Page 63 of Realms of Shadow and Sun

Renya sighed contentedly as he caressed her arms and placed a soft kiss along her neck. Her head against his chest, she listened to his heart pound, and then slow as he recovered from their exertions.

“I love you,” he whispered, running his fingers through her now tangled hair.

She lifted up her head and planted a kiss along his jawline, feeling the thick hair that now covered part of his face.

“You should shave soon,” she said absentmindedly, rubbing her palm along his chin and cupping his cheek.

“I’ll do it tomorrow morning,” he replied, his eyes closing.

“Wait,” she whispered. “There’s something I want you to do first.”

He opened his eyes, staring deeply into hers. “Whatever it is, I’m happy to do it.”

She struggled with the request, suddenly embarrassed as she pictured his scratchy face between her thighs.

You never should feel ashamed to ask me for anything that makes you feel good.

Renya blushed, knowing that he must have seen what she was thinking, but she didn’t stop him as he kissed a trail down her stomach. Her breathing hitched as he moved between her thighs, his rough stubble tickling against her.

“Is this what you desire?” he breathed, blowing gently against her folds. She nodded, squirming as he continued worshiping her body.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Selenia felt peaceful for the first time since Jurel's death. With Sion's arms wrapped around her, she felt safe and protected. Loved, even. She knew he wasn't aware that they were fated; she could feel it in her soul that he didn't realize it. It was cruel to allow her this gift but to not allow Sion to reciprocate. He obviously felt something for her, but she knew it wasn't the desperation and aching desire that flooded her senses.

The Murcurial said it would hurt, at first, but she would be happy in the end. That was something, wasn't it?

She sighed and tilted her head back towards Sion. He held her tightly, his arms around her waist and his warm breath hot against her neck.

Her nightmare had brought them closer together. Selenia dreamt that Sion was in Cressida's court, and she was forced to watch as Cressida cut him over and over again, marring his beautiful skin. With a devilish look in her eye, the Shadow Queen had carved out Sion's heart right in front of her. That was when she woke up, with Sion's chest pressed against her own. It took her a while to realize that he was safe, and not locked away to do Cressida's bidding. When he told her what happened to him there, it upset her. But once he became hers, the revelation was absolutely horrifying. She'd stab Cressida in the heart for hurting her mate.

Her mate. Fates, how could this be so? Sion was well past the age for it. But then again, Grayden was too when he discovered he was fated to Renya. Was her mating bond somehow locked like Renya's? Or did the Murcurial create it? If she had somehow, when would Sion feel it?

Her head felt dizzy, trying to piece out this strange, yet exhilarating revelation. Selenia debated telling Sion, but it made no sense, and she didn't think he would believe her. No, she needed to figure out exactly what happened before she confessed.

Her face brightened. They were in the Snow Lands, and they should be home today. Surely Almory would know what was going on. Perhaps he would be able to force Sion's bond to her, so they could be deliriously happy together.

She traced her fingers lightly over his hand on her stomach, thinking about the kiss they shared last night. After a few minutes, Sion had pulled away, and the loss of his body against hers was so substantial that she had begun to cry again. He had held her then, pulling her to his furs, wrapping her in his muscular arms and placing tender kisses along her back. Even now, his chest was pressed to her back and she could feel the warmth radiating from him. Her bottom rested against him, and she could feel his hardness against her backside.

She was horribly naive when it came to men, and the only knowledge she possessed about sex had come from romance novels hidden deep in the false bottom of her wardrobe. From what she read, the hardness she felt indicated that he wanted her. Relief flooded her. Perhaps he sensed their connection, even without his side of the bond activated.

Sion shifted in his sleep, and Selenia felt herself being pulled to his body even tighter. She could scarcely breathe, but she didn't care.

Finally, Sion began to wake up. Selenia dreaded the moment, knowing that when he woke up and realized how close they were, he would undoubtedly push her away again. But for just a little bit, she could pretend.

She could tell the instant Sion remembered the previous night. He tensed behind her, a shaky breath escaping him.

He started to pull away, but Selenia turned towards him and held his face in her hands. He blinked rapidly, and she watched him swallow hard.

“None of that,” she said, looking deeply into his eyes. “You aren't going to pull away.”

He closed his eyes, and Selenia could feel the pulse of desire tug at them both.

“Selenia, this can't happen...”

“What did I just say?”

Sion pushed himself up, untangling his limbs from hers. “I took advantage of the situation. You're sad because of Jurel, and I'm preying on that.” He held the fur over his body as he tried to pull his trousers on, nearly falling over in the confined space of the tent.

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