29. Jytos

29

JYTOS

I stand by the rocky outcrop near the cave the following day. My tentacles twitch as I survey the familiar landscape one last time. The jagged peaks and icy winds have been my only companions for so long. Now, everything's changed.

"Jytos?" Bella's soft voice pulls me from my thoughts. "Is everything secure?"

I turn to face her, reveling in the sight of her warm brown eyes and delicate features. "Yeah, we're good to go. Just... saying goodbye, I guess."

She nods, a deep understanding in her gaze. "It's been your home for so long."

"Home," I echo, tasting the word. "Nah, it was just a place to exist. You've shown me what home really means."

Her cheeks flush, and I can't help but grin. Even after all this time, I still affect her. Good.

"Come on," I say, holding out my hand. "Let's have one last meal here before we hit the road."

We retreat into the depths of the cave, where I've prepared a spread of our favorite foods. Roasted jangore meat, sweet berries, and even some of that weird bread stuff Bella taught me to make.

As we eat, I can't help but think about how far we've come. From terrified sacrifice to fierce partner, Bella's transformed before my eyes. And me? The solitary beast is gone, replaced by someone who actually gives a damn about another living creature.

"What're you thinking about?" she asks, licking berry juice from her fingers. The sight sends a jolt of heat through me.

"How I never thought I'd be capable of this," I admit gruffly. "Love. Especially not with a human."

Her eyes dance playfully as she jokes, "You really love me?"

I scoff. "Course I do. Thought that was obvious by now."

She laughs, the sound echoing off the cave walls. "It is. I just like hearing you say it."

"Brat," I growl, but there's no heat behind it. I reach over and cup her face in my hand. My thumb traces her lower lip, and I watch as her pupils dilate.

"Jytos," she breathes, and that's all the invitation I need.

I surge forward, claiming her mouth in a searing kiss. My tentacles wrap around her waist, pulling her closer as I deepen the kiss. She tastes like berries and possibility, and I can't get enough.

When we finally break apart, we're both panting. Her lips are swollen, her hair mussed, and she's never looked more beautiful.

"Fuck," I growl, resting my forehead against hers. "You drive me crazy, you know that?"

She grins, and teases, "Good. That's the plan."

I laugh, a deep rumble reverberating through me. "Well, mission accomplished. Now come here. I want to make sure you remember this cave fondly."

The cavern's chill does nothing to cool the fire that burns within me. I take Bella in my arms, her body a perfect fit against mine. Her wide eyes, filled with a mix of trepidation and desire, send a surge of primal hunger coursing through my veins. I'm an alpha, a predator, and she is my willing prey.

"You're mine," I growl.

She nods, her breath hitching as I lay her down on the soft furs that line the cave floor. My tentacles move with a mind of their own, tracing the curves of her body, memorizing every dip and swell. I revel in the way her skin pebbles beneath my touch, the way her breath quickens with anticipation.

I lean down, capturing her lips in a possessive kiss. My tongue delves into her mouth, tasting her, claiming her. She moans into the kiss, her hands fisting in my hair, pulling me closer. I grin against her lips, loving her uninhibited response, as I pull off her gown.

My mouth soon trails down her neck, nipping at the sensitive skin, eliciting a sharp gasp from her. I continue my descent, my tongue tracing a path down her chest, between the valley of her breasts, until I reach the apex of her thighs.

Her body trembles as I hook my arms under her legs, spreading her wide for my exploration. Her scent, rich and heady, fills my senses, driving my need even higher. I look up at her, holding her gaze as I lower my mouth to her core.

Her hips buck as my tongue flicks against her, her cries of pleasure echoing off the cave walls. I'm relentless, lapping at her, tasting her arousal, feeling her body tighten beneath me. I can feel her climax building, her muscles coiling like a spring.

"Jytos, please," she pleads, her voice a desperate whisper.

I don't let up, not until her body shatters, her orgasm crashing over her in waves. Her cries of release are music to my ears, a symphony of desire and satisfaction that only I can elicit from her.

As her body relaxes, I move back up, positioning myself at her entrance. I pause, looking into her eyes, giving her a moment to adjust to my size. She nods, her trust in me absolute, and it's that trust that undoes me.

With a single thrust, I'm inside her, filling her completely. Her gasp of surprise quickly turns into a moan of pleasure as I begin to move, each stroke fueling the fire that burns between us.

Her hands roam over my body, exploring with a courage that makes my chest swell with pride. Her fingers trace the lines of my muscles, the ridges of my skin, the curves of my tentacles. She's not afraid of me, not of my appearance or my strength. She sees me, the real me, and she wants me just the same.

I feel her nails dig into my back as I increase my pace, driving into her with an urgency that borders on desperation. I need her to know that she's mine, that I will protect her and cherish her, that I will destroy anything that dares to come between us.

"You feel so good," I grunt, my voice barely recognizable. "So fucking perfect."

She responds with a moan, her body meeting mine thrust for thrust. We're a tangle of limbs, a mess of sweat and passion, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

As I feel the familiar tightening in my lower belly, I reach between us, finding her sensitive nub with my fingers. I stroke her in time with my thrusts, and it's not long before she's clenching around me, her orgasm triggering my own.

I roar my release, the sound bouncing off the cave walls as I spill myself inside her. The world around us fades into nothingness, leaving only the two of us, connected in the most intimate way possible.

When the haze of our passion clears, I roll onto my back, taking her with me. She lays her head on my chest, her fingers drawing lazy patterns on my skin. I can feel the steady thrum of her heartbeat against mine, a rhythm that speaks of unity and understanding.

"I love you, Jytos," she murmurs, her voice filled with a contentment that I never thought I'd hear from a human.

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer. "I love you too, Bella. More than you'll ever know."

I hold her close, her warmth seeping into my skin. The cave's chill doesn't touch us here, wrapped in each other's arms. My tentacles coil lazily around her body, protective and possessive. Fuck, I never thought I'd have this.

"Bella," I murmur, my voice low. "There's something I want to show you."

She lifts her head to meet my gaze, those big brown eyes curious. "What is it?" she asks softly.

I sit up, bringing her with me. I tell her in my most gentle voice, "It's an old Umbrath ritual. Kind of like... a binding ceremony."

Her eyebrows shoot up, and she asks, "You mean like a wedding?"

I snort and say, "Sort of. Less fancy shit, more meaning."

She nods, a smile playing on her lips, and says, "Show me."

I stand, pulling her up with me. My hands cup her face, thumbs tracing her cheekbones. I state matter-of-factly, "It's simple. We share blood, then vows."

Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn't flinch. That's my girl. "Okay," she says, voice steady.

I use one sharp nail to make a small cut on my palm, then do the same to hers. We press our hands together, blood mingling.

"I, Jytos, last of the Umbrath, claim you as my mate," I growl, the words rising from deep within me. "Your life is mine to protect, your heart mine to cherish. I swear to stand by your side, to fight for you, to love you until my last breath."

Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears. She takes a shaky breath before speaking. "I, Bella, accept you as my mate. My life is yours, my heart is yours. I swear to stand with you, to support you, to love you until my last breath."

Something shifts in the air around us, a primal energy humming between our joined hands. I pull her close, crushing my lips to hers in a fierce kiss. She responds with equal passion.

When we break apart, I rest my forehead against hers. "You're mine now, body and soul," I growl. "Forever."

She grins, a mix of joy and mischief in her eyes, and echoes, "And you're mine now, body and soul. Forever."

We sink back down onto the furs, limbs entangled. My tentacles wrap around her, cocooning us in our own little world. As sleep starts to claim us, I can't help but feel a sense of peace I've never known before.

Tomorrow, we'll face whatever the world throws at us. But tonight, in this cave, it's just us. Just Bella and me, bound together in ways that go beyond the physical.

I press another kiss to her forehead as her breathing evens out. Yeah, I think as I drift off. This is exactly what home feels like.