Page 8 of Kiss of Embers
“We’ll find her, Struan.” His voice turned gentle as he gave my cheekbones another stroke. “But probably not in these mountains.”
An ache bloomed in my heart. “You don’t ken that.”
“No…” Finn offered a small smile. “You’re right. I don’t know for sure. Anything is possible.”
He was humoring me. I pulled from his body and flopped onto my back beside him. “She has to be out theresomewhere.” But even as I said it, a little voice in my head reminded me thatshemight not even be born yet. Finn and I had already waited over a century. We might have to wait a few more.
I forced that depressing thought from my mind. “Everyone else has found their females,” I told the ceiling. “Why not us?”
The bed dipped as Finn lifted onto his elbow beside me. He smoothed his free hand over my stomach, delving his fingers into the hollows between my abdominal muscles. “Not everyone.”
I looked at him. “It feels like everyone. Callum McLeish mated an ice dragon and a witch on thesame day.”
Finn’s brow furrowed. “I don’t think it was the same day.”
“Bloody close enough. Then you’ve got Lachlan MacKay and Alec Murray mating that curvy little human. Bram McGregor and Fergus Devlin found Halina of Krovnosta on their doorstep?—”
“I know.”
“—and the Consort and King Cormac have Queen Isolde.”
“Thank the gods,” Finn said pointedly. “Cormac was in a bad way for a long time. It’s a miracle he and the Consort found the queen. It’s an even bigger miracle that Alec and Lachlan’s woman broke the Curse.” Finn raised an eyebrow. “Her name is Chloe, by the way. And based on the rumors I’ve heard, she’llpunt your sack into your brain if you refer to her ascurvy little human.”
“A murderous, curvy little human? You’re only making me more jealous.”
Finn snorted. Then he sobered. “Are you really that unhappy?”
Surprise flared in my mind. “What? No. Why would you think that?”
He gestured at the bedroom. “Renting this place. Coming to the Alps. For the past few years, you’ve planned these trips. We travel all over the world.”
“Aye. Because we like to travel.”
And inscrutable look passed through his eyes.
I sat up. “Finn?”
Silence stretched. Then, Finn grimaced. “I need coffee.” He swung his legs off the mattress.
I caught his arm before he could leave the bed. “You think I’m unhappy?”
He drew a deep breath. “You’re looking forher. And so am I. But these things can take time. In some cases, they take several generations. I know all the recent matings weigh on you.” He lowered his gaze to the bedding. “I don’t want you to despair.”
My jealousy dissolved. Because I suddenly recognized the look he’d tried to hide.Fear.Finn worried he wasn’t enough for me. And that simply couldn’t stand. In a sudden movement, I pulled him into my lap. But he was big and heavy as hell, and his weight toppled me backward.
“Struan!” He came up spitting, his legs straddling my waist. “What are you on about?”
“You,” I said, running my hands up his thick thighs. My cock tightened, but I ignored it as I soothed my mate. “I want to make one thing clear, Finn MacAlasdair.”
He stilled, clearly recognizing the seriousness of my tone. “What is it?”
“Eighty years haven’t cooled my ardor for you in the slightest. I don’t despair. I rejoice. And I meant what I said when we spoke our vows.” I gripped his waist, then surged up, topplinghimbackward onto the bed. With a roll of my hips, I entered him in one smooth thrust. He was still slick and open, and he took me easily. His gasp fluttered over my face, and his eyes went wide as I bent my head and recited our vows against his lips. “I bind you and I’m bound to you. I’ll take no others save the one we wait for.” I thrust my hips once, hard, jolting him on the rumpled bed. “Is that clear?”
His swallow was audible in the quiet bedroom. “It’s clear.”
“Good. Let me know if you need reminding.” I pressed deeper, my balls snug against his ass, and I grinned when a moan slipped from him. “Now that I think about it, I should probably remind you right now.”
His lips twitched. At the same time, a wicked gleam entered his eyes. The vibe between us changed—the subtle balance of power shifting. “Is that so?” he asked.