Page 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

RENALL

T he absence of the full moon is felt immediately when I wake. My skin no longer prickles and demands attention. My libido has subsided; well, as much as it can when I’m living with the most beautiful woman in nature. Last night was like nothing I’d ever imagined. To start out, watching her want to leave, to being able to explain the true purpose of why we are all here, all to culminate in being able to express ourselves physically. It’s been a whirlwind of emotions and sensations.

The need comes again through the bond, Awe-tum is missing from her spot in bed. That just will not do.

Awe-tum is soaking in the large amethyst tub when I slip behind the curtain. Her face peeks up at me with a satisfied smile still lingering on her perfectly full lips. Her golden hair glistens against the moon rocks embedded in the walls, its length stopping just above her hard nipples. Gods, she’s perfect.

She reaches for my hand. I accept, desperate to hear that sexy voice of hers in my mind.

“Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to join me?”

A mischievous grin slowly spreads across my face as she slides to one side, and I slip into the tub in front of her. The water is soundless as my mate climbs into my lap and runs her pink lips along mine. Things have changed between us. I don’t know when it happened, but sometime in the night our kisses morphed from passionate and raw to soft and gentle and teasingly like we knew we had all the time together in the world. I don’t want to get my hopes too high, but it appears as though she has decided to stay. I haven’t asked because I’m afraid of her answer. Her fingers twine with my hair as the kiss turns desperate, deeper.

Her hands are soft and caressing as they trail down my body. We’d touched each other so much last night, I’m sure that I’d be able to draw a map of each of her curves. And yet, my body reacts to her touch just like the first time. Desperate for some friction, she grinds against me, a moan escaping her lips.

I growl in her mouth.

“Will it always be like this?” she breathlessly asks, grinding against me again.

“Gods, I hope so.”

She arches her back just enough for her breasts to breech the water. I lick my lips, leaning forward when she flips her hair to her other shoulder … baring her neck to me.

Surely, she must know what this indicates. She couldn’t possibly want me to bite her, not when she was just contemplating leaving last night. I know last night was amazing, but could it really change her mind that much? “What? Do you–I mean …”

“Claim me, Renall,” she half whispers, half begs.

I’ve dreamt of this moment for weeks. Maybe I’m going to sound desperate asking her this, but I need to know. “Does this mean that you’re not leaving?”

“Not without you.” Her hands are on my face now, guiding me to her neck.

My fists clench against her back. “A–aare you sure?”

“Yes.” She slides closer, hands slipping into the water gripping my cock.

I lick my lips and struggle once again to restrain myself. Gods, I’m pushing it. But I need to know she understands what she’s asking me to do. To claim her, mark her as mine for all to see. “Do you understand what this means?”

“Yes.”

“That you accept the bond between us,” I continue.

“Yes, Renall, claim me.” She pulls closer, baring her neck to me as she runs the head of my cock up her clit, as she moans my name against my lips.

Without control, I kiss her hard on the lips before I kiss down her neck stopping where her heartbeat pulses against my lips.

One hand tangles in my hair while the other is still gripping my manhood. She strokes me.

My teeth penetrate her skin and she gasps, blind pleasure ripping through me at the sound. She tastes like sweet apples on a crisp autumn equinox. By the grinding she’s doing in my lap and the moaning in my ear, Awe-tum feels the pleasure as well. I tighten my grip around her with one hand and slide my free hand between us to help her. We come instantly together in the loudest, strongest orgasm of my life, and probably hers.

We’re still trembling and panting when I find the strength to pull my teeth out and wrap both arms around her.

“Awe-tum, I …” But words fail me. Love seems like not a strong enough word, and I don’t want to scare her off. Claiming her is one thing, confessing feelings might be something else entirely to her.

“I know,” she says, soft with sleep. “Don’t ever leave me.”

We just had the most intense orgasm ever, and she’s worried I’ll leave her. Isn’t she the one who had packed her bags? But I’m more worried what will happen if she stays. Still, I find myself saying, “Never. I would risk a thousand deaths to find you all over again. I will never leave you.”

* * *

The moon is high when a stir awakens me. Awe-tum’s warmth is missing from my chest, and I sit up from bed, looking around for her. She’s standing, facing the wall by the door. Her body swaying slightly on a phantom breeze. A shiver slides down my spine at the sight. Hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention as I approach her slowly.

“Awe-tum,” I try softly calling her.

No response.

“Awe-tum.” This time my hands reach for her, and she turns to face me. Her eyes are glowing golden like I’ve never seen before. I shudder; I’ve never seen magic like this before. It’s not natural. I place my hands on her shoulders to stop her from swaying, as well as to understand her.

“They are calling me. I must go.” Her voice is normal yet tainted with desperation.

“Who is calling you?”

She points to the wall, the moon rocks.

“Awe-tum, those are just rocks illuminated by the power of the moon. They cannot talk.”

“It’s her.” She smiles at me, “She needs me.”

“Who? The Goddess?”

Awe-tum doesn’t respond. She remains standing there staring at the wall as she sways hard to the left. I catch her before she falls and lift her into my arms and walk up the two steps and over to the bed.

“No,” she yawns. “I need to follow her.”

“Hush now, it’s time for bed.” I place her into the bed and sit down beside her. As I go to climb in, she clings to me. Her hands grip my arm tightly. I wrap my arms around her and she looks so tiny against my large muscles, protected in a Renall cocoon.

I watch her. Her body relaxes in my arms, and I continue to watch her. Her breathing evens out, and yet I still watch her. I brush the hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear. Something strange is going on here, and I’m going to have to get to the bottom of it. Awe-tum’s powers started to come alive when she stepped foot in Luna Cavern. She’s reacting to this place, she’s growing exceptionally well for a new Guardian with little to no training. Now she claims the moon rocks are talking to her in her sleep. There’s something at work here, and I will figure out what it is. I must protect her.

Like her ivy, she has wound her way around my heart, and I don’t think I’ll ever get free. I wouldn’t even want to. We are bound together now, and I would endure any fate to ensure her safety. My Guardian. My mate. My soul.