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I reached behind me and grabbed his right hand, positioning it on my right ribcage so it would be opposite my tattoo. “Here,” I said. “I want it here.”

My chest heaved and so did his. Our eyes remained locked as he started to move again, one hand cupping my ass cheek to pull him forward and into me, the other firmly locked around my ribcage.

I was a slave to the pleasure, willing to do anything for more of it. For all of it. For it to never end. The way the flames mixed so beautifully with our connected bodies, with the love and devotion I had for this man, it was a glorious epiphany waiting to happen.

I was eager to feel the brand against my skin. Would it be like the pleasure flames? Would it increase my climax? Or would it be painful? A part of me welcomed a bit of a pain. It might ground me in the moment, because right now, I was close to floating away.

“My Queen …” he grunted, breaking our locked gazes and dropping his forehead to my left shoulder.

“Maxar …” The intensity of the flames along my skin—including the one on my clit—grew, and I sucked in a sharp gasp.

“That’s right, My Queen. Come for me.”

I was such a slut for being told what to do during sex. I exploded.

Tipping my head toward the ceiling, I gave over to the pleasure, to the flames, to my mage, my mate. I allowed all of him into my heart, my soul, my forever. I welcomed his brand against my skin, marking me as his for eternity.

My clit throbbed with a heartbeat of its own with every surge of my orgasm, and I knew the moment he came because the brand from his palm on my ribs was cool. Soothing. Incredible. For a man so hot, so full of fire and flames, for him to have an icy brand just added to the enigma that was my mage. It was like dry ice against my flesh, slightly painful, but not enough for me to want it to stop. I welcomed it. I moaned as it seared his mark of possession into my flesh. Now everyone would know that I belonged to Maxar Rane.

His groan was low and guttural where he pressed his mouth to my shoulder, inhaling and exhaling short, shallow pants, his cock pulsing inside of me, hot and thick.

Eventually, my orgasm waned and all that remained were the echoes of sensation. Tremors and aftershocks of pleasure I would never forget.

He lifted his forehead from my shoulder, and for the first time, my mage actually looked a little sheepish. It was sweet and endearing, and slightly confusing. “I didn’t know the brand was going to be cold. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

That made me smile, and I glanced down at my ribs as he pulled his hand away to reveal a beautiful flame-brand with the letters “M” and “R” in stunning cursive in the middle. My throat grew tight, and the backs of my eyes burned. “It’s perfect.”

“But I didn’t hurt you?”

Shaking my head, I swallowed, cupped his jaw, and pressed my lips to his before saying, “Not at all.”

The flames across my body disappeared, and he kissed me back, slow and sweet. “I guess I can’t convince you to join me in bed for an encore?”

My lips twisted in thought. Some very happy parts of my body wanted nothing more than to join him, but my brain knew it probably wasn’t a good idea. I needed rest. I pressed my finger to the brand and little ribbons of coolness that I could only describe as shivers rippled through me. I gasped.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“It’s like a button to cool me off. When I press it, it sends these cool little shockwaves through me.”

“I’m here to help,” he said, humor in his voice.

I rolled my eyes, and he stepped back to pull up his pants while I leaped off the counter and yanked my underwear and pants back on.

“So, we’re mate-bonded now, huh?” I said, looping my arms back around his neck. “The Fates decided we were ready?”

“Youdecidedyouwere ready. I’ve been ready since the moment I knew you existed. The Fates won’t allow anything unless your heart gives the go-ahead.”

“You think the Fates watched?”

“I’m almost certain of it. The pervy fuckers.”

That made me snort.

He kissed me soundly. I melted into him and his cock was already beginning to get thick again against my thigh. I pushed him away. “I need to sleep. Now, Drak’s the only one I can torture since we just mate-bonded.”

His eyes widened. “Fuck, that’s right. Poor bastard.”

“Are you developing a soft spot for the vampire?”