A Trial of the Heart (Valdor #2)

Chapter Ten

I froze and swallowed a gulp of regret for being so bold. Leaping into his lap and straddling him like this was impulsive. I tried to move back, but his grip stopped me.

Confused, I shook my head at him. His words and actions were not matching up. I cocked a suspicious brow toward him, silently asking, What the hell are you doing ? He returned a deep, sensual grin paired with a chuckle of amusement that vibrated deep within his chest.

“But…?” I boldly asked.

Deciding to test a theory I rotated my hips, grinding my apex against his growing shaft. His immediate moan and heavy sigh in response were encouraging.

“Gods… Fuck, Skylar,” he cursed, his scent changing with his rising need. The aroma of his arousal was mind-altering, only making me crave him more. “You know, your arousal smells just as sweet to me,” Daxton whispered. “The calming yet wild nature of your burning spirit is a remedy I can’t seem to get enough of. The mere hint of your arousal makes me want to fall on my knees before you and worship you like the queen you are.”

“Tempting offer, Princey,” I teased, giving him a wicked grin as I threaded my hands into his hair. I tugged his head to the side as I bent to taste the nape of his neck. A low growling purr emanated from Daxton’s throat, urging me to continue tasting him. I began gently trailing my lips along the curve of his chin down to his ear. I then paused, feeling his entire body tense.

“But…?” I repeated, halting my progress.

Daxton encircled my long hair around his wrist and pulled me upward. “But—” His breath was staggered, and the entrance between my thighs dripped with anticipation. He was forceful and aggressive with his hold on me, controlling me in a primal way that sang to the animal thriving inside my middle.

“But…” He slowly released his hold on my hair and grasped the base of my neck with one hand while the other began working its way underneath my gown. “These are not the proper conditions for the first time I have my way with you, Skylar Cathal. You deserve better than this—better from me. But it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy other things tonight.”

“The first time … huh?” I playfully mocked, twirling a finger around a strand of his luscious hair.

“Yes.” He grinned, catching my play on words. “The first time I fuck you, I’ll have you shaking and trembling so immensely from the intensity of your orgasms that you’ll be unable to leave my bed. I intend to make that beautiful voice of yours hoarse from screaming my name over and over again as I make you come with my mouth, my fingers… and then, finally, my cock buried deep inside you.”

My eyes widened with pure elation, my apex throbbing with a deep-seated need that could only be fed by his touch. I didn’t care which one he picked to please me with first. I already knew what his fingers and mouth could do, and selfishly, I needed more .

“That a promise?” I breathed heavily, my chest rising and falling in deep swells. He nuzzled his face into the nook of my neck, kissing the sensitive spot near my collarbone that drove me absolutely wild. “ Daxton —”

Hearing his name on my lips caused him to release a pleasing rumble from deep within his chest. In response, he thrusted his hips up between my thighs, slowly releasing his lips from my skin.

“The moment you first entered the ballroom tonight,” he rasped, “I became lost in your beauty. You’re an absolute vision, breathtaking in rags or riches, and even more so naked.” I bit my lip, blushing at the last remark, but Daxton’s smirk only grew. “You shined brighter and more beautiful than any alluring diamond or rare jewel tonight. I couldn’t, nor do I want to ever take my eyes off you.”

“I heard you had this dress made for me.”

“I did.” He leaned back, examining the delicate handiwork of the tailor. Slowly, Daxton traced his hands over my curves, his fingers skimming along the bottom of my breasts and lingering along the deep V of the dress. “It needs to come off, though. I’d hate to see it torn to shreds.”

“You first.” I smirked.

He flashed me a wicked grin that exposed his long, sharp canines. “What’re you playing at, Spitfire?”

Oh, the places I want him to use those teeth . I had an idea in mind, but I needed to make sure he was well enough to enjoy it with me.

“Care for a bath?” A spark of lust ignited my words. I wasn’t going to let tomorrow’s trouble interfere with tonight.

His hooded eyes slanted as he peered at the washroom. “Alone—or with you? ”

“With me,” I said as I unfastened the clasps at the top of my gown. “I’ll need your help, though.” I stood and turned my back toward him as his fingers meticulously unbuttoned the delicate clasps that ended near the base of my spine. I held onto the edges of my gown and stepped toward the direction of the washroom. “Get undressed, and I’ll fill the tub.” I passed through the opening and heard the creak of the bed not long after I rounded the corner.

I knew he was still recovering, so I planned to move cautiously at first, allowing him to set the pace and take charge of how far we could go.

One of the benefits of the fae magic and, apparently, a rich, decadent palace was that there was a supply of scalding hot water that you could summon with the turn of a single knob. I adjusted the dial, getting the temperature just right as it filled the tub to the brim.

The sound of bare feet stepping onto the washroom tile caught my attention. Without turning around, I stood up from the water’s edge, dropping the sides of my gown and revealing my naked flesh.

Daxton rushed to cross the distance between us, his chest against my bare back as he brushed my hair to the side, slowly tracing his fingers across my shoulder. Heat flushed my cheeks as I tilted my head to rest it against the crook of his neck. His firm, muscular frame molded against mine, making me tremble with desire as his pulsing cock pressed against my backside. My fingers reached up to thread into his midnight and silver hair, pulling him toward me while he cupped my exposed breasts in his large hands. He used his knuckles to tantalize my nipples, making them harden into perfect peaks.

“Daxton,” I moaned as his lips hovered over the skin along my neck .

“I’m a gods-damned fool,” he swore. “I can’t believe I haven’t kissed you yet. Since I saw you walk into the room tonight, it was all I could think about doing.”

“That can be fixed.” I dropped my arms and turned around to see all of him.

The sight of my high prince standing unencumbered was exhilarating. He was absolute perfection, sculpted from head to toe with rippling muscles that mimicked marble. My eyes devoured the sight of him with a hunger roaring in me that I didn’t know how to describe.

Admiring his broad shoulders, I traced my palms over his muscles, moving inward toward his firm pecs and down along his rippled, taut stomach. Then, ever so slowly, I allowed my fingers to migrate further down his body, along the V cut in his hips that pointed directly at his large, hardening shaft. I swallowed an audible gasp, my eyes widening as I took in his sheer size for the first time. I had seen my fair share of shifter males in Solace, but Daxton was indeed a sight to behold.

Dax watched me taking in the sight of him with a cunning smirk stretching across tempting lips I needed to taste. A ravenous hunger lurked in the depths of his stormed gaze that I wanted to lose myself within. A strong pulse of desire flooded my body, fueled by the cunning spark of excitement that shone beneath his hooded eyes. His cock throbbed at my light touch, hardening even more as I continued to admire him.

I bit my lip as the apex between my thighs ached.

Daxton released a deep, dominating growl that erupted from within his throat. “Come here, I need you. Tonight, Skylar Cathal, you’re mine, and mine alone.”

“And you , Daxton Aegaeon, High Prince of Silver Meadows, prince who was promised,” I said, reciting the titles I knew. “My Dax… You belong to me.” With the dimple appearing against his bearded cheek, I knew my response was well received.

Daxton greedily pulled me into his arms, giving me the most passionate and heated kiss that I had ever felt in my life. My body hummed with pleasure as his lips parted, inviting me to explore his mouth with my tongue while his hands traveled along the curves of my body. I molded myself to him, feeling his hardened length pulse against the soft skin of my stomach.

I wanted him. There was absolutely no denying this fact. I was desperate to explore every inch of his body as he did to me the previous night.

Our rapid breathing increased as we kissed, ignoring the world outside our room and falling into each other’s touch without a second thought. I dared to open my eyes as I slowly broke away from our embrace, my heart racing along with my need for him. I placed my hands on his shoulders, pressing down on them to guide Daxton toward a seated position on the tub’s edge. I knelt before him, my hands on his knees, guiding them open so I could settle between them.

“I want to taste you,” I said as I slipped my hand around the base of his girth. I took hold of him before moving my lips to the tip of his pulsing head. “I want to feel you come deep inside my throat.” I licked his sensitive tip first, testing his reaction before parting my lips to taste him. I heard Daxton moan as I relaxed my jaw and devoured him whole.

Dax tilted his head back and aggressively gripped my hair, holding me in place as I blissfully choked on him, reveling in the slight pinch of pain that combined with pleasure. My saliva coated his length, allowing me to stroke the base of his shaft while I pulled away to catch my breath .

“That better not be all you intend to taste tonight, Spitfire. I didn’t mark you for a tease.”

I greedily began sucking his cock once more, taking him deep into my throat and loving the taste of him. Utilizing my slickened palm to work in tandem with my mouth. I grinned with wicked excitement, his roars of pleasure only encouraging me to continue.

Daxton groaned as he reached out with both hands and gripped my hair, holding me in place. His hips thrust upward, sending the head of his cock colliding with the back of my throat. His entire body began trembling with his release building.

This was so fucking erotic. I couldn’t help touching myself, riding waves of pleasure along with him. I moaned as I reached down with one hand between my legs to rub my clit, the other hand now running along the seam of his balls.

“Gods above, Skylar!” Daxton yelled with pure ecstasy. “Yes. Touch yourself. I want you to play with yourself while I fuck your mouth.”

I managed to catch my breath and pull my head back, pumping him faster. A bead of precum dripped from the tip, so I bent forward to lick it clean while moving my free hand between my slickened folds. Greedily, I vibrated my fingers across myself as Dax reached down to fondle my breast, rolling my nipple in between his fingers. It felt so euphoric having his hands on me with his cock buried inside my throat. I swallowed, taking him deeper as I released another moan, sending vibrations of pleasure rocketing through him.

“Don’t stop. Gods above … Skylar, you’re—Keep going. This feels incredible.” He groaned in delight .

Daxton’s entire body tensed. His grip holding me in place as he vigorously thrusted his hips forward. My animal sent a wave of power through me that crashed against Daxton’s. He moaned, and I knew he was close.

I glided my fingers inside myself as Daxton teetered near the edge of his own release. I desperately wanted to see his reaction when he reached the top, so I snapped open my eyes to watch him come. This put Daxton on the verge of exploding. When he opened his eyes to look at me and saw me eagerly watching him fuck my mouth, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

He threw his head back and emptied himself deep inside my throat, compelling me to swallow his warm seed.

I slowly pulled away, deliberately never taking my eyes off him. I wiped my lips with the back of my hand to clean up any lingering seed and boldly stood before the trembling male I had just devoured.

“Come here.” Daxton reached out to pull me toward him, wildly kissing me, even with traces of his seed still lingering. “That was the best fucking head I’ve ever had in my life,” he rasped between our kisses. He shifted and placed his hands on either side of my face, pulling me back. “Now, it’s your turn, Spitfire.”

Gods. This male would be the end of me.

Daxton moved to the floor and pulled me to sit in his lap. Even though he had just come, his length began hardening against me as he settled himself between the seam of my backside. He reached around my front to replace my hand with his own, fingering my apex and possessively fondling my breast while his sharp teeth scraped against my neck.

“Oh my… Daxton,” I moaned as he pinched my nipple harder, causing me to gasp .

“You enjoy a bit of pain with your pleasure, my Spitfire?”

If it meant him doing more things like this, then… “Yes.” Hell, yes.

“What about when I use my teeth on the base of your neck, right here?” His lips parted as his sharp canines scraped against my skin.

“Ahh. Fuck!” I moaned as my body trembled with rolling waves of pleasure crashing into me. Daxton moved his hand to my other breast as he slipped two of his slickened fingers inside me while his thumb rubbed my clit. I was ready for him this time.

“You’re so wet, Spitfire. It’s taking every ounce of control not to fuck you right now. I need you to come for me,” he rasped with a hint of demand in his voice. He kissed the corner of my mouth before saying once more, “Come for me, Skylar.”

No problem . I could feel my orgasm rising to the edge, already building when his cock was buried deep within my throat. I recalled the image of him moaning and rolling his hips in pure bliss with my mouth sucking on his manhood.

“I’m close.” I could barely speak.

Daxton purred in delight as my body tensed in response to his magical touch.

He swirled two fingers inside me, while quickly vibrating his thumb across my clit. Then, his mouth opened, and he scraped his teeth along the base of my neck, his lips sucking on my flesh.

“Daxton!” I screamed his name, holding nothing back as I shattered to pieces in his grasp.

Thrilling, mind-blowing sensations thrummed through me while my orgasm ravaged my body from the inside out. I collapsed into his embrace, and thankfully, his shaking limbs were strong enough to hold me against him as I came down from the high of my release.

“I couldn’t leave you unfinished,” he whispered, lightly kissing my brow. “That wouldn’t be proper.”

“I don’t think anything we just did was proper.” I laughed.

“Just wait, my Spitfire. Wait until I show you all the improper things I want to do with that fiery little mouth and soaked pussy of yours.”

“I’m always up for a challenge,” I said. “Especially when the reward is this sweet.”

“I’m far from sweet,” he said with a low growl. “But you seem to be my exception.”

I laughed softly and happily reclined in his lap. The smell of his scent became intoxicating as it drifted over my senses, somehow slightly different from before. Dax noticed my shift and adjusted his hold on me. “Something on your mind?”

“Always.” I flashed him a coy grin.

“Fair enough,” he chuckled. “What is on your mind then?”

“Well, I did promise you a bath,” I said, looking toward the tub, which was still steaming with fresh warm water. “It would be a shame to allow it to go to waste.”

“Indeed, it would. What did you have in mind?”

“Join me,” I said. “This time, you’re allowed to peek.”

Dax smiled, his saccharine grin exposing the dimple on his cheek that I coveted and always craved to see. “All right. After you.”

I eagerly stepped into the tub, leaving room for Daxton to slip in behind me. The warm water seeped into the pores of my skin as I leaned back into the strong embrace of Daxton’s steady arms. We bathed in silence, enjoying the quiet intimate moments while we helped clean one another. After a while, the water cooled, but I still didn’t want to leave.

“Your skin is pruning,” Dax said.

“I know.” I sighed. “I don’t want to get out just yet. A few more minutes.”

“Very well.” He pulled me against his chest and tenderly kissed mybrow before finding my lips once more. I sank into his touch, closing my eyes and melting further into his embrace. “Skylar?”

“Yes?” I answered.

“Tell me something about yourself.”

That question caught me off guard. “Like what?”

“Tell me about your family… about your friends. I want to know everything about your life before coming here to the Inner Kingdom.”

“What specifically?” I asked.

“Everything.”

I turned and swiftly kissed his cheek. “All right then.” I stood up and grabbed two towels for us to dry off. “We should move this to the bedroom. This could take some time, Princey. And you’ve already pointed out that my skin’s beginning to prune.”

“Happy to give you all the time I have.” Daxton smiled as he pulled the drain and dried himself off, tucking the towel securely around his waist and not missing my lingering eyes for one second.

We moved into the small bedroom—both blissfully unaware of how late it was, and frankly, we didn’t seem to care. I found a slip in a nearby dresser that hung just below my bottom as Daxton donned shorts that clung tightly to his strong thighs. I could see that Daxton was still a bit shaky, and I moved to help him relax under the covers of the small but cozy bed .

“Remind me to kick Castor’s ass for taking the larger bed in the other room,” Daxton teased, even though I knew he was serious about doing just that.

“I’m happy to help,” I said as I curled up next to him, placing my head on his chest and my leg over his.

“All right,” he said, tucking his arm around me. “Tell me about your life before the trials … before all of this. I want to know everything.”

I settled in close. “Long, long ago…” I chuckled, knowing my few years of life were just a mere blink in time compared to his. “I was just a baby when Magnus found me on the outskirts of Solace.”

I told him everything that night. At least everything I knew about my past, my upbringing, my family, and my friends… about my life and my pack.

He listened intently, never interrupting, only encouraging me to continue for what seemed like hours on end. I could feel my eyes begin to flutter as the late night slowly turned into the early morning.

“Sleep, Skylar,” Daxton whispered as he stroked my hair. “I’ll wake you when it’s time. The Father still watches us from above in the sky, waiting for his mate to shine her rays down upon our morning.”

I could feel my breathing slow as I clung to Daxton, feeling the warmth of his body returning. He held me close and gently stroked my hair until the world around me turned black, and I drifted into a deep, restful sleep.

From a high window near the ceiling, sunlight peeked through the tinted glass, shining directly on my eyes and waking me from a dreamless sleep. I tried to move, but Daxton’s arm was draped over me, and I didn’t want to disturb him .

I glanced at his sleeping face and melted. Dax was so strikingly handsome that it was hard to believe he was real. While he slept, it was downright sinful. I reached up and stroked his cheek, waiting patiently for those storm-gray eyes to open and greet the morning with me.

“Hello.”

Daxton blinked when he found me looking up at him. “Hello, Spitfire.” He affectionately bent to kiss my brow before finding my lips, looping his other arm tightly around my waist. “Wasn’t I supposed to wake you?”

“I’m an early riser,” I said. “Can’t help it, but it is well past morning by now…”

Gods Above. Past morning.

Daxton stilled as the reality of today came crashing through our bubble of tranquility. I shot up and practically jumped from the bed, pacing the floor as he raised himself up onto his elbows. I held my hand to my head, racing through a million thoughts and questions pinging around my mind.

What if I fail? What if I win? Crossing the divide … what will I choose? What fears or mind games will I encounter? What logic will be tested? What will I face inside the labyrinth?

“Skylar.” Daxton’s voice was steady, commanding my attention with just the use of my name on his lips. “Stop spiraling.”

Dax swung his feet over the edge of the bed and stood up. “You can do this.” I stared blankly at him, clinging to the strength and stability he had always given freely to me. “Remember, the courage of your heart is more important than physical strength. You have the ability to defeat the labyrinth, Spitfire.” His stare bore into me, and I became enraptured by the confidence pouring out of his eyes. “Repeat my words,” he commanded. “I can do this.” He moved to grasp my hands, resting his brow against mine, and inhaling a deep breath while he closed his eyes.

“I can do this,” I repeated, sinking into his rhythm and matching my breathing with his.

“I will defeat the trial of the mind.”

“I will defeat the trial of the mind.”

“When hardship and fear threaten my victory, I will not turn back. I will continue forward.”

The certainty of his voice was overpowering, and I knew he believed every word he spoke to me. “When hardship and fear threaten my victory… I will not turn back. I will continue forward.”

“I carry the love and strength of my pack and the hope of all fae that live in the Inner Kingdom.”

With power pulsing from my animal within my chest, I repeated, “I carry the love and strength of my pack in Solace and the hope of all fae that live in the Inner Kingdom.”

“I am Skylar Cathal,” Daxton began, but I didn’t need him to finish the words I knew I needed to say out loud.

“I am Skylar Cathal, champion of the Solace pack, and I will conquer the trials. I will unlock the Heart of Valdor. And I will cleanse our world of the wilt.”