies.”
A throaty laugh rolled from my lips. “Although I enjoy the act, more than anything, you do know we can have sex that does not lead to children, yes?”
Sage went silent, and the lightness in the air dissipated.
My smile faded. “Did I say something wrong?”
The silence lingered.
“Little Goddess.”
Her chest rose as she drew a deep breath. When it fell, she said, “Despite the morning sickness, I liked being pregnant. I enjoyed the nights when you would place your head against my belly and talk to her.” She looked down, her fingers spreading across her stomach. “I enjoyed having a part of you always with me.”
“I will always be with you,” I promised her.
Will you really, though?challenged the beast within.
I ignored him, my attention fixed on my mate.
Although I did not doubt Sage was genuine in what she had just told me, I knew the bond could amplify things, making baby fever more like an obsession. Because of our past, I wanted to ensure that Sage wanted more children becauseshewanted them, not because the bond was swaying her to have more or because she was the Goddess of Life and it was genetically what she had been created to do. So I said, “How about, when your cycle returns, we revisit this topic. But until then”—I gave her a devilish grin—“we can practice.”
She tilted her head from side to side, mulling things over. “I think I can agree to that.” Sitting up, her arms enveloped my neck and she kissed me deeply. Within seconds, my clothes were gone, and I had myself sheathed within her.
“Von!” she cried out, her legs wrapping around me.
My hips stilled, giving her time to adjust. “That is the sweetest sound,” I murmured.
“What?”
“My name on your lips.”
“Then I will say it over and over and over again until you are sick of it.”
“That is a day, my love, that will never come,” I promised her, sealing my words with a branding kiss, searing my vow into her lips.
Slowly, I worked myself into her before I struck a sensual pace.
Abs contracting, I rolled my hips, giving her bodythose long, deep strokes I knew she craved. The kind that made her feel like I was weaving my black magic into her. The kind that evicted her soul from her body as she came undone.
I knew what my mate needed from me, and I was more than happy to give it to her.
Wherever she wanted—thrust—whenever she wanted—thrust.
“Von!” screamed a panicked voice, echoing around me.
