On a Razor's Edge (Darkness #3)(19)

“But maybe to a child…”

Stefan gave a noncommittal shrug.

“So…what does that mean?” I asked.

“It means lineage is the least of your worries. So is a backer. That will help bring people around. All you have to do is learn to lead. Learn to hold your cards to your chest, and most importantly, learn to defend yourself. As my mate and especially bearing my mark, any battles you have are also my battles. Unfortunately, that reverses, as well. If I am challenged, you will be expected to meet that challenge with me.”

“Well, I’m pretty good at protective boxes and freezing air…”

He chuckled, rubbing my back. “Yes, very. If they’d had any doubt to your power level, that took it away. Toa has not recovered. He’s not used to someone with a higher power level that is not sitting on a council somewhere.”

I closed my eyes as his soft lips trailed up my neck. “Shall we head to bed?”

“No time. I need you.” His teeth barely scraped against my suddenly throbbing pulse.

I gasped, my stomach doing a somersault.

“Hmm, freshly baked cookies on a warm summer evening.”

I had yet to ask him about his parents, forever curious how they had died, but never sure how to bring it up and chickening out. Once again, this wasn’t the time.

I let my head fall back as he kissed down my chest, getting to my cle**age, and then unzipping my hoodie. His hands tucked under my thin shirt, lightly trailing along my stomach as his mouth took in my ear lobe. I felt him undo the top button of my pants.

“Oh!” A thrill shot through me, a possible witness making my panties go wet.

I kissed Stefan harder, wanting to try this. Wanting to act like his people and express myself openly. Wanting to engage in sexual expression outdoors! In plain sight!

Embarrassment and social rules reared their head. Oh, my God, am I seriously going to do this?

“We’ll go fast, love. Like getting into cold water,” Stefan assured me, his lips quirking.

He knew I wanted to experiment. That I wanted to try some kinky things in an extremely safe and trusting situation. But oh, Lord…

I jumped up and ripped off my pants, trying to get my panties off as well, but was stopped by his hands.

“Hold on just a moment.”

He bent forward, his fingers peeling off the lace of my underwear as his face dipped between my legs. I moaned and closed my eyes, all thought slipping away as his naughty tongue hit me in just the right places. My body started to burn as the pressure increased, shivers erupting from my groin and spiraling up my torso.

He backed off, his eyes holding mine hungrily. “I love you,” he said as he undid his pants and slipped them down his muscular thighs. His erection sprung free, large and bobbing.

He took my hand and brought me closer, lifting my legs to each side of him, allowing me to kneel on the bench and position my body over his. His tip pushed past my lips slowly until he had sheathed himself completely, filling me up.

I hugged him, showing him my throat, craving that deeper connection. The scrape of his tooth exhilarated me, offsetting the sweet rush of him inside my body. Pain, like pinching, blossomed at the base of my neck. My gasp immediately turned into a moan; his suction reached all the way through my body, tingling my groin as he dove in and out, the pleasure from the contrast something I could barely comprehend with sensations so complex.

I rocked harder, my body feeling that pull, then the wet slide, tingles overcoming me. I sucked in magic, fire and air mostly, the others swirling in, too, and poured it into his body along with my essence, wanting to share myself with him in this new, magical way.

With each pull my chest grew hotter, my limbs humming, the connection with him deep inside me exploding. Stefan moaned, his lips still at my throat, thrusting into me as I pounded down on him. The pressure mounted, at a crest now, so tight.

“Oh, G—od!” I cried, blasting apart, the very seams of my being coming undone.

Stefan shuddered into me a second later, hugging me with ragged breaths. He leaned against my chest, his ear to my heart. “Lovely.”

“That was fun,” I murmured contentedly, draping across him. “Let’s go to sleep. It’s been a long day.”

Fifteen minutes later we walked down the hall toward his room, only to find Charles sitting outside. “Hey, Boss, Sasha. Heard about the trip, wanted to talk to you—ˮ

Charles squinted at Stefan. “Sasha, step away for a quick sec, would you?”

I took one step, my hand still in Stefan’s.

“Boss…you… Sasha, go another step. Actually, go in the room for a second.”

“What’s the matter?” Stefan asked in a deep growl.

Charles put up his hands immediately. “Did she mark you, somehow? Can humans do that? You know what, you two have issues, that’s all I’m saying.”

Stefan stared at him.

“I’m stepping out of line, and I know it,” Charles continued, “But Jonas guarding her on this trip is a terrible idea. He can’t be trusted. He said something about other plans before you banished him for a time. Just a thought, but that’s a weird coincidence, you know? So, he has got to be a no-go. I can protect her, along with Snow White.”

“Go to bed, Charles, before you say something you can’t unsay,” I said quietly, watching the edge creep quickly into Stefan’s eyes.