Page 163 of Spark of Sorcery

“Because fate has chosen me for you,” I say, turning his hand over and peering down at his wrist.

“Because I love you.”

I gaze up at him, utterly amazed by his words.

Love me? Beaufort Lincoln says he loves me?

A million thoughts crash through my mind. That he must be lying. That this must be a trick. That there is no way someone like him could love me. That this has always been about sex, hasn’t it?

But as I stare up into his silver eyes, I can see he isn’t lying. Sure, there’s lust and longing in his gaze, but there is more there too. So much more.

“I …” I mumble.

“You don’t have to say it back,” he says softly. He knows me well now. He understands these things are hard for me. “Not if you don’t feel it.”

“Beaufort,” I say, “I’m falling for you. I think I could fall head over heels for you. But that feels so dangerous.” Even more so than the trial tomorrow. Because where does that leave us? Fate wants us together. But there are forces even stronger than fate out there and will they pull us apart? “Loving is difficult when you risk losing the thing you care most about in the world. I’ve learned that the hard way.”

“Which is why I’ll never stop asking you to wear our collar.”

I place my hands on his broad, reliable shoulders and kiss him. He hooks his arms around my waist and pulls me flush against his chest, kissing me back.

Somewhere in the room a watch ticks and the fire crackles. But all I hear is the thud of his heart.

I kiss him for what feels like an eternity. Softly, serenely, saying with the actions of my lips, the words I find so hard to say with my mouth. He scoops me up into his arms, carries me to the bed and lays me out gently on the mattress.

“You’ll stay tonight?” he asks. “The whole night with me, Briony?”

“Yes,” I say and then we’re wriggling out of our clothes, and I’m in his arms again. His body is heavy and warm against mine and I open my thighs, allowing him to lie between them. He kisses me, cradling his arms around me, brushing his fingers over my cheeks again as if he wants to map the contours of my face. He nudges at my entrance and I open my thighs wider letting him sink into me; an action that has us both groaning.

“You’re so beautiful,” he tells me over and over again as he fucks me slowly, languidly, as if we have all the time in the world and tomorrow isn’t looming over us like a thunderous cloud.

I trace my hand up and down his strong back, lift my hips to meet his tender thrusts, whisper nonsense words in his ears, kiss his cheeks as he kisses mine, hold him close like I don’t want to let him go.

Because I don’t.

I want to stay here in this perfect moment, with him buried inside me, with his weight pressing me into themattress, with his mouth on my skin. I want to stay suspended in this paradise and never ever leave.

I wake early next morning with Beaufort’s arms still wrapped around me.

“Hey,” he says, yawning as I stir. “You okay?”

“Uh huh.” I peer towards the murky light filtering around the gaps in the blinds and roll up to sitting, stretching my arms above my head. “It looks like it’s time for me to go though.”

“Urgh,” he groans, “don’t go.” He pulls me back down and kisses my mouth. I sigh because this is bliss. But unfortunately I can’t stay. I squirm out of his arms and sit up again.

“I really do have to go. There’s no other choice.”

“At least stay for breakfast.”

I shake my head. “I promised I’d meet my friends. But I will take advantage of your warm shower.”

“Ahhh so this is the real reason you stayed the night.”

“Absolutely,” I say, bending down to kiss him again before I dart towards the bathroom.

“Can I join you?” he calls after me.

“I think that would be a bad idea. You’d make me late.”