Page 48 of Ashborne Forged

She sucked in again as the cold air pebbled her skin, but I saw the flush on her cheeks, and felt the ripple in her body as I plunged one hand up her jacket to grasp her breast, and the other, down between her thighs from the back, teasing her apart and cursing with delight when I found her already slick.

“My beautiful, innocent, fiery mate,” I rasped, coming off her neck hard enough to leave a mark, pulling her hips up so she could be on her knees, but keeping her chest to the ground. “Do you have anything to say to me?” I graveled as I took myself in hand and positioned myself for her, rubbing myself on her so she’d understand. There would be no waiting if—

“Nothing! Please, I—oh!”

The guttural groan tore from my throat and echoed in the trees as I plunged into her, clapping that hand to her shoulder and arching my back to drive into her with force.

Grace gave a beautiful, broken cry and shivered as I withdrew. I rasped her name in a guttural growl, then took her again.

Again.

Again.

Her nipple turned to a rivet against my palm, and I shuddered, fighting off the urge to twist that peak until she screamed.

She’s new to this. Innocent. I can’t—

Grace threw a hand forward, clawing fingers into the earth to brace, then pressed herself back against me, crying out as we joined again.

I shook from head to toe, my soul thrilled by the abandon of her. Struggling for control, arguing with myself, fighting the urge to let go completely.

This first experience had to be positive. She had to enjoy herself to encourage less caution in future, not more.

Squeezing, kneading her breast, gasping her name, taking her in quick, sure rhythm, I wrestled with my own restraint until I could swallow back the selfish need to unleash, then dragged that hand from her shoulder, to the back of her neck, twisting her hair around my wrist, gripping it in my fist, then tugged her head back, biting lightly on her earlobe and dragging my teeth from it until she twitched.

Listen, and obey. “Say my name,” I growled.

“Vos… Voski!”

I opened my mouth on the sensitive skin under her ear and laved it with my tongue to reward her, as I took her again and again, until she began to tighten on me and arched back. I took another loop of her hair on my wrist to keep the tension, then kissed the corner of her jaw, whispering to her, as she keened, her mouth open and breath harsh.

“You are stunning,” I croaked, groaning as she clenched on me. “So fucking beautiful, Grace. So bold.”

“Voski…”

“And strong.”

“Vos—I’m…”

“And mine—” I spat the word through my teeth and her breath stopped. Her body went rigid, her breast swelling in my palm as she clamped down on me.

My orgasm detonated at the base of my spine and I roared for her.

The bond rushed like a crashing wave, pummeling my ribs, searing my soul as we both hung there, thrashing, helplessly gripped in the power of something so mighty, it threatened to break us—or cement us together for ever.

“Voski!” Her cry was high and shrill, a stuttering my name.

‘I’m here.’ I released her hair, though her head remained craned back as I wrapped that arm around her, pulled her to me, and rode out the wave of want and release that crashed through both of us, tumbling until it was impossible to know which way was up. And let our souls be scoured clean.

There was a single, breathless moment that we quivered together… then collapsed.

When I blinked back to reality, she was curled up tight, knees to her chest, her head resting on my bicep, my body wrapped around hers.

We both trembled.

A high, thin scream rang in the back of my skull, all instincts on alert as I tried to find my bearings and understand what the fuck just happened.

Then Grace blew out a breath and I felt her shiver and everything I’d just done slammed home.