Page 36 of A Fate of Ice and Lies (Fated #1)

I cupped her cheek. “Every time you touch me, all I feel is you. There’s no pain, just you, Teddy.”

She licked her lips, and a tremble skittered down my spine. Suddenly, I scented the delicious smell of her arousal, and even though fear still lingered there, that scent was euphoric. I wouldn’t allow myself to have her until the fear was gone and all she felt was desire.

She rubbed the cream over the sensitive skin of my chest. My heart raced at the contact. I sucked in a desperate breath when she grabbed a small towel to wipe the ointment off her fingers.

She turned back to me, her eyes roving over me in hunger.

I held myself still for her with only the ripples of my desire making my muscles quiver.

Her hand slid over my right pec. I inhaled sharply, taking in a lungful of her sweet scent.

She pressed the softest kiss on my neck and when she hummed, I arched it to give her better access to my throat.

She coated wet, hot kisses across my heated flesh. The gentleness of it threatened to undo me.

Then she ran her fingers through my hair, and Guardians help me.

Her giggle danced across my throat. “Are you purring?”

“Feels so good,” I murmured.

She did it again, gently dragging her nails over my scalp this time.

“You’re definitely purring.” I felt the way her lips spread into a smile.

I gripped the edge of her couch to keep myself tethered. But I wanted to taste her. Devour her. Worship her.

She leaned back, her eyes flashing to my elongated canines. She ran a tentative finger over one of them. I shivered .

“Does this mean you’re turned on?” she asked.

I shifted uncomfortably, trying to ignore the evidence of my arousal straining in my pants.

“Very turned on,” I said, my voice hoarse.

She blinked, and then she gave me a small, shy smile. “What are you going to do about it?”

I licked my lips. Imagined the way her warm core would feel around my straining cock. Imagined the sweetness of her blood coating my tongue. Imagined the way she’d scream my name as her core tightened around me in the most extraordinary orgasm.

Imagined her limbless and satisfied and fully loved.

I kissed the side of her mouth. “Nothing tonight,” I told her.

With her mouth hanging open, she narrowed her eyes at me. “What do you mean, nothing?”

I leaned forward enough to scoop her into my arms. I ran a hand over the length of her vibrant red hair, and she nestled her face closer to me.

“I want to do a lot of things to you, Teddy.” I swallowed to alleviate my suddenly dry throat. “Things that’ll leave you aching in places for days so that every time you walk, you’re forced to think of me.”

She drew in a quick breath and squirmed on top of me, right where my cock twitched in response.

I brushed my fingers through her hair again. “But not tonight.”

“Why not?” she asked, her question barely above a whisper.

“Because I can still smell your fear.”

She stiffened at my words. “I. . .”

“It’s okay.” I kissed the top of her head. “We can wait until you’re ready. I do have one request though.”

She hummed while I stroked the back of her head, down the back of her slender frame.

“Can I hold you tonight while you sleep?” I asked.

Her arms wound around my neck. “Do you want to stay here and watch TV or go to my room?”

Closing my eyes, I pressed my nose against the thickness of her hair to breathe her in. “I want whatever you want.”

“TV it is, then,” she said. “If you’re gonna make me suffer by not tending to my needs , then I’ll make you suffer through a rom-com.”

I chuckled and drew her closer to me. “Do you truly believe I care what we watch as long as I get to hold you? I’ve longed for this.” I pressed her impossibly closer to me. “I’ve longed for you, mo elma .”

“Well, if you’re gonna be all cute and poetic about it,” she huffed out. “What does that mean? What you called me?”

My throat grew tight, my tongue heavy. I shouldn’t have said it, but it was on the tip of my tongue and slipped out without warning.

“ Mo elma is my soul.”

I held my breath, waiting for her to balk. To tell me it was too soon for such ardent feelings. Already, my intensity scared her, and there I went, adding to that fear.

She kissed my jaw. “Are we already at the pet name stage of our relationship?” It came out as a tease. “I have to come up with something more creative than babe.”

A relieved laugh burst from me, and I wrapped my arms around her tighter. “I should hope so.” I twined my fingers through her hair. “I haven’t been a babe in over one hundred years.”

She drew away enough to look at my face. “You’re serious?” she asked.

When she pressed her lips into a thin line, I ran my forefinger over them. They parted, and her tongue snaked out to taste the tip of my finger.

“How old are you exactly?” she asked, her voice gravelly. “Dear God, please don’t say one thousand.”

I smirked. “One thousand? Teddy, that’s barely just a babe,” I joked, relishing the astonishment that crossed her face. “I recently turned five thousand.”

“You’re. . .” She blinked. “You’re telling me you’re five thousand years old?”

I bowed my head and laughed against her shoulder.

She stilled, and I felt the weight of her attention on me.

My body shook as my laughter grew. And when she ran that delicate hand through my hair, I knew I’d found my bliss.

Right here, in this human realm, with a glorious female who had every reason to hate me but somehow didn’t. At least not yet.

“You’re joking?” she hissed out. “Tell me you’re joking.”

“I’m joking,” I said, still laughing. “I’m one hundred and twenty-seven.”

“One hundred and twenty-seven.” She seemed to marvel at the number. “How long do fae live for?”

Her question stirred fear in me. I knew humans didn’t live as long as us. Their time on earth was but a fleeting moment. It’d never occurred to me, though, how quickly I’d lose Teddy. How, in the span of a single blink, she’d be gone while I’d be left with what felt like an eternity without her.

“Most fae live to be five hundred,” I told her, my heart heavy. “Some more, some less.”

“Five hundred,” she wondered, stroking her fingers up and down the curve of my neck.

“What do you do with all that time? I mean, if we’re lucky, a human gets to their eighties or nineties, maybe one hundred.

And even then, I’m not so sure they’re all that lucky.

It’s almost shameful how much our body turns on us the older we get.

My mom didn’t die of old age.” She swallowed, and I smelled the saltiness of her threatening tears.

“She had liver disease, although she hated alcohol and never drank, at least that I know of. I watched it take her body from her slowly, while her mind stayed intact. So many people told me it was a blessing she still remembered me and. . . everything. I always thought it was a curse. She was so ashamed of all the ways her body betrayed her and that she had become dependent on me. I didn’t mind and would’ve taken care of her for the rest of my life if it meant I got to keep her.

As much as it pained her to leave me, she seemed almost grateful just before she passed. ”

“She was at peace,” I said when Teddy remained quiet.

“She knew she’d done her job as your mother, knew that although you’d miss her, you’d live on with her memory.

My mother told me that her greatest joy as a parent was the day she realized I no longer relied on her.

She said it was a bittersweet feeling, torn between wanting to keep me young and close to her, and proud in knowing she’d raised me to be capable and independent.

” I kissed the side of her face. “You’re capable and independent and brave and.

. . you’re a wonder. It’s a testament to the female who raised you. ”

She settled back on my chest and rested her head against my shoulder. “She was incredible. I wish she could’ve met you.”

My heart clenched. “I would’ve liked that.”

“She would’ve liked you. Maybe not the black eyes and sharp fangs.” Her laugh was sad. “She probably would’ve gone all Mama bear and demanded you file down your teeth if you wanted to be around me. I don’t mind them, though. Not anymore.”

I ran my tongue over my sharp canines, hating how that part of me once brought her fear. While my canines could shred into any enemy, they would only bring her joy.

“Do you think I’ll meet your mom one day?” she asked.

“I hope so.” It came out raw, with a deep yearning to see my parents again. To see my kingdom and all the people I left behind.

And Teddy, I’d love for her to see my home and meet my parents.

“Is she very queenly?” she asked with half a smirk.

I chuckled. “What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.” She giggled against the side of my neck. “In the fantasy books I’ve read, the queen is usually superior to everyone. She holds herself rigid with a slight tip of her chin. She speaks eloquently and looks down her nose at everyone.”

“While my mother has great posture, she’s kind and loving. The kind of queen who cares for her people and puts their needs first.”

It seemed like years had passed since I’d last seen her. A lifetime ago since she’d given me her blessing to tear through the veil to bring Teddy back to Niev.

So much had changed with me, and I wondered if my parents had experienced change as well. If there were fewer thunderbird attacks. If our people wondered where the commander and I had gone. If my parents missed me as much as I missed them.

The back of her hand caressed my left cheek. Slowly, gently. Almost lovingly .

“Hmm. . .” Teddy said, her tone teasing and light. “That doesn’t sound right.”

I leaned into her touch, wanting it everywhere.

“She’s not very good at playing the evil queen role.” She tipped her head up to kiss my jaw. “I’m sorry you’re stuck here and can’t see her. I’m sure you miss her.”

Her words wrapped around me like a balm, and the insides of my stomach did a strange flip.

“I do miss her and my father, but I’m glad I’m here with you.”

“The things you say to me.” Her words came out breathless. “I don’t know if I deserve how much you feel for me, but I’m happy to have it. At least all the books I’ve read got one thing right. You fae are intense.”

That made me chuckle. “Can I see one of your books about fae? Your favorite one?”

She dipped her head closer to my neck, and I felt her face warm.

“Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed,” I teased, tickling her side until she squirmed.

“Fine, whatever, old man.” She hesitated, her hand touching my cheek again before she peeled herself off me and stood to give me a dirty look.

“Old man?”

“You’re one hundred and one years older than me, so yeah. Old man. And”—she placed her hand on the hip she cocked out—“if you make fun of my book, any part of it, you’re on my shit list.”

I nodded, watching her hips sway as she stalked to the bookshelf beside her lit fireplace.

While she thumbed through her shelf, her fingers lingering longer on certain titles, I sent my magic through her house to warm it the way I did every night.

Then I made sure to melt a few layers of snow in her yard and her walk to the store.

As I got closer to exhausting myself, Nalari interrupted me. “I’ll do the rest, Elias. You enjoy your mate.”

“Thank you,” I told her. Not only for this kindness but for saving my life. For giving to me so selflessly. For caring about me. For being my friend, even if she didn’t realize that was exactly what she was.

“You can be annoying, young prince, but it is an honor to serve with you. For the most part.” I chuckled at that sentiment.

Teddy grabbed my attention again, nibbling on her bottom lip when she handed the book to me.

When I raised my arm, she tucked herself beneath it and leaned against my chest, with her hand resting on my stomach.

“I won’t make fun of your book,” I told her. “Or anything important to you.”

“Even if it portrays fae inaccurately?” She held her breath.

“Even if it portrays us inaccurately. Although, I’m curious how much they got right.” I took a moment to kiss the top of her hair and rumbled with pleasure when she ran her hand over the muscular ridges of my stomach. “You know, fae used to cross to your realm freely thousands of years ago.”

“They did?”

“Yes.” I traced the book's title and read, “Dragon Fae.” I huffed out a laugh. “We haven’t had dragon fae in thousands of years. Or any type of shifter fae.”

We’d sent the shifter fae to battle the mages before their extermination. By the time the Guardians defeated the mages for us, the number of shifter fae had dwindled. As the number of fae being born declined, the shifter fae line eventually died out .

With my magic, I conjured a blanket for Teddy. A violet one that resembled the color of my mother’s eyes. She ran her fingers over it and covered us both.

I opened the book to the first chapter and started to read aloud about a war that split the dragon fae from the other fae.

About the near extinction of the dragon fae until one of their kind ripped through the veil to another realm where they could escape and live in peace.

About the dragon male who stayed behind to guard the tear so no other fae could find them.

About the female fae who, years later, found the lonely fae and became his friend.

Then more than friends when destiny rang and revealed them as soul-bound mates.

I read and read while Teddy’s soft breaths brushed against my throat as she slept quietly in my arms. And Guardians, I hoped we’d get our own happily ever after.