She gave new meaning to my heart.
My hips settled between hers, my cock throbbing against her hot center. “Sex is a merging of the bodies,” I murmured, my lips moving across her cheek. “The connection is between the elements, and ours is a dance between our souls.” I pressed my arousal into the sanctuary between her thighs, providing an introduction to my lustful cravings, and smiled at her resulting moan. If only we were naked, then I could truly demonstrate my yearnings.
Alas, I had a task to complete. One that would hopefully secure her place here and pacify the Council.
To find the one framing my Claire.
My teeth grazed her pulse on my way up to her ear. “You can deepen a bond without sex, Claire. It just has to be a m
utual agreement between the fae to continue exploring opportunities. I think, in your terms, it would be the equivalent of going from a few casual dates to dating seriously, or maybe even an engagement. Because once our elements move on to the next phase, it’s showing a promise for the future and speaks of a serious intent to mate for eternity.”
“How many levels are there?” she asked, her nails scratching down my back as she arched up into me.
I smiled against her neck. “Four.”
“And we’re on the first?”
“Yes.”
“But close to the second?”
“Yes.” I took her mouth again—because I could—and slid my tongue deep inside, possessing every inch of her. She groaned, her body vibrating with need beneath mine. I longed to give in, just for one more moment, and so I did.
I gave her everything.
My frustration.
My yearning.
My adoration.
My worries.
The Council would be meeting later tonight, and if I didn’t give them a sound argument against expulsion…
No.
I refused.
That was not going to happen on my watch.
Claire’s arms wound around my neck, holding me tightly as she reciprocated in kind, her feelings exploding across her tongue. I felt her confusion, her strength, and, most importantly, her craving not just for a physical connection but also for an emotional one.
With me.
A sign of her mutual affection.
She couldn’t know that was what it meant, but my power reacted in kind, dancing with hers on a plane only spirit had access to. “That’s it, isn’t it?” she whispered, awe in her voice.
“Yes.” Apparently, that was my word of the night because not only did I keep saying it out loud but my soul repeated it as well.
Claire’s energy swirled around mine, causing the hairs along the nape of my neck to stand on end. This was why we didn’t need sex to graduate to phase two. The bond required elemental compatibility, coupled with the passion for more.
And there’d never been another fae more for me than Claire. “You’re sure?” I asked her softly, nuzzling my nose against hers. “Because if we push this one inch forward, we’ll be in the next level, Claire.”
“Dating exclusively, right?” she asked, sounding dreamy. Then the words seemed to register, because she froze. “Meaning I can’t see Titus…”
“No.” I cupped her cheek, pulling her back to me before panic could truly set in. “It would mean you can’t see another Spirit Fae. This is about elemental bonding, Claire. You would essentially be declaring your spirit as betrothed to mine.”