Page 99 of Realm of Dreams & Shadows

“Perfect,” he murmurs against my mouth, and I can taste myself on his lips. “You’re absolutely perfect.”

I reach between us, wrapping my hand around him, and he groans, his hips jerking into my touch. He’s hard and hot in my palm, and the knowledge that this is all for me—that I’ve driven him to this—makes me bold.

“I need you again,” I whisper, guiding him to where I’m wet and ready. “Please, Chase. I need to feel you.”

He positions himself at my entrance, pausing to look into my eyes. “Cora,” he says, his voice strained with the effort of holding back. “You are my everything.”

I tremble. From the words, from his touch. “Yeah,” I say. “I know the feeling.”

He takes me faster this time. Harder. And I writhe against him, my hands on his ass, wanting more. Everything. Deeper. Wanting to never be apart again. Wanting this wild sensation that’s twisting through me to never end, except it finally does, throwing me into an explosive whirlwind so intense it feels like the universe has shifted.

Considering who I’m in bed with, maybe it has.

Afterward, we lie tangled together, both breathing hard. His hand traces lazy patterns on my skin, and I feel completely undone. Transformed.

“Cora.” He shifts to look at me, brushing damp hair from my face with such tenderness it makes my throat tight. “Are you okay? Really?”

I nod, curling closer against him, because I’m more than okay. I’m warm and loved and safe. I’m his. Truly. And the biggest part of that miracle?

He’s mine now too.

“Thank you,” I whisper, the words inadequate for everything I’m feeling.

He frowns. “For what?”

“For this. For wanting me. For—” I can’t finish, emotion clogging my throat.

“Cora.” My name is reverent on his lips. He cups my face, his golden eyes holding mine. “You don’t need to thank me for taking what I’ve craved. For finally having what I thought I could never have.”

The intensity in his voice, the raw need—it’s almost too much. Almost feels like those three words I’m not ready to say, even if part of me already knows.

He kisses me then, slow and deep, and I taste everything he’s not saying. Whatever comes next—the prophecy, Adric, all the truths he needs to tell me—we’ll face it together.

“Stay with me,” he murmurs, pulling me close. “Sleep here. In my arms.”

I curl into him, pressing my face against his chest, where I can feel his heartbeat. The emotional whiplash of the night and the overwhelming newness of everything are finally catching up to me. But more than that, I feel safe. Cherished. Home.

“You’re mine,” he whispers, but I don’t return the words. Instead, I snuggle closer and close my eyes, remembering the kiss with Adric, and wondering if I’m now in completely over my head.

I don’t recall falling asleep again, though I must have. It’s still dark, but there’s a different edge to the quiet, as if the whole city is sleeping. As if the mares have taken the night off as a personal favor to me.

“Hey,” Chase whispers, rolling to spoon against me, his hand cupping my breast as his thumb teases my nipple.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t,” he says, and something in his tone makes me roll over so that I’m facing him. He lifts a brow, his hand now sliding down my back to stroke lazily over my rear.

I lean forward to kiss the tip of his nose. “What’s on your mind, cowboy?”

He chuckles. “How well you already know me.”

“Do I?”

He returns the kiss, his lips brushing my eyebrow. “It’s nothing.”

I draw in a breath. “It was just a kiss,” I say. “He drew me there—to his library. I came here, remember? To you.”

Mischief dances on his lips. “And for me,” he says, making my cheeks burn.