I cling to his back. “Gods no.But you have to go slow.”
He leans forward and kisses my forehead. “Of course.” Then he pushes in. He moves one bit at a time, kissing my neck while he moves inside. The song humming between us is frantic, and my body has to stretch to accommodate him. At first, the pain is sharp, and then it is pleasurable.
Bite me,I think. He groans and leaves my breast to return to my neck, biting down hard enough to pierce my skin as he seats himself completely. I cry out, seeing stars. I am completely filled with him. I feel him in every inch of my body.
He releases my neck and licks the blood off my neck. "Estela, you're perfect,” he breathes while pulling back out.
The tight discomfort gives way to the dull ache—need—inside of me. And in that moment, I know our promises have been made true. I'm inexorably his—body and soul.
The experience is overwhelming. I revel in the bliss of being embraced by him as he moves inside of me. He goes slow, claiming me with each powerful stroke of his hips.
“I am yours,” I repeat, arching off the mossy rock. His pace picks up, carrying me closer to that sweet edge. “You are mine,” I grind out seconds before something explodes inside me as I reach my climax.
At that moment, I find my freedom. I've finally stepped out of the bounds of my past and into his arms.
The intensity of the moment gradually fades, and when I open my eyes, I realize that I had never felt so safe. We lay together in each other's arms, our bodies entwined and connected in ways that transcended any words we could ever say or write.
The water laps against my skin, and I am so sensitive it's almost painful. I turn around, look at him, and pause. The moment is perfect. Too perfect.
When he looks down at me, he holds up his hand and pulls something off one of his fingers.
It's a golden ring with a line of four gems set inside of the leafy designs. "Happy festival," he murmurs as he slides it onto my finger. "This was my mother's, but I have changed the stones. Amethyst, melanterite, obsidian, and ruby."
My whole body trembles at the intensity of his words as my eyes fill with tears of joy. “It matches my necklace.”
He hums, and we steal a few more moments, wrapped in each other's arms. Then I take a deep breath.
"Teo, I need to speak with you about something," I say.
He tightens his grip on me. "What is wrong?"
"I am so happy tonight. It has been the most beautiful night of my life. But there is always something in the back of my mind, something I can’t let go of. When will you bring Mikal?”
I feel him exhale against me, and I wait.
“Men are scouting the area, but I was waiting until after our meeting with the elves,” he says. “I want to tear Zlosa apart for what they did to you all, but we are few. If we do it before we have support, things could end poorly.”
I pull away. "Please."
Teo exhales. "Do we have to talk about this now?"
I meet his gaze. "Yes, we do."
He purses his lips. "Very well. We will call a council meeting and send someone in the morning. Is that acceptable, my queen?"
I nod, and he kisses me. Already, my stomach is stirring with his nearness. All thoughts fall out of my head again. I can’t help but reach down and grab his silky length. I can’t even wrap my fingers his base.
He groans and pushes me back onto the rock. “Don’t start games you don’t want to play.”
I look up at him. “You’ll find I can be quite competitive.” I angle my neck, showing off his mark on my neck.
He growls and flips me around. I barely have time to gasp before he thrusts into me again, filling me with that delicious heat. I cry out, feeling my insides stretch and pulse around him. His breathing is ragged, and I've never heard a better sound.
This time is not slow, nor gentle, but it touches my heart just the same. Being joined to him makes me feel safe.
He moves in and out, and I can feel the tension coiling tighter and tighter inside me. I pant, wanting to touch, wanting more. He slides a hand between us and finds the spot he touched before to make me come. Then he starts teasing me mercilessly.
I arch away from him, driving his thrusting to a new angle. “Teo,” I gasp.