Page 162 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

He lowered me back into his arms, carrying me to one of the high-back chairs in the living room. On the side table, one of the books we read together and a stack of tarot cards sat.

We both glanced there at the same time—the evidence of our connection written in the stars, our inner worlds that had blended together when we hadn’t been looking.

“Pull a card for me, baby,” Kylo said as he helped me out of my dress. His caress of my breasts was gentle, the thumb over my nipple drawing a needy moan from my lips.

As I reached for the deck, he buried himself inside me. I gasped, my fingernails digging into his shoulder.

“We’re going to be gentle,” he said, voice strained as he glared at my jugular. “Wehaveto be gentle.”

I gingerly shuffled the deck as Kylo slowly rocked his hips. “If it helps, I, too, love you so much it should terrify the world.”

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his haunted eyes. It twisted my guts to know I’d hurt him. I’d hurt him more than he would say aloud. Because Kylo would always choose to protect my heart over his own.

“What do you want to know?” I whispered, looking from the cards to Kylo’s eyes.

“Whatever you think is best, angel. I just want to hear you talk about magick,” he whispered.

His breath hitched as he went deeper inside me. I mewled, grinding slightly as I struggled to settle on a question for the cards. It was a new deck, beautiful faerie and forest themed illustrations that Kylo knew I’d adore.

“I want to know what you and I look like after the war, when The Tower has been replaced by The Star.”

The light finally touched Kylo’s eyes.

I drew a card. I smiled at the unique depiction of The Sun. Fiery reds, oranges, and yellows that reminded me of Mena’s cake at her hope-themed soiree.

I showed Kylo the card, and he kissed my cheek with a grin.

“You’re remembering when I forced you to dance with me at the party and then charmed the fuck out of Mena and Idris while we ate sun cake.”

I sweetly kissed his lips in affirmation. “The Sun is the card of pure, unbridled joy and happiness.”

“Another,” Kylo rasped, gripping my hips as he fucked me with slightly more intensity.

Spirit energy enlivened the surrounding air, lightening the heavy weight on both of our shoulders.

I pulled The Empress. A woman wore a crown of blooming flowers as she sat on a throne. One of her hands was placed on her round stomach, while the other held a bunch of grapes.

I blushed furiously, and Kylo halted deep inside me.

“Show me that card,” he commanded with a smirk.

Why was I feeling this way? The card’s imagery wasn’t literal—it had many meanings and complexities, like all the cards. This was just one representation of the classical interpretation.

I showed him. And Kylo’s eyes turned molten.

“Are the spirits fucking with us?” he said with a groan, cupping a breast and making me cry out with a violent thrust.

“Most certainly,” I panted. “They enjoy doing that.”

“Now is not the time to conjure images of you carrying my seed.”

“It’s not just a fertility card in a corporeal sense,” I said quickly, cheeks still burning. “It’s also a card of luxury, creativity, and abundance. Or like, maybe you’ll feed me lots of grapes once we live in a free world.”

Kylo’s chuckle was dark as his grip on me tightened.

I set down the cards. I melted against Kylo’s chest, soothed by the sun-kissed imagery.

“Our future looks bright,” I whispered. “We just have to get there.”