Instead, I reach for her, drawing her into the circle of my arms. "Right now, I don't want to think about Fen, or the Enclave, or chimeras, or curses, or any of it."
Her arms snake around my neck, fingers tangling in my hair. "What do you want to think about, Your Majesty?" There's a tentative smile playing at her lips.
"You." I capture her mouth with mine, pouring all my reassurance, all my devotion into the kiss. "Only you."
The kiss deepens, and I lose myself in her. The softness of her lips, the heat of her tongue, the faint tremble that runs through her body as I press her closer. My hands roam tenderly, memorizing every curve, before settling on her lower abdomen. I break the kiss, my breath catching as my palm curves over the small, firm swell there.
"Gods, Melinda," I whisper, my calloused fingers ghosting over her skin like she's made of the most precious glass. "Our child. Our future." My thumb traces the curve tenderly, protectively. "Do you have any idea what this does to me? Seeing you like this, knowing we've created life together?"
Her pupils dilate, and I can feel her heartbeat quicken against my chest. "Tell me," she breathes.
I lower my mouth to her ear, my breath hot against her skin. "It makes me want to worship every inch of you. It makes me want to show you that I'm here. That I'll always be here." My hand presses more firmly against the swell of her belly. "You're not alone in this. You'll never be alone again."
A soft sigh escapes her lips, her body arching toward me, fear giving way to desire.
"You're magnificent," I murmur, my fingers slipping beneath the hem of her gown, tracing the stretched skin of her abdomen. "So perfect."
"Hawke," she gasps, her eyes heavy-lidded. "I need you."
"You have me," I promise against her throat, lifting her into my arms and cradling her body against my chest. The knowledge of our child growing within her fills me with a fierce, protective devotion. "All of me. Forever."
I lay her gently on the sheets, marveling at the way her hair fans out like a halo of dark silk. When we're finally skin to skin, I pause, hovering above her, drinking in the sight of her flushed cheeks, her parted lips, her eyes dark with desire. She is divine, a goddess brought to life, and somehow—miraculously—she is mine.
"I love you," I whisper, the words inadequate for the depth of emotion that threatens to drown me. "More than life itself."
She reaches up, cupping my face in her palms. "Show me."
I trail kisses down her throat, across her collarbone, savoring every inch of her with my lips and tongue. Her skin tastes like honey and jasmine, intoxicating and addictive.
"Beautiful," I murmur against her skin. "So perfect."
Melinda arches beneath me, her breath coming in short gasps as I continue my journey downward. My lips brush against the curve of her breast, and she trembles.
"Hawke," she whispers, my name falling between us like a spell. Her fingers tangle in my hair, guiding me where she needs me most.
I look up at her, meeting her gaze as I devour her body, drowning in the sweetness of her. My muscles coil tight with restraint, jaw clenching as I fight to maintain control. Her eyes flutter closed, her head tipping back as pleasure overtakes her. Through our bond, I feel every sensation as if it were my own—a dangerous double-edge that threatens to shatter my composure. I grip her thighs harder, anchoring myself with the pressure of my fingers against her skin, centuries of a warrior's discipline the only thing keeping me from losing myself completely in her pleasure.
Her hands grip the sheets, knuckles white with tension as she climbs higher. I hold her steady, anchoring her as she crests the wave, her cry of release echoing through our chamber. Her taste on my tongue is heaven.
Before she can fully descend, I move back up her body, claiming her mouth. She tastes herself on my tongue and moans, the sound vibrating through me like a physical touch.
"Now," she demands, her voice husky. "I need you now."
I position myself above her, pausing only to admire the sight of her beneath me—flushed and glowing.
My chest tightens with a raw, visceral ache. Blood roars in my ears, every muscle in my body straining with the need to claim, to protect what's mine.
"Mine," I say, as I join our bodies.
Melinda gasps, her back arching off the bed. "Yours," she agrees, her eyes locked with mine. "Always yours."
I grip her hips, driving into her with powerful, deliberate thrusts that make her gasp with each movement. The sight of her beneath me—surrendered, trusting, mine—feeds something primal in my soul.
"Look at me," I command. When her eyes flutter closed in pleasure, I grasp her chin between my thumb and forefinger. "I said, look at me, sweet girl. I want to see your eyes when you come apart for me."
Her eyes snap open, dark with desire, pupils blown wide. The submission in her gaze only fuels my need to possess her completely.
"That's it," I praise, adjusting our position to drive even deeper. "Take all of me."
