Page 62 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood (Of Fae and Wolf Trilogy #2)

“Little tease,” he growled. One of his shadows curled along my shoulders and caressed me. “I said I want to see my queen.”

The ache between my legs intensified, and the yanking in my chest nearly had me crawling to him.

“Let me see you,” he said, his gaze fixed on me, hungry and wild.

More heat spread through my body, and I knew I had to be blushing. But slowly, I moved my hands and set them at my sides, curling against the marble bath.

His breath sharpened. “Fecking void, how are you even real, Briar? You’re too perfect.”

He leaned forward and palmed one of my breasts, thumb circling the nipple, and the sensation sent a jolt of heat through my core. He gripped my ass and lifted me so my legs wrapped around his waist, and I rocked against him involuntarily and moaned as his hardness rubbed between my lips.

“Never has there been a woman so perfect,” he breathed huskily. “I want to tear out the eyes of anyone who has ever looked upon you. What did I ever do to deserve someone like you in my life?”

My heart warmed at hearing how much he cared for me. I swallowed hard and looked up at him. “I could ask the same thing.”

“I want you, and my shadows want you too. I want you again and again until your voice shatters and my legs give out and I can barely hold myself up.” He lowered his head and licked where his thumb had just been.

My head jerked back. Part of me wanted to tease him, but the rest of me just wanted to be with him and satisfy the ache that now practically consumed me. I rocked against him once more.

“Not quite yet.” He slid his fingers between us and circled as his teeth gently raked my nipple.

I gasped and tried to reach down to touch him, but he caught my free arm. “Not until you’re ready.”

“Oh, believe me, I…” I started, but his fingers and mouth cut off every thought aside from pleasure. His fingers slipped inside me while his thumb circled, and he kept my wrists locked within his other hands. Then his teeth and tongue sent me over the edge.

My body quivered and clenched around him as he continued to caress me. I didn’t know how long the sensations lasted before I came down, but somehow my body craved him even more.

“I was foolish. I wouldn’t be able to live without you, especially now that you’ve fallen apart for me.” He began the onslaught again, but that wouldn’t cut it.

My wolf surged forward, tired of waiting for the one thing I desired.

I yanked his hand away and rasped, “I want you, now." And rubbed against him even harder than before.

He grunted, then spread my legs wider. My entire body opened, welcoming him.

“Fate,” he rasped, placing his forehead against mine. “You feel so ready, but I don’t want to?—”

“I’m good.” I licked my lips, tasting my sweat and his. “Please, make love to me.”

“You feel tight. I don’t want to hurt you.” His forehead lined.

I huffed a shaky laugh. “I can take anything you dish out. I dare you. I’ll tell you if it gets to be too much.” I thrust against him again.

His smile curled higher on the right side. “We shall see.” Then he pressed into me.

The entire world fell apart as he entered me. I spread my legs wider as his lips captured mine. My hands gripped his back, feeling the base where his wings connected near his shoulder blades.

“I will always adore and worship you,” he promised as he thrust faster and faster. As my fingers rubbed the base of his wings, he shuddered.

Everything tightened inside me as the friction built up even more. All I could focus on was his body, how he felt, and his scent as he kept taking me higher.

Cold tendrils brushed my body as his wings surrounded me, and his movements became frantic. As he kissed me, his shadows caressed my breasts and had me tightening in pleasure.

As the pressure came close to exploding, a sudden urge took me by surprise. I tried to ignore it, but it became uncontrollable. I moaned as the cold sent me over the edge and I shattered in pleasure.

Without my intent, my teeth lengthened, and I sank them into the smooth, pale skin on the side of his throat. His taste—sweet and salty, wild and metallic—exploded in my mouth, and my growl became a moan of delight. My essence opened up and spilled outward.

“Feck.” He gently pushed back my head and stared at me.

“I’m sorry.” I licked my lips, craving the taste of his blood once more.

His eyes darkened, and his own fangs extended. The sight had me leaning my head back as more pleasure surged through my body. Claws formed on his hands, and he gripped the back of my head, guiding me to expose my neck. With a deeper rumbling snarl, he bit at the juncture of my neck and shoulder.

I gasped, arching in closer as my wolf howled with delight. I could feel something pour into me, adding to my ecstasy as I saw stars. The orgasm that ripped through me was the strongest one by far.

His touch went from buzzing to electric.

He pounded into me, and soon his own body quivered from his release. He pulled back just enough to soothe the spot with his tongue.

Kissing my lips gently, he collapsed forward, caging me between his arms and wings. His hands trembled where they gripped my shoulders.

“I’ve never experienced anything like that before.” He peppered kisses on my cheek. “And sharing blood… I never imagined it could be so erotic. I should’ve known you would be exquisite, and now I’ll crave you at all times.”

My happiness felt stronger, almost as if my emotions had somehow doubled. “Good. Because I’m already craving you again. I love you, Vad, but don’t allow anything to attempt to come between us again. I want to be here with you. No matter the cost.”

He kissed my forehead, then my cheek, then every inch of skin he could reach, with a desperate reverence that made my chest ache.

“I can’t vow that I won’t make a stupid decision again if it means keeping you safe.

” He leaned his forehead against mine and continued, “Thank Fate I’m your home.

Maybe she doesn’t despise me completely after all.

From here on out, no one will touch you other than me.

I will not stand idly by and allow anyone to take you from me.

I will kill anyone who tries to harm you again.

I messed up before, and I will never be powerless to protect you ever again. ”

My heart raced. I’d never felt this safe before.

“But we have a coronation to attend, which will allow you to be by my side at all times.”

The future sounded perfect.

The water lapped around us as he finally withdrew, and we both cleaned up.

Then he carried me dripping out of the bathroom and toward the massive bed.

“I need to make sure one last time, before you can’t change your mind.

Will this truly make you happy, then, beloved?

Being queen of this place and holding my heart while you share my throne and bed? ”

I beamed and snuggled closer, smoothing his dark hair back from his face. “Well, I’ll share your bed, but I’m not sharing the blankets. The blankets are mine.”

“Are they now?” His eyebrows arched, and he laughed. "You intend to leave me in the cold?” He tossed me onto the bed.

I struck the mattress and bounced. “Well…your shadows are cold, so…maybe that’s where you belong.” I grabbed the blanket on both sides and prepared to cocoon myself.

He swatted the blanket out of my hands and then pinned my wrists over my head.

He settled on top of me and glared down at me.

“I do not like to sleep uncovered. It seems this must be our new sleeping arrangement.” His wings folded down against his spine, and two of the shadows folded the blanket over us.

I giggled and kicked as his teeth grazed my neck. “The blankets.” I gasped, turning my head so he had more access. “Mine.” I couldn’t even form a full sentence.

“And I get to keep you.” He kissed me again, taking his time now.

I returned the kiss, nipping at his lower lip and running my fingers through his hair.

He rolled his hips against mine, and his hard dick hit just the right spot.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, making him chuckle.

“If we do use this sleeping arrangement, I don’t think either of us will get much sleep. There is one other thing we need to discuss, but…” He rolled his hips against mine as a wicked grin appeared on his face. "But I have a certain problem."

Laughing, I rolled against him. “I might be able to help you with that.”

“You’re the only one who can.”

His shadows coiled around me, and we connected all over again.

A door scraped open, and footsteps woke me from my half-dozing state. I bolted upright, pulling the blankets over my and Vad’s naked bodies.

Oh, Fate. Please don’t let it be him .