Page 36

Hannah

I promised myself I’d finally talk to Severin, but I almost chickened out, because I didn’t want to ruin this amazing date. I’m so freaking glad I said something!

Severin’s words ring through me. I’m special to him! Everything happening between us is something special. Giddy relief bubbles in my chest as if my blood’s been replaced with champagne. I can’t stop smiling.

His lips quirk. “Are you going to respond?”

“You need to kiss me, and it totally needs to be now.”

With a growl, he leaps from his chair to pull me to him. His shadows lift me as he takes me into his arms, his mouth hot and insistent as he eats at my lips like a man starved. His tongue tangles with mine, tasting of wine and tangy, sweet raspberries.

My butterflies dip and spin in a delighted swirl. A moan escapes me, the needy little one I never made until him.

“Goddess, Hannah,” he growls against my lips. “Do you know how wild that noise makes me? Do it again.” His fangs scrape over my throat, teasing the sensitive skin behind my ear.

I do exactly as he tells me and moan again, my fingers clutching his wide shoulders.

An indistinct shout cuts through the lovely harp music, and Severin pulls away from me to glare at where townspeople watch us from every side.

“Oh, yeah.” I blink quickly a few times. “We’re awfully public here.” It was part of the point of the very public date—to show everyone the happy couple they expect—but I forgot to act happy to be with him because I was happy.

“Then allow me to remedy that.” In a flash, his wings spread wide, and he launches us into the sky, soaring up, up, up into the moonlit night.

He slows until we hover in midair, far above the tiny lights of the town below. Severin buries his hand in my hair, pulls my head back, and kisses me again, hot, intoxicating kisses that fill my veins with thick honey and threaten to claim my soul.

“Hannah, I must taste you,” he groans. “The thought of burying my head between your pretty thighs has haunted me for days. I won’t wait any longer.”

“Yes,” I breathe against his lips, my butterflies diving straight to my core and making it clench.

Magic shivers through the air, leaving me completely naked.

I should probably mourn my beautiful dress, but Severin’s shadows coil around me, touching me everywhere.

I shiver with delight. Being naked with him is worth a million dresses.

The tendrils support my arms, my legs, my back.

His hands glide down my body, his mouth following.

He licks over my nipple, nipping it with his fangs until it tightens into a hard peak he sucks into his mouth.

I gasp, burying my hands in his hair, torn between holding him exactly where he is and pushing him down, down, down to where my greedy clit demands attention.

He licks his way over to my other breast, teasing me until I whimper, my hips shifting with need. With a dark chuckle, he slides down my stomach, those clever green eyes glinting up at me. His shadow tendrils continue to support me in midair as his hands push my knees apart.

“What a pretty little pussy.” One fingertip teases up and down my folds, almost brushing my sensitive nub, but stopping short.

I tug at his hair, whining with need.

Then his shadows coil around my arms, lifting them over my head and locking my wrists together. More shadow tendrils grip my ankles and wind their way up my calves, pulling my legs even wider.

I tug against the restraints, unable to move an inch. I’m caught by him, completely under his control. And it’s hot as hell.

Severin laughs, low and wicked, and the sound sets me tingling. He blows hot air over my wet skin until goosebumps break out all over my body. “So sensitive, my enchanting little witch. I love it.”

He nips at my inner thigh, his fangs adding a sting that makes sensation zip straight to my core. Then his tongue flicks hot across my clit, sending tingles bursting through me.

“Severin!”

“I’m going to fuck you with my tongue, and you’re going to ride my face.”

Oh, god. My core clenches.

“Tell me you’ll do it.” He reaches up to pinch my nipple, his shadows moving over my skin in a full-body caress. “Tell me you’ll ride my face like a good girl.”

“I will!” I gasp. “I’ll ride you like a good girl!”

Severin’s hands cup my butt cheeks, pulling me to his mouth, and his tongue swirls around my entrance. He groans, “Goddess, you taste divine.”

Then his tongue plunges forward, filling and lapping at me until I lose myself to sensation.

I’m spread wide, held in midair by his shadows.

If it were anyone but Severin, I’d be scared.

But I trust him, so instead it’s thrilling, my heart racing at the thought of where we are, of what we’re doing.

The star-speckled sky fills my vision, the full moon letting me see everything he’s doing to me.

My body tries to twist and writhe, but his shadows keep me bound in place.

He spears me with his green eyes, even as he spears me with his tongue, watching me watch him. Pleasure builds and builds, each wave cresting higher, until I’m panting, my hips undulating—the only movement his shadows will allow. I hang on the edge of orgasm, needing one more tiny push…

As if he reads my mind, a coil of shadow slides across my stomach and down to vibrate over my clit.

Pleasure crashes over me, sweeping me away until I’m nothing but a being of pure sensation. My muscles flutter around his tongue as Severin continues to lap and suck, keeping my orgasm going until I don’t think I can take any more.

“Please,” I whimper, not even knowing if I’m asking for more or for him to stop. “Please.”

He presses one last kiss to my sensitive nub, then flies up until we hang face to face.

A shadow tendril glides up my thigh, thickening as it goes. It plunges into my core, moving in and out as I writhe, my arms and legs tugging against the bonds.

“My enchanting little witch, you look so beautiful like this, wrapped in my shadows. Do you like it? Do you like my shadow fucking you?”

I can only nod as pleasure coils through me, thick and hot. I’m already so close to the edge, and his words push me closer.

He thrusts harder, the stretch delicious.

“I feel it, you know. My shadows are a part of me. I feel it every time they touch you.” His voice drops to a raspy growl. “And you feel exquisite.”

“Severin!” I moan, pleading for more. My heart races, and I gasp for breath, hanging on the edge of orgasm.

His shadow dives deeper, filling me fully, as tension tightens in my core. Then another tendril glides over my clit, and I’m gone, shaking with pleasure as I scream his name to the sky.

The shadows slide from between my legs as I slowly come down.

As soon as my eyes refocus on Severin, a pulse of magic banishes his clothes, and he hovers in front of me, naked and erect, my dark angel, my dearest temptation.

I lied earlier without meaning to. He’s not simply special to me.

Severin is magic and power and the strength to rewrite my world. He’s the man who’s seen my dreams and done everything in his power to make them true, showing a patience and thoughtfulness that take my breath away. He’s the man who’s made me slow down and enjoy life again.

I love him with everything I am.

“Severin,” I whisper, reaching for him the second his shadows free my arms.