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His solid mass pins me to the earth as he moves above me. The cool grass beneath us crushes to frame the intense space we have carved out in the dark. Our hips find a slow initial cadence before the movement intensifies into the momentum of a gathering storm. Every slide of skin against skin lands heavy, charged with all the weeks of desperate running and holding back. His amber eyes meet mine in a burning gaze, so intense it steals my breath and wipes away the rest of the world.
"Keep your eyes on mine, Rene," he murmurs, a low vibration that resonates straight through to my bones. Each searching thrust reaches an incredible depth to fill me completely. "I'm right here."
"I see you," I gasp while arching my back to meet him, needing every bit of the friction coiling tight in my belly. My hands slide up the broad expanse of his chest, where his pulse thuds frantically against my palms. "Don't hold back, not with me."
His expression loses the last of its professional armor, exposing only the man underneath. "Never."
Posting his forearms on either side of my head allows a new angle that drives him deeper, hitting a spot that makes my eyes wide and a cry rip from my throat. The ballasting weight of his body holds me firmly in place while the pleasure builds to a fever pitch. "Let go, Rene. I've got you."
"Darius—" The word dissolves into a breathless moan as the coil inside me snaps.
Pleasure erupts, sharp and bright, tearing through me in waves that make my hips shudder against his. My nails bite into the hard muscle of his shoulders as I ride the peak while gasping his name over and over into the night air. He watches me shatter, his eyes devouring the sight of my undoing, taking his time as my body squeezes around him.
"Not done," he mutters roughly with his own restraint.
His large hands grip my hips, heavy and unyielding. Before I can fully recover from the aftershocks, he moves me, absolute and certain, flipping me onto my knees in the damp grass. The cool night air hits my bare back, and the sudden heat of his body flush against mine from behind forms an electrifying contrast. One hand tangles securely in my hair, keeping me close, while his other hand lands a stinging smack on my ass.
The sharp, possessive shock of it echoes loud in the quiet clearing to send a fresh jolt of arousal unspooling tight and low inside me. My hips twitch, aching for him to fill the void.
"Darius," I whimper and reach back blindly to touch whatever part of him I can reach.
He responds by driving into me from behind, the depth of the penetration stealing the air from my lungs. It is an absolute possession, his thick shaft sliding perfectly against the slick heat I'm producing for him. "Better?" he whispers, his lips brushing the sensitive skin right below my ear, his stubble raspy and delicious.
"Gods, yes—"
The angle is relentless and overwhelming, hitting that exact spot with every single push. He establishes a brutal, intoxicating momentum, his chest thumping rhythmically against my back. He lands another sharp slap, its sting bleeding into the mounting pleasure.
"More," I beg, arching my spine, tilting my pelvis up to give him even greater access. "Please, Darius."
“That’s it. Take it all,” he commands. His grip digs into my waist, and he eases me back onto him with every stroke to maximize the depth. "See what you do to me, Rene."
"Darius!" I scream into the dark, consumed by the rhythm he's forcing on me. "Don't stop."
The second climax hits twice as hard, a coarse cry tearing from my throat as my magic thrusts in tandem with the physical ecstasy. A stunning clarity and composure mark my power as it manifests; a bright, beautiful flare glides smoothly across my skin, illuminating the sweat on his chest while preserving every blade of grass beneath us.
His voice breaks into a guttural groan as he follows me into the abyss. His upper body locks against mine, his fingers digging into my hips as his muscles seize, spilling his warmth inside me while the ambient magic shimmers around us. We collapse forward, his chest molding to my back, his arms wrapping around me, holding me close as we both gasp for air.
He tugs me against him, rolling us sideways, his body a furnace against the chill. My head rests on his chest and listens to the frantic beat of his heart slow down. After all this time of unrelenting chaos, the entity’s whispers finally fall silent. My body embraces a total serenity, filled with an unwavering tranquility that settles every nerve into absolute quiet. His calloused fingers gently stroke my hair.
"Your magic." He breathes the observation into my hair, half-asleep already. "Calm as still water."
I press closer to feel the heavy, damp heat of his skin against mine. His physical presence offers a level of absolute sanctuary that stands unmatched by even the strongest sacred rituals. His physical presence alone is enough to anchor me, functioning as a constant and unbreakable shield. Tracing the scar along his ribs reminds me of the proof of all he’s survived.
"How?" I whisper.
His arms squeeze. "Don't question it at least for tonight."
Shutting my eyes, I let the serene, motionless silence hold us. The only remaining sounds are his steady heartbeat beneath my ear and the canopy of the benevolent moon watching over us.
14
DARIUS
Dawn light filters through the pine canopy, cold and unforgiving against my bare skin. I wake with Serenity's hair spilled across my chest, her breathing even and warm. The scent of her—moonlight and wild magic—clings to my skin, and for one dangerous moment, I let myself remember how perfectly she fits against me.
Then reality crashes back, harsh and unforgiving.
What the hell did I do?
