Page 31

I guided Rosie through the hallway toward our room, her weight leaning against me in a way that made my chest tighten with unfamiliar emotions.

The events at the pool had taken their toll on her, on all of us really, but Rosie most of all.

Her family's world had been turned upside down in the span of minutes, revelations spilling forth like water from a broken dam.

Yet she walked with her head held high, her fingers intertwined with mine, occasionally squeezing as if to reassure herself that I was still there. That I was real.

As if I could be anywhere else. As if my entire existence hadn't narrowed to this slip of a human woman who'd summoned me on a whim and changed everything.

"Almost there," I murmured, supporting her with an arm around her waist as we approached the door to our shared bedroom. She smelled like sunshine and chlorine from the pool, with an undertone of uniquely Rosie, sweet and earthy and alive in a way that made my ancient heart stutter .

"I can walk, you know," she protested weakly, even as she leaned more heavily against me. "I'm just.."

"Overwhelmed," I finished for her, pushing the door open. "You don't need to pretend with me."

Her smile was small but genuine. "I know."

Those two simple words sent a rush of warmth through me that rivaled the heat of my home realm. That she knew she could be vulnerable with me, that she trusted me enough to let her guard down, it was a gift I hadn't known to ask for.

All of these emotions within such a short timeframe should terrify me but it just made me want to be with her more.

The bedroom welcomed us with its quiet luxury, afternoon sunlight filtering through gauzy curtains to paint golden patterns across the plush carpet. I guided Rosie to the edge of the bed, where she sank down with a sigh that spoke volumes of her exhaustion.

"What a day," she breathed, running a hand through her disheveled hair. "And it's not even over yet."

I sat beside her, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her but giving her space to breathe. "We can stay here as long as you need. Your family can wait."

The word "family" made her wince slightly, but she nodded. "Thank you." Her gaze drifted around the room before landing on her luggage in the corner. "Oh! I almost forgot."

She pushed herself up from the bed with renewed energy and crossed to her suitcase, rummaging through its contents until she found what she was looking for. When she turned back to me, she held the protection charm I'd crafted for her in her palm, the carved metal gleaming in the sunlight.

My breath caught. She'd held it to her chest as if it were precious to her .

"You like it," I was unable to keep the wonder from my voice.

Rosie returned to the bed, sinking down beside me with the charm cradled in her hands like something sacred. "Of course I do." Her green eyes, so luminous in the afternoon light, met mine with an intensity that made my ancient heart race. "I want to have it with me all the time."

She held it up, the intricate carvings catching the light. "Could I have it made into a necklace or something? So I can wear it?"

The request stunned me into momentary silence. In all my long existence, no human had ever wanted to keep something of mine close to them, to wear my magic against their skin by choice rather than coercion.

"Aldaine?" Uncertainty crept into her voice at my silence. "Is that not allowed or something?"

I reached out, covering her hands with mine, feeling the warm pulse of her life beneath my fingers. "It's allowed," I assured her, my voice rougher than I intended. "It's more than allowed. It's perfect."

Relief washed over her features. "Good. Because I don't want to be without it." Her fingers traced the carvings. "What exactly is it, though? You never really explained."

I took a steadying breath. This was a moment for honesty, for peeling back one more layer of the barriers between us.

"It's a protection charm," I began, choosing my words carefully. "But not the kind humans typically make. This comes from my realm, carved from a metal that isn't available on your world."

Her eyes widened. "Really?"

A chuckle escaped me. "These markings channel that protection, focus it."

"What does it protect against?"

"Other demons, primarily," I admitted. "It marks you as under my protection. Most would respect that claim and leave you be."

"Most?" There was no fear in her voice, only curiosity.

"There are always those who see rules as challenges rather than boundaries," I shrugged. "But they would think twice before crossing me." The words came out with a growl that surprised even me.

Her fingers closed around the charm, holding it tightly. "Thank you," she whispered, then leaned forward to press her lips to mine in a kiss so soft and sweet it made my chest ache.

I returned the kiss with restrained hunger, letting her set the pace, drinking in the warmth of her gratitude. When she pulled back, her eyes were bright with emotion.

"I keep thinking about what Blackwood said," she murmured, her free hand coming up to cup my cheek. "About contracts and demons. About what you said by the pool."

A flicker of uncertainty passed through me. "Rosie.."

"No, let me finish," she interrupted gently. "I know we need to talk about all of it. About what's happening between us, about this bond you mentioned." Her thumb stroked along my jawline, sending shivers down my spine. "And we will. Tomorrow."

I blinked, momentarily thrown by the unexpected reprieve. "Tomorrow?"

A small smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Tomorrow," she confirmed. "Tonight, I just want to be with you."

The simplicity of the request, the quiet certainty in her voice, undid me completely. This human woman, who had every right to demand explanations, who could justifiably fear the supernatural bond forming between us, instead chose trust. Chose me.

"Rosie," her name was a prayer on my lips as I leaned forward to capture her mouth with mine.

She responded immediately, the protection charm forgotten as she wound her arms around my neck, pressing herself against me with an eagerness that set my blood on fire.

I eased her back onto the bed, bracing myself above her, careful not to crush her with my weight. Her red hair fanned out across the comforter, a flame against the white fabric. She was breathtaking, her green eyes dark with desire, her lips parted in invitation.

"You are magnificent," I breathed, unable to keep the reverence from my voice. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

Her hands slid beneath my shirt, palms flat against my skin, exploring with a boldness that made me groan. "Show me," she challenged, a smile curving her lips.

I obeyed, lowering my head to kiss her again, pouring centuries of loneliness and decades of waiting into the press of my lips against hers. She arched up into me, a soft moan escaping her as my tongue traced the seam of her mouth, seeking entry.

Our previous encounters had been frantic, primal, driven by instinct and need. This was different. Each touch deliberate, each kiss measured and deep, as if we had all the time in the ages to learn each other's bodies.

I stripped her slowly, reverently, peeling away layers of clothing to reveal the creamy expanse of her skin, flushed pink with desire. Her body was lush curves and soft valleys, generous in a way that made my hands seem designed specifically to cup and caress her.

"So beautiful," I murmured against her collarbone, trailing kisses down to the generous swell of her breast. "Perfect."

She laughed breathlessly, her hands tangled in my hair. "I'm hardly perfect."

I raised my head to meet her gaze, suddenly fierce with the need for her to understand. "You are to me." My hand traced the curve of her waist, the flare of her hip. "Every inch of you was made to drive me mad."

The uncertainty in her eyes melted into something warm and wondering. "Then we're even," she whispered, pulling me down for another kiss, before her hands dropped to tug at my shirt. "You're wearing too many clothes."

I chuckled against her lips, pulling back just enough to strip away my own clothing, baring myself to her eager gaze. The appreciative sound she made as her eyes raked over my chest sent heat pooling low in my belly.

"Better?" I asked, my voice rough with need.

Her answer was to reach for me, hands splaying across my chest, exploring the planes and angles of my body with undisguised delight. When her fingers dipped lower, tracing the line of hair that disappeared beneath the waistband of my pants, I caught her wrist gently.

"Slowly," I murmured, pressing a kiss to her palm. "I want to savor you."

A flush spread across her cheeks and down her neck, but she nodded, relaxing back against the pillows. "I'm all yours."

The simple statement hit me like a physical blow. Mine. Yes, she was mine in ways she couldn't yet fully comprehend, bound to me by forces beyond human understanding. But hearing her say it, seeing the trust in her eyes as she offered herself to me, it was a gift beyond measure.

I worshipped her body with lips and tongue and gentle hands, mapping every curve, learning what made her gasp and what drew those delicious little moans from her throat.

I discovered the sensitive spot just below her ear that made her shiver, the way her breath hitched when I dragged my teeth lightly across her nipple.

Licking my mark on her neck made her legs shake and she gave a small cry when I bit it gently.

By the time I settled between her thighs, she was trembling, her skin flushed and damp with perspiration. "Aldaine," my name a plea on her lips, her hands fisted in the sheets.

I looked up the length of her body, taking in the sight of her, flushed and wanting, completely undone by my touch. "Tell me what you need," I urged, pressing a kiss to the soft skin of her inner thigh.

"You," she gasped, her hips lifting in invitation. "Please, I need you."

The desperation in her voice broke the last threads of my restraint. I rose up over her, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss as I positioned myself at her entrance. She was wet and ready, her body welcoming me as I pushed inside in one slow, careful thrust.

We both froze, overwhelmed by the sensation. This joining felt different from our previous times ,deeper somehow, not just physically but on some fundamental level that resonated through my very being.

"Oh," Rosie breathed, her eyes wide with wonder as she looked up at me. "I feel.."

"I know," I murmured, understanding what she couldn't articulate. The bond between us was strengthening, solidifying with each joining of our bodies. I could feel her, not just the physical warmth of her wrapped around me, but something of her essence, bright and fierce and so very human.

I began to move within her, setting a rhythm that was gentle but insistent, each thrust measured and deep. Her legs wrapped around my waist, urging me closer, deeper, as if she couldn't bear any space between us.

"Rosie," I groaned, burying my face in the curve of her neck, inhaling the intoxicating scent of her skin. "My Rosie."

"Yours," she agreed breathlessly, her nails scoring down my back as pleasure built between us. "And you're mine."

The claim sent a surge of possessive satisfaction through me. Yes, I was hers as surely as she was mine, bound together in ways that transcended the physical realm. Ancient and eternal as I was, I had found my match in this fierce, compassionate human woman who faced demons without flinching.

I shifted my angle, driving deeper, and was rewarded with a cry of pleasure as I hit the spot inside her that made her see stars. Her inner walls clenched around me, her body arching beneath mine as she chased her release.

"That's it," I encouraged, pressing open-mouthed kisses along her jaw, her throat. "Let go for me. Be such a good girl."

She came with my name on her lips, her body shuddering beneath mine, inner muscles clenching rhythmically around my length in a way that nearly drove me over the edge. The sight of her lost in pleasure, knowing I had brought her there, was the most beautiful thing I'd ever witnessed.

I continued to move within her, drawing out her climax, watching in fascination as waves of pleasure washed over her face. When she finally went limp beneath me, her eyes found mine, dazed and satisfied.

"Don't stop," she whispered, her hands sliding up to cup my face. "I want to feel you."

The tenderness in her voice undid me completely. I surged forward, claiming her mouth as my hips snapped against hers with increasing urgency. My release built at the base of my spine, tension coiling tight as centuries of loneliness shattered beneath the weight of this single perfect moment.

When I finally came, it was with a guttural groan against her lips, my body shuddering as pleasure crashed through me in waves that seemed endless. In that moment, I felt more vulnerable, more exposed than I had in millennia, and yet safer than I'd ever been, held in the circle of her arms.

We lay tangled together afterward, her head pillowed on my chest, my fingers tracing lazy patterns along her spine. Neither of us spoke, wrapped in a comfortable silence that felt like its own form of intimacy .

"Aldaine?" Rosie's voice was soft, drowsy with satisfaction.

"Hmm?" I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.

"Tomorrow, we'll talk about everything?"

I tightened my arms around her, knowing she was referring to our contract, to the supernatural bond forming between us, to the future that stretched before us with all its complications and uncertainties.

"Tomorrow," I promised. "I'll tell you everything."

She nodded against my chest, her breathing already slowing as she drifted toward sleep. "Good."

I held her close, marveling at the trust implicit in her ability to fall asleep in my arms, to put off difficult conversations until morning in favor of rest and connection. In all my long existence, I'd never known such peace as I found in the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against mine.

Tomorrow would bring its challenges. There were truths to be told, decisions to be made. But tonight, in this quiet room with Rosie curled trustingly against me, I allowed myself to simply be.