Page 224

She'd fussed over the wounds that marred his body—his swollen eye, his split lip, the bruises blooming across his ribs—all healing fast but not fast enough for her peace of mind. They dressed quickly, a low hum of awareness crackling between them. But it mellowed when Seren slipped on a thin shift and crawled under the covers. Hagan had no such restraint. He joined her naked, his arousal pressing insistently against her belly, her tight brown nipples brushing against his chest.

They said nothing of it. Just lay in the hush.

In the dark, he whispered, "The bond... it kept me going. If you'd gone, I would have fought until I couldn't stand. Then I would've found a way into Starnheim to bring you back. And once I'd sent you to the ancestors..." He exhaled, voice fraying. "I'd have followed. You are not leaving me behind again."

Her throat tightened. She thought about telling him she'd expected to die. That part of her had wanted to be taken. But that truth could wait for another day.

Instead, she pressed her face into the warm plane of his chest and slowly licked the crease between his pectorals. Her hand slid down, cupping him, fingers closing gently around his length to explore the velvet heat of him.

He jerked, catching her wrist. "Don't," he said, voice ragged. "I don't think I can..."

"I want to," she murmured. "When I was... there, Lilja said something. She said we'd never had sex. And I realized—I don't want it with anyone else. Just you."

His eyes searched hers in the dark. "I've never wanted it with anyone else either."

"Not even...?"

He gave an almost-smile. "An unequivocal no."

He exhaled a trembling sigh, his forehead brushing hers. "Don't tease me unless you mean it."

"I mean it," she said, looking into his eyes. "I'm not ready to take blood. Not yet. But this... this is mine to give."

Her hand resumed its gentle exploration, and his fingers—shaking just slightly—slipped between the curls at the apex of her thighs. Hegrazed her with reverence, tracing slow circles around her clit while watching her face, learning her breath, her rhythm, and the way she caught her lip between her teeth.

Then, softly, he pressed against her opening and eased one thick finger inside her.

"You're so tight," he whispered, awe in his voice.

He eased another finger inside her, slow and careful. The stretch made her breath catch, a sharp sting at first—but it faded, melting into something deeper, something electric that pulsed low in her abdomen. It was nothing like the times she had touched herself. This was deeper, rawer, more alive. Hagan bent down and drew one velvet nipple into his mouth, sucking hard until she gasped, then released it with a wet pop.

"I can't wait," he muttered, sounding almost apologetic as if the urgency was something he could wrestle back into control.

"Don't," she whispered.

"I don't think I'll last. “muttered Hagan through gritted teeth.

"It's okay, “said Seren, suddenly shy.

He moved over her, shifting so that his thigh parted hers. She opened willingly beneath him. His hand guided the head of his cock to her entrance, pressing it slowly against her softness. Her breath hitched as he locked it there—and then he pushed forward.

"Ow," she gasped, eyebrows knitting. "Ouch... ouch—Hagan... Stop...No... go"

"You're so tight," he breathed, a sheen of sweat already glistening across his skin, his voice frayed and trembling. "Can I...?"

"Just do it," she said through gritted teeth, face twisted in pain, though her fingers still clung to his back.

He pushed halfway in—and then stilled. A sharp cry escaped his lips as his body tensed, and before he could do anything else, he came. With a strangled groan, he collapsed on her and buried his face in her chest, mortified.

A few seconds passed. Then he lifted his head, eyes wide, vulnerable. "Well," he muttered, "that was... embarrassing."

Seren blinked at him, then slowly smiled, a crooked, confused expression somewhere between disbelief and affection. "It's not like either of us have much experience. Beyond theory. And our own hands."

"I didn't even get it halfway in," he muttered, appalled.

Her gaze dropped between them in horror, then snapped back up, owl-eyed. "Wait—there'smore?"

Their eyes met—and both burst into muffled chortles, trying and failing to stifle them. The tension broke. Joy, awkwardness, and something lighter swirled between them.