I gave her a sympathetic smile. Her mother had forbid her to associate with me again since I’d “switched sides.” Ella might be timid, but she was loyal with more strength than her parents would ever know. She moved to stand in front of Lucius, offering her small hand in congratulations. I noticed it trembled, her wide eyes raised high.
“Congratulations. I wish you both a long and happy life together.” She inhaled a shaky breath. “I’m sure you understand how special Jessen is, but I want you to know she’s the best friend I’ve ever had. I must warn you, if you ever hurt her, I will do my best to make your life a living hell.”
Yes, she was much braver than her parents would ever know. I doubt Lucius had been threatened by so diminutive a person before.
With no hint of mockery, he took her small hand in both of his. “I am glad to know my mate has such a dear friend as you. And I vow I will never hurt her. It would be the same as cutting out my own heart.”
She beamed a bright smile. “Good.” She gave me a quick kiss and hurried out.
“This is quite a party.” Sorcha sauntered up, stopping next to Lucius. Lorian was a step behind, leaning against a bar. “I didn’t know you Morgons owned street-level reception halls.”
Lucius smiled. “We thought it wise to expand our business into the human market.”
“Smart man. Our family’s marketing firm would be happy to assist you if you ever need.” Leave it to Sorcha to make business sound like pleasure. “After all, you’re now married to my dearest friend.” She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, whispering, “There are some seriously hot men here.”
I gave her a look as she tilted her shoulders back provocatively. Lorian’s eyes drifted down Sorcha’s body. Catching his gaze, she angled her hips and torso in such a way that screamed sex. Lorian scowled deeper, knocked back his drink, and stormed off.
“What’s wrong with your big, bad brother?”
Lucius sipped his beer with a devious grin. “He’s not too fond of…aggressive women.”
Sorcha’s mouth tilted wickedly. “Oh, really.” She set her beer on the bar and bee-lined in Lorian’s wake. Swinging her curvy hips in a skin-tight red dress, her wild, dark-cherry tresses swishing in tandem. She was a seductive flame burning her way across the room. A silver-winged Morgon spilled his beer watching her pass.
I blew out a breath. “You shouldn’t have told her that.”
“Why not?”
“There’s nothing Sorcha loves more than a good challenge.” I amended my statement. “Other than great sex.”
Lucius shook his head. “Poor, Lorian.”
Sorcha sauntered up to flirt with Paxon Nightwing, leaning against a column in a seductive pose. Pax happened to be standing right next to Lorian who now had a perfect view of Sorcha’s back. The poor man nursed another beer, obviously fighting the urge to stare at her ass and failing miserably. His gaze would scan the room for two seconds before inevitably dropping to the delectable target in perfect view.
Sorcha possessed the kind of body that gave men one idea. Even her husky voice and the way she lilted her words made you think of dark rooms and naughty things. No man was impervious to her sensuality. Except for Lucius, who’d been staring at me the entire evening.
I leaned toward him. “Would you stop?”
“Stop what?”
“Looking at me like that. Like you’re undressing me with your eyes.”
He leaned close, a wing caressing one shoulder, lips brushing the shell of my ear as he spoke. “I’d rather be undressing you with my hands, and licking you from top to bottom.” He nipped my ear. “Especially bottom.”
I shivered, a little moan escaping.
“I’d like to make you do a lot of licking, too.”
“Stop it,” I whispered, feeling my cheeks flame hot.
A glint of mischief and a smug smile was his only response.
* * * *
I stood on the balcony, gazing up at the full moon, remembering the night not so long ago when I’d snuck out by moonlight in search of excitement. Little did I know, I would find more than I bargained for. The object of my thoughts wrapped around me, strong arms banding my waist, wings arching to shade me, like the painting that captured my heart. He pulled me back to lean against his chest. His lips grazed and caressed the spiral mark at my shoulder.
“I was wrong,” he said, voice rough with emotion.
“About what?” I looked at him over my shoulder.
“You are a goddess.”
I gave him a teasing smile. His face remained serious, pensive as he continued. “Some sort of ancient moon goddess. Your skin.” A bronzed hand moved over my shoulder and down my arm, his eyes following the path. “It glows like you swallowed it whole.”
I turned in his arms, lacing my fingers in his hair. His eyes shimmered darkly in the shadows, but I knew the heat they held. His hands roved over my hips, sliding over my satin gown, up my waist to cup my breasts, kneading softly. I hitched in a breath.
“I want you.” Gruff words, his lips found my throat, licking at my pulse. “Right here. In your wedding dress. Under the moonlight.”
His fingers teased and circled my breast through the satin. My body responded, arching into his touch.
“Why don’t you take me then.” A husky challenge.
That was it. His hands were under my hem, hiking it to my waist. Fingers stroked between my legs, finding me more than ready. With a growl, he ripped off my panties and lifted me to the balcony ledge. With frightening speed, he unbuckled and opened his pants, then thrust inside me. The joining sucked the breath out of my chest. He was so thick and hard, I gasped at the sensation. Holding me flush against his body, I let my neck arch, my hair fly in the night wind. He marked me with possessive intent—hard, raw, and deep. Hanging over a precipice that would mean my death if I fell, I’d never felt more free and more bound. My soul soared while my heart remained captive by this man—my husband, my mate.
His lips found mine, searing me with the desperate need simmering through us both. I moaned. A familiar surge of ecstasy poured down my throat. Only Lucius and soulfire could burn through me in such a delicious way. His lips left a hot trail down the column of my neck as he thrust into me, again and again. His breathing ragged, he dipped his mouth near my ear. His words came on a rasping groan. “I love you.”
Our hearts beat in unison just as our bodies merged as one, falling over the edge together. I came with a cry, unable to hold it in. No answer came but the twinkling of stars hanging above us—a beauty too far to touch except in this moment of perfect harmony.
“And I love you.”
We clung to one another, still and quiet in one another’s arms. The melting sensation of soulfire flickered through my veins. A cool wind blew over the terrace. My mind drifted to the Morgon tale of Princess Morga and her dragon king, knowing their love had been true and deep. I smiled up at the stars. Fate had bound the dragon and princess as one, sealing their hearts with soulfire. Just as Fate had tied me to the man cradling me in his arms.
My gaze shifted to Lucius. He met mine. I swept a soft kiss against his lips, whispering the word that was branded on my heart.
“Forever.”
Juliette Cross
Juliette calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. Her love of mythology, legends, and art serve as constant inspiration for her works. From the moment she read Jane Eyre as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance--brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own. The Nightwing series is the beginning of her tale of the Morgon world.
Lyrical Press books are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2014 JULIETTE CROSS
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Lyrical Press and the L logo are trademarks of Kensington Publishing Corp.
First Electronic Edition: OCTOBER 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1-61650-561-5
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