Page 194 of Between Despair and Hope

“They did not hurt. They itched a bit sometimes, but no. It happens slowly enough it doesn’t hurt.”

“I wish I was there to rub lotion on you,” he said. Fingers hitching into my underwear, he slid them down until they fell at my feet, and I stepped out.

“I wish you were there too, and I’m sorry you weren’t.”

“Don’t say sorry. Can I hold you for a minute?” he asked.

Wordlessly, I moved, and he situated me across his lap, my upper body turned to curl into his. Though the throne room wasn’t cold, it wasn’t warm by any means, and I needed him closer. I felt his cock twitch against my leg again, growing more insistent, but he ignored it, nuzzling into my neck.

“I’ll never waste another moment with you. I’ll never take any of it for granted,” he said, voice low.

“Neither will I,” I promised.

One of his hands slid down, squeezing my backside before he adjusted me, bringing my back to his chest. His other hand moved, tracing gently over my hip, down to where I knew I was wet, my body eager. His cock stood erect between where my legs rested, ready for me. When one fingertip circled my clit, the touch a weightless tease, I tilted my head back, resting it against his shoulder. I loved being with him like this. Tender moments when time stopped and it was just the two of us. Just him, pressing a kiss above my ear, inhaling as he did.

Moving his touches down farther, he teased my entrance before dragging my wetness back to my clit, rubbing more thoroughly. And, though I knew he wanted to taste me, and I’d said we had plenty of time, my patience had worn thin. Reaching down, I grasped his length, moving him up as I slid forward. Using one hand to grip the throne for balance, I notched him at my entrance. When I’d moved, his hand had fallen away from my clit, and he grabbed me by the waist, helping me find my balance as I slowly lowered myself down atop him. Legs spread on either side of his, I braced myself as I moved while he guided me.

“Gods, I love when you take what you want,” he groaned, gripping me tight as I leisurely slid down his length. I was in no rush, wanting to draw out the pleasure for as long as I could. Glancing over my shoulder, the light of the moon shone down on him, illuminating the adoration and need etched in his face. Jaw tight, he grunted as I lowered myself completely, circling my hips before stilling. I rested there, fully filled with him, and he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to my spine.

“What I want is you. Always has been,” I said. And it was true. I’d have spent the rest of my days wishing things had been different and feeling guilty for every errant thought about him. I never escaped them for long either. It would have been miserable.

He slid down a bit further in the throne, giving himself more leverage to push up into me. I continued, lifting and lowering upon him—slow. He gripped my hips, supporting me. His grasp on my skin was bruising, punishing almost, as if he was holding back with every bit of his control. He let me continue my slow pace, movements languid. I knew eventually he’d lose control, unable to stop himself. But I continued to slowly bounce atop him, and his little breaths of pleasure spurred me on until I picked up my speed.

I paused, my foot slipping on the ground, and he took the opportunity to wrap both arms around me and tug me backward onto his chest. One hand slid down to touch where he sat within me, his fingertips rubbing circles on my sensitive clit as he held me tight. A gentle nibble on my ear sent goosebumps across my flesh, and my body warmed against his, sinking back into his embrace.

“You’re everything I could ever want,” he said. “And you’re mine.” He punctuated his words with gentle upward thrusts, and I writhed atop him. With his fingertips circling me, bringing me closer and closer to that precipice, his thick cock filling me so deep, I closed my eyes as his other hand came up to massage my breast. He held me that way, pressing up into me slowly and surely, as I relaxed against him. A rightness came over me—an absolute certainty which I’d only started to realize was content. I’d never felt so loved and satisfied in my life.

He moved my hair out of the way, enabling him to press his lips to my neck. I felt my body tighten around him, tension rising and breath shaking, and he could sense it too. He changed nothing about what he was doing, maintaining the perfect pressure and pace. I couldn’t help it as I started moaning, the sound echoing in the large chamber, my cries of pleasure bouncing off the stone walls. I brought both my feet up to the edge of the throne, opening my legs up wider for his access, and I ground down on his cock as his hand moved in a frenzy. A tingling started from where our bodies met, spreading upward and outward. Everything tensed within me, and Rain pushed deep, holding me at the ideal angle as he rubbed that spot. My body pulsed, and my legs began to twitch, the pleasure too much. My hips bucked, my natural instinct to pull myself away from the demanding rapture. Panting his name, I allowed my head to loll against him.

“Calling my name so sweetly while you’re squeezing my cock so tight?” He growled against my neck, sending shivers down my spine. “My wicked little thing.”

I shuddered as he withdrew and drove into me again during the muscle spasms and the gasping, my breath catching in my throat as he drew out the sensation. When I tried to snap my legs shut, he used one hand to hold my thigh while the other continued its assault on my clit.

“Take it, Em, take the pleasure like you take me. Come for me,” he commanded.

The ground shook as I obeyed, the overwhelming crash causing my legs to shake and my body to jerk forward as my moans turned into a scream. Pinpricks of gold appeared in my vision as I closed my eyes, our bond shining bright. There was a loud crash behind us, something shattering as it fell. I jumped, about to climb to my feet as Rain pulled me back and started laughing.

“That must have been quite good for you,” he said, chuckling even as he continued pushing up into me. The sensation was too much—I was still so sensitive, and my leg twitched. “That was all you, dear heart. You probably just destroyed one of the statues.”

“I did?” I gasped. “Oh, no.”

He laughed. “I don’t care about them. You’ll get used to making the ground shake. I plan to keep pleasuring you to that point as often as possible.”

I swatted at his arm, and he pushed up into me again, causing a moan to rip free from my chest. Leaning forward, I pulled myself off of him, turning before settling into his lap once more.

“I like seeing the look on your face when you come,” I said, leaning forward to lick his lower lip. He grabbed himself, lining up his cock with my body, before he slammed me down onto him. My head dropped back, and his hands gripped me once more, tight as he held me in place. His hold guided my body, moving me up and down his length, until he groaned with frustration.

“What is it?” I asked, just as he stood, a small grunt crossing his lips as he picked me up and walked to the edge of the dais. “Am I too heavy?”

“Don’t insult me,” he quipped.

Wrapping my arms and legs around him, I held on tight as he turned, laughter on my lips. He dropped to a knee, gently laying me down on the steps leading up to the thrones. I leaned back on my elbows, my hair splaying on the dais behind me.

“Couldn’t fuck you like I need to and still see your face,” he grumbled, dropping his body to mine, covering me, before sliding into me once more. I moaned, and then he was moving. Rough pounding thrusts, deeper and more aggressive than the gentle way I’d ridden him, had me grabbing onto his shoulders. My nails scraped down his skin as he slammed into me, my mouth open on a silent scream.

“Oh, gods,” I panted, biting my lip. The flare of gold on the edges of my vision, those beautiful gilded threads, drew my attention, and I closed my eyes. Though my skin hadn’t begun to glow, my eyes did when I opened them, but it was all the better so I could see the face of the man who took heaving breaths above me, staring down at me reverently.

“Beautiful, Em,” he breathed, placing a soft kiss to my forehead as his hips moved in opposition, nothing tender about it. I mirrored his movements, doing my best to meet each thrust. A step dug into my back, and I didn’t care, grabbing him to better pull him toward me. He dipped his head, lips grazing over the lilacs on my skin, harsh breaths panting. His hand dipped to my thigh, pulling it up around his waist, caressing the length of my leg as he moved it. His rhythm grew stuttered and soft grunts spilled from his lips, his brows drawing together. I pulled his face to mine, kissing him with abandon, until I felt him pulse inside me. Gasping for breath, his mouth open and eyes closed, he pumped his body into mine, filling me. When his jerking hips stilled, he dipped his head lower, all but collapsing atop me.

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