Page 148 of Rising Out of the Darkness
Oh…
Declan’s push startled me, causing me to trip over the dress puddled at my feet. Thick arms leapt to right me back on my feet and slammed my center right against his plump lips. The heat of his hot breath against it caused my lacy underwear to dampen further.
“Well, that’s one way to get me where you want me, Wildfire.” His laugh rumbled as his lips caressed me through the lace barrier. A whimper escaped me as I tentatively pushed up against him, searching for anything to soothe the burn within me.
“No one’s ever touched you here, Lena?” His fingers tangled around the lace.
“Just y-you,” I whispered.
“That’s right, Wildfire. It will always be just me, Elena, because you are mine… forever.”
He slid the lace down my legs and tossed it to the side. Picking up each foot, he kissed each ankle as he undid each heel and tossed those aside as well. I now stood completely bare in front of my Shadow Prince.
All of me—my heart, my soul, my body—was now wide open for this man. I was willing to allow my soul to be open to him, butthe lingering hint of fear inside of me needed to hear a promise out loud. A promise that from now on, I could trust him and he could trust me.
His fingers brushed over the scar on my arm, and I tried to pull the painful reminder away.
“Who did this?”
“The man who killed my mother and almost killed me.” I lowered my head in shame. “He thought me too pathetic to waste his blade on, so he left me with this instead.”
“He will die for what he has done, that is a promise, my love.”
His lips glided along the scar and up my body until he met my lips. As he pressed a tender kiss to my lips, he wrapped my arms around his back, right over the scars left behind by Alastor’s iron-laced whip.
“You never have to hide your scars from me. Though they may have been made in darkness, they are a permanent reminder of how you’ve healed and continued with your life in spite of it. They’re a reminder of your resilience, my love.”
I kissed him thoroughly, then pulled back slightly, cupping his chin. An eyebrow quirked as he met my gaze.
“Promise me you’ll let me in as well, Declan,” I whispered. “If we do this, we do this together. No more secrets, no more doubts. I’m ready to open my heart to you fully, to let you see every inch of darkness and light. If we do this, there will be no more hiding behind the walls we’ve built for ourselves.”
His throat bobbed up and down, and he sucked his lips in between his teeth. Nerves trickled throughout my body and my muscles tightened with the fear that he might turn me down.
He rose to his full height, towering over me. Declan lowered a hand and enveloped mine, placing it right over his rapidly beating heart. “You feel that love?” A sweet smile tugged against his cheeks. “This heart beats for you and you alone. It will continue to beat for you even after life fades from the realm andmy body becomes ash in the wind. My love for you is eternal. You are my soulmate, love.” He closed the distance between our lips, sealing the promise that I so desperately needed. He pulled back slightly, just enough for me to speak.
“I think I’ve always known,” I whispered. “I was afraid that it would mean I wouldn’t have a real choice. That I would be blinded by the bond, and the feelings wouldn’t be authentic.”
“And what do you think now?” A flicker of worry lit his eyes.
Tracing a path over the hard lines of his abs and up the plane of his chest, my palm covered his rapidly beating heart. Darkened eyes met mine, and my heart pinched at the slight tremble of his lips.
“There is nothing more genuine than this.” My fingers smoothed over his heart. “Our souls were meant to find each other. There’s no denying my heart only beats this way for you, Declan.”
“If we do this”—his voice was low and graveled— “we’ll be completing the bond. There will be no going back. Are you sure you wish to be tied to me in such a way, love?”
Grabbing his chin, I brushed my nose against his. “Declan Stallard, you can tie me down in any way you please.” A deep groan rumbled in his chest. “I want this bond. I want to know you’ll be mine for eternity.”
Chapter 59
Declan
Lena’s words sent a million shivers directly to my already aching arousal. I gathered her in my arms and tossed her onto my bed. The sweet sound of her laughter made my cock twitch beneath my underwear, causing me to realize I had yet to remove it.
Crawling over her supple body, I anchored myself on one arm while removing the last barrier between us both with the other. I couldn’t help the grin on my face as my gaze danced between my length and her wide eyes while she bit the side of her lip again.
“Don’t worry, love. I won’t let it hurt you.” I chuckled darkly, gently caging her in between my arms. Bringing my lips to the shell of her ear, I whispered softly.
“Once I’m done worshiping your body with my hands…” I brushed my fingertips down her arm, watching her body shiver beneath them.
