Page 13 of Holy Shift (New Orleans Nocturnes #8)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Pete couldn’t pinpoint exactly what came over him in that moment. The shred of memory he’d recovered had been so fleeting, he’d already lost it. Decorating the cakes had been a blast. Using colors and shapes to create intricate, edible designs felt as much a part of him as the whiskers on his rabbit’s nose, and that was cool and all. But it was more than that.

He’d decorated those cakes for Destiny. They had fulfilled her orders together. They’d come up with a plan to both save her wings and the fae realm together, and that was exactly what it was.

Together was where they belonged, whether it was here, creating edible art, in the fae realm stopping a vampire, or upstairs in the bedroom, where he planned to spend as much time with her as possible, now and in whatever amount of future they had left.

He cupped her cheek in his hand, and she nuzzled against it, closing her eyes. “Pete.”

“That’s my name…or so I’m told.” He gently straightened her head, drawing her gaze to his.

“You still don’t remember anything?” she asked.

“It doesn’t matter.” He glided his other hand across her shoulder. “All your orders for today have been filled. We’ve got a few hours before anyone arrives to pick them up, so let’s make the most of it.”

She swallowed hard, confliction tightening her eyes. “Last time I got involved with a charge…”

“This isn’t last time, and I’m not your charge.” He leaned in, taking her mouth with his.

She tasted as sweet as he remembered, like a little piece of heaven made just for him, and as she wrapped her arms around him, her body seemed to mold to his, her soft curves filling in his sharp angles, making him whole.

A soft moan vibrated across her lips, and she clutched his shirt, tugging the hem upward before sliding her hands beneath it. The feel of her soft skin on his stomach made his muscles contract, tightening from his chest to his groin.

She giggled. “You don’t have to flex for me.”

He laughed. “You seem to have that effect on me.”

She glided her hands up to his chest and down again before running a single finger over the waistband of his pants. Every muscle in his body clenched so tightly, he could’ve cracked a pecan between his butt cheeks.

“Are you okay?” She let his shirt fall over his abs, and he could breathe again.

“It’s taking every ounce of my strength to not swipe my arm across this table, knock all the cakes to the ground, and take you right here.”

“Hmm.” She grinned. “It would be a shame to destroy all your hard work. Maybe you should take me upstairs.”

She didn’t have to ask him twice. With one arm across her back, he scooped her into a cradle carry and headed for the stairs, taking them two at a time. When he reached the top, he set her down and grasped her hand between both of his.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” He kissed the inside of her wrist, and her breath hitched before she smiled slyly.

“We have to pass the time somehow.” She winked. “Hop to it, Mr. Rabbit.”

Heat unfurled in his belly, settling into his dick and hardening it like a rod. He would happily spend forever doing this with her. Doing everything with her.

A sinking sensation formed in his stomach. All joking aside, he needed to be sure she understood that what he had planned was entirely against the rules. “Angels and fae aren’t supposed to have relations. Everyone knows that, even bunnies with amnesia.”

“I know, but…” Her brow pinched, the look of rejection in her eyes nearly crumbling him. “Are you saying you don’t want to?”

“No, not at all.” He pulled her to his chest. “I think we’ve established how I feel about rules. I don’t give a fluff about ridiculous laws made eons ago, but you do. You could get into trouble.”

“Oh, angels are forbidden from fornicating with the fae.” She rested her hands on his shoulders and leaned back to gaze into his eyes. “But my powers are bound. I’m essentially human right now, and anyway…”

“Fluff the rules?” He grinned.

She nodded. “Fluff the rules.”

Clutching his hand, she led him down a short hallway and into her bedroom. A buttercream yellow duvet covered her bed, and matching sheer curtains hung over the bay window, warming the sunlight’s hue as it filtered through. Pastel pillows adorned the window seat, and a small shelf filled with paperbacks stood adjacent to it.

She’s mine, his rabbit said in his mind. I’m working on it, buddy. He cleared his throat. “That’s a nice reading nook.”

“I like the lighting.” She rested her hands against his chest. “I also like you.”

“Mmm…” He tucked a lock of coppery hair behind her ear. “That makes me a happy bunny.”

“How happy?” She ran her hands downward, but he caught them before they could reach their destination.

“I’m about to show you.” He gripped the back of his shirt and tugged it over his head.

She parted her lips as her gaze wandered down his form and up again. When her eyes met his, he could have sworn he saw forever inside them.

He closed the distance between them and moved her long hair aside to reach for her zipper. He slid it down and slipped his fingers beneath the shoulder straps, pulling them forward until her dress fell to the floor.

She wore a pink satin bra and matching panties beneath, and his heart thumped in his chest, pumping even more blood into his groin.

Mate , his rabbit reminded him. Yes. Yes, indeed.

He took her in his arms and crushed his mouth to hers. With a flick of his fingers, he unhooked her bra, and she threw it aside before leaning into him. Her skin was warm, silky soft against his, the sensation blinding him with desire. He needed Destiny like he’d never needed anything in his life.

She kicked off her shoes as he kissed her, and he did the same, fumbling with the button on his pants at the same time. Destiny laughed against his lips, never breaking the kiss as she popped it open and slid his zipper down.

Before he could work his pants over his hips, she reached into them, gripping his dick through his underwear. It throbbed in response, aching to be set free. Hooking his thumbs into the waistbands, he shoved the rest of his clothes to the floor and kicked them aside.

Destiny took a step backward, her gaze locking on his groin. “Very happy, I see.”

“You have no idea.” He moved toward her and grabbed her ass before sliding his hands to the backs of her thighs and lifting her from the floor. She fell backward onto the bed, her squeal turning into a delightful giggle and she shimmied to the center of the mattress.

A ray of sunlight fell across her body, giving her an ethereal glow, despite her lack of magic. Her hair glittered, and her blue eyes shown in a way that only his fated mate’s could. He inhaled deeply, her arousal tinting the sweet vanilla-lavender scent of her skin and making his mouth water.

He joined her on the bed, slipping her panties off, giving himself access to every magnificent part of her. He lay atop her, nuzzling into her neck, basking in her glory. “You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.”

He kissed her cheek, her lips, the hollow dip at the base of her neck. Trailing his lips downward, he kissed between her breasts before moving to a nipple. As he sucked the delicate pearl into his mouth, she inhaled a quick breath.

“Is it true what they say about rabbits?” She tangled her fingers in his hair.

“That we can multiply like nobody’s business? Yeah, but lucky for us, angels and fae can’t reproduce.” He flicked out his tongue, bathing her other nipple before giving it a light nip with his teeth.

She let out a slow, satisfied hiss. “I meant the battery commercial.”

He chuckled and rose onto his hands. “That we keep going…”

“And going, and going…” Her voice was breathy, the desire in her eyes almost more than he could take. Almost…

“You’ll just have to wait and see.” He kissed his way down her stomach, spreading her legs and settling his shoulders between them. “First I want to know if you taste as sweet as you look.”

He swiped his tongue up her center, pausing on her clit and circling it twice.

She gasped and gripped the sheets. “And?”

“Undetermined. I think I need another taste.” He bathed her sensitive nub in wet heat, making her moan. “Mmm… I’ll definitely need more than a few bites.” He licked her again, sucking her clit between his lips and working circles with his tongue.

“Ohhh…” she said, though it was more breath than word. “Oh, Pete.”

He moaned against her, slipping two fingers inside her, and she writhed in pleasure beneath him, every sound she made, every breath she breathed turning him on in a way he was absolutely certain he had never experienced before.

She belonged to him.

And it was his duty to please her.

She cried out his name again, arching her back as her climax overtook her. He continued licking and sucking as she rode the wave until she pitched forward and gripped his shoulders.

“I need you inside me. Please.”

“I will give you everything you need.” He covered her body with his and plunged inside her with one swift thrust.

She gasped and wrapped her legs around him, taking him in deeper, squeezing him. He pulled out slowly and slid back in, reveling in the sounds she made as he moved. The entire world and all the realms ceased to exist in that moment. He and she were all that remained, she all he would ever need.

He continued thrusting, listening, watching, angling his hips according to her responses until she climaxed again. He started to rise onto his hands, but she clutched his shoulders, holding him close as she orgasmed.

“Come for me, Pete,” she whispered against his ear, and that was all it took.

He slammed into her grinding against her center as his own release overtook him. Stars danced in his vision, and, when he squeezed his eyes shut, they grew brighter. He panted, her breaths matching his until they slowed to a normal rhythm.

As she loosened her grip on his shoulders, he held her tighter, unable to let her go. She relaxed beneath him, gliding her fingers over his sweat-slickened back and turning her head to kiss his cheek.

“Mine,” he said aloud this time. He didn’t mean to, but his rabbit was so adamant, the word just slipped out.

“What?” Destiny wiggled beneath him, so he rolled off and pushed to sitting.

“That, ah…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. That was my rabbit talking. He really, really likes you. He wants you to be mine…my mate.”

His stomach looped, and he clamped his mouth shut. What the ever-loving fluff was he thinking? So much for easing her into the idea.

“And you?” She sat up, touching his shoulder as she scooted closer. “How does the man feel?”

He took a deep breath, chewing the inside of his cheek. He was all in. There was no denying it, so he might as well tell her. “Everything about you feels right. I want you to be mine too.” He held his breath as he awaited her response.

She nipped her bottom lip between her teeth and searched his eyes, swallowing hard before she spoke. “As crazy as it sounds, I’m good with that. Logic tells me it simply can’t be, but I know in my heart…in my soul…that we are meant to be together forever, whether our forever lasts two more weeks or an eternity.”

He cupped her cheek, gliding his thumb over her soft lips. “You have no idea how happy you just made me.”

She glanced at his dick, still standing at attention. “Maybe you should show me.”

“Maybe I should.” He laid her back on the bed.

She grinned. “So you can keep going.”

“And going.” He brushed his lips over hers and was about to show her just how long he could go when a thunderous crash sounded from below.

Destiny gasped and pressed a hand to her chest. “That came from my bakery.”