Page 147 of Taken By the Fae

Pleasure crashes over me like a warm, weighted blanket, and I whimper against his lips, grinding my hips as I come around his cock. His lips leave mine, and I suck in a breath to fill my lungs, moaning when his mouth finds the racing pulse at my neck.

And then Tristan bites me.

He doesn’t break the skin, but the strength behind it is definitely going to leave a mark. The thought of him claiming me has heat pulsing through me as his thrusts pick up, and I cling to him as he bites down harder and growls against my skin, announcing his own climax.

The drumbeat of our pounding hearts is music to my ears, and I shiver as Tristan pulls out of me, swirling his tongue over the marks his teeth left in my neck.

After we recover from the aftershocks of our shared climax, we lie facing one another. Tristan pulls the sheets over us, then strokes my arm. My eyes flick to his the moment he transfers energy to me. “You don’t have to do that,” I whisper, though I don’t want him to stop. Aside from nourishing me, it also makes my skin tingle with warmth, a pleasant euphoria settling over me.

“Let me take care of you,” he murmurs.

I lean up and press my lips against the corner of his mouth. My stomach grumbles, permeating the silence between us. “I think I need some human food.”

Tristan chuckles. “I think we can manage that.” He smoothes my hair and kisses my head before getting off the bed. He steps into a pair of dark gray sweatpants and winks at me. “French toast sound okay?”

The immediate grin on my face is answer enough.

He nods before turning and walking out of the room.

After watching his backside until he’s out of sight, I grab a pillow to prop my head up and sigh, staring at the ceiling. I’m not sure if we’ve made it back to the place we were before everything happened with Jules, but when we’re together, it feels as if we’re getting there. I missed it—him—more than I could imagine missing a person.

I find my clothes and get dressed before joining Tristan in the kitchen. He has breakfast cooking, so I walk over to the fancy-ass espresso machine and make us some coffee. Leaning against the counter while it brews, I watch him with a smile on my face. I will never tire of seeing this side of him. With all the crazy we’ve experienced, being able to fall asleep next to each other and cook breakfast like normal people makes the rest bearable.

I leave the coffee and walk around the island in the middle of the kitchen, stopping behind Tristan and wrapping my arms around his bare torso.

“Hey there,” he murmurs, turning so he can see me out of the corner of his eye.

“Hey,” I say, my cheek pressed against his back.

“You doing okay?”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “I wish we could stay here forever—wish the conflict between the fae courts would resolve itself.”

“Me too.” He shifts enough to wrap his arm around me and pulls me against his side.

I stick my finger in the bowl of icing sugar on the counter, then lick it off. “Yum,” I say, grinning a little.

Tristan bends and steals a kiss. “Yum indeed.”

We spend the rest of the morning eating breakfast in between kisses and teases. We’re forcing ourselves to keep our clothes on, knowing we’ll end up in bed all day if we’re not careful. I wouldn’t complain, but I have to get to the pub to work with Nikolai, and Tristan needs to get to the office.

“You’ll come back tonight?” he asks, leaning against the doorframe as I walk into the hallway to get on the elevator.

I slip on my heels. “Maybe.”

He arches a brow, the wicked smirk on his lips waking the butterflies in my stomach. “Maybe?”

My lips twist. “Hmm.”

His eyes narrow as he steps toward me. “You’re teasing me.” He places a finger under my chin, tilting my face until our eyes are level. “I just got you back.” His voice is lower, softer. “Let me see you tonight.”

“I guess I can cancel my date. Too bad, though. Nikolai and I were going to this really nice sushi place.” I press my lips together to keep from grinning.

“Cute,” he deadpans in a grim voice. Tristan’s hands drop to my hips, and he pulls me flush against him as he lowers his voice. “And you are sorely mistaken if you think I’ll let that happen. You are mine, now and forever, just as I am yours. I’m not letting you get away again.” He brushes his lips across mine in a whisper of a kiss that sets my soul on fire before he steps away.

My mouth opens, and I’m about to say the most important words I’ll ever speak, but my throat closes, and I’m unable to get it out. It’s different from when I try to lie; my brain knows I can say it, but it’s myheartthat won’t allow the words to pass my lips. It doesn’t make sense. Iwantto say them. Now is the perfect time. Instead, I step on the elevator, wait for the door to slide shut, and glare at myself in the mirror-paneled wall until I reach the lobby.

Groaning on an exhale, I fight the urge to punch something. I’m glad no one else is witnessing my meltdown because it’s embarrassing as hell. Hot tears prick my eyes, and I shake my head as I step off the elevator.

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