Page 58 of The Cerulean Sister
He meets my gaze, a little amused. "I'm forcing myself to use words."
I laugh again at how uncomfortable he looks. "You don't have to. I can go find them," I say playfully, but his expression gets a hint of grim seriousness.
"No." He stiffens. "There are things I should have said aloud to you, that I could have said to you all this time. How many times could I have said I love you and didn't? I’ve never said it aloud."
It takes me several breaths to snap out of shock at his declaration, at the disappointment in his voice at himself and the tender way his brow is crinkled as he searches my face.
"You didn't have to say it aloud. I know you love me. I feel it." I trace his worry lines.
"No, I should have said it. In that field of ferns when you reached for me, I knew I loved you then, but I felt it before that, in the cave and when I held you in my arms when you were wounded. Ferren?—"
"I love you too, 99."
His eyes fall closed like he is overcome by hearing me say the words back.
Being able to feel his love between our tether is a closeness I never imagined I would share with anyone, but nothing compares to hearing the words aloud.
I send the words straight into his mind again, and his lips brush against mine as he waits for me to accept a deeper kiss. I open for him and pull at his shoulders, wanting to feel his body on top of mine.
He lines his cock up to my entrance and sheaths himself in one thrust, needing to be as closely linked as possible, physically and emotionally.
I'm so wet, he easily shuttles into my core without having to stop our feral kiss.
His thrusts start slow, but then I have to break away in a gasp when he hits something white hot on the top of my channel and grinds into me harder.
His forehead presses against mine as he strokes himself inside, making sure to hit every part of me that will bring me over the edge with him. My wrist are pinned by his strong hands as his pounding takes on a deeper, more brutal edge.
I cry out just as another climax builds within me.
And then the three worlds seem to halt their rotation as I squeeze down on him. His beautiful deep blue eyes lock on mine as we both pant through our shared cresting euphoria.
"I love you," he groans as he spills into me, chanting the words. "I . . . love you, Ferren. I love . . . you."
Chapter
Fifteen
Everything in the council room seems to move at an agonizing pace. Even the giant orbs above us have a desire to torture me, their rotation casting ominous shadows across the table and the council members at random, making the one currently speaking appear menacing.
The only thing moving in real time that I can pay attention to is 99 breathing next to me, the steady rise and fall of his shoulder pressed against mine.
Yesterday, we sat farther apart, spaced the same as the council members, but when we entered today, 99 pulled his chair unapologetically closer to me, despite the raised brows of many.
I glance up at him, finding his masked gaze fixed on the council member speaking in long filler phrases of the current climate and how our petition has disrupted their real work during a conjunction year.
99’s demeanor has been edging on unhinged all morning, and even now, that anger is barely kept in check. A few of the council members have even noticed and fidget with their data pads on the table as an excuse to steal a glance and check if 99 is going to launch at them.
The murmuring laughs of a few ancient-looking council members make me jump. I glare at the speaker, who continues with a satisfied smirk for adding a little lightness to his speech. He speaks of things already said and considered during our meeting yesterday, of things in previous conjunctions, and possible scenarios that somehow seem to hold more importance than actual testimony.
Cosima's emperor is slow and aloof, but even in his way, he makes sense, like there is good reason. But with the Viathan emperors, and even council members, it's like they speak devoid of emotion, almost apathetic, loving the sound of their own voices.
I watch as a council member nods her head and closes her eyes like her point made it into the speech and holds considerable weight in their final decision. The speaker's voice becomes a blur of meaningless sounds until I hear him say that they cannot spare resources on a case like this with someone of as high of a status as I.
I snort aloud, unfazed by the glances it grants me. It's the first time someone has referred to my status as high.
"Chancellor Reed, will you deliver the final declaration?" Emperor Angara announces, making the man practically preen.
"Thank you, Emperor. We have yet to determine the actions of First Son, as they remain unpredictable. The stones have been placed but the violence has increased, the attacks more coordinated?—"
