Page 84 of How to Claim A Shadow King

"Malakai," she pants, her fingers gripping the edge of the stone as she stares at me through the mirror.

"Look at me, Aveline," I command softly. It’s quiet, but there’s no room for argument.

I step behind her.

I hook my hands around her hips and separate her thighs with my knee. I watch her reflection as I press my cock against her soaking, slick core. With a single stroke, I take her from behind right in front of the mirror.

Aveline lets out a breathless, choked gasp.

“So perfect, Aveline. Look at how you take me.”

Her spine arches beautifully, and she does as I say, watching my massive cock drive deep into her body.

Her eyes never close.

I run one hand over her lower stomach, then lower, through the thicket of blonde curls, until she bends forward, helping guide my hand to her clit. I move within her with a slow, agonizing possession, my eyes locked onto her changing features through the reflection as she cries out, her head tossing back against my shoulder. My teeth find her shoulder, and I bite, needing to possess her fully as she comes with a scream.

34

AVELINE

If someone had told me three days ago that I would be lying blissfully naked in the bed of an ancient entity, completely sex-addled and tracing the hard, marble-carved planes of his chest, I would have thought they were losing their mind.

But here I am.

And here he is.

The bedroom is warm, saturated with the rich scent of dark vanilla, spiced cedarwood, and the lingering, intoxicating musk of our, well, our bodies. Lingering and maybe slightly embarrassing. Luckily for me, I’m too tired and pleasured to be embarrassed about anything at all.

Outside, the magic fueled winter storm lashes against the high windows, but the glass is heavily frosted over, completely sealing us into a private, amber-lit sanctuary of velvet sheets and heavy furs.

I lazily trace the tip of my fingernail down the center of Malakai's chest, following the sharp, intimidating line of his abdominal muscles. My entire body feels wonderfully heavy, a delicious, dizzying sort of exhaustion humming in my veins. The overwhelming, ahem, physicality of the last twenty-four hours has left my body and brain entirely fried.

But… I am deliriously happy, a realization that prompts an involuntary hum of contentment from me.

Malakai lets out a noise of satisfaction in response—a sound that literally vibrates through the bed beneath us—and wraps one massive, heavily muscled arm tighter around my waist. He pulls me up his torso until my chin rests on his collarbone.

His eyes are soft, staring up at me with a pleased devotion that makes my heart skip a beat.

"You’re staring, Aveline," he rumbles, running a hand up my bare back.

"I am inspecting the merchandise, Shadow King," I counter, a lazy smirk on my lips. I tap a finger against his bare shoulder, right where his ridiculous ceremonial armor rested. "Tell me... will the scandalous shadow-wyrm battle lingerie be making a formal appearance at our eventual nuptials? Because if I am forced to wear a traditional veil, I fully expect you to be appropriately underdressed."

Malakai’s lips twitch upward, half his mouth jerking into a broad grin that makes him look impossibly handsome in the firelight. "It is ceremonial, Aveline,” he says on a sigh. “But if it pleases my bride, I will gladly wear nothing at all to the altar."

"Oh no." I snort, leaning down to press a quick, playful kiss to his jaw, entirely enamored by the texture of his stubble. “No one gets to see all of you but me.” I let out a sigh, resting my cheek against his chest, and listen to the thud of his heart.

“I have a possessive bride, I see.”

“Mmph,” I agree, tracing the raspy stubble on his jaw.

The peace of the room wraps around me, and for the first time, the weight of my past dissolves.

I feel safe.

I feel chosen.

"All right," I murmur into his skin, deciding to finally yield. "We can get married, I guess. If we must. But let it be known that a Duchess of Stormspire expects a very specific standard of luxury for her wedding. I want a proper ceremony in the village. I want Piper’s cakes and Lila’s tea, I want Sandwich decorated in winter flowers, and I expect your idiot brothers to wear actual clothes instead of leather kilts."