Page 20 of Redemption (Deliverance Duet #2)
Chapter Nineteen
Ciaran
T orture. This is pure torture.
I pace the length of the bedroom for the five hundredth time and attempt to think of anything other than Iris in the shower. It turns out that my brain can be very imaginative. The memory of her soft skin against me as I pressed her into the stable wall this morning is fresh in my mind.
Blinking back into reality, I realise I’ve stopped in front of the bathroom door with my hand raised, my body clearly making up its mind. I grit my teeth, a low growl of frustration rippling through my chest, and force myself to move away from the bathroom.
She’s naked on the other side of that flimsy door, and that knowledge is testing the limits of my control. That is something I’ve always prided myself on, keeping a careful hold over my savage powers. Oh, I can be deadly when pushed, but I carry it with a cold indifference. The destructive magic constantly calls to me, its chaotic song an addictive chorus in my mind. It would be so easy to let go and wrap myself in its anarchy, but restraint and discipline is what separates me from the malignant Unseelie who roam this land. They kill for the thrill and because they can, as there are no consequences for their horrific acts.
My intimate relationships have been no different. Over the period of my long life, I’ve had many partners and have always remained cool and collected, viewing them simply as the solution to an itch I needed to scratch. There were never any strings, and that’s how we both wanted it. Of course, I always made sure to give pleasure to my partner, something I found great delight in.
Never in that time have I ever felt like this.
A young human female has me completely wrapped around her finger. I would destroy worlds for her and collapse my own court to make her happy. All of this, and we haven’t even completed our mate bond yet.
My power surges to my fingertips, needing to expel this sexual energy I’ve got pent-up inside me. It’s been building for a while, being so close to my mate and not being able to touch her like I long to. Now I know she’s naked in the other room… it’s driving me crazy. Thankfully the Seelie bastard went to clean up in his own room, otherwise if he saw me this way, he’d think I was feral. Having him here when she’s naked probably would have turned me feral.
The door to the bathroom creaks, and my pacing comes to an abrupt stop. I turn my head to find her hovering in the doorway dressed only in a towel. Steam billows around her, her skin moist and dewy from her shower. I should be thinking ahead to the mission, but my mind is blank of everything except her.
Mine.
She’s my mate. Mine. Yet I’m holding myself back. Why? Frustration makes me want to scream aloud. I know there is a reason we didn’t fuck already, but my mate fogged brain can’t remember why. Every part of me is screaming to take her now, binding us together for a lifetime. Surety fills my chest, easing some of my frustration and clearing my mind enough to focus on this important, life-changing task. Yes, that’s what I’m supposed to do.
“Yes, I am yours,” she replies, licking her lower lip as she watches for my reaction.
I must have spoken aloud and not realised it. Her answer sends a thrill through me, and I track the movement of her tongue across her lips. She’s being careful and direct, sensing how close I am to the edge, but she’s not afraid. Not that she would ever have anything to fear from me. Her scent reaches me on a breeze, and her arousal floods my system. Another growl rumbles through me, and I ball my hands into fists at my sides.
It was difficult to stay away from her before, but now it’s physically painful for me not to touch her. This morning, we were so close to fucking and becoming mates, so maybe that’s why I feel this way. My body has been primed and doesn’t want to lose out again, especially after everything that happened today.
She seems to be having her own internal battle, biting her lip and shifting her weight from foot to foot. Is she struggling with this as much as I am?
“Take me. Make it official,” she blurts out, stepping forward so quickly she almost trips.
I reach out to catch her, gripping her elbows to keep her up. We’re face-to-face, so close that as she looks up, our noses almost brush. We freeze, stuck in the moment and lost in each other, the depth of her hazel eyes captivating and calming the raging inferno inside me. I want nothing more than to take her into my arms and devour her like a starving man, but I make myself stop.
“You wanted to wait,” I murmur, my eyes locked on her lips. “We wanted to wait,” I correct myself, not wanting to sound like I’m in any way blaming her or putting pressure on her to decide.
Her hands land on my chest, fisting the material of my shirt. I’ve never been jealous of a piece of clothing before, but I want to feel her touch so badly it’s making me want to rip it from my body.
Groaning, she shakes her head. “Yes, I wanted to wait until I wanted to be with you, not out of fear or because it’s what was expected of us.”
Everything she says makes perfect sense, and I know how important this is to her. Our bond is permanent, and we shouldn’t rush it. The last thing I want is for her to doubt or regret our connection. I need to help her honour her choices, even if it makes me feel like I’m slamming a door in my own face.
Her grip tightens on my shirt. “Today has opened my eyes to so many different things,” she continues, frustration making her shake her head. “What it’s taught me is that there’s never going to be a perfect time. We have no idea who or what I am, and there seem to be prophecies that involve us at every turn.”
“I don’t need prophecies to tell me who you are. I already know,” I say, taking her face between my hands and straightening so we’re both standing upright. “You are Iris, my mate and the saviour of us all.” Lowering my head, I press my forehead to hers, hoping she can hear the sincerity in my voice. “You are going to bring the fae together, and I don’t care if that makes you human, queen, or goddess. You will always be the most important thing in my life.”
Emotion fills her eyes at my words, and she blinks several times to clear the sheen of unshed tears away.
“Kiss me,” she demands, taking me by surprise with her confidence.
I wasn’t expecting this to be her response, but it’s one I’m very happy to submit to. A slow smile pulls at my lips as I slide my hand around the back of her head, threading my fingers into her long hair. “Your wish is my command.”