CHAPTER 71

AUREN TURLEY

My stomach flutters in anticipation , skin heating with want.

I carefully stand, and Slade gets to his feet in front of me. With one hand raised, he tugs his shirt off and tosses it away, baring his chest. My eyes feast, drifting over every defined muscle and vein, along the scales that spread from his heart in a bloom of gold and silver.

"You're beautiful," I tell him.

"You're glorious," he replies instantly. "Undress for me, Auren."

I pull down my dress the rest of the way, letting the silky fabric pool at my feet while my ribbons twirl. I step out of it, and his eyes flare, tracking over my form with rapt attention.

"The rest," he orders, throat bobbing.

Two ribbons hook over the edges of my panties and drag them down inch by inch, while my fingers come up to undo the pretty ties at the front of my bodice. Both garments are slipped off and tossed away, and then I'm bare to him beneath the starlight.

"Your turn," I say as I step forward.

He watches me hungrily as I stop in front of him, hands clenching and muscles bunching like he's trying to hold himself back. My eyes flick up to his face before I focus on the waistband of his pants. My fingers flick out the laces at the top, and then my ribbons spring forward and yank down his pants as soon as they're able, making another chuckle roll out of him and scrape tantalizingly across my skin.

"Eager?" he teases.

I don't even attempt to be coy. My body is wound tight, and I can already feel myself getting wet just by standing here looking at him. Feeling the heat of his attention as he devours me with his gaze. "Yes."

His cock is already hard, and when he reaches down and slowly starts to stroke it, my mouth waters. I surge forward, shoving away his grip to replace it with my own.

He hisses beneath his breath as I squeeze my fist around him. The sounds he makes spur me on, and I drag my thumb over the drop of precum, smearing it over the head.

"Have I ever told you that you have a magnificent cock?"

His fangs flash in the night from his grin. "Have I ever told you that you're utter fucking perfection?"

"So are you," I reply before letting go to back up a few steps, my eyes locked on his.

I lower myself to the soft patch of grass that tickles my skin as I lie down. My legs rub against each other, my fingers and ribbons trailing up my naked torso to tease at my nipples. They harden beneath the touch and the air, and Slade watches me like he's starving, his aura thickening as much as his cock.

I crook my finger in invitation, and he comes down over me, our bodies meeting, skin pressing. Hands and ribbons drag over his back and ass, while his mouth comes down to nip at my lips.

His fingers slide down to stroke between my legs and make me gasp. An appreciative groan escapes him. "Already wet. Already wanting."

"I always want you."

He hums and his touch grazes over my clit. He starts stroking me there, circling, pressing with just the right amount of pressure, not letting up. My nerves start to tighten, my body even more heated than before.

The sweet scent of Annwyn mixes with our own heady mix of arousal, feeding into my need. I tremble, not from the cool night air, but from him. From our bond that keeps us coiled and tied, so wrapped up in one another that our desire flows back and forth.

Slade continues to stroke me, making me writhe on the grass, while my body gushes with slick like it's salivating for him. Demanding him.

My pussy tightens as he slides two fingers inside of me, dragging in and out, spreading my wetness. "I don't want to come unless you're inside me," I pant out.

I reach down and grip him again, stroking him up and down, feeling every inch as I watch his face, watch him react to my touch.

His fingers keep playing, keep making me climb higher with need. " Slade …" I beg.

He curses beneath his breath. "Fuck, I love when you say my name like that."

"I want you inside of me. I need it."

He pulls his fingers out and brings them to his mouth, licking off my arousal as he watches me with his glinting gaze. "Delicious," he purrs, making me tighten all over.

His mouth comes down and presses a kiss against my jaw. Teeth dragging over to place another one at my mouth. Our tongues tangle as tightly as our souls are bound, and we kiss with the fervor of our devotion for each other.

"You want me to make love to you?" he says quietly against my ear before his tongue darts out, licking over my pulse. "You want me to take you right here, under the stars?"

" Yes ," I breathe.

He braces his arms over me, legs bracketing mine, and then slowly feeds his cock into me. My back arches, eyes closing as I revel in the feel of him stretching me.

"Goddess…"

"Look at us," he says.

I peel my eyes open, gaze darting down to where he watches his dick slide in and out of me with a languid stroke. I can see the slight sheen of my wetness coating him, can see how my pussy stretches around his thick shaft. The erotic sight makes my stomach tighten and my skin tingle.

His fingers slip between my legs once more, stirring my desire. I gasp up at the night sky, eyes full of starlight as my own orgasm bursts through me.

"Your perfect pussy is gushing around my cock," he praises in a guttural tone that only excites me more. "Trying to milk me until I come deep inside you. Trying to squeeze me so…fucking… tight ." The last words are gritted out as the last waves of my orgasm fade.

He leans over me, feeding my breasts into his waiting mouth, making me whimper as his hot tongue flicks and drags. He feasts, sucking and nipping and licking, while he tilts up my hips and drags in and out of me.

But his slow movements are driving me wild.

I brace my ribbons behind me and sit up, pushing him down so I'm on top. Then I start fucking him, moving over his length as hard and fast as I want.

He groans, his hands sliding down to my ass, fingers digging in as he helps lift me up and down. "Look at you, fucking yourself over me," he growls. "Bouncing on my cock, wanting more."

"Yes, more ," I moan greedily.

I grind and sway, chills scattering over my skin as he strokes me. My ribbons run down his arms and torso, touching him all over.

And still, I say, " More ."

Slade flips us, so fast that I gasp in surprise when I suddenly find myself on my side, knees curled up. He kneels on the ground, hand coming down to lightly smack the side of my ass that's exposed.

With me curled on my side and him kneeling, he grasps my thigh to hold one leg up, and hooks my calf over his shoulder. Then he reaches forward and feeds his fingers through my hair before making a fist. Not painful, but forceful. In delicious control, he lifts my head up to watch as he thrusts his cock back into me.

This position makes my eyes roll to the back of my head with pleasure.

He starts fucking me harder, making my breasts bounce with every punch of his hips. This angle makes moans tear past my lips and gather with the babbles of the creek.

"Slade… fuck …" I whimper.

His grip at my scalp tightens, and he holds me in place as he fucks up into me hard.

The breath gets blown out of my chest.

"Fuck, look at you," he snarls with hunger, his features sharpening with lust. "Legs spread, cunt gaping around my cock…your tits bouncing. You're magnificent."

His hand leaves my hair so he can tap his fingers against my lips. "Open," he orders roughly.

I immediately comply, and he shoves two fingers in. Thrusts them into my mouth in time with his cock. When I suck, he growls and pulls them back out.

Then he seems to snap, giving in to his animalistic lust. He pulls out of me and grabs my hips to swing me onto all fours, facing him toward his jutting cock.

"Tongue out," he commands, dark eyes flashing where he kneels above me.

I tremble with exhilaration from the look in his eye, watching him as I open my mouth and stick out my tongue.

With his hand gripping the back of my neck, he uses the other to grab hold of his dick. He taps his cock on my flattened tongue, slapping the hard length over my taste buds before shoving his length in until the head hits the back of my throat.

I gag, but he drags back out and does it again. And again. And again.

Making me wind tighter and tighter, making my thighs press together as my clit throbs with need.

"Suck."

I swallow his cock, savoring the taste of our joined moisture. He keeps hold of my neck the entire time and never once looks away. Hardly even blinks.

My cheeks hollow as I suck him, eyes watering every time he hits the back of my throat. He starts to fuck my mouth, fingers tensing around my neck as he takes me until I'm whimpering with need.

He pulls me off, and then I'm on my back, knees pressed to my chest, head spinning. Then he drives into me so hard that I let out his name with a rasping shout.

Slade starts fucking me like a fae possessed, hands and mouth everywhere, and I'm lost. Lost in every single frantic kiss and thrust and stroke. He thrusts into me so hard I wouldn't be surprised if my body leaves an imprint on the ground.

My burning desire reaches a fervor of red-hot pleasure, and I beg in wordless moans as I writhe. His fingers circle over my clit hard, unrelenting, making me swell and burn.

"Come with me, Auren," he orders as he presses our chests together. Fucking me with our heartbeats and panting breaths squeezed between us. "We go together, don't we, baby? Me and you."

I thrash around the ground as he pinches my clit. "Always together."

"Come for me, you gorgeous goddess."

He squeezes my ass with one hand, tilting my hips up, and I ignite around him, fire cracking open and pouring out its molten heat. My orgasm floods me, floods him, and I hear him roar out his release into the night, slaking our lusts and drinking in every drop as our pleasure bursts.

Together.

We lie in a tangle until our breaths even out, and then Slade pulls me into the creek, where we wash each other with reverent hands and pebbled skin. We dry off upon the grass, with heated kisses and blazing eyes, and I know, I will never have enough of him.

Slade pulls me to my feet and helps me dress, his every movement tender and adoring.

"Should we go home to bed?" I ask as I take his hand.

But instead of letting me pull him in the direction of the gilded path, he moves his hand to stroke down the base of my ribbons. "Let your wings out, Goldfinch."

I blink in surprise, but I give in to his words. Glancing over my shoulder, I make my ribbons change. They ripple as they fuse together one by one, the end of the layers forming into feathers until two wings bracket my spine. I stretch them out with a smile, letting them fluff in the air.

Slade looks at me, eyes taking in every inch. "You are stunning."

My stomach dips, heart spilling over. Every time this male looks at me like this, every time he purrs out these words of adoration, it makes me melt all over again.

"Close your eyes," he says quietly. I tilt my head in question, and he smirks. "Go on."

With a smile, I let my eyes flutter closed.

I hear him move forward, and then his hand grasps mine. He lifts it to his chest. I feel his scale beneath my palm, feel his steady heartbeat thrumming.

"Our pair bond fixed me," he murmurs as I feel his warm breath skim along my cheek. " You fixed me, Auren."

My heart starts thumping harder. I don't know where he's going with this, but I can feel something stirring. My skin prickles in response.

"Every day the sun rises, it rises for you," he says quietly as he brushes a finger gently down my brow, over my cheek, before settling his hand against my own heart. "Every day I wake, I wake for you."

A tear slides from the corner of my closed lid, and he leans down and kisses it like he's accepting an offering. My fingers tighten over his heart, my touch warming through.

"And every time my heart beats, it beats with yours."

I suck in a breath.

"Open your eyes, baby."

His hands drop as he steps away, and I blink in the dark, refocusing on him as he stands in front of me, watching. Waiting.

My brows lower in question, but then my eyes widen as I watch shadows pull out of his aura, out of his body, swirling beside him.

"What is that?" I whisper raggedly.

He doesn't answer, but I stand in shock as those shadows fuse and form.

My hand flies to my mouth, and my eyes fly to his. "Slade. Your dragon ."

He nods, looking over at the creature with a smile that reaches his eyes. With wonderment that beats through his soul.

The dragon isn't solid, it's made up of that shadowy vapor, and it's much, much smaller than before.

But it's here.

"Look, Auren," Slade says.

I glance down to the wings at its back. Wings that are now edged with a ribbon of gold.

"I don't know how," he says with a shake of his head as he looks back at me. "But somehow…I think you brought my dragon back to life."

A sob chokes out of me as I stumble forward. The creature is only as tall as me, but it's unmistakably the same one. Spikes down its back and above its brows, golden scales upon its chest.

It looks at me with a knowing gleam. With a familiar pull of its mouth.

"Shadows," I whisper as I graze my hand over its vaporous body.

"I don't know if it will ever get bigger or if I can even manifest anything but a splintered form, but it doesn't matter. That hollow part of me where the dragon was missing? It's filled again," Slade says with a smile as he takes my hands in his. "Thank you."

My head shakes. "I don't know that I actually had anything to do with this," I tell him. "Maybe you just needed time to heal."

"I do know," he counters, tapping at his heart. "I can feel it."

My chest warms and I wrap my arms around him. "I'm so happy for you," I breathe against his skin.

He tilts my head up and kisses me, just as the dragon's form drifts away, fading like mist.

"Come on," he says before reaching down to clasp my hand in his. "Let's go home, Goldfinch."

Home .

Hand in hand, we walk in the dark, guided by the gilded path that leads us back to the street. The night whispers, the city sparkles, and inside, my heart sings.

Slade and I look at each other, and the stars look at us.

My wings flutter, my heart soars, and I know.

That after everything. After all of it.

This was what I was always fighting for. This was why I kept going even in the bleakest of times. Even with every stumbling fall.

Because this love?

This is what it feels like…

to fly.