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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

N arissa bit back a squeal as Solarius stepped from the carriage with her in his arms and carried her up to the front entrance of House Celestine.

The house itself was breathtaking, situated at the base of Moonfall Peaks, where it overlooked the starlit city of Celestine.

Its deep purple walls were decorated with swirls of frost, it was surrounded by lush winter gardens on all sides, and incandescent light spilled from its numerous arched windows.

Dizzying spires pierced the clear night sky, and sprawling balconies were illuminated with a silvery glow.

The main door swung open, drenching them in warmth as he lifted her across the threshold and into the dazzling grand hall of the home.

Solarius’s long strides crossed the floor, his boots clicking softly against the smooth stone as he headed for one of the twin spiral staircases of glittering blue sandstone.

Gilded sconces sparked with faerie fire and the papered walls mimicked the night sky with shimmering moonstone constellations.

He crossed over the inlaid crest of House Celestine—an eight-pointed star flanked by two outward facing crescent moons—and stalked past the formal sitting area just off the grand hall, ignoring the tittering of voices coming from within the room.

“Sol!”

Narissa recognized Sarelle’s voice as she called out to her older brother.

She peeked over his shoulder just in time to see Sarelle dart from the sitting room and follow them, with Caelian right behind her.

“We weren’t expecting you…both.”

Curiosity sparkled in Sarelle’s sapphire gaze.

“Nope.” Solarius stilled, heaving a sigh of exasperation.

He did not turn to face his sisters, but his grip on Narissa tightened.

“Are you staying?” Caelian asked, a flicker of hope in her voice.

Solarius ducked his head, dropping his chin to his chest, his windswept silver hair with its inky tips falling forward to hide his growing vexation.

“Yep,” he called back, his tone curt and dismissive.

It wasn’t at all like him to be so disparaging toward his sisters, or any of his siblings really, but Narissa imagined his brusque attitude had everything to do with the fact that the evidence of his arousal was straining against his pants.

Sarelle stepped forward, clasping her hands together, her round cheeks shiny with a smear of stardust.

“Can we get you any?—”

Solarius whipped around, clutching Narissa to him.

“I know it may not seem like it, darling sisters, but I am incredibly busy at the moment.”

Narissa dipped her head, smiling into his neck.

Which proved to be a torturous mistake as the tempting scent of him addled her mind and intoxicated her senses.

Tantalizing citrus.

Warm, alluring spices.

And that damning hint of bay rum.

She inhaled deeply, lightly running her nose along the column of his throat, her lungs, her chest, the entirety of her soul filling with him.

A devastating rumble sounded deep in his chest, the reverberation of it echoing in her bones.

Solarius shook his head and started away from his sisters, taking the steps two at a time.

He bounded up the winding staircase with exceptional speed as pulses of desire thrummed along the mating bond, a product of their racing heartbeats.

Narissa thought for certain he would carry her straight to his bedchamber, but he surprised her by ducking into an alcove off the hall hidden away by a curtain of winterblooms.

The pretty blue flowers and leaves of evergreen diminished the light, so slants of gold peeked in through the clusters of petals.

Like she was his most prized possession, Solarius carefully set Narissa down, but he left no space between them.

Instead he backed her into the rough stone wall, planting one hand firmly above her head while the other remained in a tight fist by his side.

His chest heaved.

His jaw locked.

And the silver of his eyes was molten, hot enough to send a spear of heat straight to her core.

Narissa splayed both her hands on the chilly wall behind her, clenching her legs together.

“What are we?—”

Solarius uncurled his fist and planted one finger against her lips, a scowl lining his brow.

“This fucking dress.”

Narissa’s spine locked into place, and she glared up at him in challenge.

“What’s wrong with it?”

His low, answering chuckle caused her knees to soften and her nipples to pebble.

“Nothing. Not a damn thing.”

With his hand still propped on the wall near her head, Solarius leaned closer.

He traced the line of her jaw with one finger, then it glided down her neck, between the valley of her breasts, all the way to her navel.

He toyed with the diamond piercing there.

Rubbing his lips together, Solarius slid his hand beneath the deep cut of her gown, molding his palm to her hip.

“I just need a moment to take you in, to admire you.”

“Right here?” Narissa asked, struggling to form words around her hammering pulse.

“In an alcove?”

Tingles radiated from his touch and goosebumps rippled across her flesh.

Desire pooled low in her belly and her nails bit into the wall behind her in a desperate attempt to keep herself upright.

His labored breathing became her own, his heart pounded in time with hers, and his mouth skated over hers in an almost kiss.

Solarius cocked a brow.

“Are you nervous, Rissa love?”

“No.” She stiffened, plastering her back against the wall, ignoring the rough scrape of stone against her skin.

Melting when his hand coasted up her waist, to her ribs, to the curve of her breast.

He grinned while his thumb drew small circles over her skin.

“Does it make you uncomfortable when I look at you?”

Yes.

“No.” But the word escaped her on a pinched breath and her confidence faltered.

His hand, still snugly fit under the fabric of her dress, roved over her shoulder, catching on the thin diamond strap.

“Do you know how easy it would be to snap this flimsy little strap in half?”

Narissa doubted it would take much effort.

He could probably break them with a simple tug, shredding the ribbon, sending a waterfall of diamonds scattering around them.

“Please don’t,” she whispered, and he froze, his gaze snagging on hers.

“Don’t?” he asked, watching her intently, and she saw the flash of concern in his eyes.

The worry that hardened the silver to steel.

“It’s one of my favorites,” Narissa amended, arching away from the safety of the wall, offering herself to him.

“Then I will be very careful.” He pressed a kiss to her neck, branding her.

“Just like I will with you.”

He hooked a finger beneath the diamond strap, slowly letting it slide down her shoulder, then he repeated the motion on the other side so she was completely exposed to him from the waist up.

Her nipples hardened to the point of pain and her breasts grew heavy, aching for his touch.

For any kind of reprieve.

He cupped her breasts, rolling her peaked nipples between his thumb and forefinger, and she loved the way she fit so perfectly in his hands.

Solarius lowered his head, squeezing them both as his tongue darted out and laved her tender nipple.

He showered her sensitive flesh with attention—sucking, licking, and teasing until the tension building inside of her sent currents of longing coursing through her.

When his teeth scraped at her nipple and lightly bit, tugging it into his mouth, Narissa spasmed and squirmed.

She rolled her hips, peeling off the wall in a silent plea.

Solarius edged back, his hands gripping her hips, pinning her against him so she felt every swollen inch of him.

His thumbs drew those agonizing circles again, and she grabbed his shoulders, her nails scraping along the stiff fabric of his collared shirt.

“Do you want more?” he asked, rubbing his lips together.

“You know I do.” Narissa folded her arms beneath her chest, shoving her breasts directly into his line of sight.

She lifted one shoulder in feigned disinterest, not wanting to appear needy or desperate.

“So pretty,” he murmured, dropping to his knees before her.

One hand vanished beneath the hem of her gown, and she inhaled sharply as his palm skated around her ankle.

Every inch of her was alive, vibrating with desire, and her knees nearly buckled when his hand slid up the back of her calf all the way to her thigh.

Warmth spread through her, and the sensitive flesh between her legs grew damp as his fingers discovered the band of lace wrapped around her leg.

Shivers of delight raced down her spine while his fingertips inched closer, brushing the inside of her thigh.

His brows rose in surprise.

“What are these?”

“They’re only stockings. To keep me warm.”

“May I look?”

Narissa nodded, grateful he asked her permission, but knowing she would’ve let him look, anyway.

If Solarius wanted to duck beneath her skirts and place those exceptionally kissable lips near the tender flesh of her inner thigh, who was she to stop him?

Solarius shoved the length of her gown up to her waist, carefully situating the shimmering fabric so it cradled her hips.

Then he scooped the back of her knee and draped her leg over his shoulder.

He rubbed and massaged, the pads of his fingers grazing the lace band of her stockings.

“I thought this dress would be my undoing.” Solarius’s words were rough and grating, and the knot of tension building in her core wound even tighter.

“Yet I believe I was mistaken. These stockings are damning in the best way possible.”

He was only distracted by the lace for a moment longer until his gaze snagged on her.

On the way her satin undergarments were soaked for him.

“Fuck, Rissa. You’re so damn beautiful.” Solarius pressed a kiss to her heated skin, close enough to her slick center that Narissa’s lungs caved and she almost toppled over the edge.

She was strung and wired, so painfully responsive to his touch that one gesture, the simplest of kisses, almost wrecked her completely.

He glanced up at her from where he kneeled, his eyes dark with an unrecognizable emotion.

“May I?”

Held captive by the way Solarius gazed up at her as though she was his only reason for air, Narissa could only nod.

“Let me hear you say it.”

She hissed out a breath of frustration.

“Fine. You can look.”

Amusement danced across his handsome face, and he shook his head once, his low laughter causing her blood to hum.

“I don’t want to look, Narissa. I want to taste.”

“Taste?” Suddenly, Narissa’s complacency and bold declarations evaporated at the thought of Solarius tasting her…

there.

Her gaze cut to the waterfall of winterblooms, her breath hitching.

It was one thing to be caught kissing in an alcove, it was something else altogether to be discovered with your husband’s head between your legs.

“What if someone sees us?”

She plastered herself against the wall, but Solarius drew her back to him.

He tucked one hand behind her bottom, cupping her, while the other kept her leg firmly anchored over his broad shoulder.

“Then I suppose you will have to be quiet.”

His warm breath fanned over her wetness, and she shuddered in his hold.

“I’m going to ask one more time.” His fingers squeezed her leg, stretching her wide, baring her before him.

“May I?”

“I…” Hesitation clawed at her, its sharp talons piercing through the cloud of her desire.

She’d never had a male down there before, at least not with his face.

“I suppose.”

Narissa wasn’t sure she would enjoy it.

Solarius chuckled, soft and sensual.

He pulled the swath of satin to the side, exposing her fully.

“Oh, you’ll like it, Rissa love.”

She intended to insult his blistering ego, but then his tongue slid along her seam, and Narissa unraveled.

He was sweet torture.

It was strange and exhilarating all at once, the way he seemed to enjoy feasting upon her, how each swipe of his tongue sent a jolt of energy pulsing down the bond.

His teeth grazed her clit and it was as though all the air evaporated from her lungs, like every frayed nerve ending had been centered and entirely focused on that one particular area.

And the moment Solarius showed it a shred of attention, Narissa’s world came undone.

She grasped at his hair for purchase, threading her fingers through his silky strands before grabbing fistfuls and fusing his mouth to her center.

She didn’t care if she was wanton and shameless, Solarius was doing unspeakable things to her with only his tongue and she—her legs wobbled when he pushed a finger inside of her.

And then another.

He curled them in deep, powerful strokes and she rocked her hips, matching his pace.

“Come for me, Rissa love.” Each word dripped with heady lust.

He applied the perfect amount of pressure once more and she bit her lip hard to keep from crying out.

The metallic tang of blood coated her tongue, and her magic roared to life, crashing into her like a tidal wave.

Her release rose and crested in languid pulls, rushing in like the sea to the shore, then slowly withdrawing.

Solarius eased back and took his time adjusting her gown.

He arranged her skirts and replaced the diamond straps, smoothed a hand down her unruly waves.

His gaze locked in on the drop of scarlet beaded upon her lip and he crowded her, then flashed a wicked grin.

In the next moment, his tongue darted out, swiping away the blood clinging to her mouth.

A guttural sound rumbled in his chest.

Solarius grabbed her hand, pulling her into him to ensure she remained upright and didn’t melt into a puddle of messy feelings at his feet.

He led her out from behind the cascading blue flowers and into the dimly lit corridor.

“Where are we going?” Narissa was still in a post-lust haze, stumbling along blindly behind him, her legs trembling with each uneven step.

“My bedroom.” Solarius pushed open a massive oak door with carved moon phases and flecks of glimmering moonstone.

Narissa lost her footing and pitched forward into the darkened bedchamber.

Solarius caught her by the waist, kicking the door shut, and walked her backward until she was up against the nearest wall.

She tried not to look around, to steal a few glimpses of her husband’s bedroom, especially considering she’d never been inside before, but curiosity got the best of her.

It was all moody, drenched in shades of gray and deepest navy, with a glass ceiling that showcased the whole of the night sky.

She knew it.

“Something bothering you, Narissa?” He kept one hand on the small of her back, the other planted on the wall over her head.

“No…I…” Again, her courage to speak her mind and never back down in front of him failed her.

She lost her nerve to toss out churlish quips and sharp slights.

Instead, honesty spilled from her like she’d been the one to take Lady Aria’s truth serum.

“It’s just, well, you stopped in the alcove. So, I assumed you were done. That maybe you didn’t necessarily want me anymore.”

“Allow me to make myself perfectly clear.” Solarius lowered his head so his mouth brushed over hers in a soft, nearly inconceivable touch.

“I will always want you. The only reason I stopped was because I was about to erupt in my pants just by looking at you.”

He spoke with such clarity, such calm composure, all Narissa could say was, “Oh.”

“And I would much rather be buried deep inside that pretty little cunt of yours when that happens.” His head tilted to one side, questioning.

“If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind,” she rasped, and he smirked.

“Good.” Solarius led her further into his bedchamber.

“Because I’m going to take my time with you.”

Narissa couldn’t tell if it was a promise or a vow, and to be honest, she wasn’t sure she cared.

Because if there was one thing she wanted, it was to be absolutely ruined by Solarius Starstorm.