Page 43 of The Dark Mage

“I didn’t know it then either,” she whispered, her voice shallow.

“But I’ve wanted you since you shielded me in the Dark Forest. Your magic drew mine from the earth—as if our powers already knew what we were supposed to be.

” She inhaled shakily. “It’s only grown for me, too, Fael. Into something deep and true.”

For a moment, they simply regarded each other, unspoken truths passing between them.

Then, as though they really were two halves of one whole, he slipped his hands around her waist as hers wound around his neck, and their mouths met.

Ren’wyn thought their first kiss would be hungry and wild.

But it was soft. S weet.

They kissed slowly, thoroughly, learning each other’s taste, exploring with tongue and teeth and lips. When they finally broke apart, breathless, their lips swollen, she whispered, “Make love to me, Fael.”

His strength delighted her. Firm hands on her backside, he lifted her up around his waist. The room was small, and he carried her to the bed in three strides, laying her down before standing over her.

She beckoned to him, and he followed, lowering himself over her until their bodies pressed together, heat radiating between them. Even fully clothed, she could feel his need, his desire, and every place their bodies touched seemed to burn to life.

Ren’wyn arched her hips against him and couldn’t help the small whimper that esc aped.

Fael groaned, removing his mouth from her collarbone and pulling back to brace himself on his hands and knees. His fingers fumbled at the laces of her bodice until he tore the dress down, seams popping. Her breasts spilled free, pale and soft in the dim l ight.

He exhaled sharply at the sight of her and bent his head, pressing his face between her bre asts.

His hair tickled her skin, and Ren’wyn writhed beneath him, overwhelmed by the sensa tion.

Fael’s hands trailed her upper arms, pinning her gently as he shifted his weight. She bit her lip, her eyes questioning and inviting him cl oser.

When he bent, it was to capture her left nipple in his mouth. His tongue was hot, wet, and slow as he softly bit her sensitive, pale skin.

She strained against his hands, a moan breaking from her lips.

He devoted the same attention to her other breast, grinning against her skin as she squirmed in resp onse.

His hips hovered above hers, and she wrapped her legs around his, trying to bring him closer. Prickles rose along her nape when he rumbled a laugh at her struggle. Continuing downward with his mouth, he nibbled her stomach and circled her navel with his nose, all while keeping her pi nned.

“More kissing,” she demanded breathle ssly.

Releasing her arms, he brought his mouth back to hers—hard, hungry, and desperate this time. She answered with equal fervor, their tongues and teeth clashing as they fought to release everything they’d held back.

Ren’wyn grabbed the hem of his shirt, and Fael broke their kiss long enough for her to pull it over his head. She threw it carelessly, the fabric rasping against glass as it landed on the unlit lantern on the bedside t able.

His mouth traced the line of her jaw before he nipped her earlobe and moved down her neck.

She arched her back, loving his grunt of pleasure as her nipples grazed his bare c hest.

Fael lifted her to a sitting position, one arm cradling her upper back so they were face-to-face. Her head tipped back, her body curving into his hold. His other hand cupped her left breast, his thumb and forefinger teasing her nipple until she whimpered and dug her fingers into his shoul ders.

“This,” he murmured against her lips, “is what I’ve pictured.” His mouth captured hers again, the kiss slow but demanding. Between kisses, he added, his voice thick with emotion, “You’re better than I ever imag ined.”

A soft, shy smile flickered across his face—a glimpse of the vulnerability beneath all his stre ngth.

She was unraveling in his h ands.

“Less clothes,” she ord ered.

Fael’s grin widened as he climbed off the bed. His fingers caught her skirt, pulling it down over her generous hips. The fabric pooled at her feet, and his eyes darkened as they traced the swell of her stomach, the curve of her hips, the soft length of her th ighs.

He reached for his belt, but Ren’wyn sa t up.

“ Wait.”

She crawled forward across the blanket to kneel at the edge of the bed. Slowly, she kissed the hard lines of his stomach, her lips brushing over warm, taut muscle. Fael let out a deep, shuddering sigh.

Her fingers dipped lower, brushing lightly over the hard length of him before setting to work on his belt. The buckle fell open with a metallic clink. One by one, she unfastened the buttons until his pants loosened. With a gentle push, they slid off his narrow hips.

The belt hit the floor with a dull thud. Fael stepped free of the pile of fabric, his broad chest straining with his breaths, his muscles taut in anticipa tion.

She shivered as she looked lower, taking in the strength of his body and the rigid length of him tenting his sh orts.

Fael watched her closely, then untied the waistband. The fabric slid down his thighs and fell away.

The beating in her chest felt almost painful as she looked at him—all of him—bare to her for the first time.

Without a word, Fael climbed back onto the bed, desire darkening his eyes. He hooked a finger into the band of her underpants and pulled them down her legs.

The discarded cloth hit the curtains, and bands of light flickered over the bed as they sw ayed.

Fael grasped her ankle, pressing a soft kiss where the skin dipped near her foot. Slowly, he traveled up the inside of her leg, each kiss higher until she panted, her fingers clutching the sh eets.

At the top of her thigh, he paused and leaned back.

His touch was almost reverent as he brushed his fingers against her core for the first time—a slow, deliberate stroke that had her squeaking with ecs tasy.

“Tell me where,” he whispered, his fingers tracing small, lazy cir cles.

When he reached her favorite spot, she clenched her t eeth.

“There,” she gasped, pleasure blooming with petals of heat in her bloodst ream.

Fael moved his fingers with tender precision, sending the heat coursing through her body.

The mattress dipped as she pressed the soles of her feet down, a wave of pleasure rising to carry her higher.

Small pieces of her broke apart until she teetered on the brink of climax.

Fael’s wicked smile proved how much he savored her unrave ling.

“Stop,” she pa nted.

He froze, worry flashing on his face—until she pushed herself up and wrapped her arms around his mi ddle.

“I want to come with you,” she whispered into his skin, taking a deep breath of the scent of him along the line of his abd omen.

Fael let her press him down until he lay on his back, his head near the foot of the bed. Ren’wyn straddled his hips, lowering herself to cradle the length of him between her th ighs.

She twisted her hair off her neck, lacing her fingers through it as she rocked her hips. A low moan escaped her as his hard length slid across her sensitive ce nter.

Fael’s fingers dug into her legs, his eyes closed with pleasure, his breath ragged with need.

When she reached down and took him in her hand, his grip tight ened.

She raised her hips, locking eyes with him before pressing him against her entr ance.

Fael groaned her name—a fierce, guttural sound—as she tilted her hips and took him in, rocking until he was seated fully, a part of her in the deepest, most elemental way.

Slow and steady, they found a rhythm all their own, Ren’wyn moving in waves above his body.

Fael’s hand slid over her thigh, the other fisting the sheets.

Ren’wyn took his wrist, guiding his fingers over her sensitive skin from knee to hip before slipping his hand between their bodies, guiding his thumb to press that perfect spot that destroyed her sanity.

His touch, combined with the heavy, perfect fullness of him inside her, coiled her body tighter and tig hter.

She let the building release grow, burning like a fire that started in her core and spread outward like wildfire through every n erve.

“Ren’wyn, Ren’wyn,” Fael panted, his voice a request and a warning as they approached the breaking p oint.

And then—

Shadow and darkness curled off her skin, tendrils rising around them like s moke.

She halted, clamping down on her m agic.

Fael stopped too, propping himself up on his forearms. His hazel eyes searched hers as the shadow and darkness receded. Placing his hand between her shoulder blades, he pulled her close for a slow, tender kiss.

“Why would you stop?” he asked, low and r ough.

Misunderstanding him, Ren’wyn began to rock her hips again, but he caught her and pressed her back, withdrawing from her body.

“No,” Fael said, and she winced with embarrassment until he continued, “I felt your magic rising. Why would you sto p it?”

Ren’wyn really looked at him then—at his clear, steady eyes.

She had never unleashed her power with Esrin during sex. What if losing control made her into something else? What if Fael looked at her with fear? The room suddenly felt cold, her naked skin too exp osed.

Fael took her hand, kissing her finger tips.

“I’m not afraid of your darkness,” he murm ured.

He led her tingling fingertips from his lips to his bare chest, tracing a scar along his shoulder without ever breaking their gaze.

“Fear, pain, and darkness are old friends, Ren’wyn,” he said, his voice calm and sure. “You can only bring me light. Share your magic with me, pl ease.”

Grabbing her around the waist, he laid her down on her back, her hair fanning out over the pillows.

Their skin met—the rough hair on his chest and legs tickling her pleasantly.

His lips brushed hers softly, then found the hollow between her collarbones before moving to the sensitive skin of her upper arm.

His unrelenting exploration made her prickle all over a gain.