Chapter 0217

My chest feels lighter than it has in years. She's actually considering this, believing it might work between us. Opening up this much terrifies me, but it's clearly what she needs right now.

After drying her off with a fluffy towel, I fetch one of my oversized shirts for her to sleep in while I pull on gray sweatpants. Returning to the bathroom, I offer her the soft cotton. "Stay with me tonight?"

The words come out rougher than intended. Now that she's beginning to sense our mate bond, I want her in my bed permanently. This room should become ours.

A pretty flush spreads across her cheeks. "I'll probably end up using you as a body pillow again."

My lips curve at the memory of waking with her sprawled across me. "Problem with having your personal heater?" I tease, running a finger down her nose. "I've got a solution - we'll sleep spooning. I'll be your big spoon."

"Deal." She crawls into bed first, discreetly inhaling the scent on my pillow. Valeria must be urging her to finalize the mating bond. But this decision has to be Seraphina's choice alone.

'Help her understand,' Dorian growls in my mind. 'I want to claim our mate properly. Let the whole world know she's ours.'

'Patience,' I remind him as I settle behind her curving frame. She fits against me like the missing piece of my soul. One arm slides beneath her pillow while the other wraps possessively around her waist, my palm flattening against her stomach beneath the thin fabric. Breathing in her vanilla-and-rain scent, I press a kiss to her hair.

"Goodnight, Seraphina."

Her fingers intertwine with mine under the pillow. "Night, Sebastian."

This is perfection. I stay awake until her breathing evens out, only then allowing myself to drift off.

Hours later, restless movement wakes me. She's arching against me, her backside grinding against my erection. One hand fists in my hair as she whimpers my name.

That desperate sound shoots straight to my groin. Still mostly asleep, she's chasing pleasure in her dreams. I don't hesitate - my hand slips between her thighs, hiking her leg over my hip for better access.

She's drenched for me.

"Sebastian-" My name spills from her lips like a prayer as I work her with skilled fingers.

The second she startles awake, I pin her thigh with my free arm. My other hand abandons her pillow to tease a peaked nipple. Her gasp nearly undoes me.

Nipping her earlobe, I growl, "Come for me, sweetheart."

Her climax hits violently, her inner muscles fluttering around my fingers. The sensation triggers my own release, staining my sweatpants. Again.

True to yesterday's promise, I bring glistening fingers to my mouth. She turns to watch me taste her, grey eyes darkening with Valeria's golden ring. Dorian surges forward in response, no doubt turning my eyes hunter-green.

"Told you I wanted you for breakfast every morning," I rasp.

Leaning in, I claim her mouth in a searing kiss before pulling back. "Soon, little mate. Very soon, I'll take my time feasting on you until you forget your own name." I nip her swollen bottom lip. "But today, we've both got training."

She blinks up at me, still dazed. "You're training with me today?"