Chapter 37

Sam's fear began to dissolve with Selene's reassurance. She made their joining sound so simple, so natural. Perhaps it really could be. He didn't want to wait anymore. This was happening.

Rising onto his elbow, he cupped her face and kissed her. Softly at first, but it soon turned fevered. Rapturous.

His hand skimmed down her body. Their kissing intensified when he slipped his hand beneath her shirt. Her flesh was hot and so incredibly soft. She sat up to pull off her shirt then the rest of her clothes until she was fully naked before him.

The lantern light gave her skin a pale, golden glow. Sam sighed. How grateful he was to have been gifted with such a mate. Despite all of the pain he had been through in Aurelia, it had ultimately brought him to her. Finally, fate had looked upon him with favor.

There was so much he wanted to tell her but couldn't. At least not at that moment. But he could express how he felt for her in other ways. He didn't have to use words to make her understand that they were meant to be together. He only had to stay in control.

Selene ran her hands over his bare chest, and he pressed his thick erection against her side. When her fingertips brushed against one of his nipples, Sam gasped at the jolt of pleasure. She did it again while he kissed his way down her neck to close his lips around one taut nipple. Sucking hard, he used his other hand to dip between her legs. His cock pulsed hard when he found her wet for him, and she shuddered as he brushed his thumb against the spot he knew she liked best.

His control was starting to ebb. She dragged her nails up and down his back, and he growled. His touch became rougher as he became absorbed with pleasure, causing him to pause.

Breathe. Focus. Control.

They had barely started, and already he was losing himself. He wanted to drag out this first time, to savor her. He had planned to make her come at least once before the act because he feared he wouldn't last for more than a few moments. But the pressure within him was too strong. He had a driving need to get closer to her—as close as two bodies could be.

"Selene… I know we just started, but… I don't think I can wait anymore… need to… "

"I can't wait either," she moaned. "I'm ready."

Although Selene trusted Sam, her apprehension rose when she saw the way he took off his pants. Tore off his pants, more precisely. He didn't even unbutton them. He literally gripped the front with his claws and ripped them off his body.

Whoa.

Since he was worried about hurting her, she was going to suggest that they start with her on top. The way he moved between her legs quickly quelled that idea. He seemed to have very specific plans for her and knew exactly how he wanted their first time to unfold. His muscles had grown larger, making her keenly aware of the differences in their physical strength. His hands were shaking while his broad chest heaved. And that demon cock of his… well, she suspected she was going to have trouble walking tomorrow.

Carefully, he leaned over her on outstretched arms. When he settled between her thighs, his shaft made contact with her core, and he trembled. Then cursed. Then snarled as she shifted her hips so that he slipped along her wet folds. His eyelids fluttered as he moved against her, and Selene was certain he was battling the urge to come.

Knowing they shouldn't delay this any further, she reached down between their bodies to guide him into position. He looked down, and for one heart-stopping second, their eyes met. What she saw took her breath away.

His irises were fully red. Smoldering. Lines of tension branched around his eyes and the corners of his mouth. His skin had deepened in color, and he was covered in a light sheen of sweat. The lanterns and firelight gave the space around them an eerie orange glow. The reality that she was about to be fucked by a demon couldn't have been more apparent.

But although Sam's body was built to inflict vengeance, she knew how hard he was trying to be tender. His claws were out, and the muscles of his neck were corded, yet he wasn't shoving himself inside of her. He was trying to go slow, trying to make it good for her. The way he was looking at her made her feel like something deeper than just sex was happening between them—as though when it was over, she would never be the same.

"Yes, Sam. Now," she breathed.

With a moan, he pushed into her.

He was so big that her body was only able to accommodate a few inches with that first thrust. This seemed to surprise Sam because he instantly froze. He looked confused as he tried to press further, and she winced. Panic-stricken, he cried, "Selene, I'm too… this won't work!"

"It will," she breathed, already overwhelmed by the fullness within her. "It's fine. You're doing great. Just… go slow. Can you do that?"

He nodded tightly. She could feel his body shake as he sank his hips deeper. He must be desperate to thrust deeply, she thought. He was probably only halfway in now, and the stretch within her burned, but she didn't want him to stop for anything. Especially when the way he was moving made his pelvis bump against her clit. This was about to get good.

"A little more, Sam," she said, wriggling her hips to take him deeper.

"Is it hurting?" he asked, his voice gone gravelly.

"It's getting better," she whispered. "Keep going."

Instinctively, she knew they didn't have much time before he went wild, and that seemed to drive her arousal up further. He pushed into her again, and it felt much better this time.

When he was finally, fully seated within her, he groaned. Then let out a long sigh that sounded almost like… relief?

It was a strange noise, but one that Selene felt deep within her bones. Without words, she seemed to understand the sentiment behind it because she felt the same way. As if she had come home.

"More?" he asked in a voice that didn't sound like his own.

"Yes, Sam," she moaned. "Don't hold back."

The pleasure.

Sweet oblivion, he had never imagined anything could be so good. The slick clench of her flesh around his cock. Hot. The way she moaned his name. Lush. It was nothing short of bliss.

Slowly, he slid back, then pushed forward. Another consuming wave of pure ecstasy hit. He did it again, harder this time, and looked down to gauge Selene's reaction. Her lips were parted, and her head was thrown back. Sweat dampened her skin. She did not appear to be in pain, so he thrust again. And again, until he found a driving rhythm.

She drew her knees back further, giving him deeper penetration. The pressure to come was even more intense now, and he knew his control was ebbing. Already his skin had flushed, and his horns had grown larger, but he could take it. As long as she didn't do anything to ratchet up his arousal any further, he could stay in control. He would absorb the calming influence of his mate until they were both completely satisfied.

He glanced down, concerned that he wasn't touching enough of her. He needed to make sure she was covered in his scent. Her eyes were closed, and her breasts quivered with each of his thrusts. Her rose-colored nipples were so tight he couldn't resist bending to suck one in his mouth roughly.

"Oh, God!" she cried and dug her nails into his back. The sound made his vision blur red.

No! Stay in the moment!

He released her nipple and buried his head against the side of her neck, helplessly bucking against her. She met each one of his thrusts, and he could hear her panting breaths in his ear. He wondered if she was close. The thought of her coming around his cock, bathing him in her wetness, made him even more manic. He snarled against her.

He could feel her body tense. Her nails sunk into his back, while her other hand reached up to grip his uninjured horn as if she needed something to hold on to. The feel of her hot palm against his sensitive horn shot bolts of lust throughout his body.

Suddenly, her back arched, and she cried out, "Sam!" Then… he felt her release. Her inner walls clenched around his shaft. Rhythmic contractions followed, so intensely pleasurable that his eyes rolled back in his head.

His control shattered.

More.

As his mate writhed and moaned, he rose to his knees.

Deeper.

He gripped both her hips to lift her body up to his. Her head and upper back remained on the bed as he began to pound against her. Hard.

His claws dug into her flesh as he slammed into her, lost to anything but pleasure. But it wasn't enough.

Closer.

He needed to get closer. Consume her. Brand himself on every inch of her body. There was still something he lacked; something left undone.

Claim her.

Dark shadows hovered around them but retreated when he snapped his teeth at them. His mate was moaning again. She had placed her hands over his and was meeting each of his brutal thrusts with an ecstatic expression. Vaguely, he wondered why he had ever been so worried about frightening her. A demon's mate would naturally revel in his ferocity, just as he thrilled to her passion.

He felt his seed rise. The time was now. He had to say the incantation right as he climaxed, so that the magic would bind them. He had read the words often enough when he played among the scrolls held in the Hall of Demonic Canon as a child.

Using a language so old it was imprinted on his very essence, he spoke the ancient words.

As is the will of fate, I claim you as my mate.

His ejaculation shot into her like an eruption. Throwing back his head, he released a bellow that he was certain must have echoed throughout the whole of Aurelia. His back arched as he emptied himself into his mate's precious body. Demon magic shimmered over them both like a silver mist. Her beautiful face looked dazed at the effect.

In a blinding rush, he felt a surge of sensations. Euphoria. Possessiveness. Gratitude. Connection. The feeling of finally being given water after a lifetime of thirst. Everything he had ever longed for, everything he had ever wanted was now his. It was as if their bodies were no longer separate, but joined as one.

Mine.

Forever.

When it was over, his body sagged. Gently, he lowered Selene's hips to the bed then collapsed over her. One of her arms snaked around his back, while the other stroked his hair. They were both breathing heavily, perfectly in sync.

He felt utterly replete. He had done it. The mating bond was in place. Now she would understand that they weren't ever to be parted. She would remain at his side for eternity.

Dimly he was aware that his weight might be crushing her, so he rolled to his side, pulling her with him. He leaned back to study her face. Her hair was wild, and her cheeks were pink. A smile curved up the corners of her lips. Never had he seen her look more beautiful.

"Wow," she said.

He kissed her temple and gathered her close. There was nothing to describe how he felt at that moment. It was a mixture of elation, triumph, relief, and deep satisfaction. The feeling spread all over his body but was concentrated most intensely in his chest. His heart. His love for her was so deep, so consuming that it ached in the best way.

The future held nothing but hope. All he had to do was kill Zaybris. Then everything he had ever wanted would be his.

Theirs.