Adrik (Titans #1)

Chapter 31

Whatever Adrik had thought Ember would say to his admission, whatever he’d expected her to do, it wasn’t this. In the tank, when he’d been watching her, he’d been certain her step forward had been an invitation. He’d been cautious of hoping but was fearless enough to take the chance. And he’d been rewarded. Arms going around Ember, he pulled her into the warmth of his body as he devoured her.

She. Was. Intoxicating!

His armor rippled as his senses drank in every ounce of her, memorizing each detail. Her taste, her scent, the feel of her satiny skin, and the silken strands of her wet hair. He couldn’t wait to worship her fully. She was remarkable, and every part of her pleased him. Her delicate scent, the slight weight of her body on his, her tiny heart hammering against his chest. She fit him perfectly, and he was already hard with the urgent need to bury himself inside her, to claim her!

On top of him, Ember writhed her supple body against the hard planes of his, and he growled his approval deep in his throat. Still, he let her take the lead. He allowed her to set the pace. He didn’t want to rush her. She had to be sure this was what she wanted because once he lost control, there’d be no going back for either of them.

Between them, Ember was pulling at her clothing, her hands shaking and making the task impossible. He could help with that, at least.

With cautious precision, Adrik used his claws to rip down the back of Ember’s gown as he drove his tongue into her mouth, careful not to apply too much pressure lest he hurt her with his fangs. She made a soft feminine sound, and when she sucked on his tongue, Adrik stilled. His whole body gone rigid, Adrik considered pulling back. Did Ember know that what she was doing by taking his venom? Did she know that it was part of the mating ritual? Should he stop her, should he tell her?

Ember was the one to break the kiss. She pulled back long enough to blink up at him with hazy, lust-filled eyes as she panted, “Is this okay? May I take your venom?”

The question rocked Adrik so fully that he felt momentarily lightheaded. She knew of Titan venom? She actually wanted it?

His silence on the matter lasted too long because Ember muttered an anguished-sounding “Oh” before she attempted to push up off him with one hand while the other clamped at the gaping front of her gown.

Not happening.

Just the thought of claiming her had Adrik’s body convulsing with need. His abdomen clenched hard as his sack filled, preparing to fill his mate with his seed. In his mouth, for the first time in his existence, his tongue swelled and flooded his mouth with an overflow the sweet taste of his venom. It was a sensation he'd been told of but never experienced. It was a gift. Ember was a gift.

Holding her tighter, he snarled, “Mine.” It wasn’t eloquent or romantic, but it was all he could muster in his current state as he pulled her body back to his.

All the air left Ember on a startled sound as she blinked at him in surprise. His little mate had foolishly thought he was going to reject her. Never!

Lowering his head, Adrik touched his forehead to hers in the greatest test of restraint he’d ever exhibited as he pleaded, “May I claim you as mine, Ember?”

Angling her head so her lips brushed against his, her tongue darted out and licked one of his fangs before she breathed against his mouth, “I’m already yours, Adrik.”

And that was it. It was all the permission he needed.

Head lowering, he claimed her mouth again, but this time, there’d be no stopping.

Immediately, Ember drew his tongue into her mouth and suckled. His venom acted as an aphrodisiac, and as Ember’s arousal heightened, the scent of her wet heat filled Adrik’s senses. He was consumed. The more of his venom she drank, the harder and more needy he grew. His hands were seeking, squeezing, and tearing at the delicate material that separated her body from his.He needed to claim her. He needed her like he needed his next breath. At the realization, a punch of lust hit him so hard that he had to break the kiss to catch his breath.

Ember took advantage of the break to sit up and jerk her tattered dress away from her body.

Eyes dipping down, Adrik had to swallow against the visceral need that thundered through him.

Naked, Ember lowered her body back to his, her soft lips finding his as her creamy thighs straddled his hips. His hands roved the unbelievably soft skin of her back, his hands skimming the marring of scars there. He made a mental note to find whoever had done the damage to her and fucking end them. On top of him, Ember’s hands were exploring his body too. He knew she felt his scars, and it was an odd sensation. No one had ever touched him affectionately, let alone touch his scars. The carnal delight in having her hands on him engulfed Adrik so fully that he felt rocked like he’d just taken one of the hardest punches of his life. He had to grip Ember tighter just to steady himself. And it worked, but only momentarily. The second his rough hands lowered to the plump mounds of her ass, she rolled her hips against him, and that was it.

Adrik rolled them until Ember was pressed into the wet ground, her legs spread wide, cradling his big body. Reaching between them, he tore away the groin cover, the last remaining article between them.

Naked now, it took every ounce of Adriks self-control to pause. There’d be no going back from this, and he wanted to make sure Ember was certain before he proceeded.

Lifting up on his arms that were braced on either side of Ember’s head, Adrik let his eyes rove her body. She was perfect, spread out bare beneath him. Her skin was the color of the sands on Neptune Five. Her full breasts were tipped with dusky nipples, and the dark hair covering her sex reminded him that she was a shadow being, like him…built for him.

His eyes lowered to where his sex hung heavy and throbbing between Ember’s parted thighs. The sight had Adrik’s claws digging into the steel floor on either side of Ember’s head. He didn’t think he could hold himself back much longer.

“Are you…” He wasn’t even certain what he’d been about to ask, but he didn’t get the chance.

Beneath him, Ember breathed, “Yes.”

Eyes snapping to hers, Adik’s body tensed. He was a lethal predator primed to strike, and when he did, neither one of them would ever recover. So, he tried again, “Ember…”

“Yes,” she repeated. Her suddenly tear-filled eyes locked on his. “I’m yours, Adrik. Right now, and forever. I’m yours.” Her eyes left his momentarily to shoot down between them. “Although, I’m not sure if this will work. You’re huge,” she breathed in awe and slight fear.

“We’ll work,” Adrik snarled, forcing restraint. “The Gods made me for you.” Reaching between them, he sluiced a finger gently between her folds before lifting the same finger to his mouth and tasting her sweet nectar. A growl rattled his chest, and when his eyes snapped open, the neon green was nearly obliterated by his blown-out pupils. “Mine!” he snarled with a fierceness that rocked him to his core as he slowly pushed into her.

Beneath him, Ember’s body quivered, her mouth falling open as a soft exhalation left her, her head falling back to expose the satiny column of her throat.

Adrik’s incisors extended further than he knew possible and his mouth flooded with his venom, so much venom that it slipped from the corners of his mouth and dripped down onto Ember’s breasts as he slowly rocked into her. By the fucking Gods, how was so much pleasure even possible?

Lowering his mouth to Ember’s breast, Adrik sucked one venom-covered nipple into his mouth as his hips started moving faster.

Beneath him, Ember gasped and cried out, her tiny hands pulling Adrik closer, a silent demand he go deeper, as her thighs spread wider.