Sensations burned through Seraphina, ravaging her mind, heart, body, and soul. The mechanics of intercourse was something she had stumbled on in her studies. Ladies had gossiped and men had boasted lewdly, but she had never expected this and Dante had yet to truly touch her.
Even the sheer bliss of his touch provoked her heart to pound frantically. There was nothing simple about how her body heated up at the brush of his hands, skimming her bare skin. His lips feasted upon hers as his hands explored the curves of her body.
When his lips kissed a path down her jaw and pressed one chaste kiss against her throat that was when everything changed. She let out a strangled gasp. Her body clenched. Her fingers curled into his flesh. He drew her firmly against him as his mouth latched on to the sensitive spot. She squirmed, wriggling her body against his as he feasted upon her. A moan tore through at the feel of his tongue darting out and tasting her.
"Dante," she whimpered when his teeth scrapped against of her skin, nibbling her and drawing out a breathless moan. "Dante, please."
His leg eased between hers, rubbing against the core of her. She became all to aware of the gathering dampness, but she ground herself against his thigh. His body tightened against the action and his breath hitched into a groan. That sound drove directly down to her core causing her to throb, constrict, and dampen was still all new to her.
Lifting his head, his eyes sought hers out and she swallowed at the intensity she found there. The storm of emotions brewed on the precipe of lightening and rumbling thunder.
"Seraphina, you must advise me to stop," he finally spoke. "If you have any reservations about what shall happen next, we need to stop."
The heavy weight of the words caused her to pause and gaze up into his eyes. "What will happen?"
She understood the gravity of the situation. If this was her only chance to be with him and have for one night, she would give him what had always been his for the taking. There was just so much more laced into those words though. It was a vow of some sort.
"After tonight, I shall request an audience with Lady Crystobelle," he promised.
Fear washed over her like the unexpected chill in front of a fireplace. Her heart constricted at what he was implying. She never wished to ever cage him into that. She swallowed as she searched his eyes for a moment.
"Please Dante. I-I am giving this freely without any stipulations." She shook her head. She was not expecting that from him. She knew her place. "There is no need to feel accountable for my desires."
Confusion then shock fell over his handsome face like daylight harshly invading the night. "Do you truly still believe you are the only one that has feelings in this?" he growled. Anger simmered in his eyes, reminding her of the skilled warrior this elf truly was. "Do still believe that I would just--"
"Dante, you are a remarkable, beautiful soul. You have lived so long and I am just a mere girl. I brewed those potions Lady Vylot made. I understand where your true loyalties are--"
"I have only lain with Lady Vylot once years ago," he cut in. "A night soiled with wine that I sorely regret."
Wide eyed, Seraphina searched Dante's eyes once again, trying to sense any sign of a lie. She knew he would never lie to her ever. Dante was a loyal, devoted soul that respected raw honesty. Her heart raced within her chest as she reflected over the nights of brokenness and despair as she had imagined them together.
"Seraphina, you know me," he whispered and her eyes refocused upon him. "If you truly believed I would make Lady Vylot as my mate, I would have done so from the very beginning not years later."
It was true. He had just declared that he would request an audience with Lady Crystobelle to enter into the handfasting ceremony if he took her virginity. Only now realizing her foolishness, she realized he would never have waited this long if he intended to make Lady Vylot his mate.
"Do you oppose the idea of becoming my mate?" There was curiosity and vulnerability within his question.
"I dream of it." Her answer had been quick like a reflex. She swallowed at the way his eyes immediately darkened at that admission. "You now know of my feelings for you, Dante. Nobody compares--"
"What of Aaron?"
Startled at that notion, her eyes widened at her dear friend's name. "I miss him certainly, but I miss him the same as I miss Calyx." She bit her bottom lip before she blew out a breath. "I-I miss you the most."
She did not miss the smile that touched the corners of his mouth before confusion darkened into a grimace.
"Do you remember the time I had returned from Amethystia and you needed to mend my injuries after I was attacked by wolves?" he asked her.
She did remember. Her eyes had drank him in and it felt like ages since she had last saw him even though it had only been a couple years. He and his men had been helping Queen Hyacinth with capturing a band of miscreants on a murdering spree. He had come in with deep gashes in his arm after being attacked by wolves.
"I had missed you so much that I thought I had imagined you walking through the door," she admitted with a soft chuckle of laughter. "I was so excited to see you. I almost kissed you if it had not for the fact you were in pain."
He reached over unexpectedly, capturing her mouth with a sweet kiss. "I had wanted to speak to you about mates then."
Her heart dropped as she reflected back upon the memory. Dante had mistaken her friendship with Aaron for a romantic one. Her eyes met his instantly as tears filled her eyes.
"All these years," she murmured. "All these misunderstandings."
"I am making this vow to speak with Lady Crystobelle not because of duty, because I shall not be able to return to how we once were after I get a true taste of you." The rawness and huskiness of his voice caused her breath to hitch. "The decision is yours."
Seraphina gazed up into his eyes. "You are acting like there was ever a choice," she murmured then sighed as she reached one hand up to cup his cheek. "My heart has been yours since you saved me when I was just a child and will always be yours."
He grabbed her hand kissed her palm. "You must tell me, little warrior. I need to hear you say them with clarity and assertion."
"Dante, take what has always been yours," she told him, locking her eyes on his so he could see the truth in them.