Page 55 of Raven Rebel (Sablewood #1)

Brenna

S he clung to him, pressing her face into the crook of his neck and digging her fingers into the muscles of his back. His scent of warm leather and rich wine filled her lungs and soaked into her soul.

He carried her through the halls, and the moment she spied the door to her rooms, he turned to the right and kicked open another door.

They entered a dark sitting room, furniture barely visible in the glow of dying embers in the hearth.

Emrys continued on to what was unmistakably a bed chamber. Her stomach clenched.

Dim light filtered around the heavy brocade curtains, illuminating the silhouette of an enormous four poster bed. The canopy was gathered, showing layers of gleaming crimson bedding.

Emrys laid her across the bed reverently. Her chest strained at her dress as she struggled to gather enough air, her breaths turned to desperate, shallow pants.

As he pulled away, his fingers traced a slow path down her body, and for a moment, her thoughts melted into nothing.

His intense russet eyes held her captive.

Every part of this male was a study in contrasts, from his soft, full lips to the fangs they hid.

He smirked, his mouth tugging up to reveal a single elongated canine that sent her heart racing.

“My light,” he murmured, his voice low and rough, leaning closer until his dark hair fell over his brow. “Forgive me for being a brute... but you have taken hold of me.”

She shivered as his lips brushed the sensitive skin just above her dress’s neckline, her breath hitching. “I’ve done nothing,” she whispered, her hands finding the back of his neck as his mouth trailed upward, lingering at the hollow of her throat.

“Then why can I think of no one else but you?” His teeth grazed her skin, making her gasp. He smiled against her pulse point. “If you walked away, I would follow. There is no part of me that can stay away.”

With a soft groan, she turned her head, letting him scatter kisses along her jaw on his way back to her mouth. “I am insignificant.”

His eyes shone crimson as he pulled back, his lip curling in dismay. “Do not speak those words.” He cupped her face gently. “From the moment I saw you before the throne, with that flame in your hand, I knew. I’ve never craved anything the way I crave you.”

His hands tightened at her waist, his grip possessive yet restrained .

“I felt the same.” She couldn’t think clearly when he touched her, every one of her words coming out breathy and broken.

“Brenna,” he said, “my light, I want to make you mine. I want to have you in every way.”

Her body turned molten at the words, all caution melting away. Nothing else remained, only his touch and the weight of him over her. “I have no desire but you.”

“Thank goodness I am not alone in my devotion.”

He devoured her, his mouth demanding, his tongue sliding against hers in a slow, claiming stroke. Heat flared within her, her body faintly glowing in the darkened room.

Her hands grasped at the tie of his shirt, trying to tear it from his body. Grinning, he removed the offending garment.

Brenna admired his chest for a split second before he flipped her onto her stomach.

She whimpered into the coverlet as his firm hands unlaced her dress and peeled the fabric away.

Cool air brushed her back. She tried to roll over, but his hand pressed into the nape of her neck to keep her in place.

Slowly, he trailed kisses across the newly revealed skin.

The weight of him eased off, and she turned and propped herself up to watch as he knelt with a wicked grin on his beautiful face. His eyes roamed down her body and the stretch of skin exposed by the dress barely clinging to her breasts and stomach.

Loving the hungry gleam in his eyes, she tugged the loose dress further down. “I could use some help here,” she said. A devious smile bloomed across her face as her confidence grew.

His movement was too fast for her to follow as he tugged her forward and stripped the dress down her hips. It fluttered to the floor and his hands returned to her body, exploring the expanse of tan skin.

She cleared her throat. “That was very effective.”

Emrys growled. “Effective is not a word I’d like you to use in my bed.”

“What should I say instead?”

“Only my name,” he said, dipping his head to kiss her shoulder. “Or perhaps ‘more’ or ‘harder’.”

Her eyes widened, a flush staining her cheeks and the tips of her tapered ears. “Oh, really?”

“Maybe ‘yes’.” He kissed the crook of her neck and she groaned as his fangs scraped her skin. “Or ‘again’.”

“What about ‘please’?” she choked out, reaching to run her hands over his muscled arms and up to his back.

“If you wish,” he murmured, leaning forward to capture her mouth. She lay bare beneath him, reveling in the press of his chest against her breasts. The sensation was exquisite—intoxicating—and she wanted to lose herself in it forever, even as she ached for more.

“Eager?” he teased as she mindlessly fumbled with the ties of his pants. One eyebrow arched, sharpening his features.

Wrinkling her nose, she gave a harder tug on the laces. “It is only fair. I am laid bare and you are still clothed.”

“Yes, but this way, I can give you the attention you truly deserve.” His hand cupped her heavy breast, his thumb running over the silky skin.

“As lovely as that sounds,” she ground out, “I’d appreciate if you removed your pants.”

“Yes, my light.”

He dipped his head, replacing his fingers with his mouth.

She might have protested the delay, but the only sound that escaped her parted lips was a soft, wistful sigh as he moved to the other breast. Only when her breathy whimpers turned into a desperate mewl did he finally strip away the last of his clothing.

She responded instantly, rolling her hips against him. With a low growl, he caught her wrists, gathering them in one hand and pinning them above her head. Her body arched, stretched out beneath him, offering herself without hesitation.

His voice was rough with restraint. “So impatient.”

Digging her heels into the mattress, she writhed beneath him, seeking more. “Yes, please, Emrys, please,” she chanted, repeating the words he supplied. He chuckled, rewarding her with a searing kiss as he pushed into her.

Heat radiated from her skin, and she prayed it wasn’t too much for him. Forcing her eyes open, she found his lips parted, his gaze dark with need.

She cupped his face and pulled him into a kiss.

He deepened it instantly, his mouth greedy as his hips moved in a slow, aching rhythm.

A whimper slipped from her lips, swallowed by his.

It was too much—too intense. Every touch, every movement sent a fresh wave of sensation through her, leaving her trembling beneath him.

As he pulled back and thrust into her harder, her breath caught, breaking into a strangled gasp.

Emrys stilled, his forehead pressing to hers. “Did I hurt you?” His voice was low, laced with concern.

She shook her head. “No—it’s just… I’ve never done this before.”

“Never,” he echoed with a raised brow. She almost missed his hand reaching between them, gently touching where their bodies joined. Embarrassment stung her cheeks as he brought up two fingers tipped in crimson .

A lock of dark hair fell over his brow as Emrys looked up, his mouth tugging into a smirk. Her breath stuttered. Achingly slowly, he slipped his fingers into his mouth and sucked them clean. Brenna’s eyes widened and heat flared low in her stomach.

“I-” she started to say.

“Do not apologize for this gift,” he said, his voice dark.

Emrys lowered himself down her body, the muscles of his back and shoulders rippling as he settled between her thighs. His hands spread her legs further to give him full reign over her body.

She threw her head back, curls spilling over the pillow. His tongue dragged over her, igniting a cascade of sparks through every piece of her. A feral groan ripped from her throat as he licked her clean.

Emrys laughed against her. He lingered, adding the firm touch of his fingers alongside his heated licks and gentle kisses.

He explored her until she was in blissful oblivion, nothing but pleasure and white hot stars, building into an explosion she could not stave off.

Brenna had the distinct sensation of falling over a cliff, tension seizing her and uncoiling until her body was limp and tears wet her lashes.

When she came back to herself, he was over her once more. With a grin, he swiped his thumb across his bottom lip to clean off the last of her blood.

Her lips parted, but no words came out. All she could think was more , please , again . As if he could read her thoughts, he pressed into her. This time, the discomfort gave way to glowing pleasure.

Her fingers tangled into his dark hair, further mussing his sleek style. She loved him like this, eyes dark and expression unguarded.

Though his movements were gentle and languid, the growls and soft grunts he made as she lifted her hips to meet him was what had her unraveling beneath him. If she could, she would crawl into his very chest and nestle beside his heart.

He stayed steady, until she was begging for more. She dug her nails into his biceps as she tensed and broke a second time, while he murmured praise in her ear.

Once she regained a glimmer of her composure, she urged him on, squeezing her thighs around his hips as his rhythm sped and stuttered.

With a hiss of breath through his teeth, Emrys came undone.

Brenna watched, fascinated, as his mouth parted in a soft expression and his brows furrowed, before his forehead fell against the side of her neck.

His movements slowed, leaving both of them drawing in deep breaths to steady themselves.

“Beautiful,” he said, dragging his thumb over her lip and down her throat, where his hand stretched over her neck in a momentary claiming. Her eyes wandered over his chest and lower as he withdrew from her and climbed from the bed.

He returned with linens to clean her. She blushed at his attention. Satisfied, Emrys tugged the coverlet around them, allowing her to nestle against his chest. Brenna sighed, her body buzzing and yet fully unwound. She wanted to bask in this warmth forever.

His fingers traced over her skin, swirling over her shoulder blades and brushing her curls back to expose her neck.

A knock interrupted their drowsy contentedness. Brenna jerked in surprise, but Emrys squeezed her arm and placed a kiss on her temple before he rose. She drew the warm blanket over her shoulders in his absence.

Tugging on pants, Emrys went to the door. The bed was too far from the entry for her to see the intruder, and it was impossible to make out what was said in hushed, quick words.

He returned in a moment, running his fingers through his dark hair to sweep it back from his face.

He looked beautifully undone, something she selfishly wanted to keep to herself.

Everyone else could have the polished prince.

She wanted the growling fae male, the searing kisses, the possessive bites.

Emrys crawled into bed beside her and pulled her against his chest. She curled against him, her fingers gripping the tense muscles in his arm. He sighed, squeezing her tighter for a moment before he relaxed.

“I have news to share. Spies have informed me that Meara is with your mother in Dornadan,” he said. Brenna froze. “Please don’t worry. The fight will not spread to the human kingdom. Once the battle is won, you can safely reunite with her.”

“So she’s safe?”

“Quite,” he said, stroking her hair.

Her exhale was heavy. “Thank you. That is a relief.”

Pulling her hand up to his mouth, Emrys affectionately kissed each fingertip and then bit down on the meat of her palm, not hard enough to break the skin but enough to make her twitch in his arms. “See? Everything is well, my light.”

She managed a soft noise of agreement as his lips moved to her wrist. He paused, and she met his gaze and hummed encouragingly. Only then did he sink his fangs into her skin. Heat flared within her again, subsiding into a soothing glow as he drank.

Stress melted away, her anxiety quelled and warm contentment thrummed through every muscle. Her hands roamed, gliding down his chest and lower. It was easy to entice Emrys to pull her down the bed, positioning himself between her legs, and let passion consume them once more.