Page 248 of Primal Bonds

Her throat worked. Her mouth opened. Rather than hear another no from her, he covered those soft, dusky-rose lips with his own. Spearing his tongue into her mouth.

Prepared for a fight.

But she didn’t fight him. Instead, her breath released with a sigh and her taut little body melted against him. He forgot how shitty he felt as his dick went iron-hard.

He kept his one hand behind her head, holding her mouth where he wanted, while his other hand went to her round little ass. He molded her to his body, pressing his insistent erection into her belly. Against his chest, her nipples pebbled through that sexy scrap of a dress.

She undulated her hips against his, and said something that sounded like, “All right.”

He dragged his mouth from hers. “That had better be a ‘Yes, Fane. I accept your claim.’”

A smile trembled on her lips. “It was.”

“Say it. I want the words.”

“Yes, Fane. I accept your claim.” Her smile broadened and then she was beaming up at him.

Inside his ribcage, something warm and luminous bloomed, like a piece of the sun trapped in his heart.

He gathered her closer. “Goddess, I love you.”

Her eyes widened. “I feel it. It’s humming inside me like my quartz does.”

“The bond?”

She nodded. “Not that you’re getting out of the mate ritual, but we’re bonded.”

“You see me arguing?” He gave her another kiss to seal the deal. When he released her, another wave of dizziness hit him. He dragged in a breath.

Her brow creased. “You’re hurting.”

He massaged his chest with the heel of his hand. “I need a little time to recover, is all.”

“And I have zero healing ability.” She placed a hand over his and eyed him worriedly. “First he stole your energy and then your Gift. I’m surprised you’re still upright.”

“It was worth it to get you away from the king.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m some bargain as a mate, aren’t I? No money, no job, and an oath breaker on top of it.”

“Yeah.” She caressed his shoulders, her tone so tender. “You know you're out of your freaking mind, right? Giving up everything for me?”

“No, I’m not. This is the sanest I’ve ever been. But I wanted to spoil you—buy you things, take you places. Now, even if we get out of this, I’ll have nothing except my Gift. Oh, and a house in Newfoundland. I’m pretty sure he can’t take that; it was mine before I accepted the geas.”

“Fane.” She gave him a little shake. “You’re all I want. And when we get home, I’ll show you just how happy I am to be your mate.”

Home. He liked the sound of that.

He hadn’t had a home—not a real one—since his mom died. His chest warmed even more, Marjani’s love pouring through the mating bond. Melting Sindre’s ice and healing the pain.

“All right, then.” He took her hand. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

Instinct had him drawing on his Gift to spirit them out of there. But it was gone. He set his jaw and started walking. He’d just have to get used to it.

They turned a corner—and halted.

They were outside the castle. Above them, the first quarter moon peeped above the horizon on a chilly September night. His breath hitched. He and Marjani spun around, looking at the jagged black castle behind them.

She spoke first. “He let us go—just like that?”

Uneasiness prickled Fane’s spine. “This isn’t like him.”

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