Page 25 of Bound in Flames (The Savage Hearts #1)
Chapter 25
Dex
T he stars seemed closer up here, scattered like shards of ice across the velvet sky. I had brought her to the highest roof of the stronghold, far from the whispers and judgment of the training grounds. Cleo sat beside me on the wide stone ledge, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her head bowed. She hadn’t spoken since I carried her here, and I didn’t push her.
The silence stretched, broken only by the distant sounds of the stronghold below, murmurs of voices, the clang of weapons, the hum of a place that never truly slept. But none of the chaos reached us. Up here, it was just the two of us.
She was still trembling, though she was trying to hide it. Her hands twisted in her lap, her fingers pale from how tightly she gripped them. The silvery moonlight painted her features with an almost ethereal glow, softening the sharpness of her exhaustion and the streaks of dried tears on her cheeks. She was beautiful in a way that defied logic, her human features so different from mine, so delicate—and yet she carried a beauty that made my chest ache.
I could still feel the ghost of the vines on my chest, but it wasn’t the magic that haunted me. It was the thought of how afraid she’d been, how deeply scarred she still was by what she’d endured before she came to us. Before she became mine to protect.
I’m sorry for pushing you too hard. For… triggering bad memories.” The word felt foreign on my tongue, too small to encompass the storm I’d seen in her eyes, the fear and pain that had gripped her so tightly. “I didn’t know, Cleo. I didn’t know about your father. If I had?—”
“It’s not your fault,” she interrupted, shaking her head. Her voice sharpened, a hint of stubbornness breaking through the vulnerability. “I’m the one who lost control. I’m the one who hurt you.”
“You didn’t hurt me."
“I could have!” her voice snapped. “I let the magic take over, Dex. I let it win. What if it happens again? What if next time?—”
“Stop.” The word came out harsher than I intended, but it cut through her spiral of guilt like a blade. Her eyes widened, her breath hitching, but I didn’t let her look away. I leaned closer, lowering my voice but keeping the commanding tone. “Stop blaming yourself for something you couldn’t control. What happened wasn’t your fault, Cleo. You were afraid, and your magic reacted to protect you. That’s not weakness. That’s instinct.”
“But I should have been able to stop it,” she argued, her voice trembling. “I should have been stronger?—”
“You are strong, and you did stop it.” I said, cutting her off again. My hand reached out, brushing against her shoulder before sliding to her chin, tilting her face toward mine. Her skin was warm under my touch, soft and fragile in a way that made my heart ache. “You’re one of the strongest people I’ve met. And you need to stop tearing yourself down. You’ve spent your whole life being told you’re not enough, but I’m telling you now. You are more than enough.”
“That fire in you, that passion, it’s one of your greatest strengths. It’s what makes you unstoppable, and it’s one of the things I’m most obsessed with. You’re human, and I’m orc. Our worlds are different, our bodies different, but none of that matters in here.” My voice was rough with emotion as I pressed her palm against my chest. “I look at you, and all I can think is how I couldn’t imagine a life where I wasn’t completely consumed by you.”
“Obsessed, huh?”
“Completely,” I growled softly, the word rumbling between us. “Because that stubborn, unrelenting fight inside you? It’s why we were destined to be mates.”
Her eyes widened in surprise at my seriousness as I leaned closer, my hand still holding her chin, thumb brushing over her jaw. “You may not see it yet, but you feel it,” I continued. “Your passion, your strength, your refusal to give up. That’s orc nature; it’s the heart of who we are. It’s why the bond between us is so strong. You are mine, and I am yours. No force in this world or the next can break that.”
She shuddered under my hands, tears glistening as they spilled silently down her cheeks. I reached up to brush them away with my thumb as I continued.
“And hear me now.” My voice dropped into a low growl, sharp with promise. “I don’t care who they are. I don’t care where they come from. If anyone—anyone—tries to hurt you again, I will kill them. I will rip them limb from limb, tear them apart with my bare hands, and leave nothing behind. Not your father. Not anyone . You’re mine to protect, Cleo, and I will no matter what it costs me. That’s a promise.” My voice softening.
Tears spilled freely down her cheeks as her small hands unclenched in her lap. “Dex...” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I don’t know if I deserve that.”
“You do,” I said fiercely, my grip on her chin forcing her to meet my gaze. “You deserve everything. And I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”
Her lips trembled, her hands lifting slowly to clutch at my shoulders as if she was afraid I might vanish. “You’re stubborn.” Her voice thick with tears.
“So are you. That’s why we work.”
She let out a soft, broken laugh, and the sound tugged at something deep in my chest. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not, but I’d do it for you without question.”
Her laughter dissolved into quiet sobs, and I pulled her against me, wrapping my arms around her as I held her close. Her head rested against my chest, her warmth sinking into me as I buried my face in her hair. “I’ll keep you safe, Cleo. No matter what it takes.”
She clung to me, her body trembling, and for a long moment, neither of us spoke. The weight of everything hung between us, heavy but unspoken. The truth about why she was here—the prophecy, the clan’s expectations—burned in my chest like a festering wound. But now wasn’t the time to tell her. Not when she was still so vulnerable. But I would tell her. Soon.
Leaning back, I tipped her face up to mine. Her green eyes shimmered with tears, but there was something else there now—something softer, more certain. “You’re mine, Cleo. And I’m yours. Nothing will ever change that.”
Her lips parted, her breath brushing against my skin, and before I could think better of it, I closed the distance between us. The moment our lips met, the rest of the world fell away. Her small hands slid up my neck, her fingers curling against my skin as she leaned into me, her lips soft, warm and hesitant. I deepened the kiss, my hand sliding into her hair, tangling in the wild curls as I pulled her closer.
Pressing against me, her warmth ignited a fire that burned through every thought. I tightened my hold on her, claiming her in a way that left no room for doubt. She was mine. My mate. My equal. My obsession.
She pulled back, her chest heaving as she caught her breath and I moved to rest my forehead against hers, my hand still tangled in her hair. “You’re everything, Cleo,” I whispered. “And I’ll never let you go.”
She shuddered, her hands still clutching at me, and victory flashed through me when I saw the faintest flicker of belief in her eyes.
“Neither am I.”
“Good.” A smile tugged at my lips as I kissed her, pouring as much adoration into it as I could. Because no matter what came next, I would never stop proving it to her.
She was mine to protect now. And Gods help anyone who tried to take her from me.
The moment the door clicked shut behind us, the tension thickened like a brewing storm, heavy and electric. The weight of everything—the war, the prophecy, the magic—lingered at the edges of my mind, but none of it mattered right now. It was just her. The fire in my veins burned hotter, igniting the hunger that had simmered beneath the surface since the library.
I hadn’t been able to think straight since. The way she had responded to me, how her body melted against mine, how her lips had parted just enough to tempt me beyond reason. It had taken every ounce of my self-control to put duty before pleasure, shoving my aching cock into my pants, pull her up from her knees and leave her in the library.
Control was essential, a constant reminder pulsing beneath my need to possess her in ways she had never known, and I had lost control with her then. My fingers twitched with the memory of holding her throat under them, giving in to my primal need to dominate my mate in every way possible. I was lucky it had only heightened her pleasure and not scared her. I was determined to keep my control in check tonight just in case. In this room, there were no interruptions, no distractions. And Gods help me, I was weak to the need to hear her whimpers again, to feel her surrender beneath me.
My gaze drank her in, following the rise and fall of her chest, the voluptuous curves of her hips, the pink flush creeping over her skin. I closed the distance, my size dwarfing hers, the need thrumming through my veins making it nearly impossible to be gentle.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you.” My voice, rough and husky, reverberated between us. "I tried to give you time to rest, but?—”
Her darkened gaze, pupils blown wide with desire. It was all the encouragement I needed. A low growl escaped me, my restraint hanging by a frayed thread, as I watched her pull her plump lower lip between her teeth. “Then don’t.”
A growl rumbled deep in my chest as my fingers tangled in her hair, dragging her close. Her soft body pressed against mine as I bend down, crashing my lips against hers. Claiming, devouring, desperate for her taste.
Parting her lips on a gasp, I seized the invitation and deepened the kiss. She moaned into me, hands fisting my pauldron, tugging me closer with a strength that belied her size. Her smaller body fit against mine in a way that made me ache, my hands roaming down her back to the swell of her hips, gripping hard enough to make her groan and rock against my thigh.
I lifted her easily, reveling in the way her legs locked around my waist without hesitation, her arms tight around my neck. The friction of her soft curves against my hardened muscles was exquisite. Torture and ecstasy all at once.
I ground her against my cock, and she let out a choked gasp that sent another surge of primal need burning through me. My lips trailed down her jaw, over the column of her throat where her pulse thundered beneath her delicate skin. I lingered there, savoring the way she shuddered against me as I nipped as her pulse point. The way she offered me her vulnerability without hesitation was intoxicating.
Her nails dug into my shoulders, dragging across scarred flesh, the sharp edge of pain heightening my pleasure, and I growled against her throat. " Mate ." The word spilled from my lips like a prayer.
Her fingers trembled as they worked the buckles of my armor, the plates clattering to the floor as she went. When her hands skimmed up my bare chest, the warmth of her touch seared me to my very core, and I shivered in response. She touched me with such tenderness, as if I were something precious, and it made my heart soar. Gods, I was so lucky.
Carrying her to the bed, I laid her down gently in the furs, crowding over her. Her eyes met mine, heavy with desire, and my cock ached at the sight of her body arching toward me. The furs cradled her as I traced a thumb over her trembling lips, savoring the way she responded to my every touch.
“Please, Dex.” Her voice was breathless and needy.
The plea undid me. Stripping her tunic and leggings from her body in one swift motion, I kissed my way back up her trembling legs, letting my tongue lave over the softness of her thighs, my tusks leaving behind red angry scrapes on her skin. Each one a claiming mark of their territory. Mine .
“Gods, Cleo, your body is perfect.” I breathed against her, my mouth devouring her as I brushed across her hipbone, nipping at her skin as I went.
In a moment of weakness, I was dragging my lips down to her inner thigh, inhaling deeply. "This cunt is even more incredible." My tongue flicked against her heat, tasting the sweet slickness already pooling at her entrance.
Looking up, I saw a blush spread across her chest, and I smirked against her skin. “Why does it fluster you when I tell you how much I enjoy your body?”
“No one has ever made me feel like this before. I'm rather...curvy... for a human," she murmured, looking away almost awkwardly.
"Curvy? Human men are fools . Your body is perfect, plush thighs, full breasts, tight cunt," I groaned in response, continuing to lap gently at her. "Makes me want to lick every inch of it."
"Also, the words you use.” She bit her lower lip in embarrassment as she looked down at me.
“What? Cunt?” I teased, watching the way she squirmed under my attention, the muscles in her thighs tightening as I traced lazy circles with my thumb on her inner thigh.
“Yes, it’s so... crass.”
I chuckled, dragging my tongue firmly over her clit in a slow, deliberate stroke. “Humans have such odd views on intimacy. I much prefer orc culture. I can call it whatever I want.” My voice was thick with amusement. “And you like it, don’t try to deny it.”
I pressed my thick tongue deep into her before she could respond, groaning at the way her muscles pulsed around me, the taste of her sending my need spiraling out of control. Her back arched off the bed with a groan, hips rocking to chase more friction.
“Oh, don’t worry, little mate. You’re going to be feeling me for days .” I chuckled, sliding a finger slowly into her slick heat to replace my tongue.
Listening to the hitch in her breathing as I worked her open only made me harder, the ache in my cock nearly unbearable. My tongue flicked over her clit in rhythm with my thrusts, coaxing her open, claiming her. When I added a second finger, her moans grew louder, her hips moving instinctively, taking me deeper. Her tight heat squeezed around my fingers, and I growled at the sight of her, utterly undone beneath me, writhing, trembling, flame-red hair fanned out like a halo.
“Look at how pretty you are, just for me. Tell me you can take another.” I groaned against her clit, before pulling it back between my teeth.
“Yes!” she gasped, grinding down into me, relishing in the prick of pain as she chased her pleasure.
I arched an eyebrow, pulling my lips from her clit and easing my thrusts in her clenching core, shushing her whines of disappointment. “Greedy little thing, aren't you... Yes, what?”
Her thighs flexed in frustration, but the desperation in her voice won over. “I can take another. Please! I need it!”
"Yes, what ?” I growled, pressing back roughly into her cunt.
"Yes, mate. Please !"
Oh, how she begged so beautifully for me.
"Good girl." Easing a third finger inside her tight pink hole, I watched as her muscles clenched around me, her hips writhing as she fought to accommodate the stretch. I lowered my mouth back to her clit, pushing her back to the edge of release. Within moments, her body was greedily accepting the giant fingers stuffed in her cunt, and I aimed for her pleasure spot, rewarding her for taking them so well for me.
Her orgasm crashed through her, her screams echoing off the walls like a song only I was meant to hear. Her body trembled beneath me, every muscle taut with pleasure, and I watched in fascination as she came undone. Her inner walls pulsed around my fingers, threatening to push them from her body, and I could feel my cock leaking at the sight.
A growl rumbled deep in my chest as I prowled back up her body, easing my drenched fingers from her core. The desperate little whimpers escaping her throat were a siren’s call, pulling me deeper into the intoxicating haze of need. Her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging hard enough to sting as she guided me to her mouth. I let out a feral snarl against her lips, savoring the way she responded to me with such raw abandon. Control .
“I’m going to take my time claiming you,” My lips trailed her jaw, biting kisses down her throat, “And when I'm done, you'll know exactly who you belong to."