Page 73 of Stolen By Shadow Beasts

"But if I lose you, it won't be because of him or anything in my control," I sob the words. "You could just be... gone, just as quickly as you came back."

He doesn't deny it, just strokes my arms.

"I can't lose you again," I tell him, then kiss him, tasting my own tears.

He pulls me into his lap and kisses me just a little harder, just a little more eagerly. It's like he wants to see how I feel, what I need, but I know what I need. I want to feel safe and unafraid, if only for a minute, the way I used to feel in his arms. My Rayne, he's safety and desire and passion all rolled into one. It’s his skin under my hand. His hair in my fist. Mine in his. His body lying on mine, touching me in all the ways I want to be touched. All the ways I want to be brought back to life.

He rolls so that I'm beneath him on the blankets, and his hands skim my rib cage and slide beneath my shirt to cup my breast. He holds himself up, but I want to be crushed under his weight. I want the decadence of his touch. He squeezes my breast, teases my nipple until I’m writhing beneath him, until my eyelids flutter closed and I’m lost in the sensations.

His tongue probes mine, duels with it until I plunge my hands into his hair and hang on because I’m free falling. I’m losing myself for the first time in so long in pleasure, not the pain of my past, not the pain and complication in my present. I'm just all nerves, nothing more.

When he grinds his hips I suck in a ragged breath, a plea for more. “Rayne.”

“Take your pants off, Ann.”

I need this now. I need him inside me. Real. Touching me, fucking me until I can’t breathe, until my eyes roll back, until I’m nothing but a quivering mass of woman surrendering to the passion and need.

I shed my clothes and lie on the blanket, waiting for his body to cover mine, to use this moment to reconnect with me. And he does. His weight presses down on me, a blanket of warmth and muscles. The weight of a man I love, who I’ve missed more than I can say. It’s perfect beneath him. Safe. A fantasy brought to life that I want to drown in.

He kisses me again, harder and longer, while stroking my arm until goosebumps rise on my flesh. I'm caught between panting and holding my breath, savoring each small touch, each small sound he makes. My thighs spread for him as he sinks down further, and he positions himself at my opening, his mouth still crushing mine, claiming mine.

At first, he just slides up and down in my wet folds with his long, hard erection. It’s almost painful. My nerves scream to life, screaming for more. But I force myself not to beg him to fuck me, because I know he will. When he’s ready.

WhenI’mready.

But then he does, surprising me, entering me with just his tip as my insides turn to jello. My nails dig into his back and I shift and wiggle, wanting him deeper, feeling impatient. But he senses what I need, and he slowly presses into me, one inch at a time, until he comes to his hilt. And, oh God, it feels amazing! His cock is hard, long, and thick, filling me in every way, and I moan at the delicious intrusion.

He rocks us while I gasp his name, then turns so I’m on top of him, letting me take control.

And I do, grinding my hips, riding his cock, letting every nerve inside of us scream in pleasure.

I throw my head back in ecstasy, my hands gripping his shoulders hard as I thrust myself on him over and over again. His body is powerful beneath me, his muscles corded, his thighs tight. My body trembles and shakes, shifts to go deeper until pleasure spirals through me, until my stomach clenches and cries erupt from my throat. “Rayne!”

I keep saying his name, keep riding the waves of my desire until I feel him coming too. And it's perfection. A moment in time I'll never forget. A moment I never thought I could have again.

I collapse on top of him and he strokes my hair, breathing hard. I feel like everything that matters is finally clear. I'm going to enjoy having Rayne back as long as I can. I'm going to pretend that I'll never lose him again. And I'll make it clear to Onyx, Phantom, and Dusk that I care for them too, and they won't be second to Rayne. They just need to give me a little more time.

It feels as if things might actually turn out well.

I turn my head, adjusting, and spot Phantom at the entrance to the cave. A cold chill rolls over me, and every muscle in my body stiffens. The look on his face, it's like I used my hands to rip his heart out of his chest.How stupid was I to think I could have this time with Rayne without… this?

Phantom staggers back and away from us, his face pale. The pain in his eyes is a blow to my very soul, and then he turns and leaves. Just walks away, like I hadn't just hurt him.

Shit."Phantom!" I push away from Rayne in a panic. I have to fix this! It isn't a desire; I’m compelled by a force greater than most.

I start to stand and Rayne grabs my wrist. “Leave it alone, Ann.”

I jerk away, hard. “No.”Doesn't he understand? Can't he imagine what Phantom is thinking right now?"He's going to think... he's going to be hurt..."

He shakes his head and lowers his hand. “Ann, if I was the only true mate you have, him seeing us wouldn’t matter to you.” Like I need him to clarify he adds, “You wouldn’t care that he caught us.”

It isn’t an accusation, but a statement.

“Fuck.” He doesn’t get it. I’m not sure I do either. “Fuck.” I dress in a hurry and walk out of the cave because I have to repair all the things I’ve made wrong, before it's too late.

I’ve hurt them by refusing to be their mate. By bringing Rayne back with me. And the last thing these men need is more hurt and more pain.

By the time I get to the river where Onyx, Phantom and Dusk are sitting, they’re fully dressed, clean from a dip in the water, their long hair left loose. But as much of a rush as I was to reach them, I have no clue what to do now. I’m more confused than when this all started.

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