Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“It doesn’t really work like that. I can relax with the royals to an extent because we all understand each other. I know my place, and they never have to worry about me forgetting it. Hadriel and Vemar, who are a bit removed from everything with the pack, are fine. Everyone else, including the dragons, tend to forget themselves at times. They might get too drunk, feel my power, and want to take me on just to see how it would go. They might get too friendly and think they don’t have to treat me as a commander, wanting allowances for friendship. There are a great many ways things can break down when in my position, and it is safer for everyone if we maintain the status quo.”
“So you can’t ever hang out with me when I’m with them?”
“I can hang out when everyone is minding their manners. I have to excuse myself if things start to get rowdy.”
I traced my fingers along his neck and then his chin, feeling the rough stubble. He ran his palm along my back.
“That life sounds lonely,” I whispered.
“It’s the job, and I love my job. I handle the setbacks in order to do it.”
I pushed up so that my face was even with his, sucking in his bottom lip. “Do you want me to get more wine so that you have someone to get drunk and rowdy with? I might feel your power and want to take you on, but that usually ends in a real nice time.”
He smiled against my lips. “Not tonight. I promised I’d take you slow, and I intend to.”
He held me close as he deepened the kiss, lightly cupping my jaw. I fell into the warmth against my skin, the warmth within my heart. He stood with me in his arms, stopping by the candles to blow them out before walking me into his room.
“Fire hazard,” he murmured, his lips curling against mine.
He let me drift down his body until my feet hit the floor, then used both hands to cup my face, his kiss languid and soft, gentle and full of feeling.
Something moved within me, way down deep. The warmth from a moment ago started to blossom, spilling into my body, out through my lips. I was high on it, enveloped within it, connecting with him now in a way I hadn’t before.
I pushed up his shirt, needing to feel more of him. He yanked the fabric over his head quickly so that he could return to our kiss. I pushed down his pants as he lifted my shirt over my head. By the time I’d stripped it off, he had his pants on the floor and was working my trousers off.
“Weston,” I murmured urgently, a plea, a feeling, my hands all over him as he guided me backward onto the bed.
He kissed me as he slid onto the bed with me, his lips never far from mine. I groaned as his hands ran up my chest, over my skin, between my thighs, his tongue chasing mine.
I gripped his shoulders as he settled between my legs, fisted his hair when I wrapped my legs around him, closed my eyes in ecstasy as his cock found its home deep within me.
“Weston . . .” I said again reverently. Needing him. Wanting him. On the verge of choosing him. I just needed a push. A way to get around my fear of giving my heart to another after it had been trampled on so thoroughly.
He moved within me, his kiss so deep, his body in mine deeper.
“Aurelia,” he whispered against my lips, his fingers threading through mine, his strokes long and slow.
I whimpered, writhing under him, feeling his raw emotion through the bond. His honesty. His devotion.
Tears caught in my lashes with the sweetness of his lovemaking, genuine, unapologetic. I opened myself to it, to him, soaking in the sensations, expressing the emotions.
His lips still touching mine, he breathed heavily as he stroked, our bodies working to get closer, climb higher.
“Oh gods, Aurelia . . .” His moan sounded like a victory.
I clutched him now, digging in my fingers, not wanting to let go of the moment. Of him. Maybe ever. He wrapped his arms around me, his lips never leaving mine, sharing our passion. He reached one hand down to the swell of my butt, wrapping his other arm around my shoulders, holding me put as his knot butted against me.
“Gods, yes,” I breathed, lifting my head to get at his lips.
He thrust himself in fully, his movements getting smaller so he’d stay lodged inside, his arm around my shoulders shifting to cup the back of my head.
He pulled back a little now, his beautiful gray eyes looking down at me, into me. I met his gaze, opening up just that little bit more, finding myself at a precipice but scared to teeter over.