Page 79 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

I pushed my cock inside again from behind and kissed up his back as I pushed fully in, my arm winding around his chest.

His wet heat surrounded me, melting me as he made me feel wanted. No matter where I found myself in the future, lonely in this manor or alone out on some road, at least in this moment, someone wanted me.

And that thought made my skin raise with goose bumps. Grabbing Cale’s cock, I stroked him, enjoying how hard he felt, the suppleness of him.

His fingers curled around my arm, not hard, but enough to feel me, and I pulled him against my chest. He turned his head to the side, and his lips found mine. I stuck out my tongue for him to kiss, to lick, suck, whatever he wanted to do.

I sighed against him, feeling my body burn as I thrusted. My toes curled. “Here it comes.” Just as I’d said it, I came inside him, the feeling of release making my entire body quiver.

I felt the hot liquid in my hand as he released against me.

“Such a dirty boy,” I growled in his ear, biting it.

“Such a filthy lord,” he breathed.

I laughed. Our skin was hot, and as I stayed inside him, letting my body cool, I felt my cock pulsing. When I looked up at him and saw tears in the corners of his eyes, my face fell. “Did I hurt you?”

When Cale smiled, his brow pinching, an ache tore through me. “No,” he said, leaning up to kiss me. “I guess I couldn’t stop myself from how you make me feel. You make me happy.”

I breathed against him, our lips brushing. What could I say to that? Cale had become so enraptured in the moment, inlovingme, that he’d cried.

He laid beside me, curling against me, and I held him. In that quiet moment, as our breaths slowed, I looked down at him and asked, “Why did you follow me into the woods?”

Cale leaned up, his expression almost confused. “You told me you’d go into the woods and not come back. I was afraid you’d be killed, and I couldn’t bear it if you were.”

“Why?” I was fishing for the answer.

“I told you before, and it hasn’t changed. I love you, Gil, whether you’re man or beast.” He smoothed his knuckles against my cheek, and I turned to kiss them.

“Cale.” Taking him into my arms, I turned him over onto his back and looked down at him, at his deep-brown eyes and cute button nose. I smoothed my hand over his dark hair and ran my thumb over the prickles of hair on his face. “I love you too.”

He smiled, and I laid my head down on his chest. I looked up at his moon charm around his neck and curled my hand around it, the metal feeling warm in my hand, until we both drifted off to sleep.

IwokeupwithGil still in my arms. No wonder I felt so hot. Our bodies were both sweating being molded together. But the air was unusually warm as well, and I looked up, confused as to why it felt like I was choking.

I gasped as I took in the side of the room that had overgrown with plants. They spilled in from the window. Looking around, I noticed vines growing out over the floor and crawling up the wall. The hearth lay untouched, as if a fire hadn’t burned there for a long time, and there were cobwebs everywhere.

“Gil,” I started, shaking him awake.

He stirred and grunted, looking up at me, and he followed my eyes around the room. It dawned on him, and he jumped up from the bed and flew to the window. I tripped out of the bed, and he grabbed my hand as I joined him.

“Am I seeing this right, Cale?” he asked.

Looking out, I let out a breath as I saw trees—not the red tree line in the distance, but green trees all around us. The same trees I’d gone through on my way here over five months ago. The broken wall was still there, as well as the cherry trees, which had full green leaves now.

“You did it,” Gil whispered. He looked down at me, taking my chin in his hand and tilting it up. “You broke the curse.”

I shook my head. “Wedid.” I went to kiss him, but someone banged on the door.

“My lord! Cale! Come quick!” Mary yelled.

We grabbed our clothes up and dressed, joining everyone outside the manor. They were smiling, tears streaking down their faces. We all hugged one another.

“It feels like summer,” Eugenia said.

“It has to be,” Natalie commented. “The air is already suffocating.”

Mary looked around, blinking, as if what she was seeing wasn’t real. “Should we continue to stay here?”

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