His hands slid up towards my face, cupping my cheeks as he pulled me tighter into the kiss. I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed him back as if my life depended on it.
Never had something meant so much to me.
Our lips moved together for a moment as he pressed deeper into it and I too, leaned deeper into the kiss. He tasted so sweet, like rain and honey. My heart raced in my chest yet I felt calm and at home. His body heat enveloped mine, calming any rushing fear. Never had I been kissed so perfectly and passionately before. Pulling away just briefly to catch my breath, I felt him smile against my lips. Bayne brushed his against mine once more and I fell into his taste.
Something tickled at the back of my throat, a word. A word that pulled and tugged, begging for me to speak it, but I wasn't quite ready to not be kissing Bayne. His lips were soft. Home.
His calloused hands loosened their hold around my cheeks and he moved away. His breaths matched mine, fast and rapid and I blinked open my eyes to find his cadmium ones roaring with a fire.
"Mate." I blurted out uncontrollably, and then slid backwards on the counter in shock.
"It's about time." He sighed and rolled his head.
My eyes widened even more, if that were possible as I glared at him. "What? You knew? Since when?"
"Since I first touched you." He answered calmly, that silly grin erupting across his face.
"When you put those bracelets on me." I replied in recognition. "You did look a little shocked, but I just chalked it up to the fact that I was mortal. Especially once I learned that I was the first to have passed through the veil." Then suddenly, the excitement that was bubbling shoved out in an instant. "But, that means this whole time, you've only been attracted to me because of that stupid bond."
He furiously shook his head no. "Do you not remember what I told you about soulmate bonds? There's only an initial thread strung between us. If we don't spend the time building the bond, learning who each other are, it's easily breakable and doesn't hold any power. You can't access the bond until both acknowledge it and build upon it."
I watched him as he spoke. "So when you were the one to imprison me and then tried to kill me in the arena, you were trying to break the bond?" I pressed and he smiled softly at me.
"Quite the opposite, little witch. I made sure it was me so I could protect you because it was the only way I knew how. The only way I could with the little bit of power I held. You weren't supposed to have food at all in that cell. You weren't supposed to be able to shimmer away or fight without those bracelets. And I made sure it was me my father sent into that arena because you would have surely been killed had it been anyone else." His eyes flicked towards his hands that were placed on the sides of my head and then he pushed his fingers through my hair.
The same delightful feeling of desire washed through me. This entire time he had done everything he could to protect me, strengthen me. "Why?" I asked. "Why protect the person who was supposed to bring destruction to your world."
"Because you called me cheesedick." He answered, and I waited to hear that sarcastic tone in his voice, but it wasn't there. He was deadly serious.
"What?"
"No woman before had ever dared speak to me like that. I couldn't be with someone who was a push over. I needed someone who'd be willing to tell me exactly what she wanted, how she was feeling, someone strong. When you called me cheesedick in front of my siblings, unashamed I knew at that moment that I was in love with you." He moved my head to look back up at his eyes.
"Maybe I should come up with a better nickname for you now."
He shook his head and kissed my forehead and then trailed down my nose and brushed his lips against mine. "Hottie? Love of your life? Mate? The most handsome man ever? The best kisser? The sexiest man alive?" He said between kisses. "All of those are perfect options."
I giggled against his mouth. "Cheesedick."
"Sugartits." He kissed me again and again, and I threw my arms around his neck. His fingers brushed against my bare skin underneath my shirt that had risen slightly. I leaned my body into his and he pulled me back towards the edge of the counter. His lips trailed slowly down my neck as he shoved his hips against mine.
I gasped.
He growled against my skin, his hands sliding farther under my shirt. "I woke up naked after dying. Plus the fairy pond. Why the surprise?" Bayne pulled away from my neck and I whined at the removal of his lips.
"Because you had died, dummy. I wasn't exactly looking at that area of your body. And the fairy pond I didn't focus on that." He kissed me against my neck again and then slid his face lower and pushed my sleeve off of my shoulder. "Besides, I was naked once and you refused to look at me. So payback." He chuckled and pulled away, looking back into my eyes.
"Fair enough, little witch." He smiled adoringly at me.
"Do you want to look now?" I whispered and his eyebrows twitched. He didn't move and seemed to be holding his breath. I could feel his package growing between my legs and had to bite down on my lip to stop myself from moving or making another noise. Finally, he slowly nodded yes. It was cautious, like he was waiting for a catch.
There wasn't one. I wanted him to see me, I had wanted him to see me before I even knew he was my fated soulmate. What we shared was more than that bond, and had long since moved beyond that. His hands gripped the hem of my t-shirt; his body trembled against mine in anticipation and respectful restraint.
One more pause in his movement so I could lean back against the palms of my hands placed delicately on the counter, one more moment of hesitation as he searched my face. Then his eyes slid down my body to the bottom of my shirt and gradually pushed it upwards.
He let his fingers brush along the skin as he raised the shirt and then suddenly paused just as it bunched up below my breasts. "What's this?" He heavily breathed out, letting go with one hand and pointed at the tattoo along the left side of my body. His fingers traced the ink, it swirled against his touch and then suddenly the dragon slid upwards along my side and I felt it move right underneath my breasts and rest it's head between them.
"I don't know. It was there when I woke up this morning but not before." I shrugged my shoulders and a hungry grin spread across Bayne's face.
"Seems like a part of me is permanently drawn upon your skin, little witch." He purred and moved the shirt up so it exposed the tattoo but kept my rosy peaks covered and he grinned even wider at the placement of the ivory dragon. "Smart boy."
I rolled my eyes. Though I couldn't help but giggle and then he began slowly kissing my belly. Gentle, passionate. As his mouth moved higher his tongue flicked out and he licked along the line below my breasts and I let out a soft moan. He growled in delight at my response and then slowly began working his way along the exposed part of them. Teasing me with his mouth and tongue.
A low pulse was roaring between my legs. He was deliberate, knowing exactly where to place each kiss and what to do with his tongue as the shirt inched just a little higher. My heart was racing in my throat in anticipation for the pleasure that would erupt the moment his mouth found its targets, but he stopped.
I whined once more, and stuck my bottom lip out. "Mmmmm. Frustrated, little witch?" He taunted and I nodded vigorously. He left my shirt where it was and shoved his body against mine, slowly grinding his hips into me. I moaned in blissful pleasure as his chest vibrated in response.
One hand of his gripped my hip then slid around to my backside. His fingers of his free hand weaved through my hair from the nape of my neck and then he grabbed a tight fistful and yanked my head back. Crashing his lips against my neck he bit down. I moaned, wanting more and my hands gripped the waistband of his pants, pulling him harder into my hips.
He growled in pleasure again and released the bite before sliding his tongue up from the red mark he'd left, towards my hairline. The pulsing between my legs was increasing with pleasure. But I wanted more. I wanted him closer to me.
Closer than we'd ever been and found the button to his pants as the entrance door crashed open.
"AZORA!" A shrill voice shrieked as Bayne shot away from me. I shoved down my shirt as he adjusted his pants to belt tuck himself and hide his bulge the best he could; although it didn't seem to do much and I clamped a hand over my mouth to stifle a giggle.
He rolled his eyes and slid to the opposite side of me so my legs were blocking our new visitor's view. "Hi Claire." I said and she spun to her left and squealed.
"When Dustin called I didn't think it was real that you were back, but here you are!" She ran straight to me and wrapped me in a hug. "Hi Bayne." She said while still holding me tightly, not yet looking at the man beside me.
"Hey." He said and leaned his elbows down on the counter to try and act inconspicuous.
"Dustin said something about memory issues and a trip to your dad's, Azora." She finally released me and looked me up and down and then her eyes slid over to Bayne. They wandered down his body and then stopped at the very spot he was attempting to cover.
Her eyes went wide, bugging out of her head and then she swiveled her gaze directly back to me. "Uh, I'm assuming the memory issues aren't an issue anymore."
"No, we're good." I stifled another giggle as Bayne clenched his jaw.
"And you said you two weren't sleeping together." Claire said with a wave of her hand.
"We weren't." I reiterated and she grinned at me.
"So the tides have turned. Good to see."
Bayne shook his head. "Still haven't."
"What's in your pants says otherwise." Claire bantered back and I couldn't help it; I burst out laughing. A deep belly laugh that had Bayne biting back a smile too. Realizing there was no use in attempting to hide, he pushed himself off of the counter and faced the two of us.
He chuckled and then joined in as Claire laughed along with us.
"Ok, but for real, we just barely kissed for the first time right before you got here." I choked out between fits of laughter.
"Must have been some kiss." She bantered and gestured again towards Bayne.
He nodded as if patting himself on the back. "Well, I've been told I'm a pretty good kisser." He stepped a little closer to me.
"By whom?" I teased and he looked at me wide eyed.
Without a second beat, not a single pause between my question, Bayne responded. "By the noises you were making."
My mouth flew open and he slyly nodded again, proud of himself as Claire stared at the two of us, stunned by how brazen Bayne was being. Dustin was the complete opposite of that, so this was new for even her.
And I liked it. I liked his boldness. How unabashed he was. Even if the pink in my cheeks said something different, I liked it. It made me feel like my old self.
"So, are we not taking a trip to your father's than?" Claire said, changing the subject, though she kept glancing between Bayne and I.
"Actually, we are. But it'll be more of a semi-permanent trip." I stated and it wasn't just Claire who looked at me confused. Bayne furrowed his brows, silently asking me what I was talking about. "Deimos said I need to practice more, train more, if we want to bring Runa down. My father lives in Ohio, on a little farm that has no neighbors for miles. It's secluded. The perfect place to train that's out of the way."
Bayne shrugged his shoulders. "Sounds good to me. At some point I'd have to meet the parents anyway." He winked at me.
"Just parent. My mom's in the mental hospital and well, I doubt she's a fan of yours since she's one of the big reasons that I believed Runa's lies for so long." I quietly answered and he inhaled deeply.
A soft smile caressed his face. "Just parent it is." Fingers brushed against mine, reassuring me that everything was ok. "Once Deimos returns, we can leave."
"Who?" Claire asked, and I glanced away from the most intense eyes that still intrigued me. Even after everything, I was still entranced by him.
"Deimos. Bayne's brother." I answered and Claire's eyes widened in blissful lust.
"There's more than one of you!?" She squealed.
"Half-brother." Bayne corrected me, trying to plug the leak that had just burst.
"And they don't really look alike." I added.
Claire shrugged her shoulders. "They share DNA." She grinned widely and danced back and forth between her feet.
The timing couldn't have been better for in the corner of the room, by the sofa, the world began to swirl, blur and then Deimos appeared. He straightened one of his sleeves. He'd donned a simple pale blue long sleeve t-shirt with a matching pair of jeans. Similar to Bayne's outfit and both of them looked slightly uncomfortable in the unusual clothing.
"How's things back home?" Bayne asked and Deimos shook his head in disappointment.
"Still nothing from Runa. Father's going mad over it all. Brierra won't speak with anyone, and they're also upset over both of your deaths." He answered. Shock washed over me in light of learning that my death was something that they were in mourning about. Maybe they really didn't blame me, maybe the redemption I was now seeking wouldn't be in vain.
Deimos' eyes flickered towards Claire, who was standing quietly in the corner. Innocence and astonishment was spread across her body, but her eyes gave herself away. She was entranced by him, enraptured by his beauty. Which both men did possess simply because they were Fae.
One noticeable difference were the pointed ears you could now see on Deimos since he'd tied his previously loose hair back, ears that Bayne lacked. And Claire's eyes had locked onto such a feature. Her orbs flashed back and forth between the two men and I waited for her verdict.
Once Deimos and Bayne were finished quietly conversing amongst each other concerning certain battle strategies and safety protocols, their attention returned to Claire and I.
Bayne slid an arm around my waist and leisurely leaned against the countertop. "Ready to go, little witch?" He asked silently once more. I loved the little private words he would speak to me, no matter how mundane.
I nodded yes and he placed a simple kiss against my temple. Claire finally pushed herself forward and walked directly towards Deimos.
His eyes widened but he didn't move as she threw a hand towards him. "I'm assuming you're Deimos?" She asked and he closed his fingers around hers. Daintily shaking his hand, he clenched his jaw and his eyes rapidly glanced towards Bayne and I before returning to Claire.
His steely gaze locked onto hers and he bobbed his head in a yes. "Claire. It's a pleasure to meet you." Her voice was soft, flirtatious and a little nervous.
He kept her hand in his and blinked, dumbfounded for a moment before speaking. "The pleasure is all mine." He even sounded a little unsure, shocked by things and I watched him glance at Bayne and subtly nod just a single time.
Bayne's bright cadmium eyes lit up as he turned to me. He was biting back a massive grin, practically shaking in his boots. We stared at each other for a moment before his voice came through my mind. One word.
"Mates."
My mouth fell to the floor and Bayne had to physically close it. No way. I mouthed at him to which he raised an eyebrow and nodded yes, really. My eyes wandered back to the two of them, Deimos still staring directly at Claire who was blushing and nervously chatting.
Bayne wiggled his eyebrows. I slid off of the countertop and walked over to the two, Deimos absolutely lost in Claire, while she seemed a little oblivious to everything.
Interrupting her mindless rant, I spoke. "I'm going to go let Dustin and Jessica know we are headed to my dad's and they can come out."
Claire's head whipped towards me. "Jessica? As in Jessica from work? What's she doing here?"
I shrugged my shoulders, brushing it off. "He's been seeing her since about a month before my birthday." It didn't hurt one ounce to say that, to acknowledge that Dustin had been cheating on me. Claire gasped behind me as I walked down the hallway and Bayne began to explain to Deimos why we were going to Ohio.
I rapped on the door a few times and waited. A small gap appeared and I saw a pair of eyes peek through; Dustin's eyes.
"We are headed out. I don't know when I'll be back, but the stuff that's mine, I will want at some point. You can stick it in a storage unit, send it to Claire's or my dad's." I spoke through the crack and flipped back around, not waiting for a response. A weight that I had been carrying left my shoulders, easy and bright. I felt renewed and my eyes met Bayne's waiting across the room.
He smiled at me. This man was absolutely smitten by me, and loved me fiercely. I deserved that. I had always deserved a love like that. Not the one that I had been settling for with Dustin. I deserved someone who was willing to die for me; someone I was willing to die for.
As I entered the kitchen and we gathered in a small circle, Jessica came crashing out of the bedroom. "Why aren't you more mad?" She stared at me, bleary eyed as if she had been thriving off of the secrecy and anticipating a jealous rage from me.
Shrugging my shoulders, I opened my mouth to speak but Bayne beat me to it. "I mean, she went from that," He gestured at Dustin who stood behind Jessica. "To all of this." He moved a hand towards himself. Dustin had been good for some time, hadn't been horrible to me, however, there was no use defending him since in the end he had cheated on me, plus, Bayne wasn't wrong. So all I did was roll my eyes.
Jessica scoffed and trying to find a jab at Bayne, she snarkily asked, "Can you even fly with those wings?"
Bayne snorted as Deimos whipped his head towards Jessica. "Are you serious right now?" Deimos asked. Bayne slipped an arm around my waist and clamped a hand around Deimos's arm. He latched onto Claire and pulled us in close so I could shimmer us away.
Bayne glanced at Jessica who stood rigid in the hallway. "I can do much more than just fly, sweetheart." He drawled out the last word, dripping with sarcasm as her jaw dropped. But I stopped listening, focused on making sure that when I shimmered all four of us, that no one got hurt.
It seemed easier this time to pull the power from my bones, lighter, faster. And we were suddenly swallowed up into that milky darkness.