Page 193 of Ashborne Phoenix

I’d held her for minutes then. But nothing like this.

I wished I could open myself, crack my rib cage, tuck her inside, and hold her there forever. I wished to be one.

With the exception of my dragon, she was the only place in this world that I was entirely unhindered.

We’d spent hours in this dark little space—sometimes weeping, sometimes making love, occasionally arguing. But I hadn’t felt fear in months.

Even when we fought, my only concern was how to move past the hurt or irritation, back to this place.

Precious.

Treasured.

Right.

As I slid home once more, my jaw dropped and Grace shivered.

‘Grace… look at me.’

Her eyes flew open, finding mine immediately, because I hovered over her, brushing kisses, teasing with my tongue, unable to fulfill any of the grand plans I’d had for taking her and teaching her another new way.

This was not a night for teaching. This was a night for togetherness. And when her eyes locked with mine, it was as if she’d taken my heart in her hands.

And for the first time in my life, that didn’t frighten me.

I would gladly give that thudding organ into her keeping. She’d keep it safer than I did. I knew that as well as I knew my own name.

I drew out of her, then thrust again, never breaking eye contact—my need for her only driven higher when her eyes glazed and her lower jaw went slack.

“You’re mine, Grace.”

“Yes!”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too!”

My breath rushed out of me, and I kissed her again, deep and strong, then raised my head enough to return to her blinking gaze.

“I’ll never leave you—never allow the hand of the dark to take you again. I vow it!”

“I know—”

“I’ll never trust myself more than you. You’re so good, Grace. I know you. You’re within me, and I will always trust you.”

She gave a little sob and her hand slid up to cup the back of my neck. But as I took her again, and again, I wasn’t finished.

“I’ll never leave you in the dark. You’ll never have to look for me—I’ll be at your back for every step. Grace, I’m so sorry for the ways I hurt you. I’ll never fear loving you again… do you believe me?”

“Yes!” she gasped. Her eyes welled with tears and I kissed her again, both of us clinging, curling into each other, arching together, writhing as one.

That impossible summit loomed, closer with every thrust. My body ached for that release, and just as desperately, yearned for this moment to last forever.

Her warmth, her beauty, her love, her body… There was no part of her I did not want. I wished I could go back and treat her with the love she’d deserved from the very first day. But even as the thought occurred to me, she gasped.

“Don’t!”

I kissed her again, my tongue delving as surely and swiftly as my body, until I quivered and almost came once more.