Magical Lover (38 page)

“Ah. I’ll walk with you.”

For the first time in a long time, walking next to his father left him relaxed instead of frustrated.

“Thoren! Your mother was just telling me about when you were a boy.” Keara reached for her glass.

Great. Leave it to his mother to tell all his embarrassing moments. Not that he was mad. She loved him, he loved her and the stories were told in good fun. Good fun at him, but hey, it made Keara smile and that counted for a lot.

The only thing marring this day is that Lily is leaving.
Keara’s voice whispered in his mind as she glanced to the entryway.

Thoren looked at Enar leading Lily out of the reception room.
You’ll see her again.

I know. But it’s still sad. I promised to see her soon.

Bet I know how to cheer you up.
He waggled his brows.

Keara’s green eyes twinkled at him and his body reacted, his arousal pressing against his leathers. How much longer did he have to stand around waiting to leave?

When can we leave?
She sipped her wine, eyes glowing with love.

I don’t know, but I’m ready to get you alone.

Red splashed across her cheeks, causing his erection to grow harder than he thought possible.

Me too.

Who cared what the guests thought. They could eat and drink all they wanted. And if it bothered them that he and Keara left, that was their problem.

“Mother, Father, we’re leaving.”

“It’s about time.” Moira kissed him on both cheeks. “The mating ritual is not complete without the joining. Don’t worry about the guests, they have plenty of food and drink to keep them occupied.”

“It was nice meeting you.” Keara touched Moira’s hand.

Before his mother replied, which had the potential of delaying them even more, Thoren grabbed Keara and transported them to his room in the Temple.

“It’s about time. I didn’t think we’d ever be able to leave.” Keara kissed him, leaning into his body.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing her against him, the feel of her body sparking tremors that shot down his spine. Running his hands up her back, he touched his tongue against the seam of her lips, a silent entreaty to open. Her lips parted for him, her tongue dancing against his.

Small hands untucked his tunic, shoving it upward. Thoren released her mouth, yanking his tunic over his head. His hands fumbled against her back, seeking the clasps for her dress, finding nothing.

“How did they get the dress on you?”

“Magic.”

“All right.” He waved his hand and the dress vanished from her body, reappearing draped over a chair.

Keara gasped, looked down her body and slowly raised her head. “Well, that’s one way of undressing a female. Seems that you’re a little overdressed for this party.”

He snapped his fingers and put his leathers on top of her gown.

“Much better, love. I like you like that.” A fingernail ran down his chest, burning tendrils shooting outward from its path.

He ran his gaze over her skin, which gleamed in the soft light of the globe lamps. Her hair hung in red spirals down her back, a circle of blue and yellow flowers rested against her head. She smelled like lilacs, intoxicating and pure.

His.

The one female created for him.

Thoren smiled.

“You look like a dragon that just took his first flight.”

“You make me happy. I can’t believe I found you.”

“I know what you mean. I’m so glad that you rescued me. I love you.”

“I love you too. Would you bond with me?”

“Didn’t I just do that?”

“We mated. By bonding we lock our life-forces together.”

A grin lit her face. “Of course I will. What do I need to do?”

“We exchange blood.”

Her eyes popped wide. “Really? I felt that urge. Earlier. When we first met. I wanted to bite your neck.”

“Now you’ll get to.” Placing both hands on her face, he kissed her, plundering her lips, branding her his.

She leaned into him, running her fingers through his hair, across his back. He walked her backward, never leaving her lips, until her knees hit the bed and she tumbled onto the mattress.

“Oomph. Wait a minute. Let me scoot back.”

She settled onto the bed and he crawled up her body, a predator after his prey. Her nipples budded for his touch and he obliged them, circling a finger around one nub until it hardened. Flicking the bud with his tongue, he took it into his mouth, as she clasped his head against her breast with a moan of pleasure.

Why stop with just a moan?

Keeping his tongue in place, he circled her other nipple with his finger, feeling it tighten in response. Alternating his mouth and finger, he played with both her nipples until her breaths came in moans. Licking his way down her stomach, he circled her navel with his tongue, one finger separating her inner folds as his mouth continued its caress across her skin.

“Ooohhh, that feels good, Thoren.”

Grinning, he flicked his tongue across her clit, circling around and around while his finger matched the motions inside her warm core. He felt her pulsating against his finger as her breaths came in short pants.

“Come for me,” he growled and she did, shattering around his finger, her cries filling the room.

Rising above her, he pressed into her warm opening that sheathed him like a glove, filling her with one long thrust. Her legs wrapped around his waist taking him deeper, her nails raked against his back before one hand cupped his arse, urging him faster.

He set their rhythm, thrusting into her, meeting her stroke for stroke. Moaning with pleasure, Thoren thrust against her, until he didn’t know where he ended and she began. Being inside his mate, his love, took him to heights he never realized possible. With each thrust, each little sigh escaping her lips, he felt their love deepen. Little moans left her lips, her breathing a series of pants.

He licked her neck, tasting the salt of her skin. Her tight sheath gripped him rhythmically, drawing him closer to his release. She cried out and his balls tightened, drawing up. He echoed her cry as he pumped into her, his orgasm exploding, giving her his soul along with his seed.

This time he didn’t hold back, he locked inside her, beginning the bonding ritual. Magic flowed across their skin as their life-forces began to mingle. Keara pulled his neck to her lips and with a stinging strike bit through his skin.

He felt his blood flow into her mouth and returned the bite, his teeth sinking into the skin of her neck. Blood and magic mingled inside him, linking him to her. Forever and always. Bonded mates.

Freeing her neck, he ran his tongue over the bite marks, closing them. Keara did the same as he released his inner grip on her core.

Thoren collapsed on top of her, her arms tightening around him. He loved her so much and tonight she was his.

“That was wonderful.” Her hand stroked his hair.

Afraid of crushing her, he rolled them to their sides, still nestled inside her.

“So what now?” Keara’s finger circled his nipple.

“We repeat that?”

“No. I mean, yes, we will repeat that, but that’s not what I meant. I mean where do we live? How long until we adopt Jamie? What do we do now that we’re mated?”

In the excitement of the mating ceremony, he forgot to tell her his news.

“I spoke to the Council and they took me on as a new member.”

“That’s great! I imagine you’re really happy about that.”

“I am. There can only be thirteen on the Council and one of the males wanted to retire so it all worked out.”

“Good. Now when I come to the infirmary you won’t have to sit home all alone, pining away, waiting for me to come home.”

“Silly female. I wouldn’t pine.”

“Uh-huh, sure you wouldn’t.”

Thoren kissed the tip of her nose. “Jamie’s adoption is scheduled in three days. Goddess help us.”

“Hey, now. He’s not that bad. Until you came along he was nice and quiet. Although he did have a penchant for falling out of trees.”

“Don’t worry. I happen to like the infirmary. You’ll be there. He’ll be there.” Thoren grinned.

“Silly. So where will we live?”

“We’ll live here until we build a place of our own. How does that sound?”

“As long as I’m with you, I’m happy.”

“That’s a good thing because it looks like you’re stuck with me.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Neither would he. Having a mate was the best thing that ever happened to him. And he wouldn’t trade her for all the reconnaissance missions in the world. He kissed her again before proving just how much he loved her.

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