Page 91 of Craving Carla

He enters me from behind, the new position allowing him to go even deeper. His hands grip my hips, guiding me back against him as he thrusts forward. The sound of our bodies coming together, the slick slide of him inside me, his groans of pleasure—it’s all too much.

“Touch yourself,” he tells me, his voice strained. “I want to feel you come again.”

I reach between my legs, finding my clit swollen and sensitive. The lightest touch has me moaning, and as I begin to rub in circles, matching his rhythm, I feel myself building toward a fourth orgasm—something I didn’t think was possible.

“That’s it, baby,” he encourages, one hand sliding up my back to grip the back of my neck possessively. “You’re so good for me. So perfect.”

His words, combined with the dual stimulation, push me over the edge once more. This time, the orgasm is so intense I actually scream, my vision going white around the edges, my entire body convulsing with pleasure.

Amari follows immediately, his rhythm breaking as he drives deep inside me one final time, his dick pulsing as he fills me with his release. He collapses forward, careful to keep his weight off me, his body pressed against my back, his lips at my ear.

“Mine,” he whispers, the word both a claim and a promise.

I can’t hold back the tears now. They flow freely down my cheeks as emotions I can’t even name overwhelm me. Amarigently pulls out of me and turns me in his arms, cradling me as I sob.

“Shh, it’s okay, baby,” he soothes, his hand stroking my hair. “This is just the beginning. You’re stuck with me now, and so are your children. I’ll do anything to keep you, Carla, even if it means joining you in the shadows.”

His words only make me cry harder. I bury my face against him, listening to the steady beat of his heart—his heart that beats for me. I’m terrified because I realize I don’t need to feel the mate bond to fall for this vampire.

It’s happening anyway.

As sleep begins to claim me, exhaustion pulling me under, I cling to him, afraid that when I wake, this will all have been a beautiful dream. But Amari’s arms tighten around me, secure and real, and his lips press a gentle kiss to my forehead.

“Sleep, my queen,” he whispers. “I’ll be here when you wake. Always.”

And for the first time in centuries, I let myself believe that maybe—just maybe—I’ve found someone who will stay.

31

Amari

Iopen my eyes to find Carla draped over me, her leg hooked possessively across my thigh, her hand gripping my arm like she’s afraid I’ll vanish while she sleeps. Her wild curls spread across me, tickling my skin with each breath she takes.

She moans in her sleep and tightens her grip on my arm, nails digging into my flesh. The small sting makes me grin. Even unconscious, she’s trying to keep me close. If only she knew—I’m not going anywhere.

I shift slightly, adjusting my position against the pillow, and run my hand along the smooth curve of her back. Her skin is warm beneath my touch. The steady rhythm of her heartbeat pulses against me, reminding me of what I’ve found—what I’ve been given after a millennium of emptiness.

My mind races, thoughts tumbling over each other as I try to make sense of everything. I need the veil lifted. I need Carla to feel the mate bond. And I need to understand what Tofi meant when she told Carla to “remember.” What the hell is Alexis doing with Carla’s blood? These pieces must fit together somehow.

Carla stirs against me, her hand sliding from my arm to rest directly over my heart. Even in sleep, she seeks the steady thump beneath my ribs.

“Mmnn,” she murmurs, the sound vibrating against my skin.

“It’s yours, Carla. My heart belongs to you,” I whisper, knowing she’s too deep in sleep to hear me.

I think about the conversation with Amir, about the sacrifices he makes for his family. My complaints about Wintermoon seem childish now. But still—Carla deserves more than this island cage. She deserves the world, and I want to give it to her. But can I do that while confined here? One thing’s certain: we won’t be living with the Master Coven. I’d rather be staked than surrounded by those treacherous vampires.

I lie with her a moment longer, savoring the weight of her body against mine, the sound of her breathing, the gentle thud of her heart. She wants so little—just love. Just acceptance. Things denied to her for centuries.

Eventually, I ease myself from under her, careful not to wake her. She frowns in her sleep, reaching for the space I’ve vacated. I grab one of my long shirts from my suitcase and place it on the bed for her to slip into when she wakes, then pull on a pair of sweatpants.

I stand over the bed, watching her. The mate bond grows stronger by the hour. Already, I can’t imagine sleeping without her beside me.

I pull a tank top from my suitcase and slip it over my head, then head to the bathroom to brush my teeth. After, I grab my phone and keys, collect our discarded clothes from the floor, and toss them in the hamper before heading downstairs.

In the kitchen, I search through cabinets until I find coffee pods and start a cup brewing in the single-serve machine. I open the fridge and pull out the gallon of blood I keep stored there, pouring a small amount into a coffee mug. The gallon sits on thecounter, accusatory in its presence. Can I really do this? Let go of feeding on humans? Even Amir has adapted to this lifestyle.

I draw in a deep breath and grab the mug, forcing myself to gulp down the blood. The cold, metallic taste slides down my throat, making me choke and clutch at my neck as I set the mug down hard on the counter.