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River wasn't sure how much more he could take without passing out, but Nora pulled away slightly and licked his puncture marks closed with her tongue.
He collapsed against her front, his head on her shoulder, and River took in giant gulps of air.
Nora gently caressed his head, running her fingers through his hair, and a sense of rightness settled over him. It was almost as if her drinking from him and holding him after was second nature.
And an image of them both old and gray, in the same position, flashed into his mind.
Needing to feel more of her, he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his mouth to where her neck met her shoulder. Just being closer to her scent made his dick wake up again.
Fuck, he couldn't wait to make her his wife and have her close each and every day.
Her soft voice filled his ears. "Did I take too much from you?"
He shook his head. "No, baby. I just wanted to hold you a little before we have to face the world again."
She hugged him tighter against her and laid her cheek on the top of his head. "It's almost too perfect, isn't it? In here we have our own lovely little world, but once we step outside, reality comes rushing back."
River forced himself to move his head back enough so he could see her face again. He didn't fucking like the sadness in her gaze. "I get there are different standards of what you can do in public in this time, but what just happened here between us shouldn't be a one-time thing. You seemed to enjoy it, I sure as hell did, so where are these doubts coming from?"
She sighed. "I don't know. I keep thinking that at some point, you're going to tire of being patient with me. I'm sure females in the future are different."
He took her cheeks in his palms. "I don't give a fuck about females in the future, Nora. Sometimes we don't know what we truly want until it shows up. And you are most definitely that—I want to open your eyes to all the fucking good times we can have together, and take my time learning every little thing you like in bed, or even just talk to you about shit I'd never share with anyone else. Fae witches don't have fated ones, but it sure as hell feels like you were meant to be mine."
Her eyes looked about to leak tears. But before he could try to calm her down, Nora choked out, "River, I never thought to hope for a future with anyone. But I truly want one with you." She glanced away. "I hope you don't come to regret it."
He growled. "Look at me, Nora." When she did, he continued, "I get your piece-of-shit father destroyed a huge chunk of your life, which then affected your hopes and confidence. But you are worth any and everything, baby. Truly you are. I hope one day you'll see that too."
She traced his jaw, and it took everything River had not to close the distance between them and kiss her. Damn, even just a light brush made him want more of her.
God, he wanted to say more. To keep praising her until she believed him.
But actions were louder than words, and he'd just keep chipping away until she saw herself as the sexy-as-fuck female he did, one also with an inner kindness and gentleness the world needed more of.
She wasn't there yet, however. So River gently kissed her lips, shuffled out of her reached, and tugged her skirt down. Once he stood, he offered a hand. "I would say we could walk some more and finish the grand tour, but I need to clean up and change clothes before that happens." He lowered his voice dramatically. "This sexy vampire I know made me come so hard in my pants, I lost my fucking mind, and anyone who looks will see proof of it."
Nora blushed but took his hand and let him help her up. "I need to pay better attention next time; I want to watch as you fall to pieces from my bite. But I'll admit I was distracted by the decadent taste of your blood and barely noticed anything else."
He nuzzled her cheek with his own. "So I'm definitely the good stuff, top of the line?"
"If you mean the best I've ever tasted, then yes."
He grinned down at her. "Well, you have a pretty fucking fantastic fated lord, so that makes sense."
She tried to not laugh, but one broke free. "You're definitely confident."
"Want to know a secret?" She bobbed her head and he added, "Yesenia told me it usually works that way—a fated one's blood is the absolute best to the vampire in question. So I'm not cocky, just well informed."
She rolled her eyes. "Talking with you is exhausting sometimes." She grinned up at him. "But I wouldn't change a thing."
Her words, combined with her radiant smile, definitely made his heart flip. Damn, at this rate, he'd be falling fast for her.
Or so he thought. River had never truly been in love before, but any sort of feelings he'd had for other females paled in comparison. Kind of like how a candle can't compete with the motherfucking sun.
And he'd bask in her glow for as long as he could. Hopefully forever.
ChapterTwenty-One
Nora finally understood what every vampire was told about drinking from their fated one for the first time: it was bloody well addicting.
