27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

Iawoke a few hours later to the calming smell of lavender. I was alone in the bed but there was someone moving around in the bathroom. I climbed out of bed and strolled over. As I peered around the door, I caught sight of Fenris running a bath and humming away as he did it. It was such a domestic sight, and it had my heart melting. I wanted this. Wanted him. But he was with Elissa, and I could only wish for something that would never be.

I must have sighed or made a noise because Fenris jerked his head around and caught me watching him.

“Hi,” he said with a smile that warmed my insides. “I, er… thought you might want a bath.”

I smiled back at him; he was so very sweet. “Sounds wonderful.”

He swirled his hand through the bubbles and a fresh wave of the lavender hit my nose. I breathed it in deep, the scent calming my frazzled nerves.

“Any news on Jasper?”

“Not yet, but Levi messaged to say he was out of the woods. He’s asleep and will be awake soon Torsten is resting and after your bath I will take you wherever you want to go.”

Relief flooded through me, and I almost burst into tears again, but I restrained myself. I didn’t think I had anymore tears left to cry after earlier.

“Thanks.” I started to strip out of my clothes but when he began to do the same, I froze.

“What are you doing?”

He smiled sheepishly and God, I wanted to kiss him right then, but I couldn’t. “I thought I might join you.”

“Wh-what?” I stuttered. “What about Elissa? The wedding?”

He strode over to me, cupping my face. He was so close. Close enough to kiss. “The wedding’s off.”

“No,” I gasped. They were supposed to unite the two powerful houses, it had been planned for years. “Why?”

I hoped this wasn’t because of me or whatever was going on with him since I brought him back from the dead.

“Because I choose you, Lori. I love you. Have for a very long time and I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to realise.”

“But Elissa—”

“Will be fine. Yes, I need to mend some bridges there but for the first time in a very long time, I feel like I’m doing something for myself.”

Wonder flew threw me, igniting hope in my veins. “You mean…?”

He smiled, bright and wide and I felt myself returning it.

“Yes, Lori, I’m free.”

I didn’t waste another second. I pulled his mouth to mine and finally, finally felt his lips against mine. He devoured me with a kiss that burnt my soul. Every part of me rejoiced in us finally making the connection, finally giving into all that desire and need that had built up between us. I drank him in, every last fucking drop of him, like I might never taste him again. His magic hummed through the air, and I wasn’t sure if he was even aware of it, but I felt it prickle along my skin, making me feel alive.

I pressed myself against him, enjoying the way he felt against me. All hard and firm and I was on fire for him. He kissed me as if I were the last woman on earth. Like there was nothing else that mattered. Jeez, my heart couldn’t take it. It was going to explode in my chest now that we’d finally taken this step and connected in a way that should have always meant to be.

“Please,” I begged against his mouth. “I need more.”

“If I start now, I won’t be able to stop. Are you ready for this? For me?”

“Yes. I want it all.” My heart lurched in my chest and my core turned to hot liquid. I wanted this. I’d always wanted this.

His hand found my breast, his thumb brushing against my nipple through my top. I pulled back far enough to whip my shirt off and discard it on the floor. A low moan rushed from my lips as his fingers went back to my nipple, pinching it until it was a tight bud.

His mouth descended on mine and his tongue thrust through the seam of my lips. He tasted divine, and I couldn’t get enough. He hoisted me into his arms and slammed my back into the wall, trapping me with his body as he continued his assault on my mouth. Yes. This is what I wanted. What I needed. It made me writhe and moan. I arched up against him, grinding my core against his erection. There were still too many clothes.

I grabbed his shirt, fisting it between my fingers. “Take it off.”

He growled but dropped me to the floor so he could strip out of his clothes. I did the same, making fast work of my trousers until I was stood before him naked.

“Beautiful,” he said as he trailed a finger over the curve of my breast and along my hip. His finger moved along my hip bone, stopping at the juncture of my thigh and my heart stuttered as my back arched, my body seeking more of his touch.

Then he sank to his knees before me. He pried my legs open, hooking one knee over his shoulder, exposing me.

“Mine,” he growled before burying his head between my thighs.

A guttural moan exploded from me as his tongue found my centre. He latched on, his teeth nipping and tongue swirling as he began to play me. I couldn’t feel anything but the heat of his lips or the way his tongue lapped at me. Bolts of lightning zinged through me, igniting my core and causing me to buck and arch closer to him. It wasn’t enough and yet it was too much. I thrust my hands into his hair, finally gripping those soft curls and twisting them between my fingers as he devoured me. The pressure built, tightening deep within me, and I could feel my body begging for release. I was so close… so close.

The air grew heavy, thick with sex and the smell… fuck.

There. Yes. Right there.

Oh, fuck.

I threw my head back and let the waves crash over me and take me under. My orgasm ripped through me and Fenris continued to devour me as I succumbed to the sheer sensations of it. Blood roared in my ears, my heart pounded in my chest and my limbs quivered.

No more. I couldn’t take anymore.

I pushed Fenris away, unable to survive his touch any longer.

I needed his mouth on mine. Using the hand I had in his hair, I pulled him upwards, yanking him up my body and finding his lips. I could taste myself on him, but I didn’t care. I clawed at his back, revelling in his taut flesh beneath my fingers. He settled in between my thighs, his hardness feeling like steel against my core.

He lifted me again, his hands firmly under my ass, his fingers digging into my skin.

“I’m going to fuck you now.” Then he yanked me towards him, angling my hips.

I’d been so wrapped up in my own pleasure that I hadn’t even taken a moment to appreciate his magnificent cock. Jesus fucking Christ. It was thick and hard and long.

I wasn’t sure it was even going to fit. How the fuck had this guy been hiding that in his pants?

“Hold still, precious,” he said, his hands gripping my hips firmly.

I nodded, unable to form any coherent words.

He lined himself up with my entrance, then, with one single thrust, he buried himself deep.

I cried out in equal parts pain and pleasure. Oh, God. I couldn’t believe it. Fenris was finally here with me in the most primal way. Nothing else mattered but this. His warm brown eyes holding mine, his skin against mine and his body connecting with mine.

“Please,” I whimpered.

“Fucking hell, Lori.” Then he moved.

And then there was nothing but pleasure and the electric zings flitting throughout our bodies. My hips rolled, chasing every burst of pleasure I could and Fenris moved with me.

Harder. Faster. Deeper.

There was nothing outside of this. Nothing but us.

Nothing but Fenris.

The heat of the bath water seeped into my bones as Fenris and I lay together in our post-sexual glow. He sat behind me, and I lay back against his chest, finally relaxing in the bath that he had made for me.

“That was… wow.” I licked my lips, savouring the taste of him.

“Yes,” he replied, and I could hear the smile in his words. “It was a long time coming.”

I hummed in response, lying further back into his embrace, and, as much as I wanted to let go, to enjoy just being here with him, there was a niggle of guilt pulsing at the back of my mind.

“What happened with Elissa?”

Fenris stilled and sighed. “We drove each other away.”

“I’m sorry.” And I was. I liked Elissa, she was a friend and the thought of her suffering because of me, or something I’d done, hurt.

Sensing the direction of my thoughts, Fenris caught my chin and tipped my head back to gaze into my eyes. “It wasn’t your fault, Lori. We’re adults. How we acted was on us, not you. Okay?”

“Okay.”

He pressed a soft, lingering kiss against my lips. “God, how I’ve longed for this. For you.”

“Me too.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long,” he said as he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to mine. “I was an idiot.”

I huffed a laugh. “No, you weren’t. You were trying to do what you thought was the right thing.” I cupped his jaw. “Your only mistake was not doing what was right for you.”

He kissed me again, long, and deep. It was a kiss of yearning, and I could feel everything from him. His tongue slowly curled around mine, a sensual exploration and it felt like we had all the time in the world. We didn’t, but in this moment, this little pocket of heaven, we were just two people connecting in the most beautiful way.

He let me go and I settled back between his thighs in the bath. The water had started to cool but Fenris dipped his fingers in the water and called his magic to warm it back up again.

It was a while before Fenris broke the silence. “I… um… burnt down my father’s house.”

“What?!” I shrieked, turning in the bath and sloshing water over the sides.

He snorted and held out his hand. I saw the most beautiful ring nestled on his ring finger. Bands of silver were twisted like branches and there were tiny emerald leaves glistening around the edges. In the centre was a large ruby shaped like a bright red flame and on one side sat a small sapphire and on the other a pale blue gemstone which I didn’t recognise. But that didn’t matter, the thing was stunning.

“What’s this one?” I asked, pointing to the pale blue one.

“Topaz, for air. The gems all represent the elements. Ruby for fire, Sapphire for water, the emeralds for earth and topaz for air.”

That made sense. The sapphire was like a pool of deep water, or the darkest depths of the ocean and the topaz like a clear blue sky.

I looked up at Fenris and for the first time in a long time he truly looked like he wasn’t carrying the burdens of his past. How had I missed that? Had I been too wrapped up in my own pain to see it?

“You look different.”

He smiled warmly. “I feel different.” His eyes glazed over for a moment as he disappeared in thought. “My father won’t be bothering anyone anymore.”

“Good.” I tapped the ring on his finger. “Does this make you the Arch Mage now?”

“Yep,” he said with a waggle of his eyebrows.

I chuckled and a warmth settled in my heart. I traced the lines of his smile and sighed happily. “I’m glad to see you happy, Fenris. I love you.”

His eyes blew wide, and his smile grew against my fingers. “I love you too.” He nipped at the pads of my fingers. “Now, how about you ride me in the bath. I want to hear all those dirty little moans you make as I fuck you slow and deep.”

I gasped as he rocked his erection up against my core. “Who knew you had such a dirty mouth?”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about my mouth, baby,” he said as he sank deep into me. He was big and thick, and I could feel him everywhere. “But I intend to show you everything.”

Then there was no more thought. Just us moving together, claiming each other, and riding the waves of our orgasms until there was more water on the floor than in the bath.