Page 40 of The King has Fallen (The Kingdom of the Krow #1)

~ MELEK ~

The beast within me was roaring to possess her again, but I knew she’d be sore. And the humanity that still held the reins in my heart ached for her. I had to be careful.

So, taking a firm grip on my leash, I kissed her deeply, delving the sweet depths of her mouth with my tongue and growling my need for her. She gave a small, startled laugh when I first kissed her, but within moments she was humming her own need and wrapping her free arm around my neck.

I picked her up, urging her to wrap her legs around my waist while I pulled her hand down and used my bound arm to carry her back to the bed without breaking the kiss.

It was strange to have her sit so high, her breasts pressing against my chest, her mouth level with mine, and her slim arm locked behind my neck.

Strange, and wonderful.

Unable to resist, I slid my free hand up her side, then between us to cup her breast that didn't quite fill my hand, but the sensation of its plump warmth, combined with the way her nipple went rivet-hard under my touch, sent a jolt of desire straight from my heart to my cock.

“Shit, Yilan. Do you hurt?” I rasped against her lips, then kissed her again before she could answer.

“I want you, Melek,” she breathed back.

I caught that she hadn't actually answered me. But I could feel her body coming alive, and the bond was thrumming between us.

Who was I to deny my mate’s need?

When I reached the side of the bed, I tipped her back onto it and she gave a little squeak, but she smiled and her cheeks flushed again. God, I loved the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at me—and how she reached for my chest.

But I needed to touch her, to explore her. Our first mating had been so desperate, so frantic… This would be slower… easier on her.

With her laying there on her back, me standing between her knees, I reached for the tie that bound us. “I may need your help with the knots—”

Her other hand slapped at mine where I’d started pinching at the knot and I stopped immediately, looking at her—surprised to see a flash of fear and insecurity in her big eyes.

“Can we leave it for now?” she asked carefully, taking my free hand in hers and drawing it away. “It’s a… tradition. The bond grows stronger the longer we’re bound…” she trailed off, her cheeks heating adorably.

I couldn’t help but smile down at her, twining the fingers of our other hand and leaning over her.

“Of course,” I murmured, drawing the tip of my nose against hers. “Hell—if it will help, tie my other hand as well. I’ll use my body as a shield and go to the grave if it draws you closer,” I murmured.

Her eyes widened. “Truly, Melek?”

I blinked. “Yes. I… Yilan, you’re my mate. My soul is tied to yours. Do you truly believe I would resent my body being tied to you also? I don’t even want to speak words that would take me from your side. I cannot imagine that moment… but I know it must be. The only thing that would hurt me more than leaving you would be watching you harmed.”

Her forehead crinkled and she reached for my face, cupping my jaw, letting her nails catch on the stubble on my cheek.

“I love you, too,” she breathed, her eyes swimming and dancing. My heart sang and my body hummed with a rush of need for her. But she wasn’t done. Eyes shining, she gave me the most beautiful smile . “My mate… my God, Melek, this is—”

“I know,” I said hoarsely, then dove for her mouth, twining the fingers of our bound hands again, kissing her long and slow, pinning that hand to the bed over her shoulder and leaning into her, letting her feel how much I wanted her.

She smiled into the kiss, which only made my heart spin faster. I needed her desperately—but I was terrified of hurting her, taking her again so soon. I had to be certain she was ready for me.

And so, with a warm rumble in my chest, I kissed my way down her jaw, her throat, her neck. Stroking her breast with my free hand and teasing her nipple with my thumb, I licked her collarbone then continued, pulling her bound hand down with me, until I was kneeling next to the bed and dipping my tongue into her navel, then down.

“Show me, Yilan,” I rasped against the inside of her thigh, pulling her hand down. I heard her breath catch and she lifted her head. I kissed her inner thigh one more time, then raised my head to meet her gaze, and took her hand, drawing it down to where her flesh was heated and swollen. “Show me what makes you burn.”

Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. “Melek, I can’t—”

“Oh, yes you can,” I rumbled, smiling and taking her fingers, using my own to press hers to her flesh, rubbing gently, smiling when she blinked and her head dropped back down onto the bed.

“Show me,” I whispered. “Please?”

Her chest rose and fell once, then she began to touch herself. Tentatively at first, barely teasing her own flesh. But watching her arousal increase, her body flush, made my desire surge. My breathing got harsher and it seemed to embolden her and she began to stroke in earnest, inserting her finger to wet it, then sliding up and down against that bundle of nerves.

I was gripping her hip with my free hand and felt when her stomach sucked in and her legs began to tremble.

“That’s it… that’s it,” I rasped. “God, you’re so beautiful, Yilan.”

“Melek,” she whispered. Her head fell to the side and her back arched as I watched, riveted, as she teased and pleasured her own flesh.

But at each time her body seemed to respond and her pleasure grew, she’d hesitate.

“Don’t,” I ordered her, holding her hand to herself when she started to draw it away. “I want to watch you.”

“But Melek… I want you,” she whimpered. She lifted her head, both our hands on her, but she’d stopped moving. Our eyes locked and there was a silent plea in hers.

“Oh, you will have me, beautiful,” I growled, then drew her hand away and smiled.

Grateful that the binding allowed me to turn my hand in opposition to hers, I left her hand resting in the crease between her thigh and stomach, while I gripped her hip. With the other hand, I drew fingers down the inside of her thigh, raising goosebumps there—and making my own breath come faster—then nudged her knees wider, whispering to her to relax.

“Just tell me if it’s wrong. Tell me how to make it right,” I croaked, then grabbed her other hip as well and pinned her to the bed.

The world disappeared when I tasted her. She gasped and her hips tried to buck, but I held her down, chuckling when she blew out the breath and her free hand grabbed for my hair.

She was already slick, already heated, already ready.

Following the example she’d given me, I started at her core and licked up to that nub, teasing it with the tip of my tongue, then holding pressure as I slid back down, dipped inside her, and traced the line back up.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

I began teasing her more and longer, flicking that bundle of nerves several times before dropping away, until she was quivering under me, gasping my name, her bound hand clamped tightly to her own thigh, her free hand fisted in my hair .

“Melek… Melek, please!”

I’d intended to bring her to climax first, then take her. But I looked up when she called my name and seeing her laid out like that, her skin flushing, her body trembling, eyelids fluttering, feeling her pull at my hair to draw me up her body, I couldn’t resist.

I released her hip on my free side and took myself in hand as I reared up over her, positioning myself. Then, ready to take her, I clamped that hand to the back of her neck.

“Look at me, Yilan,” I harshed.

Her eyes flew open and locked on mine, and in that moment I pushed into her, firmly, but carefully, filling her. It was the most thrilling experience of my life to watch her eyes first widen as I took her, stretching her poor body, then roll back in her head when I groaned and dug fingers into her hip to hold her so I slid to the hilt.

Her back arched and she gave a wordless cry, reaching for me, that hand slapping to my waist and nails digging into my side as she pulled me in—and the sight of her, gasping for me, almost tipped me over the edge immediately.

Gritting my teeth, I drew out as slowly as I’d taken her, until I left her body completely.

Her eyes opened and she raised her head again. “Melek— oh!”

Letting myself tip forward, I planted my free hand on the bed, using my wrist as a brace against her shoulder, then thrust into her again.

My breath hissed through my teeth as I fought for control. She was already pulsing, already reaching her peak.

“God, you’re so beautiful,” I croaked, pulling our bound hands up, lacing our fingers and pinning that hand over her head on the bed so I was braced on both arms, looming over her, staring down at her, watching her breasts bounce with every thrust as she climbed closer and closer to her climax, her body trembling, her breath catching at every peak.

“Melek… Melek…”

I felt her orgasm hit and groaned, fighting a battle not to come myself as she clamped down on me and her back bowed, her head throwing back and eyes going wide, unseeing, yet locking on mine. For several seconds I thrust into her, drawing as much pleasure from her body as I could without losing my own grip—and she remained arched, keening when her breath released and silent when it caught again on the next wave.

Then a shudder rocked through her and her legs twitched. Her mouth dropped open and she began to pant.

I dove for her, delving her mouth with my tongue in a parody of my body.

She whimpered and kissed me back, her free hand plunging into my hair, taking a grip on my warrior’s length and holding me into the kiss as our bodies met and parted again and again.

She was breathless, sweating, small cries breaking in her throat—but still shaking. Still needy for me, and God help me, she was the most stunning sight I’d ever seen.

With a growl, I bent myself in half, still pressing into her as I opened my mouth on her nipple and sucked. Hard.

She jolted, my name tearing out of her throat, half in plea, half in admonition—but her back arched and she pressed herself into my mouth.

And when I lifted my eyes, still sucking on her, I caught her lifting her head to watch me, her eyes wide and glazed with need—and my leash snapped.

With another roar that would announce to anyone listening what was happening, I closed teeth on her breast as gently as I could and began to pound, as short and sharp as I could so I wouldn’t injure her, but reaching the limits within her, my growing pleasure intensifying with every cry she made.

I tore away from her breast, my teeth grazing her nipple as I let go and she arched again, her body bowing and clenching on me. One more thrust and my orgasm detonated at the base of my spine. I arched my back, gripping her shoulder and pulling her onto me, watching her reddened breasts bounce and jiggle with the force of my thrusts, praying I wasn’t hurting her—though I was gratified to see she remained gripped in her own throes in that moment.

And then, with a shuddering groan, I collapsed over her, pulling her bound arm up so I could brace elbows and curl my hands over her head and hold her there as the final waves of pleasure twitched through my trembling body.

Both of us panted heavily, our twin breaths harsh in the otherwise silent tent, our bodies still joined.

When I could breathe again, I pushed up enough to meet her eyes and look down on her.

She was smiling.

“God you’re beautiful,” I whispered, then dropped to kiss her sweet mouth again.

“You’re pretty fucking incredible to look at, too,” she chuckled breathlessly.

I stroked her hair back and smiled down at her, rolling my hips just slightly to watch her blush.

“That was…” she bit her lip, her eyes sparkling, meeting mine, then turning away as her cheeks flushed.

“Yilan,” I breathed, taking her chin in my hand and turning her head, forcing her to meet and hold my gaze. “That was incredible.”

She nodded, joy painted on her face. “Have you… I mean, with anyone else was it ever—”

“Never,” I said hoarsely, holding her eyes so she’d see my certainty. “Not even close.”

Her smile broadened and she leaned up, wanting to kiss me, but unable to reach.

I met her halfway with a soft, open-mouthed kiss, growling approval at the warmth of her plump lips and teasing slide of her tongue.

When we broke apart I combed her hair back from her face and smiled. “You know, if that’s what it’s like when we’re newly bound… the offer to tie my other hand stands…”

She spluttered a laugh and threw her free arm around my neck, pulling me down into another kiss—soft, sweet, but her breath still rushing.

For a moment there was no war. There was no King. There was nothing but my mate and me, both of us high on the joy of each other and trembling in the wake of the ultimate pleasure. For those precious moments, I was able to forget everything else that we faced, and just thank God in heaven for whatever I had done to deserve… this. Her.

And pray desperately that I didn’t fuck it up.