Page 53 of The Raven's Alpha
The silence is deafening, my mind replaying the moment my mate vanished, the ache of regret growing with each passing second. I can’t shake the what-ifs, my brain looping on the thought of if only we'd sealed our bond before leaving for my parents' home.
If we were already bonded, then my mate wouldn’t have been taken away from me... or maybe he would have been, but I would have managed to find him a lot quicker than when I did.
Darcy’s gentle voice pierces the air, his words shattering my reverie like a shard of glass. "You're thinking awfully hard," he murmurs, his brow furrowed in concern.
His eyes flutter open, his face creased into a map of tired lines, but his features remain striking, like a worn sculpture crafted by the gentle hands of time. He rubs his face, smudging the shadowsbeneath his eyes, and looks at me with a question written across his face: "Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?"
The words spill out of me like a river bursting its banks as I grasp Darcy's hands, pressing gentle kisses against his skin. "I've loved you since the moment I saw you perched on my truck, chain swinging between your beak," I confess, my words trembling with emotion. "I want us to claim each other, not just for convenience or obligation, but because I love you.”
“I want you to know that I'm not pushing for us to rush into anything. I can only imagine how difficult the past twelve hours or so have been for you, and I want you to know that I'm here for you every step of the way. When you're ready to take the next step with me, I'll be here, waiting patiently and lovingly. I promise that when we do claim each other, it will be because we're both ready and willing, and it will be a beautiful moment of comfort, safety, and security. You mean everything to me, and I'm willing to wait as long as it takes for us to get to this place together.”
“Take me to bed,” Darcy begs with a low moan, his skin releasing a heady scent of sweet berries that's almost overwhelming.
I breathe in slowly, my lungs expanding as I try to process the intoxicating scent that wafts towards me like a warm breeze on a summer day. The air is thick with the heady aroma of freshly picked berries, and I can feel my senses begin to spin. My hands tremble as I reach for him, my mind racing with the effort to focus on his words rather than give in to the temptation to bury my face in his neck and inhale deeply. “Are you sure, Darcy?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper as I struggle to resist the pull of his scent.
His voice husky with desire as he whispers, “Yes.” His eyes lock onto mine before his gaze dips down to my lips, and I can feel the air vibrate with the tension between us. I reach up to pull his face to mine, my fingers tangling in his hair as I crave the taste of hismouth on mine. “Take me to bed,” he repeats, his voice barely above a whisper
Standing up, I bend down and scoop up my mate, his arms wrap around my neck in a warm embrace. His fingers dig gently into my skin, sending shivers down my spine as he pulls me in close. Our bodies mould together like puzzle pieces and my breath catches in my throat when I feel his hardness press against me. His legs hook around my hips, his ankles locking in place as he holds me tightly, I can feel his heart pounding against mine.
As soon as we step into the bedroom, our mouths meet in a sizzling collision, his taste explodes on my tongue, rich and intoxicating, as our tongues explore each other's mouths with reckless abandon. My breath comes in ragged gasps as his mouth claims mine, our kisses growing hungrier by the second. I can feel his heart pounding against mine like a drumbeat, and I'm lost in the sensation of being devoured by him.
I guide Darcy down onto the bed, his body thuds softly onto the mattress, sending a ripple through his muscles as he relaxes into it. His eyes lock onto mine as he reaches for his sweater, and I stop him with a gentle shake of my head, my fingers brushing against his skin as I whisper “No, don't you do anything yet.” The air is thick with anticipation as we freeze in this moment, our breathing synchronised in a shared desire.
Darcy does as I say and stops his movements, I quickly shed my own clothes and climb up onto the bed, my length swinging and dripping between my legs. My mate’s eyes widen as he stares directly at my arousal, licking his lips as I get closer to his body.
I begin my journey of devotion at my mate's feet, my hands glide up his warm skin like a gentle summer breeze on a sun-kissed day. The softness is an invitation, urging me to explore the contours of his body further. His shins, smooth and hairless, beckon me to continue my ascent. I follow the gentle curve of his thigh, my beard whisperingsweet nothings against his skin as I pause at the crease of his groin. Inhaling deeply, I am enveloped by the heady scent of berries and lust, a fragrance that intoxicates me and leaves me craving more.
"Darcy, my love," I whisper, my voice husky with desire, as I trail my tongue along the gentle curves of his hip bones. The ridges and hollows of his pelvis seem to be beckoning me closer, like the tender petals of a flower unfolding in the sunlight.
I slightly lift Darcy’s oversized sweater and let my lips linger on the tender skin of his abdomen, my tongue brushing against the softness of his body. I pause to savour the sweet surrender of his bellybutton, my tongue tracing the contours of his navel. Darcy's body responds with a subtle tremor, and I feel his stomach muscles tense, as if trying to hold back the thrill of pleasure. But I tempt him further, my teeth grazing his skin with a soft, seductive bite, and he lets out a delighted laugh, his tension melting away.
I move up his chest, my eyes feast on the tender ridges of his nipples. I lavish attention on the sensitive peaks, tracing their curves with reverence. His skin yields to my touch, his nipples hardening like rose petals unfolding.
His neck flexes, relaxed and ready, as I draw his head to the side. My tongue follows the rhythm of his pulse, my mouth watering at the thought of claiming this most intimate spot. I savour the thrill of it being seen, of marking him where all can see.
"I'll mark you here," I whisper, my breath a promise against his skin. "Where my teeth will sink deep, sealing our bond. You'll be mine, Darcy and everyone will know it."
I pull back, our gazes locking in a fiery embrace. I drag my finger down my own neck, the gesture deliberate and provocative. “Here,” I whisper, my voice husky with desire. “Bite me here, and mark me as yours. I'll wear your claim like a badge of honour, my heart beating only for you.”
Darcy's pupils dilate, his gaze riveted on the tender skin where my fingers linger. His nod is almost desperate, his voice low and husky as he whines, “Yes, I want every last inch of you marked with my ownership, so the whole world knows you’re mine to touch, to taste, to possess.'"
I swoop in, my mouth claiming his in a searing kiss that sets our souls ablaze. Our lips meld together in a sultry tango, the world around us dissolving into nothingness as we become one. The air is heavy with the promise of our love, our kiss a tantalising whispered vow to surrender to the passion that simmers between us, to cherish and adore each other for all eternity.
Our bodies thrum with an electric intensity, our need and longing crackling like live wires, as we devour each other with a hunger that's impossible to satiate. The kiss is a shockwave of sensation.
With a slow, deliberate motion, I coax my mate onto his stomach, his body surrendering to my touch as he nestles into the pillow. Then, with a gentle, teasing exploration, I burrow between his legs, my lips and tongue dancing across the tender skin of his crease. The sweet aroma of ripe fruit wafts up to greet me, and I'm drawn in by the irresistible scent of his desire. As I delve deeper, his slickness coats my face, and I groan in rapture at the taste and sensation, my senses drunk with the thrill of pleasure.
Darcy tries to lay still, but after a few minutes I feel his hands grab a hold of my hair and push my head further between his cheeks. His moans and groans getting louder with each passing moment. As soon as my tongue makes its first pass through his sphincter, a bucket of slick floods out of him and straight into my mouth, I continue to lick and suck him through his first orgasm of the night.