Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Say it.”

We had just arrived in Vexen's main living area, before the cold fireplace. I had barely gotten my bearings. But I'd been expecting this.

Still in his arms, I looked up at Vex and said, “I love you, Vexen. I'm in love with you.”

His handsome face broke into a grin, full lips thinning slightly as they spread, and then the braids at his temples were sliding forward with the motion of his head. Those soft lips met mine.

There was more to Vexen's kiss now. More passion, more possession, more intensity, and a touch of triumph. His fingertips dug into my back, kneading my muscles as he pulled me closer. I was impatient, but I also wanted to take it slow. We had all the time in the world. All right, we didn't, but it felt like that when Vexen's tongue teased mine. I wanted to kiss him all night.

But I wanted other things as well.

Vex broke our kiss to demand, “Say it again.”

“Excuse me?” I pulled back. “You haven't said it to me yet.”

A slow blink. “Oh.”

“Oh?” I grimaced at him. “Not the response I was looking for.”

He grinned. “You know I love you. I have for a very long time.”

I melted, but wasn't about to let him see it. “I still want to hear you say it. Properly.” I crossed my arms.

Vex chuckled, then dashed forward so fast that I couldn't track him. One second, I was standing. The next, I was over his shoulder, being carried up the stairs like a war prize. I couldn't protest, not with every step knocking his shoulder into my belly and sending the breath out of me. And those steps came quickly since he was taking the stairs at a run.

When Vex finally stopped, I was gasping and possibly bruised. He set me down, and I fully intended to chide him for the rough treatment. But he didn't give me the chance. He started to strip, and I once more lost the ability to speak.

I didn't even move as Vexen's body was rapidly revealed. He wasn't trying to tease me, just get naked as quickly as possible. Still, the way he yanked off his clothes and tossed them aside made my mouth go dry. All right, it was that and his gorgeous body—the physique somewhere between Rath's leanness and Xae's bulk. And his fascinating tattoos emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and the masculine curve of his pectorals. I loved the way the symbols were joined by designs that trailed across his chest, coiling and unfurling as they dipped down between his pecs. I was left rubbing my tongue against the roof of my mouth, trying to inspire salivation.

And then Vex stepped out of his undershorts.

Salivation problem solved.

I swallowed and realized that I had watched him the entire time without doing anything. Just standing there when I could have been stripping too. But this seemed to please Vex. He prowled forward, his long, semi-hard cock bouncing against his thigh, and grinned as he reached for my belt. I let my stare wander over his golden-brown, art-covered chest with its dusky pink nipples, but I couldn't reach for them. Because Vex already had my belt off and was pulling up my tunic. I had to lift my arms to accommodate him.

That gorgeous man was hidden from me for an excruciating moment while the tunic passed over my face, and then it was tossed aside, and Vex was there again. Glorious. Lean. Muscular. Mine. He was mine at last. I was going to have him. And I wasn't going to think about anyone else while I did. Not even—nope! This was our time. As much as I loved the others, this belonged to Vex and me alone.

Vex had the rest of my clothing off as quickly as he had removed his, but before I could reach for him, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the huge bed. Simple, sturdy, and all Vex, the bed was covered in a cotton quilt that felt like home. No, wait. His big body lowering over mine—that felt like home. I sighed and wound my calves around his thighs.

“I love you,” Vex said.

I burst out laughing.

He frowned. “Why is that funny?”

“Because I was so insistent on hearing it, and then I forgot about it completely. You're right, I know you love me. But it sounds good on your lips.”

Vex growled and bent his head to nibble at my neck. “Now, you.”

I didn't pretend to misunderstand him. “I love you.”

I was rewarded with a happy rumble.

My hands roamed the curves and dips of Vexen's magnificent back, smoothing and gripping my way blissfully over the new terrain. Between us, my cock was pulsing, it was so hard, and his burrowed down beneath my balls, seeking entrance. I adjusted my hips to help him find his way.

“Suck me first,” Vex whispered in my ear. “Get me wet enough to fuck you.”

The words had me shuddering. They were naughty but simple, different from Xae's dirty talk or Taroc's daddy-demands. The words were technically a command, but Vexen's tone made them into a request.

I unwrapped my legs, braced my feet on the mattress, and pushed Vex over. He went with a surprised yip, landing hard on his back with me atop him. Grinning at him, I kissed my way across his sternum, then down to one pert nipple. As I sucked on him, I ground our cocks together. He was wriggling and moaning in a few seconds.

Then I lifted my head to ask, “Is that wet enough?”

Vex snorted a laugh. “You tease.”

“Not at all. I'll get there.” I blew over his wet nipple, making him shudder.

“Take your time,” he whispered, his stare gone soft.

I kissed Vex along the underside of his pectoral, over to the other nipple, then took my time, just as he advised. I rolled it in my mouth, flicked it with my tongue, then sucked hard. Vex was growling by the time I moved down his belly. Every bite I took, massaging his muscles between my teeth, intensified those growls. His big hands went into my hair, spreading over my scalp. Then he pushed me down, just a little to let me know he was getting impatient.

Chuckling, I sat up. “You said to take my time.”

“And you have,” Vexen's voice went primal—deeper and darker than usual. “Now it's time to speed up.”

“What was it that you wanted again?”

He growled at me and snapped his teeth together, baring his fangs.

I laughed harder, but also lowered myself between his legs. I didn't have far to go. His cock was reaching for me, stretching long and proud across the distance. I'd never be able to get all of it inside my mouth. I'd have to take him down my throat or in hand. I chose to wrap my hand around his base.

“Oh, fuck!” Vexen's hips jerked up into my grip. “Ember!”

I gaped at him, all humor gone. Vex looked feral. Desperate.

“All right, baby,” I said as I went down on him.

I didn't bother with teasing, not with him in that state. I just gobbled as much of him as I could. A happy rumbling came from Vex as his taste delighted my tongue. I inhaled deeply, his scent enhancing that male flavor. And then I was bobbing over him, my lips tight around his hard flesh and my fist gripping his base like a sword. The feel of his silky skin over my tongue was the pinnacle of lust, taking my treat into divine territory. I groaned and relaxed my throat, taking him deeper.

“Enough,” Vex nearly shouted. “I need to be inside you now, Ember!”

I sat up. “How do you—”

He was already moving, driving me onto my back and spreading my legs, my head at the foot of the bed. Vex had the maneuver down perfect, moving gracefully into position and pressing against my entrance without having to angle himself. But he was so long that when he pushed forward, his shaft shifted aside. Vex snarled and let go of my left leg to reach between us and steady his cock.

It prodded. Gently. All that savagery contained out of concern for me. It made me love him even more. And with that burst of heart energy, the binding magic gathered strength. I felt my wraith collecting it to take upward.

“Vex,” I said.

“Easy, love,” Vex said. “I've almost got you loosened enough.”

“Vex,” I moaned. “Hurry.”

The magic shimmered beneath my skin, and I writhed in lust and love, drowning in it. Vex finally noticed that things were not as they would normally be. Something was a bit unusual. He paused to gape at me.

“Vex!” I shouted.

Vexen's hips shot forward, and we groaned together as he penetrated me at last. Ecstasy took over, winding its way up my spine only to spin around my wraith and dive back to my cock. I jerked and shuddered as Vex worked deeper and deeper, going further than anyone before him. Almost too far. I was worried for a second, but then his hips hit my thighs and his pelvis pressed into my balls. He was as deep as he could go. Thank the Goddess. Any further and I would have had to stop him.

“Ember,” Vex sighed. “You feel amazing.” He pumped slowly in and out.

“Vex!” I couldn't hold back anymore.

My wraith, white and blinding as a ray of sunshine, barreled out of me and into Vex. He jerked back with the hit, but then drove forward, his body instinctively thrusting, continuing the joining. The claiming. But who claimed who?

A piece of my soul. That's what my wraith was. And it was inside Vexen. I could feel him. His intricacies. The poetry and the violence. My warrior bard. He was a complicated work of art. Then he bent forward, those pale green eyes full of love and shining with magic. His braids swayed with him, the fall of his dark hair framing his face, but his glowing eyes caught the highlights in those strands and turned them gold. He shone.

“I love you, Ember,” Vex said. “And I see all of you now. I love you even more than before. You are beautiful.”

“So are you.” I pushed back his hair, then eased him down for a kiss.

Vex slowed his pumping to kiss me, my soul still churning inside him. Finding its home. It was his now. A piece of me to keep. My hand slid down the side of his throat and over his chest. That's when I realized that my wraith wasn't trying to settle, it was dancing. My soul was ecstatic to be inside Vex. It rose under my palm to brush joyfully against me. We were home at last.

Vex arched forward, sliding out of our kiss as his head went back. His powerful jaw opened on a roar, and then he was thrusting and thrusting, and I had to brace myself to take him. I grabbed the back of my knees and pulled, giving him the freedom to go wild. With an approving snarl, Vex bent over me and did just that.

I stared up into his savage face, the skin pulled tight and sharp fangs bared, and thought there was nothing as beautiful as Vex in that moment. Hair swinging, eyes flashing, and cock surging, he was more than a warrior or a poet. More than a man. He was a tiger. A force of nature. All the elements combined to create a miracle. Seeing him like that was all I needed. I shuddered and let myself go, squeezing around him as I reached my bliss.

That must have been exactly what Vex needed. Because as he watched me climax, he shuddered. Somehow, he managed to hold back until I finished, and then he was locked up against me, emptying into me, his body bowed into magnificence and glowing with our bond.

Coming down from that was a shuddering ride for both of us, but Vex managed to roll to one side of me and then pull me in against him. I didn't have the strength to do more than sprawl there, my cheek pillowed on his chest.

“That was . . .” Vex whispered.

“Amazing,” I finished.

“Yes. More than that.” He cocked his head to look at me.

I felt the movement, so I gathered the strength to turn my head and meet his bright stare. “We bonded. We did it. Told you we would.”

Vex chuckled. “I never doubted it for a second.” He paused, then said, “I felt what you felt.”

Uh-oh. I hadn't thought to warn him about that.

I lifted my brows. “Did it feel good?”

“Very much so.” He frowned. “I didn't know it felt like that to be taken. I, uh, think I might . . . would you . . .”

I sat up, my lethargy vanishing in a rush of adrenaline powered by lust. “Are you trying to ask me to fuck you?”

“I think I might enjoy it. Would you?”

“Uh, fuck yes, I would enjoy it. The only man who lets me . . .” I trailed off. “Never mind. I would like to try it if you would. We can go slowly.”

“Ara?” Vex asked gently. “The only man who let's you take him is Ara, right?”

“Yes,” I admitted.

“I'm surprised. I assume the rest of them can feel what I did.”

“Yes, but that doesn't mean they want to have it done to them.” I frowned. “Although, I wonder about Kel sometimes.”

“You and me both.”

I snickered. “There's something about him that screams 'bottom.'”

“Oh, yes.”

“Which reminds me—when we get together, he may offer to slide his tail into you while you fuck me. Just be prepared.”

“Really?” Vex looked as if he were considering it. “We'll see how much I like it with you first.”

“Xae enjoys it.”

“Again, I'm wondering why more of your lovers haven't turned into switches.” He frowned. “That sounded wrong.”

I stared at him, my hand trailing over his stomach, and smiled. “You know, I can feel you now too. You have a piece of my soul inside you.”

“Oh, yes. I know,” he rumbled and snatched my hand to nibble at my fingertips. “I feel you too. It's comforting.”

I bit my lip. “I'm glad we needed you.”

“What?”

“I know. That's awful to admit. And I feel like an asshole for saying it. I want Ara free and safe, but—”

“I understand, Ember,” he cut me off. “It's all right. You're inside me now, remember? I feel your truth. There is no misunderstanding between us.”

“Good. Because you need to know how happy I am that we needed you. If I had captured Death, there would be no reason to bond with you, and we wouldn't be here right now.”

“I know. And I'm selfishly glad you needed me too.” He pulled me down into a kiss.

Several minutes later, the kiss got hotter, and I started grinding against him.

Vex pulled back to look at me. “Are you ready to fuck me now?”

“Yes.” I grinned. “Yes, I am.”