Page 170 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

“Open that pretty mouth of yours, love,” he whispers, his voice a velvet command that leaves me no choice but to surrender. This isn't the boy from the academy. This is a male who knows exactly how to unmake me.

I do, swirling my tongue once, then twice. His whole body shudders. I look back at him as I take him deep into my throat, until my eyes water.

“You look so pretty with my cock in your mouth.” He pulls almost all the way out, then slowly moves. His grip tightens. Still, he never loses eye contact.

I shift, the ache in my core almost unbearable. He’s not even fully undressed, and this male before me is perfection. I want to spend the rest of my long life getting to know every single pore. Running my tongue across every surface.

Finn had said our Mating Bond was deeper than marriage. I belong to him—and he belongs to me. I close my eyes for a moment, earning a tsk from Ryker.

“Eyes here,” he whispers, using his free hand to stroke my cheek. “How wet are you, Soraea?”

My cheeks hollow and burn. He doesn’t have to ask. He knows.

“Show me, Princess.”

He slams into my mouth, making the tears leak down my cheeks. Gods. I shouldn’t be ashamed of how much I love being possessed by him. I know if he felt even a moment of hesitation, he’d stop. But I also know that in this case, he knows how far gone I am.

I dip my finger beneath my leggings and swipe it through my center before showing him my glistening finger. He pulls from my mouth so quickly I feel dizzy. Then I’m on my feet and he’s capturing my finger with his mouth.

His teeth graze the pad of my finger before releasing me. In a deep seductive voice, he purrs, “Tell me how you wish to be worshipped tonight, Soraea. Tell me how to make you scream my name.”

My breath hitches. I nibble on my bottom lip before reminding myself that this is the same male who has loved me my whole life. The one who has seen every version of me and, instead of running, has fully embraced me. This beautiful man has only looked at me like I am the daughter of a god, and he’s never made me feel anything less than that.

Lifting my gaze to his, I whisper, “I want you to bite me.”

There’s something feral about the smile that crosses his lips. He bends closer, his mouth hovering over my neck as my chest rises and falls rapidly. His breath caresses my neck as he says, “All you had to do was ask, Princess.”

I whimper when his teeth graze the skin, but don’t puncture.

Ryker stands, kicking off his pants and socks until he’s gloriously naked before me. Then he takes his time, kissing me slowly as he pulls off my top. He kisses a trail down my neck, my stomach as he peels me out of my leggings, taking my underthings with it.

The glass dome overhead frames the stars like witnesses to the fire between us. Ryker’s hands are a map of possessive heat, claiming every inch of skin he was nearly denied. When his canines graze my pulse, I feel the predatory thrum of the Bond demanding more.

“What else?” he asks breathlessly against my stomach.

I drive my fingers into his hair. My need for him is growing with every passing minute. “I want you in every way, Ry. On every surface. I want you in every position we can fold ourselves into.”

He kisses lower until his mouth is right over my throbbing core. “Let’s see how many orgasms I can wring from you tonight before you pass out. Starting with you riding my face, Princess.”

His grip on my hips tightens as he lifts me to the bed. He sprawls out, head on a pillow, before pulling me atop him and settling me over his mouth. I don’t have time to be embarrassed because his tongue…gods that tongue.

I’ve never felt so close to my mate. The bridge that spans between our souls shrinks with every kiss, every bit of pleasure I surrender. Every orgasm melds together, his becoming mine, and mine his. There is no separation.

Ryker kneels behind me, his front to my back as he thrusts into me. One of his arms is wrapped around me, his hand toying with my breast, the other hand wrapped around my throat. The terrace doors are open to the waterfall, the rush of the water matching the energy within me.

My limbs are weak, my skin buzzing with pleasure, and he still hasn’t bitten me. I’ve lost count of how many times he’s made me shatter, but I don’t care. He’s ruined me so thoroughly I might need a sick day tomorrow.

Another loud moan tumbles from my mouth when he rolls my nipple between his fingers with another core-shattering thrust. I fall forward, unable to hold myself up, but Ryker never misses a beat. He runs a hand down my spine, settling it on my hip, the other wrapping into my hair as he splits me in half, thrusting harder and faster.

“Ry—” I gasp. “Gods.”

The Bond hums between us, bright and possessive, as if the universe itself is urging him closer.

“You keep calling for them, but they aren’t here, and I don’t share, Soraea.”

My body is fighting me. Exhaustion and desire are at war with each other. I might need to take a break after this. And hydrate.

His hand falls from my waist before connecting with my ass. The burn awakens me. “One more, Soraea,” he commands, knowing where my thoughts have drifted.