Page 68 of Bound

There was some trembling. But he could recognize it for what it was: aftershocks of the pleasure he’d given her. Mortals were, after all, so very responsive.

He finished with her lower lip. He left one dark spot, tugging it down until her lips parted.

She blinked up at him very slowly, her lip dragging against his finger.

Slate let his finger drop away and sat back. She was so beautiful like this, covered in his markings, her dark hair clouding around her head and her eyes fixed on his.

Her tongue darted out to brush over the spot he’d painted on her lip. “What is it?”

Slate didn’t know what to say.You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. You’ve made me feel more awake than anything in all my long existence. Don’t leave.

“You look like you deserve to be worshipped,” he said instead.

He carried her to the stone ward next. It took a long time, and they were both panting when they finally emerged into the forest clearing.

Slate adjusted her on his newly hard cock. His knot had deflated on the walk, and he had to force himself not to shove her against a tree and rut until he finished again.

He laid her out on the stone slab, right over the faint blue glow of the rune.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

She stared up at him, chest heaving. The paint was smudged, but the lines were still there. It would work.

He thought sadly of breaking one of those lines with his thumb so the spell would fail. Then he saw the heady determination in her eyes and stopped himself.

She pulled on his horns. “Do it. Fuck me.”

Only if you stay,he thought.We are bound; I canmakeyou stay.

He didn’t say it. Instead, he pulled back, slamming back into her with such force they both yelled.

“Gods,” she whined. She threw her head back, sliding her hands down to cover his hands where they were holding her legs back. “I’m going to bruise tomorrow.”

Slate fucked into her again, grinding his hips against her. “Do you wish me to be gentle?”

“No,” she gasped. “I-I want you to take me as hard as you can. Don’t hold back.”

He knew he shouldn’t listen to her. She was so fragile. But he couldn’t stop himself. He shoved harder inside, letting the bulb of his thickening knot catch against her entrance.

Ruby gasped. Her hands flew down to touch her stomach, where a bulge appeared every time he bottomed out.

They both groaned as she covered the spot with her hands. He couldn’t feel her fingers through her skin, but he could feel how deep she was letting him in. He could feel his own spend dripping around him, could feel her body stretch and strain to accommodate that as well. And yet she was still sotight. As if the spell stretched her to barely fit him, but no more.

The clearing filled with the wet sounds of mating, their ragged cries climbing to join it.

Slate bent over her, fucking her so hard the stone ward rocked on the ground. Then he caught a glimpse of stray wetness on her cheek and stopped.

Ruby whimpered. “Don’t stop!”

He let his tongue drop out, licking up the salt. “You’re weeping.”

Ruby opened her wet eyes. Another tear ran down the side of her face, blurring—but not breaking—the lines on her cheek.

“It feels so good,” she said thickly. “I-I can’t believe this is happening.Pleasedon’t stop, Slate. I want to be yours.”

Slate groaned and buried himself as deep as he could go, watching her belly bulge with it. He bent down and caught her mouth in a vicious kiss, his fangs catching her lip.

The ritual paint stayed intact. But when he drew back, there was a smudge imprinted on his own mouth.

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