26. Sybil

Chapter 26

Sybil

R ain falls from the sky, peppering our clothes as our kiss deepens.

My body molds against his with a fervent embrace, the bond between us singing deep within me at the connection. His faint scent of cedar and bergamot radiates off his leather jerkin. My heart skips a beat, a soft gasp escaping my lips as I feel the firm pressure of his body against mine. The fabric of my chemise brushes against my skin, the sensation heightened by the intensity of his grasp.

His hands rove to my face, pulling a breath span from my lips as he stares into my eyes.

"I heard you call for me, Sybil. It drove me mad." He leans forward, gently cradling my face and resting his forehead on mine. "I thought I was dreaming but... I was terrified."

Reaching out to him was my first instinct.

Thunder forks across the sky, his words hanging heavy between us. Moments pass, and the soft rustle of the wind through the trees is the only sound. I look at his beautiful face in the light of the few defiant rays of sun brave enough to push through the rainy clouds.

I lift my hand and trace the sharp planes of his face and the golden scruff of his jawline. Watching him tremble under my touch, I press up on tiptoes to whisper in his ear. "I know, I called for you through the bond." His blue eyes widen as he reads the secret truth weaved between my words. "I don't know how I did it, but in that moment, all I wanted was for you to find me. I can no longer bear a single second away from you, Aramis."

There is so much I have yet to learn about the intricacies of the mating bond, but if there's one thing I know, it's that the bond never was in control of us or our feelings. We control it, it's an extension of our love; it binds us even when forces greater than us pull us away from each other.

His strong and firm fingers slide possessively into my hair and tangle in the strands. As he crushes his lips against mine, the force of our passion propels my back into the rough bark of the trunk. Raindrops, like tiny diamonds, scatter from the lush green branches above us, creating a symphony of pitter-patter.

He lifts me effortlessly into his embrace; my legs instinctively wind around his waist, causing my skirt to bunch up around my trembling limbs. "You're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen," he murmurs, eliciting a derisive snort from me. As he gently places me on a moss-covered boulder, his knees sink into the clean, damp earth, creating a stark contrast against the backdrop of my stained, torn, and blood-soaked clothing. The night's relentless storm has left me drenched to the bone, my hair a chaotic tangle adorned with the remnants of nature's debris.

"Aramis, I've been dragged around the forest through a rainstorm by greedy shifters bent on delivering me to Tricella. I am anything but beautiful right now." I motion toward my disheveled state, wincing in discomfort as the effects of the adrenaline fade. My palms bear the brunt of my desperate struggle, raw and bloody from my determined attempt to escape.

"You are a Goddess." He grabs my hands, turning them skyward as he presses the softest kiss against my wounds. I shiver in response as his kisses trail up the sensitive flesh on the underside of my wrist, the warmth spreading through my veins and desire building between my thighs.

I close my eyes, and the memory of their putrid breath and tight grip on my body comes rushing back. My body shakes at the fear of what would have happened had he not felt me through the bond and known where I was—had he not rescued me.

"Sybil," he whispers as he releases my hands, his hungry gaze sweeping over my body as he kneels before me. I feel a warm flush spread across my face as he locks his intense gaze on me.

"Aramis," I moan, bracing my hand behind me, the cold contrasting with the heat of him between my legs. "What about the others? They'll be looking for us. Someone could walk up on us at any moment."

"They won't." He smiles, meeting my gaze as his hands circle lazily on my inner thighs, each movement closer to my core.

"How–how do you know they won't?" I pant between strokes, reveling in the sensations coursing through my body.

"Because if anyone dares to interrupt us right now, Tricella will be the least of their worries," he says, running a finger through my exposed wetness and groaning in approval as I arch at his touch. "So beautiful, my pomme sucrée. There's so much I want to tell you."

"Maybe this isn't the best time to talk," I laugh, legs squeezing against his shoulders. He places his hands on my thighs, tightening around them.

"Just a matter of perspective," he chuckles, then slides a finger across my center, his thumb gently circling my swollen bundle of nerves, raising a moan from my mouth. "You complete me in ways I never dreamed were possible."

"Oh, Goddess." My hips rise, seeking more friction, but he spreads a hand over my pelvis and presses me down. "I want you, Aramis. Right now," I whisper. I'm swept away by everything about him. His taste. His touch. His scent. All of it.

He slides another finger, then pushes inside me as he covers me with his mouth, flicking with his tongue."Goddess, how long I've yearned for you to speak those words to me," he gasps, his breath ragged.

"Aramis." I can't focus through the blinding pleasure. I fist a hand through his hair, rocking my hips in rhythm to his thrusting, feeling the pressure build inside me, but he holds me in place. His responding growl vibrates against my sensitive flesh, sending me over the edge, and I cry out as I orgasm hard with his head buried between my thighs.

I feel as light as a cloud, held down to earth only by his grip on me. Waves of satisfaction hum along the bond tying us together. Did all bonded mates feel this much from their connection?

When my breathing slows, he gently pulls away and stands before me. I lift my hands, fingers trembling as I work at his leather belt.

"Are you sure? " He asks as he covers my hands with one of his, lifting my chin with the other to meet his gaze. "This isn't the bed of finest silk I promised you."

"Yes," I say, feeling confident. This is my decision.

Not the bond. Not fate. Mine.

He is mine.

I slip my hand under his tunic, feeling his warmth. "I want to know you, all of you."

He grabs the hem of his tunic and pulls it over his head, tossing it behind me. The rain has slowed to a drizzle, the sun's rising rays continuing to peek through the clouds and dancing with the shadows along his skin. He is still as my hands span across his abdomen, the ropes of muscle flex taunt under my touch. I skim over his chest, pausing at the healed, jagged scar.

"From the night they attacked when I was a boy," he says, placing his hand above mine. "The blade was poisoned, so it never healed properly. But that is the past, Sybil."

"I want you," I whisper as I push upward, pressing a soft kiss along the puckered scar. I let my hand drop, and I finish unbuckling his belt. He springs free from the confines of his breeches and I marvel at the length of him. I have seen many females and males in various states of undress in the little training I have had as a healer, but this is different. I watch the emotions dance across his face as I take my time exploring him. He inhales sharply as I tentatively run a finger along the smooth skin, then curl my fingers around his girth and begin stroking him. There is no denying the way he hardens even further under my grip.

"Sit back, Sybil," he orders, voice low and gravely. I drop my hands, bracing them on the velvety moss behind me as I lean back. His eyes glint dangerously, something animalistic rising to the surface as he bends toward me and grabs me around the waist.

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask, swallowing back my nerves. My chest rises and falls, straining against the soaked fabric of my chemise.

Have I crossed some sort of line?

"Did you do something wrong?" he chuckles darkly, positioning himself between my thighs. He places one hand on the front of my chest, pushing until I lean onto my elbows and stare into the rugged angles of his handsome face. "If you didn't stop, I was going to lose myself and bury myself inside you to the hilt until you screamed. I only have so much control when you have your hand wrapped around my cock, Sybil darling."

"Oh," I murmur softly as he slides an arm behind each thigh. He pushes them wide, tilting me back further until my back touches the cold stone beneath me. He leans forward, the heat from his hands a brand upon my skin. I writhe under his touch. "Oh gods," I whisper, back arching as he drags his tongue along my entrance. My body trembles from the wet heat of his mouth. I had never felt this way before, not even the few moments I had explored myself. My skin buzzes with a new energy and I feel like I'm going to explode again from his very touch.

"Aramis," I whimper as I thrust my hands through his hair, needing something.

"What happened to god?" he teases, nipping at the inside of my thigh.

"I want–" I squirm as he pauses, his stubble grazing the sensitive skin. I want more, I need more.

"What do you want, my pomme sucrée?" He asks.

"I want to feel you inside me," I writhe wantonly beneath him.

"This may be uncomfortable, but I'll go slow. Do you trust me?" he whispers against my temple as he positions himself over me, lining himself up with my entrance. His hands grip my hips as he slowly sinks inside me, stretching me inch by inch. I gasp at the discomfort when he seats himself fully inside me. He swallows the sound with a crushing kiss, holding his body still above mine as I adjust to the size of him. "You are the most gorgeous, yet frustrating creature I've ever met. You're fucking perfect in every way."

When he came for me, I never imagined this is how it would end. Maybe it's the bond pulling us together, but everything we're doing now feels so natural.

The intensity of our kiss is heightened as he slips his tongue inside my mouth, tangling with mine. He begins to move in slow, shallow thrusts. The sharp bite of pain swiftly gives way to pleasure, and I let loose the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

His moans reverberate through me, fueling the fire of desire that burns within. I arch against him, seeking more of his touch, my body craving the intoxicating pleasure he brings.

"I—" Stars form in my vision as my stomach tightens, forcing my body to arch off the rock as I come undone.

He presses a kiss along the base of my throat, smiling against my skin. "Good girl."

I moan in response, clinging to him as another wave of pleasure begins anew. My hips rock up, meeting him with each thrust.

"You will be my undoing and my salvation," he moans, lips hovering over mine. He buries a hand in my hair, tugging my head back as he withdraws from me. "We fit together like you were fucking made for me." With a fierce thrust, he enters me again, filling me completely. I inhale sharply, my nails digging into the moss beneath me. The rhythm intensifies, each powerful thrust pushing me closer to unraveling again.

His words, laced with desire, only serve to ignite the flames further. The way he tugs my hair, gently yet possessively, pulls me further into the realm of passion. It's as if he's unraveling the layers of my soul, exposing the raw vulnerability that lies beneath. As the wave of desire courses through my body, my senses heighten, every nerve ending coming alive. The kiss becomes more ravenous, our tongues dancing in a frenzied rhythm, exploring each other's mouths. With each slow, shallow stroke, I can feel my body adapting to him, the sensation intensifying, and the connection between us growing stronger.

"Yes," I murmur against his lips. Because it is. It felt so good, and at this moment, I wanted to know more about him. He promised to prove his worth—be a better male—and deep down his words ring true.

I realize he has the power to undo me, to break down the walls I've built around my heart against the actions of his past and the fear of fate controlling my future. Yet, he also has the potential to be my salvation, to offer a love that surpasses all boundaries. It's a risk I'm willing to take, for the spark between us is undeniable.

His grip tightens on my hips, his fingers leaving marks as he increases the rhythm. Heat builds within me, a wildfire ready to consume. As our bodies move as one, the intensity builds to a crescendo. With a final thrust, he holds himself still, allowing me to reach the pinnacle of bliss. I feel myself teetering on the edge, my body clenching around him, pulsating with ecstasy. The sensation is overwhelming, consuming me entirely as I surrender to the contentment that courses through my veins.

In this moment, I realize that our connection goes beyond mere physical reaction and a fated bond. It's a connection of souls, a profound understanding that speaks volumes in the silence between us. As I come down from the euphoric high, I can't help but believe that there is something more to discover, something worth exploring in the depths of this newfound connection. I may not be able to deny the mating bond any longer as it entwines with my true feelings.