Page 3 of Monster Bride (Shadow Pact 2)

I held his face in my hands and leaned in close. “I’m thinking about how happy I am you were able to find a way home. That you brought me with you. And I’m thinking about how much I want to kiss you right now.”

Mrak made a guttural sound deep in his throat before wrapping a muscular arm around my body and pressing it tightly against his. Even through the simple clothes he now wore, I could feel the hard planes of his abs and the muscles lining his body. With enough deftness to avoid crushing me altogether, Mrak captured my lips with his with a ferocity that left me breathless. He did not hesitate or go slow, instead immediately asking for entrance before his tongue delved into my mouth. I realized with a start—and then a sly grin—his tongue was now forked in this form. This, along with the fierceness of the kiss and his wild movements, left me breathless, especially when I realized this was really happening.

I was kissing Mrakback. Because he really was here and this was not a dream.

Suddenly, it was like nothing in this moment was enough. I needed his hands on me, touching me—all of me. I needed to be closer to him. Embraced by him. Our existences fused once more.

But before we could get that far, Mrak pulled back, leaving us both breathless.

“As much as I would love to stay here and claim you in this form,” Mrak said with a shadow of regret in his eyes, “I am required elsewhere. But I would like to take you with me, if you’ll join me?”

I simply could not imagine anywhere else in either world that I would like to be more than at his side. “Of course.”

Mrak stole another heated kiss that had my toes curling and warmth pooling between my thighs before he said, “Have some breakfast, and then we will go.” He ran his talon along my cheek, then down my neck and between my breasts. “I’ll have you screaming my name later as I claim you for real.”

I licked my lips and grinned at him. “Or I, you.”

Mrak’s eyes tightened and he growled before pulling me close again and claiming my mouth with heated abandon. “You may be the death of me, Aisling.”

Impossible—because I simply wouldn’t make it if he held off touching me any longer. I’d surely die first.

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