Chapter 21

ANA

Ana's pulse spiked as an unexpected touch snapped her awake. She was on her feet in an instant, blade drawn. The cave appeared different in the daylight, alive with the sounds of the outside world. She scanned the shadows, finding nothing.

She flicked her gaze down at Quinn. However, a sudden jolt of unease gripped her stomach; the air grew dense, making it difficult to breathe. To her astonishment, Quinn's once pallid, marble-like skin was now a healthy, tanned hue, radiating vitality.

His eyes, once shut in eternal slumber, now bore into her with a vibrant gleam, brimming with life. A soft, warm smile graced his previously rigid and frigid lips, sending shivers down Ana's spine, causing her to gasp and stumble backward.

"You're alive? How… how can it be?" She remembered his last breath too vividly, and now he lay close to where she stood, defying death itself.

Quinn rose, his movements fluid, a stark departure from the icy stillness of before. The sun's rays caressed his tanned skin, almost as if he glowed. Ana's world tilted.

Confusion reigned, a maelstrom of emotion that threatened to sweep her away. He closed the distance between them, the heat of his body radiating against hers. Hesitantly, she reached out, her trembling fingers brushing the hard planes of his torso. Beneath her touch, his heart pounded a steady rhythm, a counterpoint to the frantic chaos in her own.

The warmth of his soft flesh spread through her palm. As she ran her fingers over his features, she marveled at the smoothness of his skin and the gentle rise and fall of his chest. A low growl escaped his lips, carrying with it a familiar and irresistible scent of vanilla laced with a hint of spice, encircling her like a comforting embrace.

"I'm most definitely alive, my lady." Every word he spoke sent a new current of rapture rippling through her body. He gently cupped her cheek, and they locked eyes. "And I wish to thank you for saving me."

His fingertips moved down, gliding along her skin, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake. The room seemed to hum with anticipation as their bodies drew even closer, the air charged with palpable electricity. His touch sparked a hunger in her, fierce and consuming. Tilting his head, his blue irises, blazing with passion, changed into a mesmerizing silver hue.

With a gasp, she grabbed him, her hold desperate, her kiss a demand. It was a collision of emotions, a messy tangle of grief, relief, and a yearning so turbulent it terrified her. He responded with equal enthusiasm, his caress a brand on her skin, igniting a primal lust deep within her. Every fiber of her being ached with an urgent need, causing her to tremble.

A flicker of doubt sparked in her mind, a tiny voice breaking through the haze of passion. She tore herself away, gasping for air. It couldn't be real. Was it some cruel illusion? She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the image before her to vanish. The sharp sting of pain from digging nails into her palms grounded her. This was real. "How?"

He pressed a finger to her lips. "Later," he rasped, his tone thick with desire. "I shall explain, but first…" He tilted closer, his warm breath caressing against her ear. "You stole a kiss."

A mischievous smile played on his face, erasing any lingering doubts. How he came back to life faded into insignificance.

"Oh?" she breathed, her words rough with barely contained need. "Then allow me to return it."

With a swift motion, she pulled him toward her, her fingers gripping his hair as their mouths met in a feverish embrace. His arms wrapped around her tightly, lifting her closer and deepening their kiss. With an enthusiastic yet delicate touch, Quinn's tongue explored the depths of her mouth. She shuddered as his claw traced down the curves of her body, igniting every nerve ending.

She withdrew, gasping for air, his delicious flavor lingering on her tongue. "Was that the one I stole?"

He watched her with a raised eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. As she teetered on the edge of breathlessness, he finally lowered her to the ground. "Uncertain," he drawled, his voice a low rumble. "Perhaps another taste is required for proper identification."

She rose to meet his lips. The playful banter evaporated, replaced by a raw hunger. As they kissed, he lifted and carried her to a soft bed of pink flowers and green moss. The scent of the buds filled the air, a sweet and intoxicating aroma that mingled with their passion.

He slipped off her jewelry with deft fingers, the delicate pieces falling upon each other on the ground with a gentle clink. He removed the flimsy garment concealing her breasts, leaving her exposed. A cool breeze grazed her perked, sensitive nipples, causing them to harden further.

"Magnificent." He licked his lips before sealing his mouth around first one peak, then the other.

She arched her back, a gasp escaping her as each suck produced a drug-like bliss. When he released her, one hand moved to cup her breast, kneading it with tenderness while the other explored her body. The intensity and passion between them increased, the world around them fading into oblivion. Sensual kisses followed the path his fingers had ventured, each one leaving a trail of searing heat that ignited a fire within her.

In a heartbeat, Quinn crouched over her, his presence dominating. He buried his face into Ana's hair, his warm breath tickling her ear. His attention turned to her neck, his lips and teeth ravishing her sensitive skin. Caressing her curves with one hand, he held the small of her back with his other, his touch sending electric shocks through her body. She moaned in ecstasy.

She arched against him, the friction between their bodies eliciting waves of pleasure. The ache within her turned feverish, a burning desire that consumed her. She raked her claws down his back, the sensation of his flesh beneath her fingertips adding to the intoxicating mix.

A primal growl erupted from his chest. "Too much clothing," he snarled, his voice laced with urgency.

In one swift move, his tail loosed the ties. The silk fabric of her bottoms fell to the ground. She lay before him, naked and exposed, yet she didn't feel vulnerable. His gaze upon her made her feel like a goddess, desired and worshiped. With a claw, he sliced off the silver-looping chain surrounding her waist.

He positioned himself on top of her, spreading her legs with his knee. With a ferocious hunger in his eyes, he took her lips in a fiery kiss. One hand held her wrists overhead while the other once again cupped her breast, eliciting a moan of pleasure. The intensity escalated as his tail descended between her thighs, skillfully caressing, and exploring her yearning desires, finding the sweet spot.

I love that tail! She writhed in delight at the touch of the adept appendage.

With each passing moment, the bliss pulsed through her body, the ecstasy almost becoming unbearable. He withdrew his tail after releasing his grip on her wrists.

"No. Please. More," she whined and reached for him, pulling his hips toward her.

The bulge in his leather pants grew more prominent as she rubbed against it, and she couldn't resist the urge to set him free. Slowly, she moved her hands down toward his groin, untying the cloth with some unease… unsure of what she would uncover. He sat up and spread his wings. Her eyes widened as she revealed his shaft, a thick, broad-headed cap glistening with a bead of his fluid. It pulsed before her, captivating her gaze.

Hallelujah! Quinn was all man downstairs and packing some serious artillery. Grasping his dick, she marveled at the softness of his skin, feeling his roar of rapture resonate through her touch.

"You shall make me spill my seed too soon." Predatory eyes blazed at her with carnal want. He ran his fingers up from her lower thigh, and all her senses lit up. "I have been waiting a long time for this and need to savor it."

Her prince stared straight into her eyes, then rubbed his finger down her nose. She gasped when he sheathed his claw, discovering a hidden ability. "I didn't know we could do that," she exclaimed.

"I can do much more than that." He slid his hand continuing up her leg, lingering on her curls. Then his fingers delved inside her, his palm grinding against her clit. Her skin tingled as waves of pleasure washed over her again, and she screamed as she reached her peak. As she sagged in his arms, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her cheek offered comfort.

As he leaned in for another kiss, the strength of his desire overwhelmed her, making her head spin. She trembled as the prince's lips moved up her body until they met hers. With a firm grip on his shoulders, she pulled him closer to her. She ground her hips against him, wanting nothing more than to feel him inside her. "Please, I need you."

"As you wish, my lady." He further removed his pants and lowered himself, the weight of him pressing against her. With a teasing touch, his tip toyed with her entrance, the slick heat of her arousal enveloping him. A soft moan escaped her parted lips as he finally thrust, filling her completely.

He moved slowly at first, building up exquisite tension. Soon, with each drive, his tempo quickened, plunging deep within her, grinding against her clit. Arching her hips higher, she matched his pace. She needed him deeper, harder. The orgasm shuddered through her. She cried out once again in ecstasy.

Her mouth brushed against his neck, trailing a path up to his chin before meeting his mouth in a desperate kiss. Their lips melded together, a mingling of passion and hunger. The taste of him mingled with the scent of their desire, filled her senses, intoxicating her.

He briefly pulled away, only to penetrate her once more. Long, languid strokes refueled the pressure inside her. A sensual roll of his hips took her breath away, leaving her mind blissfully blank. The need within her intensified, a fire burning deep within her core, ready to explode. She couldn't hold back any longer, her voice trembling.

"Yes, Quinn!"

In a moment of raw passion, he plunged his fangs into her neck, the sharp pain mingling with unimaginable pleasure. A scream escaped her lips, a symphony of ecstasy and surrender. The orgasm seized her, more powerful and pleasurable than anything she had ever experienced before. As their bodies trembled in unison, Quinn threw his head back and let out a primal roar. His shaft pulsed inside her, an ultimate release of their shared passion.