Neither of us speaks as I straddle him, kneeling on the bed and positioning him at my entrance. He lets my shirt fall, gripping my hips as I slowly lower myself onto him. A low whimper slips from my lips as he stretches me.
He says, “If it hurts?—”
“Don’t you dare suggest we stop,” I murmur, holding on to his shoulders and breathing through my nose as I adjust. “I want you, Gabriel.”
“Fuck, Birdie. I want you, too.”
A wave of heat rushes to my core, and I groan, taking more of him. “Last night, you said I was yours. Show me what that means.”
A low, possessive growl rumbles through him, and then he does exactly that. He takes me slowly. Deeply. His movementsare powerful and controlled, and it isn’t long before I’m close to breaking.
He holds me, murmuring my name, until I finally shatter. He follows moments later, filling me, and our foreheads meet. Our bodies remain together, as close as two people can be, and we share the same air. There is nothing but us, and it isgood.
“I’m never letting you go, Wren,” he whispers.
“You better not.” Not now, not ever.
He brushes his nose against mine. “You have my word.”
And then he seals the promise with a kiss that I feel in the depths of my soul.
44
PEACE AND MAGIC
WREN
“Oh my gods, you finally did it!” The words, which are a too-loud squeal, come from down the path where Skyler is barreling towards me, grinning like a wild woman.
My cheeks heat, and I exchange a glance with Gabriel. He smirks, as if to sayShe’syourfriend, as Skyler takes my arm, tugging me towards her.
“Morning, Sky,” I say, trying to loosen her hold on me. It doesn’t work, likely because Skyler exercises nearly as much as Gabriel does.
There’s something wrong with them both.
“Don’t ‘morning, Sky’ me, Wren. I’m right, aren’t I?” She beams, looking between me and Gabriel. “You weren’t at breakfast, and you’re glowing.”
Oh, suns. I’m not sure how to answer this line of questioning. Yes, Amelia and I were best friends, but even after we decided to lose our respective virginities before we were Given, we never talked about it in the open like this.
I glance around, blushing furiously as I catch a few glances being thrown our way. I’m sure half the camp heard Skyler since she doesn’t seem familiar with the concept of discretion.
“I . . . Um . . .”
“Why don’t you ladies have a chat?” Gabriel squeezes my hand and pulls me towards him. He kisses me deeply, the embrace far more than the peck on the cheek I’d expected, before releasing me. “I’ll find us some food, Birdie.”
“Are you sure? I can go with you?—”
“No, you can’t.” Skyler threads my arm through the crook of hers and grins. “Thank you, Gabriel. That’s so kind of you.”
“You’re welcome, Skyler,” my Hunter rumbles before turning and heading towards the dining hall. Traitor.
Skyler pulls me down a wooded path, the packed dirt hard beneath my feet. Pine needles dust the ground, and trees rise on either side of us. Budding branches brush our arms, and in a few weeks, they will be laden with leaves. There are a few clouds in the sky, but the suns still manage to shine through.
She halts when we’re alone, spinning around and practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. “You did, right? You fucked him!”
“Gods, Sky. Keep your voice down.” I pull my friend further down the trail. I’m used to people staring at me, but they usually do so because of my Mark. Not because of... this. “Are all rebels gossips, or is it just you?”
“Most of us are,” she says, almost as if it’s a point of pride. “It’s a side effect that comes from spending so much time in such close quarters.”
