“Yes.” She wailed on a long moan, her orgasm rippling around his still-stiff rod. He continued grinding hard against her ass while the vibrating waves milked him. “Yes,” she whispered, her panting breath blowing strands of blond that had fallen in front of her face.
Before she’d come fully down, he fell forward, still clothed except for his trousers halfway down his thighs, pressing close to her body, his mouth at her ear. In a slower tempo, he pulled all the way out and pumped in, over and over. He nibbled her ear then her neck as she panted and whispered “yes” with each thrust of his pelvis.
He may have awoken her in the tower, but she’d awoken his heart. And he was strong enough of a man to own what this truly was. He brushed his mouth close to her ear again, still pumping inside her.
“I love you,” he whispered, the truth of his words swelling his heart and raking his insides with the need for her to feel the same.
She reached out and clutched her hands atop his, which were pressed into the bearskin fur. She tilted her bottom up higher and turned her head to him. “Kiss me. For I love you, too.”
He melded his mouth to hers. Her tongue flicked inside so sweetly and tenderly. He came on a feral groan, but she didn’t let him break the kiss. She sucked his tongue inside her mouth as he emptied his seed inside her body.
And it was heaven. As if the stars had aligned and blessed them both for recognizing love when they saw it. And giving it voice the moment of its birth.
He pulled out of her body and rolled her over to press a smiling kiss to her lips. “I love you, Vilhelmina Dragomir.”
She laced her slender arms around his neck, a tear slipping from one eye even as she smiled. “I love you, Mikhail Romanov.”
“Is it that bad that you must cry?” he teased.
“It’s that good.”
He shook his head, feeling almost dizzy. “I thought love was supposed to be painful and heartbreaking.”
She laughed, the sound reaching straight inside him, winding him ever closer.
“Now wherever did you hear a thing like that?” she asked.
He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. Isn’t that what they say in all the books?”
“What books have you been reading? Tragedies?”
“I only read books on military strategy and weaponry.”
“Of course, you do.”
She combed her fingers through his hair. He wanted her to do that forever. Well, perhaps not forever. He’d like to tup her as often as possible in between her soft caresses.
“Well, let me explain something to you, Captain. There are many books that portray love as the pinnacle of happiness. As the zenith of the heart’s delight.”
He swept his mouth softly against her kiss-swollen lips. “And is your heart at its zenith, my love?”
Her expression sobered as she cupped his face. “Yes. It absolutely is.” She pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “But I’ll be happier when this war is over.”
“Bloody hell.” He pushed up off of the bed and tucked himself back into his pants, retying his laces as quickly as possible.
“What is it?”
He laughed. “What is it?” He picked up his heavy cloak and hooked the clasp, lifting the hood. Then picked up his gloves and slid one on. “One look from you and I forgot the whole world outside this tent.”
She smiled, so beautiful with her fair skin flushed pink from his kisses and caresses. He leaned over the bed, fisting his hand gently in her unbound hair with the ungloved hand, then kissed her. A light peck. Those half-lidded eyes, slits of the purest blue stared back with satisfaction. And he’d put that look there. He puffed with pride, wanting to tumble her back down to the bed.
“Heaven above, woman. I believe you’ve ensnared my very soul.”
She turned her head and placed a kiss inside his palm. Her sweetness would ruin him, soften his tough exterior as the formidable leader of the Bloodguard. He smiled at the fact that he didn’t give a fucking damn.
“Don’t worry, Captain.” She helped him put on the second glove, making sure it was snug and tight. “I’ll take good care of your soul.” She peered up, a vulnerable expression making her appear childlike. “Will you take good care of my heart that you’ve stolen?”
He curled his gloved hand around her delicate fingers, pressing her palm to his lips. “The greatest care.” His throat was thick with emotion. “I’ll treasure it forever. And I’ll never break it.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Upon my life.”
Then she smiled. And all was right with the world.
“Now you need to get some sleep. We’ll leave at the break of dawn. I want you well-rested because we’ve got a long ride ahead.”
“We’re going straight to Izeling, aren’t we?”
He lifted her toward the head of the cot so she could tuck under the bearskin fur. He needed to know she was safe and warm before he went out on patrol.
“Yes. How’d you know?”
“I listen to you men more than you think. I’ve heard you talk of the king’s fortress where he keeps his rabid vampire army in Izeling.”
He tucked her in and brushed his hand over her golden hair. “You’ll be a mighty queen, Mina.”
“With you at my side,” she whispered. Hesitantly. Questioningly.
“Yes, love.” He smiled and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “With me at your side.”
She sighed heavily as if a weight had fallen. He hadn’t even realized he’d put it there. How much he’d meant to her. But now he did. And she meant more to him than life itself.
He marched for the entrance and turned back one last time to find the most beautiful creature on Earth smiling at him.
“I’ll wake you in the morning.”
She arched a brow. Her smile turned wicked. “I look forward to it.”
With a laugh, he left her.
He nodded to the two vampire guards on duty at the entrance, sensing six sets of heartbeats nearby, surrounding the back of the tent.
“No one leaves their post till I send your replacements.”
“Yes, Captain.” They snapped in unison.
Feeling assured, he marched toward the southern perimeter to start his rounds. It would be a long night in the storm.
Chapter Twenty-Five
After Mikhail left, Mina couldn’t fall asleep. Not after what had just transpired between them. She threw off the pelt, which was indeed quite warm, then used some water from her canteen and a cloth to clean herself. She set to redressing completely, all the way down to her knee-high boots and belt with her dagger.
Something stirred in the stormy winds outside. She curled up near the low-burning fire, wondering at her life now. She was queen of her kingdom. Her home. And she loved the man who loved her. She wanted to dream of a life at Briar Rose with Mikhail, but the war still loomed.
The burning embers glowed deep orange and burnished gold. She blew out a breath and watched them spark, shimmering in a wave of mystical light. Almost as if there were answers to be found there. She peered closer, the heat radiating not on her skin but through it, reaching straight through flesh and bone into her chest, pulsing, awakening some secret she should know.