Page 40 of A Fate In Moonstone

“What is this?” My voice grew husky, and my fingers flexed with the yearning to touch him. I was supposed to be getting to know Prince Torin and agree to be his wife. Everyone expected it from me.

“I don’t know, but it’s strong.” Rune’s voice tickled the hairs at the nape of my neck. I breathed deeply then faced him. Ever since that day in the Hallowstags where he attempted to rescue me, I’d been enamored by him.

Rune, the cursed prince from another continent. I’d heard the stories and had often wondered where truth and rumor lie in them. Everything about him screamed opposite of his brother. Where Torin was kind, funny, and social, Rune was hard lines, body built from fighting, and scowled almost nonstop.

“I just . . .” I bit my lip, fully knowing I shouldn’t say what I wanted to. A warm, calloused hand cupped my cheek, and the nerves in my body tingled in an exhilarating way.

“Say it.” He leaned closer, sensing what I wanted, but knew I had to be the one to voice it aloud.

This thing, this attraction between us, could simply be lust. My heart clenched at the thought.

I lifted my head and stared into his beautiful icy eyes. I saw more than his feelings in those cool depths.

I saw his beast, and I saw the other half of my soul.

We moved at the same time. This dance we had been doing around each other the past month had brought us to this final moment. Once his lips connected to mine, what felt like a loose band inside me pulled tight, wrapping our fates together in destiny’s tapestry.

“Mate.”

Rune Wolfstrom, a prince, a warrior, a werewolf, and all mine.

He pushed, my hands gripped, and I was pressed into the rock wall. He lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, careful of the sword attached to his hip.

A growl tore through his lungs and barreled into me.

“Wait, wait.” I panted with his lips against my throat. Canines caressing my skin.

“You’re my mate.” The words and his husky voice made me moan and my legs squeeze him.

There was so much to talk about. Oh, but the way he conquered my mouth, the connection burning inside me. His growls… I swear one press of his body against my sensitive flesh and the scream I’d make would echo in this cave for days.

Come on, Sapphira, be strong.

“We have to talk.”

Rune stopped, his eyes watching me, a smirk on kissed-glistened lips as he gently released me to stand on the opposite wall.

My panting and his were the only sounds between us.

I could do this. What? I don’t know but we had to talk more. This was a big deal.

His eyes darkened, and I followed his gaze to the high slit in my dress that was askew. My black panties were showing him just how much he affected me even if he didn’t know from the scents wafting around the cave.

Rock rumbled around us.

Was it my doing or his?

Before I could move, rock curled around my wrists, and his. Cuffing us to opposing walls.

I arched a brow. “That really necessary?”

“If you’d like to talk later, then no.”

“Oh.”

“Yes. Oh.”

Gaining some form of composure, I lifted my head and stared at my mate.