Page 168 of Of Serpents and Ruins
"Well, Elias implied it. And she’s gorgeous." I shrugged, drawing my finger in a circle over his shoulder along the line of one of the tattooed serpents.
He laughed at this, the sound rich and rolling. His body vibrated against mine. "She is, but she isn’t my type. I seem to be fond of a very particular blue."
"Cerulean. My hair is cerulean." I wrinkled my nose at him and winked.
"Cerulean." He kissed me, his lips lingering against my forehead. "Point being…you’re the only one for me. But you probably know that by now."
"I am a little suspicious that that is the case. But I wouldn’t mind some more convincing." I had smiled so much these past days that it hurt to smile now.
He leaned over me once more and kissed me again, his lips firm, warm, and soft against my forehead. "Then let me make this exceptionally clear," he whispered, his voice rumbling in that delicious way. His hands gripped my waist. "You are the only one for me. The one whom I vowed to protect with my blood, soul, spirit, marrow, bone, and sinew. To use a Vawtrian word, you are my veskaro, my most beloved of all, the love I hold above all others."
"So romantic," I murmured, smiling up at him. "And you are mine. The one whom I vowed to protect with my blood, soul, spirit, marrow, bone, and sinew. Now and always. My veskare."
He pressed his lips to mine, a whispered promise and a sweet sigh. His tongue traced my bottom lip, his teeth gently scraping.The air smelled so pleasant, his cologne embracing me and filling my lungs with his taste. His roughened palm caressed my side, moving up to my breast.
I moaned. My hips curled. He practically ripped the dress off me and pressed his knee between my thighs before he settled against me, pinning me between himself and the wall.
As I gasped in response, my hands roved the planes of his body, tracing the patterns of his tattooed serpents. I teased my foot along his back.
This—every time we made love, it was perfection. Even with flaws and weaknesses and falling asleep on top of each other and drooling on each other’s shoulder. It was just exactly what we needed it to be.
I moved; he chased. I met; he demanded. All the dance steps from before we repeated now in a more intimate fashion. Kissing, nipping, biting, teasing, grinding. It built and built between us until he trapped me on the bed, his body against mine.
"I need you." He pressed his mouth against my ear, his voice rough with desire.
I nipped at his chin as I leaned back, exposing the column of my throat.
Hold me.
Kiss me.
Take me.
Make me yours forever.
"I need you too," I whispered, wrapping my legs around his waist.
With a groan, he entered me in one smooth stroke. I cried out, arching into him as he filled me completely. We began to move together, our bodies attuned from long familiarity. His powerful frame surrounded me, his muscles flexing as he droveinto me again and again. I clung to him, nails digging into the shifting serpents on his back.
"You are mine," he growled against my neck as he held me tight.
"And you are mine!" I gasped out, my breaths hitching as he continued to thrust against me.
The pressure and tension between us built and built, coiling with heat through my core and belly. I writhed and bucked as his mouth found a sensitive point on my neck, then moved down and discovered my breast. My nails raked down his back as we found a new rhythm.
My body tightened and arched. Then a great rush of pleasure surged through me. I cried out, lifting myself against him. He too soon found his release and then collapsed against me.
As we basked in the delight of being with one another, I traced my finger over his cheeks and mouth. His lips were so perfectly firm and soft. I slid my finger down the column of his throat to the center of his chest, tracing the line of his pectorals.
He wriggled a little as I reached the tip of the first serpent coil. "You find something fascinating?"
"Mostly your body." I grinned at him, resting on my elbow. "Can you blame me?"
"Only for making me the happiest man to live," he said. His gaze softened as he pressed his thumb to my lips. "There will never be anyone else for me, Stella."
And there would never be anyone else for me.
I smiled and kissed his thumb. "Hey…do you want to know something?"
