Page 98 of The Temptation of Roan Island

“Go on. Get,” Anna says. “The boy needs sleep.”

I force myself to give Toby one last kiss and let Shemaiah lead me from the room. After closing the door, we stand in the small alcove in the hall listening to our son’s breathing slowly even out.

“Thank you,” Shemaiah whispers, wrapping his arms around me.

“For what?”

“For loving me. For marrying me. For giving me a family… a son.” His voice breaks a little. “Just thank you.”

I smile up at him, overcome with too much emotion to speak. Four years ago when I ran from New Caldon to New Essik, rejected, pregnant, and alone, I never would have suspected that life would offer me my greatest gifts in the aftermath.

“Come to bed, wife,” Shemaiah whispers into my ear as he kisses my cheek, then the delicate skin behind my ear. “Let me take care of you.”

Shemaiah’s been amazing, making sure I eat, helping with Tobias, even getting up with him in the middle of the night when he’s had a nightmare Anna couldn’t calm. He’s so patient. We haven’t been intimate since I transformed, since trying to settle into this new life. Every night we crawl into bed exhausted, but happy and together. He hasn’t pushed me. Not that I haven’t wanted him. I’ve longed for his touch like a drug, but my mind has been elsewhere, and I’ve rarely been without Tobias until a few days ago when Anna started taking over.

“Let’s go for a walk,” I suggest.

“A walk? It’s past midnight.”

“I want some… privacy.” I smirk at him in a way that I hope communicates my intent. “If we stay here, I know I’ll be distracted and worry about Tobias waking up and interrupting. He’s safe, and I need to start trusting Anna and your siblings to keep him that way.”

He kisses my cheek, lingering as he pulls me toward him. “It’s natural that you’d worry, but you’re right. There’s a house full of people who want nothing more than to spoil and protect our boy.”

Our boy.

I still can’t get used to how good that sounds.

The smile I give him is genuine as some of the tension leaves my shoulders. I never would have let myself hope for this. A home, a family, my boy tucked safe and sound in a bed surrounded by people who love him, my body healthy and stronger than it’s ever been, a man who loves me and wants to walk this world next to me, wants the world to know I’m his rather than hide me away like a secret. It’s heady and too good to be true.

But Shemaiah always reminds me of what’s true.

“What do you have in mind, wife?” His grip tightens around my hips.

“Race you to the garden.” I disengage from his touch and sprint through the hall, laughing.

Shemaiah’s footsteps are light behind me, but I can hear them perfectly. I dart down the stairs, through the foyer, and out into the open air. My husband is faster than I am, but he doesn’t overtake me until I’m rounding the corner of the house into the side garden. This one is gated, but I hurdle it easily, with Shemaiah at my side. We both laugh, and the second my feet are back on the ground, he scoops me into his arms and spins me around.

“I missed you,” I say as we slow to a stop.

“I’m right here.” He kisses my nose, then my forehead. “I’ll always be right here with you, Pippa. You’re my everything. You and Tobias are written across my heart. My day begins and ends with you. Forever.”

He kisses me as he lowers us to the soft grass. Around us, jasmine climbs the fence, while a little pond mirrors the light of the two moons. The fragrance is nearly as potent as my husband’s appeal. He lays me out under the open sky and slowly undresses me, just like he did the first time we were together, discarding each garment one at a time, until there’s nothing left but skin touching skin, lips caressing, legs tangling.

“You’re my every breath,” he gasps as he sinks into me. “Every beat of my heart. You’re in my blood and in my bones, a temptation I can’t give up. You’ve re-written my very cells until they revolve around nothing but my love for you. You’re my everything, Pippa.” He rocks his hips in a way that has me moaning low and loud. “Now, sink your teeth into me, wife. Mark me. Make me yours.”

I’m shocked to realize I’ve never bitten him before. Ruby has talked about how desperately she craved blood after the transformation, but I’ve been so distracted, so used to starving myself, that the craving was second to everything else. But now, with nothing but Shemaiah and the stars, the need to taste him overwhelms me. All-encompassing. Aggressive.

I’m starved for him.

I lean up on my elbows and sink my fangs into his beautiful pectoral. His blood is like the sweetest wine, heady and intoxicating. He groans as my venom releases, flooding his bloodstream. The desire to laugh happily overtakes me. Power and strength flood my body. I know exactly the effect my venom is having on him as he writhes over me and grinds against me. I did that to him. Me.

I giggle into his chest, lapping at the wound I made.

“Fuuuuck, that’s good.” Shemaiah licks my neck, then nips at my ear. “Need to taste you, wife.”

Taking his face in my hands, I meet his gaze with all the seriousness I can muster. “Bite me.”

“With pleasure.” He runs his tongue sensually across my skin, savoring my breast with proprietary claim before sinking his teeth into the same place I bit him. Bliss courses through me, setting my veins on fire and wringing a moan from my throat.