Page 50 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

A look of guilt flashed over Casimir’s face, as if he was preparing to apologize, but Ava interrupted him as she rose and walked to her desk. “One second.”

She opened a drawer and dug around, retrieving the dagger Quinn had gifted her, walked back to Casimir, and handed it over.

“What are you doing?” he whispered.

“I’m ready.”

“Now? Are you sure?”

She stepped closer and placed a hand on his face. “Yes, now. We were going to after the ball and then I was stabbed. The war is brewing fast, I can feel it. We aren’t promised tomorrow. I want to seal the bond as soon as possible. I want to be with you.”

He swallowed. “Alright. Hold out your hand.”

Ava turned her palm face up, heart racing with anticipation. He reverently grabbed her wrist, his own hand trembling as he sliced her skin. She winced and he apologized before cutting his own.

“Ready?” he asked. She nodded.

He placed his hand on hers and pulled her against him, hands clasped against his chest. His free arm wrapped around her waist, and she clutched his neck. The moment their palms flattened against each other, a tingle erupted and worked its way up her arm.

Her vision blurred as she lost herself in his eyes. Molten gold pools full of devotion. Eyes that said everything without him even needing to speak.

As they beheld each other, he recited the prayer, speaking in a language she didn’t understand.

The words were beautiful and poetic. She watched him as he spoke, his voice low and smooth. As he continued, the sensation intensified, spreading through every fiber of her being. The rest of the world disappeared and there was only them. Only here and now.

Goosebumps peppered her skin and Casimir’s eyes widened.

They tightened their grip on each other as he finished and every nerve in Ava’s body came alive.

It was as if the whole universe held its breath while their souls met, and they both gasped at the sensation.

Ava closed her eyes and clutched his hand tighter.

They seemed to float in a suspended state, two glimmering threads heading toward each other.

They danced around one another as their very essence melded together; souls merging.

A burst of power seemed to flood Ava’s body as her eyes shot open, locking with Casimir’s. Neither of them moved, staying joined as they searched each other’s faces.

“Did you feel that?” he whispered.

“Yes,” she replied, voice shaky. “Is it done?”

“I think so.” He pulled back and released their hands.

The cuts had healed, light pink scars remaining on their palms. But it wasn’t a straight line like a cut; it was a symbol. A small circle with two dots on top of it.

“What is that?” she asked as she traced it.

“The soulbond mark,” he said.

His hand cupped her face, thumb tracing her lips. He leaned closer, their noses touching as he brushed his mouth against hers.

The sensations from the bond had been replaced by something else. Something primal. Lust. Desire. Craving .

“Cas,” she whispered.

At the sound of his name on her lips, the last tether of his restraint broke. One hand clasped the back of her neck as the other clutched her hip and pulled her closer.

He claimed her lips. The kiss was incendiary, immediate warmth pooling in her core. Her hands moved over his chest and ran through his hair, and he released a groan into her mouth, kissing her harder.

The intensity of the bond was so strong, the desire almost unbearable, she couldn’t slow herself. Couldn’t wait any longer. She needed him .

She pulled away and looked up at him, memorizing his face.

“You’re beautiful,” she said as she traced his scar with her fingers, beginning at his jawline and working her way down his neck to where it ended above his collarbone. He watched her as she leaned in and placed a light kiss where it ended.

Backing away, she didn’t break eye contact as she untied her robe. His throat bobbed, and his breathing quickened. The robe slid off her arms and pooled at her feet, revealing the entirety of her nudity.

Casimir trembled as his eyes took in every inch, painstakingly slow, as if he was memorizing her every curve and dip. Every scar and stretch mark. Her full breasts and wide hips and thick thighs. His eyes rose and met hers, full of passion and wonder.

“You are the most exquisite thing I have ever laid eyes on.” His voice came out in barely a whisper. “Are you sure you’re well?”

“Positive.”

It took all of two seconds for him to cross the distance between them. His hands went to her thighs, lifting her to straddle him. She looped her arms around his neck as her lips crashed into his, full of need and desperation.

He carried her to the bed and laid her down, hovering over her as he continued to kiss her, tongue exploring her mouth. He ground against her, and she arched her back at the sensation of his erection through his pants rubbing in just the right spot.

She ran her hand along his length, and unbuttoned his pants, not breaking their kiss.

He groaned as he pulled away long enough to remove his trousers and tossed them to the corner of the room.

Upon her again, his lips met her own once more.

Her hand moved lower, gripping him and he growled, kissing her harder .

His mouth left hers and moved to her neck, working his way lower.

Taking his time, his lips left a trail of heat down her throat, the sensitive dip of her shoulder, her collar bone.

Reaching her breasts, he squeezed one while he took the other in his mouth licking and sucking and biting at her nipple.

Ava arched her back and released a guttural moan.

Every kiss, every touch was too much and yet not enough. It would never be enough.

Lower and lower he continued his gentle torment along her stomach, her hips, moving closer to exactly where she wanted him. He parted her legs and placed a kiss on each inner thigh, inhaling deeply. His eyes flicked up to hers and he grinned.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do this,” he whispered.

Hooking a leg over his shoulder, he lowered himself. The first flick of his tongue had her gasping, setting her core ablaze. He licked up her center, letting out a groan of satisfaction. She whimpered, and if there was any bit of restraint left, Casimir broke it as he clutched her tighter.

Then, he devoured her.

Licking and sucking, his tongue moved around in circles in a beautiful torture as he worked her perfectly, knowing exactly what she needed.

“Oh my god,” Ava cried out, gripping the sheets.

He moved faster, flicking in perfect rhythm as waves of pleasure began to build. Writhing and arching beneath his mouth, heat rushed beneath her skin, her climax already building. He held her still, not letting her hips move as if he knew her release was growing closer.

She murmured his name as the edge drew near, unable to catch her breath.

Sensing her approaching orgasm, Casimir increased his speed and pressure with the flat of his tongue as he plunged two fingers inside her and curled them at the perfect spot.

He hummed amidst his tantalizing movements and that sound pushed her over the edge, the ache in her core unraveling.

“Cas!” she cried out, her back arching and legs trembling as he held her tighter, not allowing her to move away while maintaining his speed as she found her release.

He slowed but didn’t stop, easing her through her orgasm as she whimpered, coaxing every last tremor from her. Pulling away, he kissed his way back up her body, paying special attention to her breasts yet again.

She panted and moaned through the aftershocks as he returned to her mouth and kissed her, the taste of her arousal on his lips. He pulled away. “I wonder how many more times I can get you to scream my name.”

“Shut up and kiss me again.”

He kissed her, gently this time, as he eased his way on top of her, stopping as his hard length brushed against her. She grasped him again, moving her hand up and down and he groaned. She let go and he slipped inside of her, slowly and carefully. Tortuously.

Ava gasped at the size of him and he paused, allowing her time to adjust. He watched her as he pressed closer, now fully seated to the hilt.

Her nails dug into his shoulders, and she let out a husky groan. The sensation of them merged was indescribable. Her skin tingled. Her breath hitched. Senses were heightened. Every touch set a blazing path along her skin.

She moved her hips, impatiently waiting for him to move with her.

“Ava,” he whispered as he kissed her neck, slowly thrusting. “You feel,” he murmured into her skin, nipping her earlobe. “You feel so fucking good.”

It wasn’t enough. None of it felt like enough as she clawed his back and tried pulling him closer. He wasn’t close enough. He would never be close enough and she panted and moaned as his pace quickened. She met his fervor and they moved together, both frantic with need.

“I need more,” she moaned. “Cas…I…I need more.”

She could barely control herself as the bond seemed to take over.

He flipped them around, arranging her to straddle him as he sat up on the bed. His hands held her hips, guiding her up and down on top of him and she cried out at the feeling of him so deep. God, he was so deep.

“Fuck, Ava,” he said, moving her in a glorious rhythm.

She pulled at his hair and his back and moved faster on top of him as she felt another orgasm building. He didn’t slow as he moved with her, his hands gripping her possessively. So close. She was so close. Casimir leaned in, his teeth grazing her nipple.

A gentle bite sent her plunging over the edge yet again, crying out as the wave of pleasure soared. Throwing her head back, her eyes fluttered as she grasped his hair and rode him through her climax.

“That’s it, love,” he purred into her neck. “You’re so beautiful.”

Her whole body shook but he continued his relentless pace, moving her on top of him with no sign of stopping.

Whether it was Casimir’s speed, the bond, or the new sensations of being fae, her orgasm wouldn’t cease.

She gripped his shoulders to keep herself upright as white-hot pleasure shot down her spine.

He wrapped his arms around her trembling body, holding her close. Burrowing his face into her neck, he increased the pace for the last few thrusts. Ava’s orgasm crested as he found his own release and stilled, groaning and whispering ‘perfect’ into her skin.

Hours later they were tangled up under the covers. Ava’s head on Casimir’s chest and his arm around her waist. He trailed his fingers along her spine as they reveled in their nearness.

Ava was barely satiated and after a short break, they made love again, Casimir working her through two more orgasms as he himself had found his release once more.

He explained it wasn’t always like this, but immediately after the bond, the desire for closeness and connection was so intense, couples often stayed in bed for days because they couldn’t get enough of each other.

She wished they had time for that.

“Ava,” he whispered, and she tilted her head to look at him.

“Hmm?”

He brushed a strand of hair from her face, looking at her with tenderness. He rolled her over, meeting her curious gaze as he hovered above her.

After placing a kiss on her nose, he said, “I’m in love with you. I have been for a while.”

She swallowed a lump in her throat as he traced her face with his fingers.

“I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner…I…didn’t want to scare you away.”

Her heart swelled. “Nothing could scare me away from you.”

He hummed with satisfaction. “I knew I loved you when I saw you on that ocean drake in the middle of the sea. You looked like a goddess. Right then and there, I knew how hopelessly and utterly lost my heart was to you.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and he leaned in and kissed them away, a light peck on each cheek. “We didn’t know each other very well then,” she said .

“I know. But I couldn’t help it. Seeing your strength. Your determination…it did something to me.”

She sniffled. “I love you too.” She tucked a strand of brown hair behind his pointed ear, taking in every detail of his face.

Memorizing it. Soft lips. Coarse beard. Strong jaw.

His scar. The scar that told his story. “I think I fell in love with you the day you took me to the animal rescue…Every broken piece of my heart. It was yours. It is yours. You truly saw me that day. You knew I was struggling. You knew what I needed. And you saw .”

He kissed the corner of her lips, his golden eyes glistening.

“I will always see you, love.” He pressed his forehead to hers.

“My life began the day we found you in the woods. Like I’d been searching for decades for only you.

And then you appeared; battered and bruised; terrified, but trying to hide it.

My world shifted that day, though I didn’t quite realize it.

And there is nothing I won’t do to keep you safe.

Nothing. You are everything to me. You’re my dear one; my soulbond; my whole heart. ”

Tears spilled from the corner of her eyes. “Oh, love. Why are you crying?” he asked as he wiped them away with his thumb.

“Because I’m happy.”

“Me too,” he said as he settled back into the bed, pulling her close and pressing a tender kiss to her temple. “You have no idea how happy I am.”

The sound of Casimir’s heartbeat was a comfort as she laid her head upon his chest. A hand painted circles along her hip, lulling her to sleep. As her eyes fluttered closed, the scent of him surrounding her, she wanted to be nowhere else but here. With him.

Her friend.

Her lover.

Her soulbond.