Without one more word between them, she watched as Dante continued to look into her eyes before he finally leaned down and captured her mouth again, but this time, it was slow and meandering. Heat between them had dimmed to sizzling during their conversation, but she could feel the warmth of something else -- less desperate, less needy.
The desire for him had not dampened, but there was not this need anymore to rush and to take from each other out of fear that these fires would be forever stamped out.
Her heartbeat thudded in her chest as his hands once again ventured over her body, caressing her as if he was honey. The pace was maddening but thrilling. Each spike of heightened pleasure stoked the logs, building up the fire between them again. When her hands bravely traveled his arms and chest, she became breathless at the hardness of muscle. She wanted to touch his skin, feel his heartbeat against the bare skin of his chest. Her hands slipped underneath his tunic and her fingers grazed him. They both groaned at the contact and she impatiently tugged at his tunic.
She had seen him with his tunic off countless of times, whether from tending to his wounds or during an intense training session with his warriors. Even though she could feel the warmth heating her cheeks at her embarrassment, she did not have any experience being with a man, but her instinct was to get closer to him. She felt him ease away from her. Before she could protest the lack of contact, she watched him strip off his armor and garments.
The light from the moon and lilies of Celeste bathed his skin in a soft enchanting glow. She watched with baited breath as he hooked his fingers into his trousers and followed the material down his legs. Her eyes gazed upon him in awed fascination. There was no fear in his eyes only desire directed at her and she swallowed hard when he reached his hand out to her.
She took his hand and he gently pulled her to her feet. He cupped her face in his hands, drawing her into another kiss. Just as he had done, she eased away from him momentarily, but with eyes still upon his, she removed her own garments until she took stood before him bare. It was a strange awkward moment as his eyes traveled down the length of her body. For one excruciatingly intrusive moment, her anxiety mounted and she wondered if his eyes had gazed upon more beautiful bodies.
Of course he had. He must have. When she averted her eyes and her hands attempted to cover herself, he drew her toward him until their bodies were flush against one another. Yet again his mouth was upon hers, melting away her fears until all was left was her desire and affection.
"Seraphina, you are beautiful," he whispered into her ear. "Do not doubt that what you offer me is anything but a blessed gift."
She flushed at his words. "Dante, please."
Once again, his mouth captured hers in a kiss and she was losing her focus on words and thoughts. The way his hands and fingers danced across her skin as if he already knew how to play her body like an instrument only made for him. Perhaps, he did, because the way he touched her and fitted his body against her as if they were each other's missing puzzle pieces was far too familiar like he had been playing her strings for many years.
Virginity let none pass without bittersweet pain and she had cried out at the sharpness. He had stilled and then gently eased within her, reading her body as he filled her deeply and fully. He had pressed kisses to the tears that escaped from her eyelashes and the stinging burn of his stretch forced her to understand what lessons of submission felt like.
There were other lessons of submission she needed to learn as she trembled against him even though he now just stayed still within her. He let her cry against his chest as she grew accustomed to him. When the pain began to ease so did her tears and she bravely prodded him to continue.
She expected him to thrust against her. She expected to grab about his body as if they were wild horses, but unexpected sweetness met her instead as he eased himself up slightly while his fingertips massaged against her sensitive skin. She once again felt the dizzied heat rising and the dampness as he gently tested her with a gentle thrust.
"Is the pain lessening?" he whispered as he tested her again.
She nodded her head at the strange combination of both pain and pleasure warred over her body. Splintering into stardust over the universe, she gasped as her body strained against him while overwhelming waves of heat exploded through her. Had she had little faith in his capacity to bring the stars down from the sky above, she knew the truth from her quivering body and the slick evidence between the juncture of her thighs. She coated him with her essence, making it easier to dance with one another.
"Ah, little warrior," he groaned before swallowing thickly. His own body trembled against her skin. "You are making this incredibly difficult for me."
Her breath hitched when he bucked against her, driving him even deeper inside. She bit her lip as she pushed apart her legs, welcoming him even closer. Taking her invitation, he pressed himself flush up against her body, gathering her into his arms. Her body buzzed as he took her higher and deeper. The push and pull like waves breaking on the shore underneath the moonlight's enchanting tune as their bodies demanded, took, and succumbed to one another.
Her fingers dug into his shoulder blades as she crested over, bowing into him with a cry of surrender. He held her against him as she felt him find his release within her. Her name tumbled out from his lips as if it was a sacred chant.
The only thing left was the hum of their heartbeats and breathing as their fever cooled. When he eased away from her, it was only to shift his weight off of her. She pressed her body against his side as he drew her against him.
Anticipation mounted until she finally glanced upwards, catching his gaze with hers. She nibbled her bottom lip as she wondered if those sweet promises were only made in feverish eagerness.
"Do you have any regrets?"
Her cheeks burned. "Only that we waited this long," she admitted and her heart soared as his laughter echoed in the cave.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "With or without formalities made by traditional ceremonies or rituals, you are my mate, my guiding star to light the way." The intensity in his eyes warmed her body in both comforting and sensual flames. Her eyes widened when his hand gripped hers. Was he going to perform the sacred rite without the permission of the Court? "If it is ordained by the Tree, let the roots between us form the foundation of our soul union."
Startled by the simple old ancient words, Seraphina swallowed before she took a deep breath and recited the same words: "If it is ordained by the Tree, let the roots between us form the foundation of our soul union."
For a frantic moment, she waited in anticipation to see if their union was ordained. This old ritual predated the modern day societal ritual used where nobility interfered with authenticity and fated unions. It was more binding and more powerful. To have one's union be ordained by the Soul Tree was more private and sacred. Seraphina should not have been surprised Dante knew of it.
Her eyes widened when her body began to glow as did Dante's. Her heart squeezed as she watched their auras began to intertwine. The usual tattoo of roots forming that would build to a tree and represented their union was inking into their hands. Instead of just the usual golden threads, their roots were formed by iridescent threads of soul energy. The Tree had ordained their union.
She had forced herself to breathe and ripped her gaze away from their hands to gaze upon a satisfied smile gracing Dante's face. Finally, his eyes met her and chuckled at her incredulous expression.
"I will still speak with Lady Crystabelle as a formality for she will still wish to make it known that she approves of our union," he told her. "She is very protective of you and does not wish others to think lowly on matters that truly do not concern them."
Once again, reality set in about her like the chill of winter. She worried her bottom lip, thinking of how Elvish nobility would receive them. Would they look down upon Dante for selecting a simpleton like her and not someone like Lady Vylot?
*All you have to do is look down upon your hand, Seraphina,* he whispered into her mind and her eyes traveled down to their joint hands. The moment she saw the iridescent soul roots, she felt the fear and insecurities melt away. *Nobody can deny the approval of the ancient Tree. Our matebond was ordained and orchestrated by the ancients.*
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she gazed down at the authentic truth of their union. It did not matter what others thought. She only truly cared how Lady Crystobelle would receive the union, because her opinion truly did matter on a personal level. However, the one person that mattered above all else was his and he went out of his way to make her feel secure and adored in their union.
She looked up at him and just let her emotions flow out of her. Instead of saying aloud her how she felt, she just kissed him and let her body show him her truth. When he melted into her and gently pushed her on her back, her body was like water, flowing with him like a current of a meandering river.