Page 122 of Bound By the Sleeper’s Harp

Those words made his heart ache with so much emotion.

They hadn’t really made love prior to this. It had been a lot of fucking, sometimes slow and languid, other times fast and frenzied. But this? He wanted to make this time different.

He kept his movements slow, holding her gaze, letting her see everything he felt. Letting himself be vulnerable for her. Allowing himself to moan when he moved in a way that felt particularly good.

Letting her see all of him.

“Yes,” she breathed, pulling his long hair back with one hand in a tight fist, using the other to wrap around his neck.

Anchoring them together.

He wouldn’t rush this. Each slow stroke was a true test to his patience. Soon she was whimpering beneath him, face glowing, eyes glazed with pleasure. It was impossible to stop himself from dragging the backs of his knuckles along her cheekbone, caressing her face, brushing strands of her pink hair back.

Fussing over her because she was precious to him.

“I love you, Bastian,” she breathed. His heart fluttered as tingles spread through his body. He snaked his arms beneath her, wrapping them around her body, pulling her tightly to him, burying his face in her neck. He inhaled, letting her coffee scent soak into him, calm him.

His balls tightened, his seed rising. Eleanor’s muscles went taught, hands moving over his back. When her blunt little nails scraped his skin, sending shivers through him, he combusted. Her body jerked at the same time as she cried out, “Bastian!” Her pussy clenched around him, milking him as he spilled every drop of his seed inside her. The sound of his name on her lips, and his entire fucking world just stopped, swallowed up by the wave of pleasure pounding in his center.

He pressed in deeper, grinding his hips against her, groaning out her name. Never wanting it to end. His orgasm disoriented him, brought a wave of blackness that rushed in at the fringes of his mind before receding. He tightened his arms around her, holding on to the only lifeline he’d ever need, and let it sweep him away.

42

Bastian pulled his truck in front of Eleanor’s apartment building, shutting off the ignition. Nearly a week had passed since the events with Marsh Thadur. The WBI had found itself in an uproar. His department had worked day and night fixing things. Memory wipes for the humans involved, reuniting sleepers with their friends and families, restoring artifacts, and electing a new Fae in Marsh Thadur’s place.

The WBI had argued over custody of Thadur, but in the end, the Fae stepped in—Endorian, specifically—and Thadur was moved into Carrok, the Fae’s high security prison on the outskirts of Walton. No human prison would keep a Fae like Thadur. As far as he knew, the Supernatural Council hadn’t yet finalized the male’s punishment. That would be coming soon enough.

Giggles erupted outside his truck, pulling him back into the moment. Eleanor was arm in arm with Tara, the coffee house woman. Vivi trailed behind them, her eyes on her phone, frowning. The tight knot in his chest loosened, seeing the familiar head of cotton candy pink hair. He’d been so caught up in work that they’d only gotten in a couple of phone calls over the last three days.

This brief getaway was much needed. It was also technically their first date. The girls climbed into the truck, Tara and Vivi taking the back seat. Elle’s scent hit him and he further relaxed. She settled in and slammed the door, belting herself in. He absentmindedly reached over and gave it a tug at the latch—a reflex, more than anything, to ensure she was safe. Always. Then he rested his arm on the center console, leaning in as he looked her up and down.

“Morning, sugar,” he purred. “You sure you don’t want a jacket?”

She was dressed in a pair of yoga pants and loose-fitting workout top. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, loose curls bobbing, a few wispy strands framing her delicate features. He tried not to think about how it felt to wrap that ponytail around his fist. Yeah, his mind went there anyway.

“Once we get moving, it’ll be hot.” She shrugged. “I don’t want to cart it around the whole time.”

He sighed before rotating toward the back seat. “You ladies ready?”

“Yes,” they chorused. “Let’s do this!”

His mouth twitched, but he turned to face forward, starting the truck’s engine and pulling out into traffic. A rustle beside him had him glancing over. Elle was already getting comfortable. She’d shed her shoes, placed her sock-clad feet up on his dashboard. She was peeling the wrapper off a granola bar.

“You didn’t have breakfast?” he growled. She threw him a pout. “Fucking hell, Eleanor.”

The thought of her hungry made him immediately consider how best to feed her. There was the coffee shop down the street⁠—

“Bastian, stop scowling. This will be plenty. Besides, if I grow faint, I have you to carry me down the trail.”

Giggles erupted from the back seat. God help him, this was going to be a day. They were finally having that date they’d talked about—going hiking. Except, Elle had wanted it to be a double date with Tara and Vivi. He hadn’t objected. Oh, he’d wanted to protest. Alone, he could have found a secluded place along the trail and fucked her brains out.

He had days of steam to burn off.

But no. Not now. He would have to mind his manners. Besides, he couldn’t say no, not when she’d asked him so sweetly over the phone. A hint of hesitance in her voice. Like she worried about his answer.

“Thanks again for letting us tag along,” Tara said from the back, as if reading his mind.

He merely hummed in response.