“Ava…” he whispered her name like a vow.
And then he kissed her like the world was on fire, plunging his tongue into her mouth. One hand on the back of her neck, the other moved to her ass, palming it as he pulled her flush against him, his cock hard against her belly. His lips moved to her jaw, leaving a gentle trail of heat down her neck.
Ava moaned his name, moving a hand to grip his length, resuming her strokes. He pressed his forehead against hers, his breath stuttering as he visibly trembled with restraint. Pupils completely blown, it was obvious he was holding back, the energy between them taut with craving and desire.
But she didn’t want him to keep himself in check. She wanted him to lose control. Wanted the feral need in his eyes to take over. Wanted everything.
“You’re holding back,” she whispered, running her hands along the planes of his stomach, his chest. She placed a kiss on his collarbone. “Don’t hold back. Let go.”
He extended a hand toward the willow tree’s trunk, urging a thick padding of moss to grow. “Are you sure?”
Her hands moved to his hair, pulling him into a kiss. “Please,” she whimpered against his lips.
The next thing she knew, she was lifted to straddle his waist, hands under her thighs, and slammed against the tree. In one swift thrust, he sheathed himself fully inside. She cried out, clutching his neck. Yes. Yes. This was what she needed. A hand dove into her hair, jerking her head to the side to expose her neck. With a vulgar lick of his tongue up the side of her throat Casimir let out an animalistic groan.
“Oh god.” Her whole body shivered, every inch of her flesh like a live wire.
He started to move. Not gentle and slow, but possessive, consuming. Frantic; driving hard and fast. The way he gripped her thighs as he thrust in and out was almost painful. But she loved it. Needed it. Craved it.
They writhed and moved together as if this might be the last time they ever joined. The last time she felt his skin and his lips against hers, the way he filled her so perfectly. Like they were made for each other.
Casimir groaned into her neck, then bit down on the sensitive curve of her shoulder before kissing and licking the sting away. He pulled her arms from his neck and pinned them above her head with one hand, his other still gripping her thigh greedily. She locked her ankles behind him as his pace quickened, slamming her against the tree. He was so deep, hitting something forbidden inside her with each powerful thrust. The angle had her trembling, just on the edge.
She groaned his name, a low sound in her throat. “Harder,” she barely got out.
“Look at me,” he growled, increasing his relentless pace.
She opened her eyes and met his desperate gaze. A gaze that spoke volumes. Full of want and desire, possession andprotectiveness. But also fear, worry. As if he, too, sensed the impending possibilities of tomorrow.
“Ava,” he said, as he rolled his hips, his pelvic bone brushing her clit. Her legs trembled as she gave herself to the command of his body. “You’re everything.” He didn’t break eye contact, still holding her hands above her head as he thrust deep. “You’re my heart.” Another thrust. “And my soul.”
The desperation in his voice caused tears to form in her eyes, a lump in her throat. He slowed, releasing her wrists. “Am I hurting you?”
She shook her head emphatically, gripping his face. “No. I’m just emotional. Don’t stop. Keep going. Please…”
He resumed his pace and kissed her deeply. “I love you,” he whispered against her lips, then kissed down her jaw as they both moved in tandem. “You are my home,” he whispered into her neck. “You’re perfect.”
He pulled back again to look at her, moving faster, harder. Losing himself in the moment. In the connection of their hearts and souls and bodies. “You…are…mine.”
That was all it took for her to shatter as he sent her over the edge, his pace increasing, chasing his own release. He shuddered, she trembled, both shouting the other’s names.
They stilled, panting and clutching each other; not ready to pull apart. Tears streamed down her face and Casimir leaned in and kissed each cheek. Pressing his lips to her forehead, he murmured sweet words she didn’t understand in old fae. But she absorbed them like a prayer, a sob escaping her lips as the realization of what was coming overwhelmed her.
“And you are mine,” she whimpered through her tears.
Back in their bedroom,Ava nestled closer to Casimir as he pulled the blankets over them and held her tight. He’d carriedher back to their suite, cleaned her up in the tub, and immediately gotten into bed with her.
She listened to his heartbeat, her head on his chest. His hand moved in slow circles along her hip as he hummed quietly. With a deep breath, she tried to ignore the fear in her gut.
“Cas,” she whispered.
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
He tilted her chin to look at him. “For what?”
She swallowed. “For everything. For always protecting me. For caring. For seeing me. For loving me…”
