CHAPTER 44

VENUS

"Shouldn't I stay in my own bed? Aren't people going to talk if I'm back and sleeping in your room?"

Griffin and Carter had been missing for a few hours after all our meetings, sneaking off somewhere to do whatever it was those two did. When he got back, he pulled me from my bed—where I was sitting with Kit—on the way to his room without so much as an explanation.

"Supernova, you really need to stop caring about what people think," he chastised, dragging me into his apartment. "Besides, I would say that being the girlfriend of The Gray Knights heir entitles you to some benefits. Don't you think?"

Seeing my reaction to his words—stopping dead in my tracks—he chuckled.

He took the stairs up to his raised loft bedroom two at a time and once I regained my composure, I followed at my own pace.

So I was his girlfriend?

The reason behind my giddy smile was clear as day. And it felt freaking amazing to have that clarity. To hear those words.

I wasn't going to question it or probe any further, some stupid part of me scared he'd change his mind—even though I knew he wouldn't after all we'd gone through to get here.

He went about it in the most Griffin way possible: confident and smug. But that was one of the many things I found attractive about him. I loved every facet of who he was.

Griffin Gray was my boyfriend.

Early-compound-days-Venus would be beyond shocked right now.

And thinking about that, despite my initial thought not to question it, I felt the need to give him some early-compound-days-Venus attitude. So I mockingly called out, "I would probably agree … if the heir of The Gray Knights had a girlfriend."

"He does."

I choked out a laugh. But my smile was blinding as I said, "Ever the confident male."

By the time I made it up, he'd already strolled into his closet. He ignored my statement and continued with his previous train of thought.

"What's the point of being a captain and having all this space if I can't share it with you?" My heart did little somersaults in my chest. "Not to mention, if anyone dared talk shit, they'd cop it from me in training."

Leaning on the doorframe on his way out, the cheeky, shit-eating grin that I adored graced his face. My eyes trailed over his shirtless form, a pair of boxers the only thing covering his lightly tanned expanse of skin.

I gawked at the shiny plastic over what looked like a new tattoo, completely changing the topic. "What's that?"

"Just something new to add to the collection."

With his chest on full display, I stepped closer, standing on tippy toes to get a good look at his new ink.

Just above his butterfly he had gotten a little sun that seemed to be setting—or rising—over the horizon, complete with little rays of light. It was beautiful and the location on his sternum was sexy as sin.

"The heart of the solar system," he said by way of explanation. His hands delved into the back of my hair, tangling into the strands as he aimlessly played with them. The gesture was so cute and had quickly become one of my favourite things. He did it all the time, without even realising it. Even back when things were just casual between us. I was so aware of him that I noticed. Every. Damn. Time.

"Inspired by you," he added. "My bright star." His thumb came up and rubbed my lip as all his attention focused on the curves he was tracing.

I swallowed.

"Griff." His name was a plea in my mouth, said with so much love and adoration and awe.

"Yes, baby?"

"It's beautiful."I didn't know what else to say. What words would possibly suffice right now. Not to mention the air in my lungs felt dangerously sparse, making words difficult to articulate.

"So, do you want to stay here with me or what, Supernova?"

"Of course," I breathed out.

"Good. Then stay."

Smug prick.

But that smug prick was my smug prick. And I kind of loved him.

"Wait right there," he said suddenly.

I gave him an incredulous look but obliged as he walked back into his closet to retrieve something.

A moment later, he walked back out with the black silk blindfold he'd used to help me access my hunter senses.

"I promised I'd show you some other uses for this." His eyes sparkled with mischief, but I frowned at it.

He noted my expression. "What?"

"Now that we're an official thing, I don't know if I want to use something that you've used on other girls."

He chuckled darkly.

"What?" I asked this time, annoyed at his disregard of my concerns.

"Baby, I have not used this on anyone."

"Then why do you have it?"

"Literally to train my own senses. I only use it for training. I've suggested others get their own for practice, but I have never used it on anyone else before you."

Swoon.

I was literally overcome with emotion. This guy was full of surprises. He really did treat me so differently to everyone else. He had from the very start.

"Really?" I questioned anyway, more out of habit than anything else.

"Really."

I bit my lip excitedly at the way his eyes devoured my form.

"I think you're wearing far too many clothes, Supernova."

"Is that so?"

He nodded and stepped closer. Holding the blindfold in between his teeth, he undressed me. One by one, removing each article of clothing with precision and intent.

When I was completely naked, he toyed with a strand of my ebony hair—the only thing left that was covering my body.

He held the blindfold up to me. "May I?"

I nodded.

Once he'd tied it gently but firmly over my eyes, so I was devoured by the dark, he played with my hair again. His lips grazed against the shell of my ear. "I'm going to have to tie your hair back so I can get to all of you," he whispered.

I nodded.

And once again doing the unexpected, he began gathering up my hair.

Every little thing he'd done up until now already had my body buzzing with anticipation, torturing me in the best way possible with his slow and precise movements.

The way his fingers smoothly moved in the strands of my hair was no different.

Any time he purposefully grazed my skin in the process, I shivered.

When he had collected it all together at the nape of my neck, he removed the band from my wrist and tied it back. His fingers ran through the silky length of the long ponytail and then lingered at the small of my back.

I sucked in a breath as he traced the contours.

With the blindfold on, each movement felt enhanced. Each touch felt like pure electricity, using my body as a conductor. And I was bound to explode by the end of this. The feel of him was like lightning in my veins.

I heard the soft rustle of material as he slowly dropped his boxers, driving me insane with impatience and the need to see him.

Eventually he lowered me to his bed. Tasting my lips until they were bruised and aching. And even then, I wanted so much more.But at least now I could feel him pressed against me.

His lips traced my jaw. My cheek. My ear. My neck. Until they made their way back to my lips.

This time, I held him captive. Not letting him leave until I had my fill.

And then he worshipped my body.

His mouth explored every single thing I had to offer as I squirmed underneath him, not able to contain my pleasure.

My hunter senses filled in the vision for me, illuminating the shape of his body with glittering particles that seemed to make up his essence—glowing silver. Showing me exactly what he was doing … and where he was doing it.

Still, I wanted to explore his body, so I let my fingers roam.

After I got a few touches in, he halted my hands, collecting them in just one of his and raising them above my head.

He held them in place, keeping me constricted and bound to his will.

He was driving this tonight. And I was completely vulnerable to him.

At the feel of him inside me, I cried out in bliss. Feeling like something deep within me had changed. Like the flame of our bond had burned away all barriers between us.

"Venus." My name rumbled off his lips, just like that first time. But I was beyond words. Lost to him and the transformation within me. Within us.

My hands fought for freedom and he loosened his grip.

I pulled the blindfold off, wanting to look into those mesmerising eyes that had been in so many of my dreams as I gave myself to him.

Wholly and fully gave myself to him.

I knew that he was beyond a doubt my soul flame and we had just begun that process of tethering ourselves to one another. I could almost see the tranquil purple flame of my soul and the stormy silver flame of his joining together.

And I knew; I knew I made the right choice.

Not because of the way this male was doing things to me that made my soul soar out of my body. But because of the way he looked at me. The way he held me like I was the most precious thing he'd ever held. The way we broke each other"s barriers down like no one else could.

I didn't want to think about River right now, but for one single moment I allowed it, only to reassure myself that I knew deep down that he would be okay. He'd find his mate, just like I'd found this version of mine, and he'd be loved so deeply like he deserved, without question or hesitation or second thoughts. It would be a love like no other. Like nothing I could hope to offer him. And we'd all be okay.

When Griffin held me against his chest after, I thought things couldn't get any more perfect.

But as he traced idle circles down my back, I felt his chest rumble in satisfaction.

"You know, this place no longer feels restricted or lonely," he mused. "It feels full. Complete."

I felt the words in every part of my body as they seemed to vibrate from him into my very being.

Lifting my eyes to his, I let him see the silver that lined my own. I knew his statement didn't need a reply, but still I said, "You complete me, Griffin."

I placed little kisses along his chest, and he held me tighter to him in response.

And I felt so full and whole. Like I never had before. The little flicker of fire—of his essence—in my chest, warming my heart even more than I thought possible.

We lay how we often did—finding a way to be out in the stars—on the small flat platform outside his windows, watching the winking lights in the night sky glisten like they were trying to communicate with us.

We'd spent essentially the whole morning planning and packing before we'd be off again. This time on a plane.

Griff cooked me dinner and we spent the rest of the evening out here, watching the sky turn from day to night before our very eyes.

"Dance with me?"

Griffin's whisper broke the silence.

"We're on the roof," I retorted.

His calm laugh filled my soul. "It's basically a courtyard. You'll be fine." He rose to his feet and held his hand out for me. "I've got you."

I smiled up at him, curious and in awe of this side of him as he pulled me up. I was seeing this softer side more and more each day and I fucking loved it.

He gave me a sexy, slow smile as he gently placed my hands around his neck, grazing my body with his own until they rested delicately on my hips.

And then we danced.

To no music but the sounds of our own heavy breathing and hearts beating; slow dancing in the dark.

I knew we'd done so much more than this but for some reason, I was nervous. His gentle touches, the way he was looking at me—they made me nervous. A good nervous. But nervous, nonetheless.

That tingle of electricity that pulsed through my body made my breath catch in my throat.

He seemed uncharacteristically serious.

And I felt laid bare to him, more than ever before as he held me in the quiet under the inky night sky with a million luminous little bundles of gas twinkling above us. As he looked at me with so much intensity in those molten grey eyes that spoke a thousand words. That spoke of his devotion to me.

Griff nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck and sighed. His lips tickled my sensitive skin.

"I've never loved someone before."

His words were a soft caress against my neck, and I found myself holding my breath.

"But I love you, Venus."

He pulled back so the smoky grey of his eyes could bore into mine with unadulterated intensity. "You're the stars to my moon. My whole universe. My cosmos."

I didn't bother to fight the prickling tears that threatened to spill.If there was ever a time that was appropriate to cry, I'd say it was when the guy who'd been afraid of commitment, who always seemed so unattainable, told you that he loved you under the landscape of a million stars watching over you.

"I love you too, Griffin."

As the words left my mouth, I let the waterworks fall freely too.

He didn't hesitate to kiss them away, leaving a trail of those tiny tingles I was already addicted to in their wake.

Griffin Gray loved me.