Once his hands met my hips, he gripped the buckle of my pants and tore them open, shoving them down my legs before ripping them off completely and throwing them to the side.
I glanced down at my ruined pants and raised a brow, to which he replied, “I prefer them this way.”
Before I could respond, his mouth was on mine once more, hoisting me up in his arms again as Iwrapped my thighs around his waist, pulling myself closer…tighter…deeper into him.
Jace buried his face in the nape of my neck, kissing and nibbling on every inch of my skin he could find.
He tore the fabric of my shirt with ease, exposing my bare breasts. With my entire naked body on display for him, I knew there wasn't anything I wouldn’t do for him. The thought alone sent a pulse of rushing heat between my thighs until I felt myself growing wetter beneath his ravenous stare. A moment later, his mouth was on my nipples, securing one between his teeth—licking, sucking, and biting in the most torturous movements.
The feeling of his hands traveled down my body and a growl left him as his fingertips reached my soaking wet center.
His touch sent a jolt of pleasure through me. Holding me up against the tree, he brought his fingers to my mouth, and I sucked on them, closing my eyes while I let out a moan at the taste of me on him.
“Jace, please. Ineedyou.” My words were barely audible. He gripped his cock and lined himself up with my throbbing center, and his restraint finally snapped as he slowly inserted himself and started spreading me open.
His muscular arms caught me effortlessly as my body bucked against his. Jace held me in place as his hands gripped my ass while he moved me up and down his cock, his movements never faltering.
My mate’s growls of pleasure and ragged breaths filled the forest air, and as his pace sped up, our bodies were reaching their climax together.
Nothing would ever feel as good as him—nothing. I felt as if my body would erupt from the intensity of it all.
He tugged me to him, pulling my back away from where it rested on the tree as our mouths collided. I caught his lower lip with my canines, biting down until I earned a moan from him.
Gently lowering our entwined bodies to the forest floor, he laid my back against the terrain. I wrapped my legs around his middle, pushing him deeper into me as I begged for more. His lips kissed my neck as he continued to thrust in and out of me while I grabbed his hair, running my fingers through it.
Our tether was on fire—burning in the intense blaze of our love and absolute need for one another. A surge of energy coursed through our linked souls, igniting a flickering flame that blazed within me, its heat so intense it felt as if I was being engulfed in a scorching inferno.
I peered down and was met with a gold-flecked hazel gaze and heaved my hips upwards as his cock remained inside me. Pushing my thighs over his body, I rolled us over and climbed on top of him to take charge. I sat up on his length and rolled my hips, earning a needy groan from him, which had me instantly going faster and deeper, circling my hips so I could feel every inch of him.
“Lia.” My name was a wicked curse on his tongue.
My fingers threaded through his tousled hair as I continued to ride his cock. He lifted his hand to my face and pressed his thumb into the swell of my bottom lip. “Such a good girl,” he cooed. “So fucking perfect.”
And with that, we both came undone—the linked blaze between us erupted as we surrendered ourselves completely to one another.
With the rush of pleasure sizzling out in our veins, the sounds of rustling leaves transformed the forest floor into a tranquil sanctuary. Breaths heaving, I collapsed against his chest. Our limbs intertwined, we nuzzled into each other, watching the stars gleam through the trees’ canopy before sleep claimed us both.
Chapter twenty-four
Kellan
It had taken onlya few days to arrive back in Isla once we left the cove of Tortunele. The Vayr Sea had been kind to us—a small blessing for our weakened, battered crew.
As I stared out at the sea’s waves, I berated myself for not having a set plan on how to behave once I faced the queen. If what Callius spoke of was true, and they were indeed mates, then Idina, by now, was well aware that his soul had moved beyond to the vale. But what of her son? Delivering the news of this would have to be handled carefully, and that was something I simply never fucking had the patience for.
As we floated into the Islan harbor, I noticed it was nearly empty. Not a single vessel in sight. Where the fuck were all my ships?!
Once our ship docked, I stormed down the gangplank, and my irritation flared when I noticed the dock’s guards were rushing towards me, hands on the pommels of their swords.
“Gentlemen,” I greeted.
“Where have you been, Adler?” one of the males barked.
A growl rumbled through me. “Excuse me? Who the fuck are you to question me, Braynon?” I demanded.
“Callius left me in charge of guarding the queen in his absence, which you are well aware of,” he spat.
My jaw locked, and my hand moved to my sword as I took a few steps closer to him. We stood chest to chest—the sound of our heavy breathing filled the air as the rest of my crew caught up to me. Maintaining their position behind him, his own entourage of guards edged closer to us.
