Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
“I figured he might, but I needed to make sure that was a legit lead. Ardan, it was. I saw him enter the building. Now you—”
“What would I have done if I lost you?” I bark, causing her to jerk her head back.
“I—”
“You didn’t think of that, did you? Do you even know how dangerous that was? Dracon would have given his life for you to return to me, but if he had fallen before you got away, I would have lost you both.
“A warrior our people need and the love of my life. Finding Bardo is not worth losing you. Nothing is,” I finish, my chest heaving.
Her eyes bounce around my face as she sits silent. I think over my words and realize what I’ve said. I close my eyes and drop my head back.
Billy moves to straddle my waist and cups my cheeks in her palms. When I open my eyes, she’s a breath away from my lips. I place my hands on her waist and hold her tightly.
“You love me?”
“I do. I’m madly in love with you. I would cease to exist if I lost you. I’ve waited all my life for you. That’s a long fucking time.
“Now that I have you, the fear of losing you is very real. With hunters on the loose, an ice titan in the shadows and now a missing water spirit, my fear isn’t invalid.
“I know what it’s like to have power and to watch powerlessly as someone is taken away. I don’t think I could handle that. As strong as I am, I promise you I’m not that strong.”
“I … I.”
“You don’t have to say it yet. I feel it already. When the words are ready, they will come. I just need you safe. No more reckless missions. Promise me.”
She pecks my lips. “I promise.”
I grasp the back of her neck and take her lips. However, her phone rings, breaking into the moment. As she holds out her hand to call the phone to herself, I kiss a trail down her neck and make my way to her breast to pull her nipple into my mouth.
She moans and tries to wiggle away. I follow, laying her on her back and kiss my way down her body. I stop at her belly button to worship it.
“Hello, Papi. What’s up?” she breathes into the phone.
I smirk against her skin as I continue to kiss the soft flesh. Goose bumps rise and she squirms beneath my touch. I watch as her stomach caves, then look up her body to lock eyes with her.
“I didn’t forget. We’ve both been busy. I’ll try to make some time to come by soon,” she replies to what’s said on the other end.
“I’m never going anywhere and he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. You should just take me to meet him,” I say in her thoughts.
While she is talking to her father, I trace the tip of my tongue across her belly, spelling my name. I groan deeply as the scent of her arousal begins to rise to my nose.
“Ardan, could you stop? I can’t think straight.”
“What is there to think about? Tell your father you will bring me by later today. Then I can reward you with a good fuck to start our day. Don’t you want me to let you up so you can go read?”
I begin to suck her flesh into my mouth as I move lower down her body. She tries to close her legs, but I pry them open and lick my way from her knee to the apex of her thigh.
“Oh my God, Papi, I need to go. I’ll be there later,” she pants into the phone and hangs up, dropping the phone to the bed.
I climb back up her body and take her lips. This kiss is different. I can feel her letting her guard down. It’s like she’s returning my words without speaking them aloud.
Just when I think I’m going to take control, she pushes me onto my back and straddles me. When I look into her eyes, I note so much has changed in such a short time.
I can’t help feeling like so much more rests within my mate. Billy hasn’t even scratched the surface of who she is. However, rushing her to come into her potential isn’t something I want to do to her.
I would have lost my mind if she had to force her magic to survive Bardo. The last thing I want is for Billy’s magic to corrupt her mind. As magical beings, we normally come into our magic gradually. When forced to mature in our gifts, some lose themselves.
“Focus on me, babe. You wanted my attention; now you have it,” Billy says through our link as she sinks down on me.
I growl and sit up, then flip her onto her back. I toss her legs back and hold her waist as I drive into her. I’m taken aback when her eyes turn blue before going back to their reddish-brown color.