Page 165 of Rising Out of the Darkness
“More,” I pleaded into his mind as his lips swallowed my whimper. My fingers clawed into the thick muscles of his back asI wrapped my legs tighter around him. Even though we were so close, I felt the need to be impossibly closer.
“Lena,” he rasped against my cheek, “I know I’ve told you this before, but everything about you is absolutely stunning.” He thrust harder. My head fell backward into the rock underneath as my back arched up to meet him.
I had never felt so full, so whole, than when we were together like this. I didn’t know if I had spoken those words into our minds or not—at this point my reality was in a bit of a haze—but Declan responded.
“I’ve never felt so damn whole except when I’m here inside you like this, love,” he purred against my lips. “Wildfire, you make me feel things I have never felt in my entire existence.”
Shifting us, I straddled him. A tender smile grew across his lips at the flush that spread across my neck and cheeks, embarrassment from my inexperience at what to do next.
Declan’s hands tightened around my hips as he guided me up and down his length. Everything became more intense at this angle, and my dynamis surged from within. His stubble rubbed against my cheek, his hand gripping the back of my neck as he whispered seductively into my ear.
“That’s it, love, ride me. You’re in control now. Use me, undo me, wreck me completely. Show me exactly what a powerful woman you really are.”
His deep voice thrummed over my sensitive skin, his lips creating a delicious trail down my neck and breasts. My hips began to move, and instantly the fears drifted away. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had complete control. Overwhelmed with emotion, I realized the gift he had just given me. He’d given me the power to make choices, to have a sense of control of something for once in my life, and it had never made me feel more alive.
“You look so good in control, love,” he growled. “Now, be a good girl and undo me.”
The praise made my cheeks burn. I’d never felt so vulnerable and powerful at the same time. Taking a chance, I embraced that power, increasing my pace as a rush of feelings like no other burst inside of me. My fingers dug into his chest as Declan met my pace, both of us panting as we chased after our highs together. Our dynamis flooded our bodies, illuminating us like glowing stars within the cave.
“Declan,” I panted, “I love you.” I wrapped my arm around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Our teeth collided as our lips slammed against each other.
“And I love you. Let go with me,” he whispered against my lips.
As he captured my bottom lip between his, I finally let go, screaming his name into the wind. A blinding blast of dynamis fled our bodies, then burst into thousands of tiny little speckles of light. Completely spent, our bodies collapsed onto the ground. We lazed in each other’s arms, watching the lights above us glisten.
Declan smirked. “Well, that was mind-altering.”
“Life-changing.”
“Soul-shattering,” he countered, waggling his eyebrows.
The sight caused me to snort, and even though we both should have been catching our breaths, we instead gasped for air from our laughter.
Chapter 68
Declan
The image of Elena’s smooth skin glistening in the moonlight flashed through my mind as I leaned back in my chair in our council room.
“I hadn’t realized that our strategy session was so enthralling it could make even the Lord of Shadows break out in smiles,” Fallon said from the other side of the table.
The heat of several eyes scalded my face, and I shifted my face back into a stoic calm. Liam and Killian snickered beside me, and Warren’s eyes narrowed into slits.
“Right.” I spoke sternly. “We now have found our mole. However, Elena made sure to end Brand’s life before we left the castle. I am hoping that’s where the leak ends, but we should remain cautious just in case.”
Several nodded around me, and Fallon shifted in his seat. “Bastard. I vetted that man myself. I should have seen past his calm façade to his slippery soul.”
“He fooled us all. I spoke with him the most over the years, and never once questioned anything suspicious.”
“Well, now we know he was a part of the Nightshades,” Warren grumbled, “and by the way, Edan has seized the castle and taken control while Alaric and Alastor have gone missing, Ithink it’s safe to say our assumptions were right about Edan as well.”
“Yes, I believe our next step is to collect as many Rebellion members as we can and bring them here once and for all. It’s time we start preparing for battle.”
The room fell silent. War was not something any of us wanted, but it was time we all faced the facts—these men weren’t going to stop without a fight.
One by one, they nodded agreement, as if they had come to the same conclusion as me.
“It’s settled then, Warren and I will begin the preparations and send out teams in the morning.”
