Rami had tasted women before.

Too many to count.

But as his tongue traced that delicate line between Cora's slick skin, Rami couldn't remember a single one.

She was as juicy as a raspberry. As decadent as sweet cream. He drank it all in as the last waves of her orgasm crested over his lips. Cora had been right. The flavor of her pleasure on his tongue was more intoxicating than whiskey.

Better than wine.

Rami pressed a kiss to her thigh, feeling the heavy beat of her pulse. She was so warm, and wet, and alive. So real.

Again and again, he kissed the sweetness between her legs. His mouth drifted between her middle, ready to drink her in again when Cora's eager fingers tugged on his hair.

"I want you inside me," she said around a gasp. "Now."

Her demand coaxed a smile. He slipped a finger inside her, sweeping over her most sensitive spot, all the while teasing her with his tongue.

She shuddered.

"Not like that. I want you. All of you."

Rami had been anticipating this. Waiting for it. His entire body was straining against the bedsheets, demanding to answer her call, but he knew if he did—if he consummated the desire to mate—that was it. He'd be tied to Cora forever.

The gravitas of the situation was not lost on a creature like him.

He had a child to consider. And Cora's feelings. She didn't love him—not yet.

And even if she could love him, would a witch like Cora want to be tied to a vampire? One as cursed and despicable as he. Mated forever to a creature with a little girl?

She moaned his name. "Rami."

There was nothing he loved more than hearing his name on her lips. His fingers danced inside her. His tongue painting circles around that sweet center. "Oh, fuck," she moaned. "Keep going."

Slow, melodic strokes. Over and over.

Her knees shook. Rami's free hand found hers. Fingers lacing together. Her nails digging into his hard skin.

"Don't stop."

"Never," he breathed into her.

He had found that place, her place, the spot that could bring her to the brink of pleasure over and over—which was exactly what he intended to do. But he also wanted to show this woman what true intimacy was. To treat her with care and love.

He didn't want to take anything from Cora—nothing but time.

Cora twisted in the sheets as another wave of pleasure crashed against his tongue, his mouth filling with the sweet taste of her.

Almost unaware of what he was doing, Rami unwound her legs from his neck and crawled on top of her. The tip of his cock sliding between heated skin. It was so fucking tempting to bury himself in her. Over and over.

Her breath was ragged, but Rami took her warm lips with his. Drunk on the taste of her. Lost in this woman.

Rami deepened the kiss, tongue gliding between her lips, hands fisting sections of her long hair. Cora rocked her hips up, and he was almost inside her.

His body went stiff. Lips falling away from hers.

"What's the matter?" Cora whispered. "Don't you want it?" Her tone was playful and naughty, and yes, of course he wanted it. She could feel how badly he wanted it.

But she couldn't know how badly he wanted her, every part. Her heart and her laugh and that fiery hair of hers. The thick strands tangled in his hands.

"Cora," Rami whispered. Letting his gaze fall on hers. "If we do this—"

Her hips rocked up again, and he could feel how warm she was. His slickened tip nudging her open. Rami drew in a sharp breath, trying to rein in his instincts.

"I think you mean when we do this," Cora said. "Not if."

Rami pressed a kiss to her long neck. Burying himself in her scent. His body was so hard he thought he might crack down the middle if he resisted her any longer.

His lips found hers, thumb stroking the side of her face. She was almost glowing in the low light of the room, her skin luminous under his touch.

"If we do this, I'll be mated to you. I can feel the pull—this instinct—and once I let go, I won't be able to leave you."

Cora studied his face with those curious eyes of hers. "You mean I'd be able to have this whenever I wanted?"

Her hips drew a circle, and it was his turn to moan. Body trembling. Every inch of him more alive than he'd been in centuries.

This wouldn't just be a round or two of fun. Not for him.

Cora was his mate, the one person who he would be tied to forever. His to protect and cherish and love. But he couldn't in good faith bind her to that intensity without consent.

"Yes," he rasped. Trying to find his breath. Rami forced himself to look at her, even though he was terrified of what she'd say. "You could have me any time you wanted, mon coeur. But this is more than just sex. Do you understand?" Rami buried his face in her hair. "Tell me you understand." Then he added, "Tell me you want me. That you could want Sabella and me in your life."

For a long, frightening minute, Cora said nothing. Her pulse thundering in his ears. Her breath coming and going. Rami buried his face deeper in the hollow of his neck, taking in the sweet scent of her.

Please. Say that you could want a creature like me.

Cora's hands snaked around his back, pulling Rami tight to her chest. He felt like he was melting into her. Sinking into the depths of her soft body.

Then she slid down an inch, and Rami felt her around him, tight and so fucking warm. "Just promise me you'll never leave. Not unless I want you to."

He sealed his promise to her with a kiss. First on her neck, then her jaw, then one slow, deep kiss to her mouth.

"Never."

Rami slid inside Cora to the sound of a gasp, and he'd never experienced such an overwhelming sense of fullness. They moved together as one, over and over, solidifying his promise to her with each deep stroke. 

It was the closest he come to feeling alive in many long years. 

He hiked one of her legs over his shoulder, taking a pink nipple between his teeth. Her body clenched around him.

"Just like that," she screamed.

In that moment, Rami would have done anything Cora asked of him. He would have carved out his own useless heart and given it to her if she'd wanted it. 

With one hand curled into her hair, Rami said, "Look at me Cora."

Her endlessly blue eyes fluttered open, and Rami felt the bond between as it sealed. She was his, and he was hers, until the earth stopped spinning.

"Rami, don't stop."

He didn't, not until the sound and pressure of her orgasm tipped him over the edge. Rami pulled out and joined her, the ecstasy of release and the pull of his mate like the full moon on an ocean tide.

And his dark, lifeless heart let out one slow beat.

A/N

😏

I love that Cora makes this decision—and it's not forced on her.

Consent is king. Eager, enthusiastic consent.

xx
AJ