Page 39 of Heartflame

I waited, holding perfectly still as his body shifted and loosened around me. Gradually, his expression shifted from discomfort to something more like wonder. His fingers relaxed their grip on my shoulders, and he nodded at me.

“Okay,” he whispered. “I’m ready.”

I pushed deeper, inch by inch, until I was fully seated inside him. The feeling was indescribable. It wasn’t just physical pleasure, though it absolutely was that. It was something deeper, something that resonated on a level I didn’t have words for. This was my mate. This was exactly where I was supposed to be.

“You feel incredible,” I breathed against his neck. “So fucking perfect.”

I started moving slowly, finding a rhythm that seemed to work for both of us. His hands roamed over my back, my shoulders, gripping my horns as his hips began to move with mine. The pleasure built steadily, a constant climb toward something that felt inevitable and necessary.

“Oh fuck…” Quill moaned, riding at least half of my cock now. I was impressed he’d taken so much. “I’ve never felt anything like this in my life…”

“Feel good?”

He nodded. “Mmhmm.” He bit his lower lip. “I want more. I want you to fuck me harder.”

“How about I just shift the angle?” I offered, pushing him back slightly. As soon as I did, he let out a sharp gasp. “Yep,” I grinned. “There it is.”

I kept hitting that spot inside him over and over, watching as his eyes rolled back and his mouth fell open in a silent gasp. His whole body was trembling beneath mine, and I could feel the way his internal muscles were clenching around my cock in response to the pleasure.

“There,” he breathed out, his voice rough. “Right there, Aeron, please don’t stop.”

I had no intention of stopping. I increased my pace, my hips driving into him with more force now that I knew he could handle it. The bed creaked beneath us with each thrust, and I didn’t give a shit if anyone heard. Let them know. Let the entire campus know that Quill Aster was mine.

His nails dug into my back, probably leaving marks, but I welcomed them. I wanted evidence of this, proof that it had happened. His breathing became more ragged, more desperate, and I could feel him getting close.

“I’m gonna cum,” he gasped, his hips meeting mine thrust for thrust. “Oh fuck, I’m gonna⁠—”

“Do it,” I commanded, leaning down to capture his lips in a searing kiss. “Cum for me, Red. Let me feel it.”

He came with a muffled cry against my mouth, completely untouched, his body tensing as his orgasm washed over him. I felt the hot spurts of his cum between us, felt the way his ass clenched around my cock, and that was all it took. I followed him over the edge, burying myself deep inside him as I filled him to the brim.

For a moment, we just lay there, tangled together, both of us breathing hard. His arms were wrapped around my neck, his face buried in the crook of my shoulder. I could feel his heartbeat racing against my chest, matching the frantic rhythm of my own.

“Oh… my god...” he started, then trailed off like he couldn’t find the words.

“You did that hands free,” I smiled. “I’m impressed.” Then I faltered for a moment. “Is it okay I came inside you? I should’ve asked⁠—”

“Yes.” He looked up at me, his pupils blown wide. “That’s what I wanted.”

I smiled and settled in, staying inside him for a moment longer and savoring the feeling of being connected to him like this. Then, once my cock had gone mostly soft, I pulled out and rolled to the side, pulling him against me so his back was pressed to my chest. He didn’t resist. Instead, he seemed to melt into me, his body going pliant and relaxed.

“How do you feel?” I asked quietly, my hand running soothingly over his stomach.

“Sore,” he admitted. “But in a good way.”

I nodded, just holding him closer as I breathed in the scent of him mixed with sex and sweat. This moment felt fragile somehow, like if I said the wrong thing it might shatter. And that last thing I wanted was for Quill to run off on me again.

“Thank you,” he whispered after a long silence.

“For what?”

“For being patient with me. For not pushing. For...” he paused, searching for words. “For not giving up on me.”

My chest tightened at his words. I wanted to tell him then. Wanted to explain about the mate bond, about how this wasn’t just sex or possession or some passing fancy. I wanted to tell him that I’d been made for him just as much as he’d been made for me.

But I held back. He’d asked for one week, and I’d agreed. I couldn’t go throwing life-altering truths at him when he was still figuring out his own feelings, especially not on day one. Fucking him was a big enough step for now.

“Of course,” I said instead, and I meant it with every fiber of my being. “I’m glad I didn’t give up either.”