Page 69

The colour left Rowan’s cheeks as he gently wiped the blood from my shoulder and arm.

With my skin clean, I could see that the wound hadn’t caused any damage to Elias’s claiming bite, which brought me a bit of relief.

The flesh he’d taken with him when I’d shoved him off was already healed, so I was getting somewhere.

It was too slow, though.

“It’s going to be okay,” Rowan murmured, dipping his head to kiss my hair. “I promise. It might be worth letting Maeve have a look later, if we can’t get it to heal now.”

I chanced a glance over my shoulder into the forest, searching for Damon, but despite how massive of a male he was, I couldn’t see him.

Turning back to Rowan, I tugged my bottom lip between my teeth. “We really don’t?—”

“Are you kidding me?” His brows shot up as he straightened. “The only thing I want to do right now is take care of you. In all the ways, Ivy.”

I swallowed hard, my own cheeks burning as he rolled his sleeves up to reveal his forearms. Veins and tendons strained as he did, and for some reason—really, against all logic—it was one of the hottest things I’d ever seen. What was it about hands and forearms?

Rowan’s cautious sweetness disappeared as he smirked. “This probably won’t be the most comfortable of places…” He trailed off, eyeing the shallow creek and the trees, before glancing down at the rock I sat on. “But we’ll make do.”

My heart leapt into my throat as my pants did the magical disappearing act. I couldn’t even act surprised anymore, not as I was left in just my panties and bra, staring up at my now very naked mate.

He palmed his cock, which hardened as he stroked it. Now might not have been appropriate, and we certainly didn’t have long, especially with Damon hiding in the shadows…watching, waiting. But I grew wetter, my body reacting to the proximity of my mate.

My eyes swept over Rowan’s body; the runes tattooed onto his hips, his thighs, his now heavy cock hard and ready for me, up his muscular body to meet his stare. Magic thrummed in my veins, and our bond grew hot, desperate for the reconnection of our bodies—and souls.

“I love you so much,” he whispered, bringing his other hand to my cheek again. “You are everything to me, Ivy Wilson.”

Emotions made my throat thick, tears burning their way to the surface. “Rowan…”

“Once all of this is over,” he continued, “I’m going to do everything to make sure you have the life you deserve. We’ll bring the girls home, and we’ll be at peace. I’ll make sure of it.”

If it weren’t for the fiery need burning its way through my body, I might have cracked.

Rising to my feet, I ignored the way my shoulder ached and pulled Rowan in for a kiss. It wasn’t sweet like all the ones we’d had before. And it certainly wasn’t slow.

Rowan took control, the hand on my cheek moving to cup the back of my neck as he deepened the kiss. He let his dick fall and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him. My mate tasted of hope as he swept his tongue into my mouth.

You have no idea how much I crave you , he whispered down the bond, his cock twitching against my belly. No fucking idea.

A moan left my lips, quickly swallowed by his own mouth. Then show me , I said.

Rowan didn’t break the kiss as he lowered me back down onto the rock. He carefully placed his shirt beneath my wounded shoulder and grabbed the rest of my gear to make a pillow beneath my head.

Moving his hand from my neck, he trailed his fingers down my body, leaving sparks of electricity in his wake. My back arched into him, seeking more.

Are you ready for me, mate? His voice was a rumble down the bond, more primal than it had ever been before. Are you wet for my cock?

I made a sound in the back of my throat as he gripped my thigh and shifted it to wrap around his waist, giving him access to my throbbing core.

I was beyond all coherent thought. My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the sounds of the forest and the creek.

And my magic…It swelled, reaching for my mate, desperate for him and the connection he promised.

Rowan used his other hand to cup my pussy, pushing my panties aside, not even bothering to take them off. His middle finger slid through my arousal before pushing inside me. Fuck, you are so perfect, mate. All mine.

I made another sound as he pumped his finger inside me slowly. It wasn’t enough. I needed more.

Rowan pulled his mouth from mine, smirking down at me with swollen lips. “Fuck, you are so beautiful. ”

I gasped as he added another finger. He didn’t quicken the pace, instead letting my orgasm build too slowly. “Rowan…” I whimpered. “I can’t?—”

He made a strangled sound, but quickly replaced his fingers with the head of his cock. “I can’t torture you like that.”

And without another word, he thrust into me. I cried out at the suddenness of his invasion, but that was quickly replaced with a moan as he rubbed my clit with each gentle stroke of his cock.

“That’s it,” he cooed. “Take my cock. Take everything.”

Rowan planted his hand by my head, dipping his face to brush his nose against mine. “Is this okay?”

“Yes,” I gasped. The burn of my magic died down a bit, but only because my orgasm was fast approaching. Pressure built in the pit of my stomach from how close I was. “But I want you to come with me.”

He grunted. “Don’t worry, mate. I’ll be giving you my release soon.”

My core fluttered at the strain of his words. Somehow, it was powerful, knowing that despite the one being in control, he was the one about to lose it. That this was enough for him to totally unravel.

“I love you,” I whispered, hooking my good arm around his shoulders. “So much, Rowan.”

His eyes shone with unshed tears. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

This time, when he claimed my mouth with his, my body uncoiled, and the tension left me with my orgasm.

Rowan whimpered against my lips as he came inside me, his release just as hot and sudden as my own.

He pushed himself flush against me, his body bucking against my own, as we both came down from the rush of our shared release .

“Fuck,” he said, releasing my mouth. His cheeks were flushed for a different reason now, and I had a feeling mine were a similar kind of pink.

I tangled my fingers in his soft, red hair. “Thank you. For loving me. For taking care of me.”

His eyes were almost gold as they met mine. “I meant it when I said you are the best thing to ever happen to me. I won’t ever take that for granted.” His eyes searched my face for a moment before flickering away. “But I think our time here is up.”

I groaned, closing my eyes. “Right. The others.”

“Yeah,” he muttered. “That demon husband of yours looks pretty impatient.”

I expected a hint of jealousy at his words, but there was none. Maybe a little amusement, dark with disbelief that he even had to say the words, but no jealousy or even discomfort.

I braced myself against Rowan, who helped me sit up, and looked over my shoulder. Yep. Demon husband was definitely there. And he looked unimpressed.

Let’s go , I said through the bond, glancing back at Rowan. We can’t leave the others for too much longer anyway.

He pressed his lips together, but nodded, and dropped a kiss to my nose. “Let me clean you up again. ” He smiled as he pulled out, leaving me dripping with his cum. “What a sight.”

I rolled my eyes. The skin of my shoulder tingled, and I glanced down in time to notice that most of the marks had healed. “Huh. Sex really did help.”

Rowan smirked again, this time with way too much pride. “You are so welcome, my love.”

There was no good way to respond to that, so I cleaned up as best I could.

There was still a dull ache in my shoulder, but that could have been from a number of things.

Probably the bone having been broken, if I had to guess.

He’d had me in a pretty tight hold. But for the most part, the pain and discomfort was gone.

My gear, with its magical properties, had actually stitched itself back together. Now, I understood why everyone wore it more than necessary. It was better than armour. With familiar magic, I was dressed again, pushing off the rock with a now dressed Rowan at my side.

Damon stepped out from the cover of the trees, his eyes burning as they swept over me. “Are you healed?”

“Enough,” I said, nodding. “Thank you.”

He tensed, but didn’t respond. Instead, the shadows surrounded us again, and this time, I was more than ready for where they dropped us off.