Page 129 of Between Soul and Vessel
Deciding I was done wasting my time with her, I stalked off, growling under my breath. “Infuriating mortal.”
Infuriating mortal, indeed. I smiled as I studied the slumbering face of my wife—the enchantress who had come into my life and fully and irrevocably bewitched me. Shehad forged herself as my heart and taken permanent residency inside my rib cage. There, she would forever remain—ruling over me and all that I was. My body was hers. Her will, my hands. Her happiness, my purpose.
A small breath fell from her slightly parted lips, her eyes still closed. Her body was nestled against mine, my arms cocooned around her. An impenetrable fortress.
Slowly, she woke, her nose crinkling as she let out a yawn—much like a tiny lioness.Adorable. Her lashes flickered and her eyelids drifted open. Celestial blue eyes met mine and the corners of her mouth shifted into a dazed smile.
“You are a nice sight to wake up to,” she spoke in her morning voice. Her hand slid from underneath the blankets, reaching for my cheek. Soft fingers stroked my stubble, sounding against the stubborn bristles.
I leaned into her touch. “As are you, love.” Truer words had never been spoken, and yet, they seemed lackluster. Having her here in my arms, tucked away in my protection, made me so damn happy it was a shame there were no words available to explain such a divine feeling.
“We should make a note to do this more often then,” she teased.
“I agree. Thoughts on now until the end of time?”
She thought it over for a moment. “I think I could get used to that.”
I loosened one arm from her and stroked her hair, my touch tender. “Wonderful. I’ll make the arrangements.”
She chuckled softly then asked, “What are yourthoughts on the dream I had?”
“I have no doubt that was us in our past lives.” A wolfish grin unfurled on my lips as I propped myself up on my elbow. “Probably a good thing I didn’t eat you back then.”
“Von,” she scolded me, but her playful grin and the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her reprimand.
“Maybe just one little bite.” I captured her fingers and brought them to my lips so I could nip at them.
“Von!” She giggled, trying to pull her fingers from me, but I would not relent.
“Just a taste,” I teased in between light chomps. “I don’t think you need this finger, do you?” I popped the one in my mouth and bit down, softly.
She let out a surprised mousy squeak, one that took us both by surprise.
I released her imprisoned finger from my mouth and said with a smirk, “That was adorable, wife.”
She squinted at me, her message clearer than a mountain spring—shut up.
I chuckled at that. I cupped her chin and brought my mouth close to hers. “Hmm, I wonder what other noises I can get you to make.”
Her lips parted, her tongue sharpened with a clever remark. Before she could speak, my lips laid claim to hers. I kissed her slowly, wickedly, deeply. Ensuring she knew who her owner was. Her keeper. Her protector. Her provider.
Hers.
When I pulled back, I cocked my head to the side. “Were you going to say something, darling?”
“That was a dirty trick,” she quipped, although she didn’t look the least bit sad about it.
“Lucky for you, I have an arsenal of them.”
“Please . . . feel free to use them anytime.”
I brushed my thumb across her bottom lip. “I intend to.” Fingers sliding from her jaw, I found her hand and raised her palm to my mouth, placing a gentle kiss against the soft flesh.
As I did that, she asked, “Did the dream bring back any memories for you?”
“No, it didn’t.”
“And what are your thoughts on the whole . . . shifting into a dragon thing?”
