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“What a relief that’s over,” Cyn said.
She and Fallon were walking back to the castle together, her hand on his elbow. Niall had returned to bring food to Felicity, and hold Kira and Braden, one in each arm. His gentle, protective manner of tucking them into his arms as he rocked them was endearing. Tomas, Kieran, and Maelíosa all went for a stroll in the village to share the good news. Before, she’d been a stranger, but the simple gesture of returning and declaring her love to Fallon was more than enough to make her feel at ease.
“Indeed. Are you hungry, love? You must be, after such a long journey,” Fallon said.
“Why don’t we hit the kitchen?” she asked in a cheeky voice. “We might be able to scrounge something up.”
She wasn’t hungry, not exactly, but a part of her was jet-lagged. She couldn’t believe that within twenty-four hours, she’d left her flat in London, had a disastrous lunch with Nathan, and made it back to the arms of her mate.
Fallon smiled at her. “Of course.”
Cyn reached a hand up and stroked his face. For as much as he called her gorgeous and lovely, she’d never measure up to his natural, rugged beauty.
“I missed you so much, my love,” Fallon said.
Her breath caught. She’d never get tired of how he looked at her as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world. None of the slender, well-built women in the Realm meant anything to him. No one had ever made her feel more wanted or desired. And she should be jealous, rightfully so, because Fallon was quite a catch and she’d seen the way women eyed him. It was like he was a tasty carrot, and she was certain they’d love to get their hooves into him. But Fallon was her mate and he only had eyes for her.
Cyn smiled. “I’ve missed you more than you could imagine.”
As they walked, her thoughts lingered on the whirlwind day. She’d never thought of leaving London, let alone becoming an auntie—to twins. Seeing Felicity and Niall cuddling little Kira and Braden melted something within her soul. She still wasn’t sure if she wanted children, but Cyn had to admit Felicity had never looked happier. She was overjoyed for her friend. Cyn and Nathan had spent far too much time coaching Felicity out of misery, and her happiness with Niall was exactly what she deserved. And, if she was being honest, she was bloody thrilled Fallon had come into her life.
Cyn grinned to herself as they walked in silence. She snuck a peek at Fallon, and excitement coursed through her. She’d always been incredibly attracted to him, but being around him now was intoxicating. She wanted to drag him to their chamber and shag until they were too worn out to do anything but spoon together as they slept. The breeze blew a lock of hair away from Fallon’s face. She admired his dishy profile and big, serious eyes. His irises were such a dark shade of brown she could barely make out his pupils.
Fallon squeezed her hand a little too hard. “I’m so pleased to have you back where you belong. I never gave up or lost hope for us. Help me trust my heart with you. Hear my heart, and my soul. Don’t ever leave. It would break me, love.”
“I told you—when I was gone, I was a wreck...a complete mess. Everyone knew it. My sister, Mum, Nathan.” Tears welled up. Cyn wiped her eyes hurriedly so Fallon wouldn’t see, but her voice was shaking. “I tried to contact you all the time. Every day. And you never answered me.”
A tear slipped out from beneath one of her eyelids and Fallon wiped it away, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head.
“Love, I am so very sorry for that,” Fallon said softly. “You must realize it was because I couldn’t let you see me like that.”
Cyn wiped her eyes and looked into her mate’s face. “Why not? I missed you so bloody much.”
Inside, her heart was breaking. All the time she thought he’d been ignoring her, he was suffering in silence as the mate bond ripped him apart.
Fallon shook his head. “I know, my love. But I was so sick, and I couldn’t allow you pitying my condition. If you returned I needed to know it was because you loved me, not because you were obligated.”
“I would have wanted to come back,” Cyn said as she wrapped her arms around the back of Fallon’s neck. “Don’t you know how much I need you?”
If she’d have stayed in London for a day too long she could have lost him forever. Her heart thudded with panic at the idea. She never would have known. Thank God I came back when I did.
“I do,” Fallon said. “But the only way I could allow you to return was out of love, not out of guilt. Don’t you think that if you’d known I was sick, you would have rushed back here immediately?”
Cyn bit her lower lip. “Don’t put it like that. It was my choice to make, and you should have told me the truth.”
“You had to realize how much you loved me in your own time. And there’s nothing wrong with that, love. You’re here and that’s what matters. Besides, no one would accept you as my queen if you didn’t choose life with me on your own,” Fallon said.
“I’m sorry it took so long,” Cyn said, feeling ashamed. “I was so scared of being with anyone that it took me forever to realize I had to be with you. There was no other way.”
It was strange to profess her love with so much conviction, but she didn’t have a choice with him. She meant every angst-filled, soul-consuming sappy sentiment. He inspired that kind of passion and emotion.
Fallon coughed. “There were times when I was unsure...”
Cyn stopped dead in her tracks. “I love you. And I’ll love you forever, with every cell in my body.”
Fallon smiled. He leaned forward and brushed a strand of Cyn’s hair away from her ear. “I love you, too, my beautiful queen.”
Cyn reddened. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used being your queen.”
“Really, my love? I thought you wanted to be in the spotlight,” Fallon said, grinning.
She laughed. “Bloody rubbish, all of it. I gave up the life of a silver-screen queen to be your queen.”
“What’s a silver screen?”
Cyn chuckled. “I adore you. Don’t worry about anything else.”
She leaned forward, kissing him. Fallon groaned and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She’d intended for the kiss to be mostly chaste, but desire flooded her body at the slightest touch of Fallon’s skin against hers. Cyn kissed him harder, and he slid his tongue between her lips. Between her legs was a puddle of desire—it had been far too long since she’d relished his touch, and the intense, almost instant response it provoked.
Cyn had been gone for almost nine full months, and in that time parts of her body slowly shrivelled and died. Now, under Fallon’s touch, her nerves were awakening. She shivered as Fallon nipped her lower lip. He tilted her chin back, licking his way down her neck. Cyn moaned and closed her eyes. The universe tilted as Fallon dipped her down and scooped up her curvaceous body. She’d never given herself so completely, not even with the lovers she casually took to her bed. He stood above all those experiences. It was her body she’d given freely, but not her soul. Not until now.
“I need you, love.”
She shuddered. His desire incinerated her insecurity and fear. He carried her inside the castle. His muscles were strong and showed no sign of tiring. Cyn loved how he lifted her as if she weighed nothing at all. Fallon glided up the stairs and into his chamber, holding her tightly in his arms and kissing her. An urgency had overtaken him. Vaguely, she was aware of being placed on the bed.
“I need to be inside of you,” Fallon said.
Huskiness always clung to his voice during moments of arousal. She grinned up at him from the bed. Desire pulsed through her entire body as she basked in his sensual perusal of her curves. Cyn reached up and pulled him onto the bed with her.
“I’m so happy to be back,” Cyn whispered.
He nuzzled her neck, planting a soft kiss along its slope. “I’m going to keep you in bed for a few days and make up for lost time.”
“I’m okay with that.”
Fallon wrapped his arms around her and held her close. He planted soft, delicate kisses along her shoulders and neck, making Cyn shiver. When she returned his embrace, Cyn couldn’t help noticing how lean his body had become since she’d left. A stab of guilt struck her and she squeezed him extra tight.
“I don’t know why I was so sca—”
He cut her off. “Hush, love.”
Cyn buried her face in his neck, inhaling his familiar scent, all spice and musk. Her throat tightened. The distinctly masculine smell elicited memories which had replayed in her mind the whole time they’d been apart. They’d make new memories now, and have a stronger bond than ever before. She tangled her hands in his hair and tugged gently.
Fallon moaned and tilted his head back. Cyn loved the effect she had on him. Nuzzling under his chin, she nipped at the delicate skin on his throat. He pulled Cyn’s face to his, kissing her until her lips were swollen. She’d never wanted anyone so much. Not a single crazy one-night stand could compare, or even come close. His touch was necessary, and more addictive than anything she’d ever experienced. She didn’t want to make love with him...she wanted to disappear inside of him, melding together as one soul. The mate bond was almost tangible, and it was overwhelming to love so deeply. She would love Fallon for the rest of her life.
Those warm, fuzzy feelings transformed into ravenous desire as he traced his fingers down her arms and torso, skimming her belly through the silky fabric of her shirt. Her tummy gave a jolt when he stopped right above her waist.
“You’re overdressed, my lady.” Fallon yanked her shirt over her head in a smooth motion and crushed her against his rock-hard body.
His tunic scratched her pebbled nipples and Cyn shivered.
She smiled seductively. “So are you...”
Cyn reached down and slipped a hand under his tunic. Fallon’s chest was amazingly warm and supple, and she savoured his skin under her palm. The tunic skidded up his body and she pulled it off, admiring his defined chest. Even though he was much thinner than usual, Fallon still had perfect muscle tone. He gasped as Cyn traced a fingernail on his lower abs.
“Vixen,” he whispered.
She grinned and wriggled down his body, kissing and licking his chest. Fallon moaned. Cyn crawled between Fallon’s knees and rested her cheek against his hot skin. I love you. I’ll love you until I die.
Under her cheek his heartbeat was pulsing, and she leaned forward to brush the exposed skin above the band of his leggings with her lips. His erection jutted between her breasts, and she shivered in anticipation of him filling her, stretching her. Her fingernails caught on his leggings as she trailed them teasingly close to his shaft, tugging them down and letting his cock spring free.
She’d often fantasized about his beautiful, naked body in the months she’d been away, but it was no substitute for the real thing. He was even more striking than she’d remembered. She took the head of his cock into her mouth and lightly sucked at it. When she traced her tongue in a swirl over its tip, he arched his chest and his fingers tangled in her hair. Encouraged, Cyn wrapped a fist around the base of his erection, pumping up and down as she licked and sucked. He tasted deliciously salty and musky, and Cyn loved giving him such intense pleasure. Fallon writhed beneath her touch. She cupped his balls with her free hand, massaging the delicate skin until he was straining.
“Please...” he begged.
With a lascivious grin, she crawled up his naked body. He came unravelled. His erection dug into her belly and he was shaking with need. Fallon took her chin in his fingers and brought her mouth to his. She practically swooned in his arms as he stroked her back, barely brushing her skin with his fingertips. Cyn never realized how erogenous and sensitive her back was. She shivered as his fingers travelled a light path to her neck.
Slowly, he moved his hands down her upper back and around, to the undersides of her breasts. He cupped them gently, teasing her dusky nipples with his calloused thumbs. Fallon rolled her swollen and stiff nipples in his fingers. Cyn moaned loudly. She arched her back, and darts of pleasure shot through her body. Fallon’s touch was so intense. She was sure she’d explode, but just when she couldn’t take any more...he stopped.
“Oh, God. Fallon...”
“Aye, love?”
She groaned in frustration and grabbed his hands, pulling them to her breasts. Fallon chuckled and gently pinched Cyn’s right nipple, caressing the underside of her breast before sliding down her belly. It was almost ticklish, and her whole body tensed. His touch became more urgent. He slid his hand beneath her pants, between her legs, and wriggled his fingers. She screwed her eyelids shut and focused on the sensation of his hand hovering over her sex.
“No, love. Look at me.”
Cyn opened her eyes. She could have sworn the heat from his skin was palpable. Fallon lowered his hand onto the damp crotch of her panties and gently rubbed at the folds of her labia. She moaned, spreading her legs as far as her leggings would allow, and rocked against his hand, desperate for more. Fallon withdrew his hand and Cyn gasped. He tugged down her pants and yanked them over her ankles and knees, leaving her clad in a pair of violet silk panties.
In frustration, she reached down and hurriedly pulled them off. Fallon gave a low chuckle before caressing the inside of her thigh and spreading her legs once more. She trembled in anticipation. His breath on her skin was almost too much to bear and she wriggled on the bed, enjoying her skin slipping on the silken sheets. Fallon was crouched between her legs. He kissed her knee, then locked eyes with hers and held her gaze as he slowly kissed his way up her leg, ending with his mouth at the juncture of her leg and her body. A hot flush spread over her face as she saw every bit of her desire reflected in his eyes. Without breaking eye contact, Fallon traced his fingernails up the delicate flesh of her opposite thigh and stroked her labia. All she could do was watch with rapt attention as he lifted the hand to his nose, inhaling the scent of his mate. Fallon luxuriating in her most intimate parts was one of the most erotic things Cyn had ever witnessed. It was then she realized she’d been panting.
“You’re so beautiful.”
He nuzzled at her crotch, spreading her labia with one hand, licking and sucking at her clit. Cyn went into a frenzy. His tongue swirling over her made her lower belly clench. She ground her hips against Fallon’s face. The stimulation from his nose rubbing against her sex nearly sent her over the edge, and she jerked back. Fallon grabbed her hips and held her in place as he lapped at her clit. She was undulating on the bed in rhythm with his strokes. Fallon loosened his grip on her waist and slipped two fingers inside of her. Cyn screamed and dug her fingers into his hair. She came in powerful waves of pleasure. Her vision went black and whole body spasmed as Fallon kept licking until every muscle released. When the tidal wave faded slightly, Fallon withdrew and sat up. He grinned at Cyn and hastily wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before leaning down to kiss her.
“That was...”
“You’re even sexier when you’re speechless,” Fallon said.
Cyn got onto her hands and knees, pushing Fallon back on the bed. She straddled his pelvis, his length pressing against her. She shifted so that the head of his cock was positioned at the entrance to her sex. Cyn looked down at Fallon and smiled before easing his erection inside of her. She leaned back, grinding against him.
Fallon reached up, toying with her nipples. “My stallion missed you too, love.”
Little shocks tingled through her body. Fallon gasped. His body shuddered as she took every inch of his hardness. The sensations were overwhelming, and she was all choked up. She couldn’t believe she’d ever run from someone who wanted, worshipped, and loved her completely. Fallon laced his fingers through hers. He squeezed her hand as she rocked back and forth. The mate bond flowed between them, and Cyn knew she was going to come again. Beneath her, Fallon strained and thrust upward. She filled with desire and devotion for her mate, and connecting with him again took her breath away.
Cyn spiralled toward the edge as she undulated her hips. His pubic bone pressing against her extremely sensitive clit was heavenly. She threw her head back with a loud moan. Fallon squeezed her hand again and wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her as close as possible. The extra stimulation on her clit made her scream as pleasure flooded her body. His cocked pulsed as he gushed inside of her. Fallon dug his fingers into her flesh and she knew she’d have an instant bruise.
The extreme emotions coursing through her body were too much. A tear rolled down her cheek. Fallon still held her, and for a moment the two of them were perfectly still. Cyn savoured the post-orgasm soreness building in her muscles. He reached up to wipe her cheek, and as much as she wanted to tell him how she felt, the silence spoke volumes.
* * *
THEY WERE STILL SPOONING, and Cyn couldn’t help being a little angry with herself for not returning sooner.
“Love, what’s the matter?” Fallon asked.
Cyn buried her face in his armpit. “Nothing. I’m just so happy. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” Fallon said, squeezing her close. “And I’m never, ever letting you go.”
She rolled onto her back and snuggled close, fitting her head in the spot right above his chest. “I’m never leaving your side. Well, except maybe to take Darcy shopping in London. Or go out with Felicity, or...”
Fallon was stroking her back, and it relaxed her to the point of drowsiness. “Love, I don’t think Felicity will be doing anything exciting for a while. She’s been through quite a strain.”
Cyn snuggled closer. Fallon covered them with a silken sheet and draped his arm around her shoulders. “I’ve been away for so long, and I feel like I missed out on a lot.”
“You’re here now,” Fallon said. “That’s what matters. You didn’t miss anything important.”
Cyn rolled onto her belly and propped herself up on her elbows. She looked at Fallon with intense interest. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay now? I didn’t permanently damage you?”
Fallon shook his head. He wrapped his arms around her, enclosing her limbs with his and spooning up to her warm back. “I’m healed. And what hasn’t healed will be, with your love.”
Cyn couldn’t completely force the worry away. But she knew within time, she’d learn to forgive herself. She’d spent her whole life running scared from commitment. Cyn supposed it was because if you never allowed anyone to get close to you, there was no risk of getting hurt. Over the years she’d become an expert at pushing people away. Only Fallon had managed to destroy her witty façade. She loved him more than she’d ever thought possible. She loved him even more for taking her back with no questions asked. She loved him for accepting the mate bond as the most important thing in his life. Even though she still worried about Maelíosa and being accepted by the clan as his queen, she’d discovered peace within their bond. She looked forward to spending time with her new niece and nephew, and catching up with Fallon.
“I’ll do everything in my power to heal you,” Cyn said.
She lowered her face to his, kissing him with all of her might.
“I know,” Fallon said. “I know you will, love.”
“How are we going to spend the rest of the day?” Cyn asked in a lazy voice.
She traced her fingertips down Fallon’s chest. He grabbed her fingers in his hand and squeezed.
“However you would like, my love,” he said as he brought her fingers to his mouth and kissed them. “I have some ideas for things I’d like to do with you. I think you’ll like them.”
Cyn cocked her head at Fallon and raised her eyebrows with a smirk. She wrapped her arms around him and lay against his chest, her cheek resting over his heart.
“Oh will I? I have some ideas too,” she said as she closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat. “But first, I think we should take a well-deserved nap.”
