“I fell in love with you twice, you know.” I cupped her face between my hands. “Hundreds of years ago, I fell in love with you — and a week ago, the process started all over again. I think I could live through several lifetimes, searching for you, only to find you and fall in love all over again.”
Tears welled in her eyes.
“But luckily we don’t have to worry about that.” I brushed another feather-light kiss across her lips.
“I love you, Alex.”
“I love you too.”
We stopped talking.
Our bodies moved in sync as I did my best to pleasure her, to feel every part of her, to make sure that she understood — I was giving.
Not taking.
I gave until I had nothing left.
And she took.
With each pulse between our bodies, I gave a little bit more, until I was spent.
Until day turned to night, and night turned to day again.
Until our sweaty bodies were too exhausted to make it to the door.
Until the sheets fell from the mattress and the bed threatened to break.
I gave it all.
And for the first time in my existence, when I woke up with sunlight streaming across our naked bodies.
I didn’t burn.
I was free.
Mason
“I KNOW…” CASSIUS had been trying to have a heart-to-heart with me ever since Alex and Hope disappeared into their room a week ago — I’d brought food to their door.
I wanted my friend to eat.
Even if Alex didn’t care about anything but sex.
She at least needed nutrition that wasn’t a part of licking his sweat off his body.
I shuddered at the thought.
A small pinprick of jealousy accompanied it. I shoved it away as hard and fast as possible.
For a brief moment, I’d felt what they’d felt.
And it was — everything.
Another painful reminder that I would never have that.
I’d always felt close to Hope and now I knew why. She’d been my best friend, and I her protector. As a wolf it had been my job to be by her side day and night — until she made her choice and that choice ended up being the very thing I was to protect her from. Anyone who would use her body without wanting her soul.
So basically, a soul sucking siren. As the last of her race, and royalty, she was the only elf alive that could reproduce and have children without dying. It was a waste to do that with a man who wanted nothing but sex.