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Chapter 3

Tahlia

T ahlia hid behind the stand of maples near the first rows of vines. The bark was cool and soft to the touch. She leaned around to see how close he was.

Her heart stuttered. Just a fraction of his face and body was visible behind the grapevines. A low, quiet growl emanated from him. A shiver of delight ran through her. This dangerous fully Fae male with the vicious fighting prowess and the golden heart of a dragon was her mate. She had to keep reminding herself because it seemed too wonderful to be true.

And for some reason, she absolutely adored how frightening he looked right now. Her body melted with want—knees weakening and breasts drawing taut.

She fled her cover, grinning, and dashed behind the beautiful wooden structure that housed wine aging in barrels. The scent of the wine and the green aroma of the vineyards filled her nose.

Another rippling, spine-tingling growl announced that Marius was close. Tahlia took a trembling breath. She couldn’t see him anywhere. Studying the shadows and patches of moonlight, she tried to see him. But?—

Suddenly, she was up against the wine house wall with Marius behind her, breathing over the back of her neck. He had both of her hands pinned above her head and his other hand was rucking up her shift. Tingling showered down Tahlia’s body from her scalp, down her thighs, all the way to her feet.

“Mine,” Marius growled over the back of her neck.

He licked his way over her skin, and she gasped, heart pounding. With a quick movement, he twisted her shift around his hand and roughly shoved it above her waist, exposing her skin to the night air. The cool breeze was a stark contrast to the heat of his body. He pressed himself against her and the feel of him so ready to take her stole her breath. She was dissolving into pure pleasure.

“You caught me.” She could hardly speak and her pulse was going a mile a minute.

“Yes, and I will claim you now.” He thrust into her and held her pinned to the wall as he shuddered with the effort of trying to control himself.

She loved that he got as riled up as she did. He slid back, then drove forward again.

“Mine,” he snarled.

His teeth found the place where her neck met her shoulder and he held on, almost breaking the skin. A thrill buzzed along her veins and she nearly cried out. She bit her lip, not wishing to wake the entire vineyard. Shifting again, he set a driving pace, and the pleasure inside her built higher and more powerful. The way he kept her tight against the wall, the desperation in his breathing, and the way he nipped at her skin…

He released one of her hands, seemingly caught up and lost in the moment. She moaned as desire tangled with the love she had for this male, and her pleasure peaked. She reached back, wanting to touch his cheek.

“We are not finished yet, my mate.”

Breaking away a fraction, Marius grabbed her and turned her around. He lifted her so that she could wrap her weak legs around him. She was hardly a person, completely spent with satisfaction. His mouth found hers and he kissed her softly, his tongue dancing over hers and his teeth nipping at her bottom lip as he eased his way into her once more. This time, he took her slowly.

“I would seize the moon for you if you wished it. I would burn the world to ash. Ask me anything, my mate, and I will see it done.”

Heart swelling past the point she thought possible, she gripped his broad, powerful shoulders and let her head fall back. He pressed sensuous kisses along her breasts, teasing her nipples with the very tip of his tongue as he moved steadily. His grip was tight on her backside, and the feel of his large hands was delightfully naughty. Need rose inside her, a sharp crescendo, then she came apart as he worked harder, his hips slamming forward.

“Tahlia,” he called out as his eyes shuttered. The long, corded column of his throat moved as he took his own pleasure, his jaw muscles taut and his fangs bared.

He was the most gorgeous thing she’d ever seen.

They found a soft patch of grass within the rows of vines and he set to tidying her shift. His gaze turned to one of approval once she was covered once more. Then he sat behind her, one of his big legs bent so that she could lean on his knee, and he began braiding her tangled hair.

His whispered her name like a prayer. “Tahlia, my love, my dark soul longs for the light in yours.” He dropped a kiss on the crown of her head, the warmth of his hands and breath making her shiver and smile. “I hear your heartbeat, and I want to follow the poetic sound for eternity. Your ferocity in the skies and your love of life will always be my light in the dark.”

His murmured phrases about her body, his love for her soul, and his respect for her clever mind charmed her into a dreamy sleep.