Page 43 of Birthright

The combination of the fabric of the bed, the smell of jasmine on the breeze, and the tickle of his breath on my skin was the strongest potion that had ever been mixed in the manor. I was drunk with it. How long had he lingered, touching, nibbling, and kissing? I had no idea and no care. I only knew that I wanted him. I no longer cared about Thule or the Slaugh. I only wanted to be wrapped in the strength of his arms, to have his thick legs pressing on the insides of my thighs, to feel his cock caressing the walls of my pussy.

My slow, relaxed breathing steadily increased as his touch firmed, reflecting his own need, which increased with each stroke of his hand. He rubbed the inside of one leg and then the other, stopping just before touching my aching core. The teasing made me shudder with the need to bridge the distance he’d intentionally left between his hands and my wet folds. I worked hard not to speak, not to break the natural magic that came from two people truly enjoying the energy of each other.

His breathing was becoming deeper and more erratic. He dug his fingers into my hip bone and turned me onto my side, facing away from his body. He pulled me closer, his cock pressed into my lower back, demanding what his fingers had been enjoying for what seemed like hours.

Tynan nudged his knee between my legs, making me open for him. The head of his thick cock slid between my thighs, teasing, promising.

I finally gave up the silence to moan a quiet plea. “Tynan, please.”

“Please, what, my beautiful lover?”

I had started to wriggle. My body was pleading. My hips rotated in circles, urging him, begging him. “Love me. Fuck me.”

His grip tightened as he lifted my top leg back over his muscular thigh, and he slid inside. “Keena, your body fits mine so completely. My hands were sculpted to caress your skin. Being inside you is the only heaven I’ll ever need.”

I was stretched and full of him. It felt better than just fitting together. It felt as though his body was taking over mine and making me stronger, better, happier. I wanted this feeling to last forever and pushed away all reality that lay just outside this sanctuary.

His fingers tightened on my hip, and he quickened his thrusts, pulling me back into his body with each one. The heat generated between our bodies was enough to fuel the fires of every house on the island. Each sure thrust drove those flames higher, pushed my magic to call to his. I tried to hold it back, to let the natural feel of flesh on flesh bring us to that beautiful plateau.

He pulled away, turning me into the sheets, spreading my legs farther as he arranged me flat on my stomach. His movements were sure. His usual quiet, strong demeanor felt more looming than ever. When he reentered me from behind, his length pushed deeply inside me. My toes curled. Tynan gripped my hips again and drove his cock even deeper. He held us impossibly still. I was full and met his moan with a pleading whimper.

Then he started a wonderful, slow grind. I could feel his thighs against mine as he ground his hips against my ass. His thick cock was rhythmically circling inside me and stroking spots that I had no idea were so sensitive. He didn’t pull back. No thrusting was needed. He simply lay flush atop my body and stroked over and over. He surrounded me. Was part of me.

My eyes were watering from the pleasure. “Tynan.” I moaned into the sheets as I clung to the mattress for purchase against his pressure. This was surely the end. Nothing would ever feel this good again.

There would be no way to recreate the magic of this moment. Everything about this moment was perfect, the intensity of his lovemaking and the honesty in his emotions. If I lived through tomorrow, this would still be as close to a perfect union as possible. I strained to imprint the feeling on my brain before the orgasm overtook my body and shattered the moment in my mind.

When it hit, I pushed back against his body, trying to take more of him. I wanted to be a part of his flesh, of his being. His grip tightened on my hips and he groaned something in a language I didn’t recognize as I felt him swell and pulse against the straining muscles in my pussy. We stayed locked in that position for a long time, breathing hard before he released my hips and eased us between the sinfully soft sheets.

I lay on my side, curled in his arms. I knew why he had gone so slow, been so loving with me. He was thinking it might be our last night together. He knew that I was going, and it frightened him. I ached at the thought—ached with the knowledge that we would go through these emotions every time I had to face something dangerous. My life would be filled with danger. I had little choice.

I could fight now and take the path the fates had set for me—or I could let Feldema win and take Doran’s place as High Priestess. That I couldn’t do.

The slow and tender lovemaking lasted throughout the night. He took his time, making sure not to miss touching or kissing a single inch of me. I thought he was trying to memorize every curve, every angle. I returned the favor.

The thunder rumbled low throughout the night, like the beginning of a far-off summer storm.

CHAPTER 19

Tynan had taken his sleeping position before I woke up. He was on his back, arms softly at his sides. I dressed in my black jeans and the leather shirt I wore for my training sessions with Manus. I strapped two small blades to my legs, while at my waist were two matching daggers. I also wore my biggest knife—a saber with a thick blade and large, heavy grip—in a harness that held it on my back where I could reach it over my shoulder. I tucked another small switchblade into my boot. I wished Witches used guns, but then again, nothing on Thule would die from a bullet.

I pulled the soft, emerald-green sheet over Tynan and then kissed him gently on the forehead. I heard his voice in my head.

Come back to me, Ma Guerrière. I’m not ready to give you up.

I almost cried again, but caught myself. I was about to go fight the Slaugh on their turf and try to kill a fallen angel, so somehow crying now would be ludicrous.

I will, my love. I kissed him again on those perfect, soft lips. I started toward the door and took off the necklace that held the amulet. I held it and rubbed the bat between my fingers. The gleaming emerald sparkled in the candlelight. I slid it down into the front pocket of my jeans. If things went badly today, I would not call out to him in pain or fear, tempting him to Thule or torturing him with the knowledge that he couldn’t save me.

I wouldn’t have him in my head if I died.

I ran from that thought, ran through the forest toward the beach—toward the island of Thule. I used my fear and uncertainty as a motivator to gather some much-needed strength, to pull from the woods and from WildLand what I needed for the journey ahead.

Manus was pacing along the beach when I made it to the far side of the island. “You’re late,” he snapped.

“I got here as fast as I—” I stopped abruptly when I saw the boat over his shoulder. “Is that it?”

The damn thing was small. Very small. With one tiny sail. The wood looked half rotted, as if it hadn’t been in the water in years. I made my way to it and kicked the side, unsure if it would get us to Thule, much less get us all back. Manus looked angry again. “You made the trade—you tell me.”