Chapter 9

9

CELESTE

R en quickly moved us to the bed. As I lay on our mattress, desire pooled low in my stomach as he walked toward me, his bright blue gaze never leaving mine. He had brought me to exquisite heights of pleasure so many times since he'd taken my virginity, but something was different in the way he looked at me tonight. And it wasn't just from the thrill of victory over my coven.

Anticipation hung in the air as he slowly circled the bed, trailing his fingers against the bare skin of my arms. His touch left a swath of goose bumps in its wake, leaving me trembling for more already.

"My love," he whispered, his voice husky as he leaned closer, his breath right on my cheek before his lips gently trailed against my jawline.

I closed my eyes, relishing in the feel of his warm mouth pressed to my skin. "Ren, please."

"Don't worry. You'll get what you want," he promised. "I could never deny my beautiful consort anything. Not today or five hundred years from now."

In the short time we'd been together, he had more than proven how much he meant that vow. From the moment we met, Ren's every decision had been made with my happiness and well-being in mind. But the adrenaline coursing through my veins made it difficult to be patient.

Although he could use his vampiric magic to strip me in an instant, he took his time undressing me. His kisses slowly slid down my neck as his fingers worked their way against my blouse, unbuttoning it until the material gaped wide. Then he undid the front clasp of my bra, baring my breasts.

His tongue swirled around one of my nipples while his hand massaged my other breast.

I wriggled against him, the exquisite torture almost too much. I wanted more. I needed to feel all of him.

Reaching up, I gripped his dark hair, tugging at it lightly.

This elicited a deep chuckle against my chest. "What does my greedy girl want?"

"You," I managed to breathe out.

"Where do you want me?" he whispered, his kisses now trailing down my stomach, breathing over my belly button and right above where my pants met my skin.

"Is it here?" he asked, pushing my pants down just above my quivering pussy as he placed the lightest of fluttering kisses.

"Lower," I purred, my voice raspy.

"Oh, so it's here?" he raised an eyebrow, a smile crossing his face as he kept his eyes on me.

Our playfulness wasn't something I ever thought was possible between a couple, let alone while in bed. But I loved that we were like this together…almost as much as I loved Ren.

We hadn't shared those three little words with each other yet, but I had no doubt that he felt them as much as I did. Which was why I felt no fear as I murmured, "I love you."

His head jerked up, and I let out a little whimper of protest over him stopping his trail of kisses before his mouth reached my pussy. But his words made up for the loss. "I love you so damn much, Celeste."

Stretching out my arm, I stroked my palm against his stubbly cheek. "I know. I feel your love for me each and every day."

"And now you'll hear me say it just as often," he vowed.

The happy tears that filled my eyes quickly dried up when his deft fingers slowly pulled my pants and panties down, my pussy bare to him as he leaned forward, inhaling deeply. My breath caught in my throat as he slid his tongue between my lower lips, the goose bumps spreading across more of my body. And when he plunged his tongue deep inside me, all reason went out the window.

"Destiny knew what it was doing when we were paired together." He grasped my hips to hold me in place, and his breath was hot against my damp flesh as he added, "I'm already addicted to your scent and taste."

He used his broad shoulders to wedge my legs farther apart before burying his tongue deep inside me so he could lap up my arousal. As he moaned against my mound, I could already feel myself building up to the brink of orgasm.

His dark eyes met mine as he hooked a finger inside me, swirling it in the same motion as his tongue. My whole body squirmed as I gripped the plush sheets tightly with my fingertips.

He took that moment to suck hard on my clit, plunging two fingers inside me as my whole body shook around him. I cried out, pushing my hips to meet his face as my orgasm ripped through me, long and sweet as he licked up every drop and kept going.

My already sensitive body shook, building to another climax as he added another finger inside me, sucking harder onto my nub, making sure I was wet enough to take all of him.

As my body burst with pleasure, my eyes fluttered closed. All of me shattered while I screamed out his name, convulsing under his wicked touch.

When I finally came back down to earth, my eyes slowly opened. Ren was hovering over me, his clothes already off so I could see all the hard ridges of him, including the steely shaft between his legs that he was slowly stroking.

I licked my lips, my gaze riveted on his dick until he whispered my name. "Celeste."

"I want to make you fully mine tonight. To complete the claiming ceremony and solidify the bond between us."

There was no hesitation when I answered, "Yes."

One word was all Ren needed to take action. The sheets beneath me changed in the blink of an eye to the softest red silk I'd ever touched. Lit candles lined every flat surface around us, interspersed with huge bouquets of lily of the valley—my favorite flower. Their fresh, slightly sweet fragrance filled my nostrils.

His thoughtfulness wasn't a surprise, but it was appreciated. But he didn't give me a chance to express my gratitude before he claimed my lips in a deep kiss that left me wanting more.

When he lifted his head again, a wicked smile curved his lips. "Celeste Fortune, do you accept my claim on you?"

He had already explained the ritual, so I knew how to respond. "Yes, I accept your claim on me with all my heart and soul, Ren Bancroft."

His eyes darkened as his gaze met mine. "You're prepared to be mine from now until the end of time?"

"And beyond," I whispered into his lips, ready to taste him. More than ready to be claimed by him.

"To cement our mating bond, you must trust me unequivocally. Are you prepared to demonstrate the depth of your faith in me?"

I knew with every fiber of my being that I wanted everything that came from belonging to Ren. Putting my arms around his neck, I pulled him closer, our lips almost touching. "Whatever you need, Ren. Take it."

I sealed my words by pressing my lips to his. He growled, deepening our kiss as his tongue met mine, our bodies molded together.

We'd had sex plenty of times, but as amazing as those encounters were, they paled in comparison to this moment. Magic sparked between us as he slowly slid his hard dick deep into my core.

"Are you ready for me?" he whispered into my ear.

I was already on fire just from feeling him inside me. "I'm so ready for you."

"Good girl."

He pumped harder, and my whole body was alive as I moved with him. His kisses continued trailing down my neck while we moved together.

I knew what was coming next, but I still gasped when his mouth opened against my neck, and I felt just the tip of his fangs against my pulse point.

As if to distract me, his fingers went between us, rubbing my clit as he continued to pump inside my tight heat.

"Right there," I panted. "Oh, yes."

He swirled his fingers along my clit, using his tongue in the same motion on my neck before slowly sinking his fangs into me. There was pain from his bite, but at first, it was balanced out by pleasure. My orgasm crashed even harder, and I moaned as my body shook underneath him. He groaned into my neck before he unlatched, licking over the bite mark, then moving back to my lips.

He kissed me through the maelstrom of agony that swept through my body. I wasn't sure how long it lasted, but when it passed, I had fangs in my mouth that ached to bite into his chest. Leaning forward, I gave in to the urge and sank the pointy tips into his flesh.

Gripping the back of my head, he moaned as I marked the soft spot near his breastbone. The taste of his blood filled my mouth, and it only turned me on more.

"That's it, my love," he encouraged, his hips working his dick in and out of my core.

After licking over the bite as he'd done for me, I tilted my head back to meet his gaze. With our bond in place, our desires mingled in our shared consciousness, deepening our passion. I felt his pleasure build as he moved inside me, and it was unlike anything I could have imagined.

Neither of us said a word as he pumped faster, his body shaking as I licked over his mark again. Another orgasm crashed over me at the same moment that I felt him spill inside me.

It was utter perfection.

When our shuddering subsided, we crashed down on the mattress together. Our breathing was in sync as he pressed his face to my chest, our bodies still connected.

My whole being felt different. Lighter.

And I could feel what he was feeling, zinging with pleasure still.

I never wanted the moment to end.

Ever the gentleman, Ren looked up at me with his bright blue gaze. "Are you feeling okay, love?"

"Better than okay," I whispered, pushing his dark hair away from his forehead. "Which you already know."

"Yes, because we're connected now. We'll feel each other's emotions." He gave me a lopsided grin that showed off his sharp white canines. "And now you know what fangs feel like."

I opened my mouth, immediately putting my finger to my teeth. They felt normal.

He chuckled. "Only when you need them."

So much had changed for me since I met Ren. I finally had someone in my life who loved me unconditionally. And a large family who would stand by us, no matter what. The adjustments I would need to make now that I was a daywalker paled compared to everything I had gained.