Page 49 of All for the Beast

After having the best sex of his entire life, Vharlk and Katy lay together in front of the fire on the soft fur rug. The tea had gone cold and stale during their lovemaking, so he’d made them more, also bringing Katy a blanket from the bedroom. It all felt like the comfort of a new coupling experience, but V knew better.

It was more of a goodbye than the breaking open of new and exciting adventures together as lovers.

V tried to keep that in mind as he lay next to Katy, her body warm with post-coital bliss. He pulled the blanket over them both as he lay on his side, pressing himself up on his elbow.

Katy’s hair was disheveled, and her cheeks were flushed from the flow of dopamine coursing through her veins. Somehow, she looked even more enchanting by the fire. All the dark corners of her features were lit up without anywhere to hide.

Vharlk wanted to tell her how beautiful she was again, that he would think of her as beautiful no matter what, come age, bodily changes, anything that life threw at them. But that was exceedingly romantic, and the woman was leaving him.

It sullied the feeling of bursting warmth in his chest as he looked at her, running a single finger up the curve of her waist as she, too, lay on her side next to him.

“That was perfect, Katy,” he murmured. “Our last night together …”

He trailed off as his finger reached the curve of her breasts. Katy pursed her lips at him, then shuffled her body closer. His hand slid down and cupped her as she held his face in her hands.

“Don’t think that way,” she whispered. “The opposite is always true and better, V. You could die after all this.”

It was V’s turn to purse his lips and frown as she ran her thumbs up and down his jawline. He played with the plumpness of her butt, cupping it softly, then circling it with his fingers to lead up to a pleasing pinch.

“Maybe you shouldn’t think that way,” he whispered back. “Think maybe, that I will walk into that battle tomorrow and cede heirship to Dimess. Maybe that is what I’ll do instead.”

She smiled at him, but it didn’t linger. On the tip of V’s consciousness was that sliver of hope, that glint of light on the horizon in her eyes that said she would change her mind and at least let him try some more.

But the reality of it told him something else entirely. She was going to enjoy it while it lasted, but when it got down to it, she wanted to return to Earth and the life she had there.

But none of those hurtful facts made him want to remove his hand from her warm, inviting body. He trailed it over her, moving his fingers in sensual circles that made her toes curl.

Katy strained against him, her breath catching in her throat, which made her press her breasts against him in a sexy croon. It made his cock twitch between his legs, hoping that she felt it.

“I know I haven’t known you very long,” she said, her voice soft and sultry. “But I don’t think that you are going to do that.”

Her lips were wet and glistening in the firelight, her eyes darting up and down to his and his stare. He could have easily squeezed her delicious ass, pushing her up against his shaft and starting up again with his mouth hungrily taking her over.

But somehow, he managed to resist. He let her move her thumbs along his lips, running them softly along as she spoke.

“If Dimess doesn’t win,” she said, sounding solemn. “What will you do? Since you don’t have a mate.” Katy lowered her voice on the last word, her mouth barely enunciating it.

V smiled at her. His smile was from sadness rather than excitement, or any kind of looking forward to the future. He knew she felt it, too, because any look of amusement had vanished.

“If I win, the challengers will just keep coming. Anyone remotely related to me will come up, and if they have a mate, they will be the heir if they defeat me.”

Katy nodded. She wasn’t meeting his eyes anymore and had moved her hand to the back of his neck.

The fire flickered behind them. Even in her sadness, she was stunning, and V wanted to pull her in and console her. But he didn’t know why, other than the natural adoration he had for her as his mate.

She met his eyes abruptly, her voice sounding more stern than the compassionate and flirty tone she had since they’d lay down together.

“To be honest with you, V, that way of life sounds horrible. It all seems so forced.”

He stared at her, unable to reply. He had never known any other life, so there was no point in rallying against him. She moved her hands to his cheeks, and he moved his hand to rest on her hips.

Her expression changed back to the flirty, sensual one that he adored so much.

“Why don’t you leave all of this and come back with me? Like you said earlier. Maybe you can hand it all over to him and be with me.”

V could feel himself starting to feel not only hurt but frustrated with his beloved. He removed his hand from her hips and held her by the chin, not tightly, but enough to get his point across.

“Are you saying you want to be my mate on Earth?” he asked sternly. “Because, right up until now, you’ve seemed like you’re just having a good time with me.”

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