bChapter /bb167 /b

    His words aren’t the only thing stealing my breath. He enters me in one deep thrust that makes me scream his name. My hands slide from his shoulders to the small of his back, urging him to keep moving. He brushes the edge of his fangs along my throat, arousing me even more. I look down and see the union of our bodies. The shine of my arousal coats his shaft, and I tremble from head to toe. Each thrust is slow and hard, making my breasts bounce against his chest and my nails leave marks on his back. He nts kisses along the curves of my breasts and nibbles my nipples with yful tugs.

    Imoan his name over and over, and let out a surprised cry when he grabs my ass and shifts us until he’s kneeling and I’m straddling his hips.

    b“/bCassian… I…”

    “Ride me like you still hate me.”

    I wrap my arms around his neck and start moving against him, chasing the friction of my clit against his pubic bone. I feel myself climbing the peak but can’t reach it no matter how much I stretch toward it. Cassian runs his hands down my back in sensual strokes, massages my ass like it’s the best thing he’s ever held, and slips a finger inside. I gasp at the intrusion, but I can’t say a word when it’s followed by a bite to my chest. I close my eyes and see stars bursting behind my eyelids. I move on him with abandon, riding the wave of orgasm and refusing toe down. I lower my mouth to the crook of his neck, inhale his rich scent, and sink my teeth into him. The taste floods my tongue and intensifies my climaxb. /bIt’s not just me–Cassian’s hoarse moan confirms it. His heat bursts inside me.

    He withdraws his fangs; I do the same, and see a trickle of blood fall from his bite marks to my navel. He licks the trail, leaving mes in his wake.

    “I can’t wait to spend eternity with you,” he purrs against my skin.

    “I was destined to find you.”

    “I would’ve found you even if I wasn’t meant to be yours, and you mine. Always. We’re above fate’s games and maniptions.”

    “Do you really believe that?”

    He cups my sweaty cheeks between his hands.

    “I trustpletely that I would have chosen you in every life, in every ce. You have no idea the power you hold over me, ra. That’s not easy to achieve. Of all the sins I’vemitted, loving you is my favorite.”

    “You love me?” I say, voice trembling.

    No one, aside from the people I thought were my family, had ever told me they loved me–and even then, I always felt something didn’t quite fit. Their ‘I love you’s always came with pitiful nces. I used to think it was because I had a countdown over my head since birth; now I understand those looks hid something more.

    “I thought I was clear enough.” He shifts us so I’m beneath him again, and he’s above me, drinking me in with his eyes. “There’s no other word for the will to live I feel with you.”

    “Maybe you’re sick. Can vampires get feversb?/bb” /b

    I pretend to check his temperature, but he swats my hand yfully and lowers his face to my lips, kissing me softly at first, then deeper, ending with a tug on my lower lip.

    “You’re in a yful mood today.”

    “I’m happy.”

    ALORSAL CHAUT

    b“/bMy be wants to believe it’s bar ause you have me hide you, though I’m mist entirely sure, so it ack why are you happy, rab? /b

    “Because of you. Buscause I’m finally here. I feel like apletaty different person partly because bI /bam. I’m happy I met you. Thank you for

    ferring me to be strong

    b“/bYou already were strong

    “No, I was resigned. I wanted to die. I wished for death.”

    “Because of me, because of my kind.”

    “And it’s only fair that you gave me back the desire to live a life I thought wasn’t mine.”

    “How ironic.” He strokes my lips with his thumb. “You’ve done the same for me.”

    “–”

    He presses his thumb harder against my lips to silence me.

    “Your ‘I love you‘ can’te after mine. I want it when it hurts so much to hold it in that you have to let it iout /ior die.”

    “Did it hurt you?”

    “you hurt me always, ra.” He grabs my hand and ces it over the heart that doesn’t beat. “I wish it could beat, because it would beat for you. Every pulse would carry your name, ra.”

    I’m so overwhelmed by his words, by the moment, by everything, that I let the tears fall. He wipes them with his fingers, and a slow, sincere smile spreads across his lips, making him look younger. I never thought I’d see him look anything but deadly, a weapon able to control every feeling and bend others to his will. But here he is, showing me that even viins were once children, and still keep a sliver of hope hidden

    inside.

    “Such beautiful and dangerous tears…”

    He lies beside me, and I feel his release running down my thigh as he watches me for what seems like hours, until I break our gaze and curt into his arms. I breathe deeply, knowing this is one of the few moments of peace I have left, and still, I wouldn’t trade it for anything or anyone else. His heart doesn’t beat, but mine still does–and every beat carries his name.

    AD

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