“Do you have any idea how many years I’ve ached for you? How much I’ve yearned to make you mine?” he whispers, pulling me into his arms. “I love you, Rae. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. Every time we met over the past twenty years, I learned more of who you are, and I still can’t get enough.”
My heart melts into the ground, and everything within me cries outYesas I pull his face to mine. He kisses me deeply, stealing the air from my lungs.
“Thank the gods,” I say. “I thought there had to be something wrong with me for how much I’ve wanted you. I think perhaps I’ve loved you all this time and merely didn’t understand it because I couldn’t remember . . .”
Kian gently pushes a tendril of hair behind my ear before cupping my cheek, a grin quirking his lips. “You could have said something sooner.”
I laugh, pulling him in for another kiss. “Make love to me, Ki,” I demand, desperate for him to fill me and make me completely his.
“I thought you’d never ask,” he moans into my mouth. I can taste myself on his tongue, and it shoots another pang of desire through me. He loosens his pants, then presses me into the tree, lifting me so I can hook my legs around his waist. He lets out a guttural groan as he slides in inch by inch, allowing me to adjust and stretch, the brief pinch of pain quickly forgotten as he kisses my throat. He starts to thrust into me, and I’m soaring. His body fills mine so perfectly.
“Harder,” I breathe, wanting him to know he can let go with me. He doesn’t need to hold back.
He picks up his pace, and I moan into his mouth, loving the sensation of him so deep inside me. We’re no longer two but one.
“You take me so well, love,” he praises. He’s not gentle as he pounds his cock into me in desperation, like he needs to prove to himself that I’m all right. One hand grasps my breast, and when he pinches my nipple, I gasp as my release barrels through me out of nowhere.
“You’re amazing, Ki.”
I can feel his grin against my cheek as he gives one final thrust and finds his own release. “You’reamazing, Rae,” he says breathlessly before kissing me softly.
“So much for my lake bath,” I joke.
“You’ll smell like me,” he purrs. “No one will doubt who you belong to.”
“You and your filthy mouth,” I retort.
He reaches behind me and squeezes my rear. “I can’t help myself. You make me wild for you.”
My heart soars with joy and contentment, finally feeling like I truly belong. We’re no longer bound only by words and blood, but by body and soul as well.
“I think you were always supposed to be mine,” I whisper.
Kian cups my cheek again, his gaze boring into my soul. “I know you don’t believe in soul-bonded mates, but if there is such a thing, I know with certainty you are mine. I belong to you just as you belong to me.”
My breath catches, and tears prick my eyes, my soul screamingYeslouder than I could ever express with words. Kian kisses me softly, gently, and I completely surrender to him.
We kiss long and languidly, learning each other by touch and taste, discovering what the other likes, until Kian stills. I can’t quite see him in the dark, but I can feel him.
“What is it?” I ask, trying not to be frightened. “Please don’t tell me there’s another monster out here.”
“No, nothing like that,” he says. “I was just wondering if you needed some blood after expending so much energy.”
I pause. He makes a good point, as I’m not used to this . . . Obviously, the way my light sputtered out signaled weakness. I’ll have to learn how to control this gift so I don’t lose it when I need it most.
“That might be a good idea . . . but are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” he says. “But knowing my experience with you and blood . . . we might want to do it out here so we don’t put on a show for Alex and Sera.”
I flush, though I doubt he can see it. “Good point, husband. Do you think they’re wondering where we are?”
“I think they know exactly what we’re doing and are glad it’s not at camp,” Kian teases. He grabs the dagger out of his boot and holds it up. “Where would you like to drink, my love?”
Almost impossibly, a fresh wave of lust rolls through me. Round two it is.
Chapter Forty-Eight
KIAN
