39. Use Me

CHAPTER 39

Use Me

B rynleigh stretched her arms over her head, reveling in the warmth and comfort radiating from the fae resting beside her. Sunlight filtered through the window, casting beautiful yellow light onto the bed.

A smile crept across her face as she stared at the sun.

Three weeks had passed since the failed Reunion, yet she still couldn't believe it was over. Not really. She still had nightmares about Jelisette staking her, but every time she woke up, she saw Ryker and knew it had been a dream.

She glanced to her right, where Ryker slept on his back. The sheet had slipped to his waist, and they were both naked from their late-night activities. Marlowe's quiet snores came from the living room, where he slept on the couch, but Brynleigh couldn't pull her gaze from her fae.

Gods above, Ryker was beautiful. His muscles were defined, his chest was sculpted, and even in his sleep, his mouth was perfectly kissable.

Her fangs ached as she admired him. Every inch of him was delectable.

Ryker's lips twitched. His eyes were still closed as he drawled, "See something you like, little vampire? "

Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she refused to be embarrassed about admiring him. He was hers as much as she was his.

"I do." She leaned over and kissed him. "Good morning."

He rolled them over, pressing her back into the mattress as his eyes blinked open. "Morning, sweetheart. How'd you sleep?"

"Fine."

He studied her. "How many nightmares?"

He knew. He always knew.

"Only one."

They were getting better. Slowly. One day, she hoped to have none at all.

Ryker kissed the corner of her mouth.

"Good, I'm glad." His hand trailed over her hip. "Are you ready for today?"

She bit her lip. "This is the last one, right?"

He nodded.

"Then yes, I'm ready."

Two and a half weeks ago, Chancellor Rose convened an emergency meeting of the entire governing body of the Republic of Balance. Since then, Brynleigh and Ryker had been forced to attend three meetings. They each testified on record about the events leading up to the Reunion and provided their accounts of the night itself.

"You'll be amazing." Ryker lifted Brynleigh's left wrist and kissed the spot where the blue bracelet had been. "I have a surprise for you after."

She smiled and studied him, searching for a clue. "What is it?"

"You'll have to be patient." He booped her nose. "That's the point of a surprise."

Of course, she knew what surprises were, but it wasn't like Ryker to keep things from her.

"You really won't tell me?"

"No. There's nothing you can do to make me spill. It's a secret."

Brynleigh highly doubted that there was nothing she could do. She could think of several things that would make even the most battle-hardened fae talk. But she would be patient.

Honestly, she was just ready for all this to be over.

She wanted to live a quiet life with her captain, away from the spotlight of the Choosing and everything that had happened to them since then.

Brynleigh said as much to Ryker, and he smiled.

"A quiet life? Is that all you want?"

She waggled her brows. "Well, it's not the only thing I want."

"Oh? I endeavor to please your every whim." He kissed her slowly as if they had all the time in the world. "What else do you want? Tell me, and I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen."

He looked at her with so much love and devotion that, for a moment, she thought her heart would combust. She'd never known it was possible to be so loved and cared for. And yet, here they were. They'd picked up the pieces of their relationship and emerged stronger than ever on the other side.

Brynleigh arched her back, delighting in Ryker's ragged exhale as her nipples brushed his chest. Her hand slipped between them, and she trailed her fingers over his already-hard cock.

"This," she breathed. "You."

His eyes darkened above her. "You have me, love. I am yours, and you can do with me as you wish. Say the word, and I'll do it. I would do anything for you."

He'd proven that to her time and time again.

Her fangs ached, and before she could think twice about her request—or take it back—she breathed, "I want to bite you."

This was the one thing they'd yet to share, the one act reserved for only the most intimate of relationships. She'd never bitten anyone before. The fridge was stocked with blood, but it wasn't his .

A rumble rolled through Ryker's chest, and his length hardened against her stomach.

It pleased her to no end that the thought excited him as well.

"By the Obsidian Sands, yes." He practically growled the words as he arched his head, exposing the long column of his neck to her. "Of course, you can bite me. Go ahead, little vampire. I'm yours. Use me."

So, she did.

She laced one hand behind him, pulling him to her. Threading the other through his hair, she kissed his neck.

He groaned, and the sound was all the encouragement she needed.

Brynleigh drew back her lips, and without a moment's hesitation, she sank her fangs into his throat.

At the first taste of Ryker's blood, Brynleigh knew she was done for.

How had she lived without this before? He tasted like a storm. Crisp and dark and powerful. With each sip, she drowned in his essence. There was a depth to his blood that she'd never experienced.

This was heaven. It was little wonder that vampires of old had spent their lives defending their right to Sources and drinking from the vein. This was addicting.

Brynleigh had never done anything so enjoyable in her entire life.

And then Ryker moaned . The sound was pure pleasure as it slipped from his lips.

"I want you," he murmured.

In response, she parted her legs.

He sank into her heat with ease as she drank from him. She took him to the hilt, and both of them stilled. Pleasure, unlike anything she had ever known, ran through her. It was almost too much, drinking from him while he was sheathed within her.

Had she thought she was in heaven before?

She'd been mistaken.

Brynleigh had never known true pleasure. Not until that very moment. Nothing in the world could top this; nothing could make her feel better than she did right now .

A strangled groan came from above her. "Gods, you feel so fucking good."

Good was an understatement. This was everything .

Brynleigh couldn't respond, not with her fangs in his neck, but she lifted her hips in encouragement for him to move.

He did exactly that.

Ryker had already proven himself to be a skilled lover, not that she'd ever doubted his abilities, but this…

He didn't just make love to her.

He ravished her.

With his head thrown back and hands digging into the mattress on either side of her, he gave her everything he had. His cock slammed into her with each thrust.

More, more, more, until it was almost too much.

She pulled her fangs from his throat, licking the small trail of blood, as her head fell back on a gasp.

"Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods." She could barely breathe, barely think, barely do anything except feel.

His mouth fused to hers. This embrace was a searing claim as his tongue parted her lips. He didn't just kiss her.

He devoured her.

He matched each gasp, each moan, each nearly incoherent plea that slipped from her lips with one of his own.

Their sweat-slicked bodies moved as one as they drove each other nearer to the edge of oblivion.

"Ry, I'm so close," she moaned.

"Look at me," he ordered.

She did, her body tightening as the pleasure she so desperately sought remained just out of reach.

His lips descended on hers again, and he held her gaze as his hand slipped between them. His thumb found her clit, and in a gruff voice, he ordered, "Come for me, love."

That was all she needed.

Stars burst behind her eyes as her climax took her over like a storm. Wave after wave of pleasure ran through her, and then he came with a roar that she was sure could be heard through the entire building.

When they finally broke apart, Ryker brushed his thumb down Brynleigh's cheek.

"I love you," he whispered. "I will never let anything break us again."

Sealing his promise with a kiss, Ryker showed her exactly how much he loved her. Again. And again. And again.