Page 28 of Fire & Ice

My obsession for Tempest thrummed through my veins, but the notion of a forbidden tryst with Sara just to have a taste of what I truly wanted was too tantalizing to resist. I ran my fingers through the soft locks of Sara's hair that now mimicked Tempest's hair of ebony and fire. I looked deeply into green eyes that now shone back at me as globes of captivating fire. I felt myself begin to slip away, as though I were being beguiled by an unseen force. The power of the ring was taking hold over me, and I knew it was a dangerous path to take. But the only way to stay near Tempest was if I played pretend with Sara.

I rolled over so that I was on top of her. “My, my, you are full of surprises aren’t you. Now tell me, how do you feel about mixing business with pleasure?”

Sara smiled up at me, Tempest's eyes shining, filled with a wicked gleam. "I think it's a perfect combination," she replied, her voice husky with need.

I kissed her deeply, my hands moving over her body as I lost myself in the heat of the moment. The power of the ring was addictive, and I knew that we were playing a dangerous game, but if the only way I could have Tempest for the moment was pretending with Sara… So be it.

I would teach Sara everything I knew, and together we would leave make believe behind us and get what we truly wanted.

Chapter 30

Tempest

The door closed softly behind me, and I was met with an enticing silence. My eyes darted around the room, savoring every inch of it—the pristine walls a pale unique gray, the draping curtains a deep red velvet, the enormous bed draped in a black canopy that invited me to sink into its depths.

But all too soon my gaze settled on Beau, his dark hair now wild from our heated battle during the mating ritual, and on the way his muscles moved as he slipped his overcoat off his shoulders. His smoldering expression sent a thousand lightning bolts shooting through my veins as his icy blue eyes grazed my body hungrily. I felt my cheeks turn crimson with fire as I tried desperately to look away but failed miserably.

"So," I stammered nervously, struggling to calm my racing heart, "the final part of the Mating Ritual... what do we—”

"Take off your clothes," he commanded without hesitation.

My breath caught in my throat. "What?" I could barely force out the words.

He smirked devilishly as his powers began to dance in his hands, moving up and down his fingers like wild snakes. He motioned for me to come closer and without hesitation, I inched towards him, feeling the cold radiating from him as if he stood under a glorious winter moon.

His smirk tilted up just a bit more to one side, before he licked his lips, and I groaned seeing the frost that formed across them. Taking one more step forward, I stared deep into his mesmerizing eyes, and he whispered, “I can do it for you... if you'd prefer my love."

I stared at Beau in disbelief, still clutching my velvet skirts between my hands. My thighs clinched together as I shuffled my feet. "N-no. I can do it."

My heart pounded as I looked up at Beau. I swear that he was the most handsome being I had ever seen. His chest, taut with muscles that rippled with every breath he took, was marked with my stamp—a symbol of our undying connection. My fingers trembled as I undid the lacing to my dress, letting the velvet fall around me in a pool of black. His gaze flicked across my body like an ice-cold fire, before settling on my face again.

"Do you like what you see, Tempest?" I felt electricity snake through my veins as his husky words pierced the air around us. He stepped closer until one cold finger was beneath my chin, forcing me to look up into his eyes.

A low growl rumbled in his chest as he circled me like the predator he was, sweeping my hair back as he trailed his fingers along my neck and shoulder. I squeezed my thighs together as an ache built inside me, growing more intense by the second.

He stepped around me once more and I knew he recognized me for who I was—his Blood Moon Queen, his mated. We were two halves of one whole; Yin and Yang; fated to be together forever. He leaned close, his breath cooling the space between us and met my gaze with an intensity that stole my breath away. A feral hunger filled his stare, and my heart leapt in response. The man before me was no longer Beau—he was a fully fledged vampire, soon-to-be-king. My King.

"I can feel your desire, your fire..." Beau whispered.

My skin was alive with the anticipation of his touch, a warmth that made me tremble with desire. He traced down my spine with a tip of a pointed nail, flicking open each clasp of my corset as if it were nothing. My heart thundered in my chest as I waited for him to reach the final clasp.

When he leaned close, his breath tickled my bare shoulder and sent a light coating of frost across my heated skin. I let out a gasp, and my body convulsed with pleasure. "Are you ready to be my queen?"

Without hesitation, I turned to meet his gaze and whispered, "Yes."

"Good, because I will never give you up." He undid the final clasp of my corset, letting it fall beside my dress. His strong arms engulfed me and before I could react, he cupped my breasts within his palms. We were such polar opposites, yet we fit together perfectly—his barely tanned hands holding onto my smooth brown breasts. My body burned hotter than ever before while his felt like ice compared to mine.

I gasped at the sensation of being so close to him, my fingers digging into his arm as his hardened cock pressed against the small of my back.

"Fucking perfect," he growled as he massaged my sensitive nipples. Every tug and pull on the beaded tips felt like he was pulling a string that connected directly to my clit.

I arched back against him, wetness gathering between my thighs. I leaned my head against his chest. His cold tongue slid over his claim on my neck just as he pinched my nipples harder, dragging another moan from me and sending fireworks through my veins.

I gasped and his deep chuckle reverberated through me. "So fucking mine. So fucking responsive, Tempest. What other lovely sounds can your mated coax from your beautiful lips?"

He moved his hands from my breasts and down my stomach, leaving a trail of steam in its wake. I hadn't expected anyone's touch to have such power over me. It was like a balm that soothed the fires within me. My body ached for Beau's touch as I silently begged for more. Without verbalizing my desires, he heard my call and answered it willingly.

His hand skirted beneath the red lace of my panties, brushing against the soft curls on my mound before settling between my legs. As soon as his fingers brushed against my core, I found myself taken aback by the overwhelming desire that crashed through me.

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