Chapter 8

 

 

 

 

The kiss they’d shared reaffirmed everything Sparrow knew in his blood and his very marrow. He was meant to be with her. He’d been destined to win the Selection from the moment he sprang into being, destined to be the consort of his goddess.

When he kissed her, not only was his arousal instant and urgent, but his power swelled within him, felt the fullness of it in a way he never had before. And he could feel hers, wanting to be set free, as well.

She touched his chest with a gentle push, forcing their lips apart.

“I…” Chloe swallowed and blinked rapidly. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

“You want to. Do you need more time?” he asked. He knew trust must be earned, hearts must be won.

“I do.” Her blue eyes were big and uncertain. She licked her lips as if chasing the taste of him. “I can’t just…sleep with you.”

He smiled. “Technically, you’ve already slept with me.”

Chloe stiffened, the opposite of what Sparrow had been hoping for. “That makes you a liar, doesn’t it?”

“A liar?”

“You said our consummation would restore my powers. If we’ve already fucked, then—”

He laughed. “Gaia, I would never have taken advantage of your inebriated state. We slept, literally.”

“I woke up naked.”

“You kept pulling at your clothes until I helped you undress. I thought you were going to tear them.”

“You were also naked.” Her eyes narrowed.

“I sleep naked. Who doesn’t?” Sparrow shrugged. “And you did pull at my clothing, too.”

Chloe sighed. “None of this makes any sense.”

“I’ve never forced myself on a woman. But now we have the opportunity, with you fully aware of what we’re doing and why, to bring you back into the fullness of your power.” He stepped close enough that she had to tilt her head back to look up at him. “And I know you want me as much as I want you.”

“How can you be so sure?” she whispered and leaned forward against him, perhaps not even aware she’d done it. Sparrow knew he was right, she was drawn to him whether she understood what was happening or not.

“Because I can feel it. I can taste it.”

He was aware how dark his voice was, dripping with lust. He pressed his lips against hers again, and she melted against him, her arms wrapping around his waist and hanging on tight. When she gasped into the kiss, he slid a hand to the back of her neck, fingers slipping into her hair, and kissed a line down her jaw until his mouth pressed against her neck.

Her skin was warm and smooth. Her scent nearly drove him insane with need. He could feel the dormant power within her, stirring awake. It called for him, waiting for the awakening. Every fiber of his being responded to its summoning.

Chloe shuddered against him, and Sparrow’s animal spirit rolled with happiness. He wondered, not for the first time, how well he would handle making love to her. How the kind of pleasure he knew he would experience—not just physical pleasure but the spiritual and emotional pleasure of being complete with his goddess—might affect him.

He wondered what he might do. He only knew he was eager to find out.

He pushed toward the couch and sank himself into the cushion, pulling her into him. She let out a nervous giggle, still looking unsure of the direction they were going. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the soft skin of her throat. She arched up against him, her fingers twisting into his shirt, pulling him harder against her. A soft moaned curled out of her throat, inviting him to do more.

He was more than happy to oblige his goddess. His entire existence dedicated to her. She gazed at him under her lush lashes, sighing happily. He breathed on her skin, telling her how beautiful she was. There were goosebumps on her arm where he blew his breath on her fevered skin.

“Jagar…” she murmured.

So, she did remember his name. Though he preferred not to be called that as his first name was bestowed by his father and it invoked unpleasant memories. He banished the thought and focused on the present. His goddess needed him.

She wanted him.

He kissed her neck and licked the shell of her ear. She shuddered again as if he’d just hit her erogenous spot. Her breath became heavy as her arousal arose in a fever pitch. He unbuttoned her blouse as he trailed soft, butterfly kisses to her cleavage. He marveled at the smoothness of her skin, the fullness of her breasts. She wore a dark-colored bra adorned with black lace. He hooked his thumb in the cup of her bra and pushed it down. Her succulent nipple was practically begging to be sucked. And he did just that.

Her body suddenly went rigid with tension and a choked gasp erupted from her. She fisted a handful of his hair, her back arched as he sucked deeply. The stirring power within her started to flow into him. He welcomed it and pushed his own mana into her, little by little releasing her sealed, sacred power.

She bucked against him when he teased the crown of her nipple with the tip of his tongue. As he suspected, she was very sensitive. He released her nipple and gently painted her breast with his saliva. He grazed his teeth against her flesh, aching to mark her as his.

But not yet. Not until her power was freed.

She looked down at him and their gazes clashed. He saw pure lust in her eyes. Burning. She wanted him as much he wanted her. He clenched his jaw. There was nothing on this mortal plane that could separate them. Wherever she went, he’d follow.

Just as he slipped down the other strap of her bra, something chimed. Sparrow lifted his head, his fox ears already poking through his hair, turning to catch the sound.

Ding-dong.

Chloe breathed heavily, her mouth fallen open into an O. “Doorbell,” she whispered. When it came a few more times, as if the person pressing the buzzer were impatient, she pushed aside and rose, buttoning her blouse and straightening her clothes. She went to answer the door. Sparrow followed.

“Um…” She pointed as his head.

“Oh.” He cast his glamour on. He watched her, staying a few feet behind her. He was eager to find out who was ringing the bell, pondering whether he should put a curse on that unfortunate creature that dared disturb their intimate moment.

He hissed through his teeth as he mentally doused the burning lust inside him. He found himself becoming irritated. Maybe he should kill the person. The insolent ingrate. Though his goddess might not approve of him killing humans for small offenses. He glanced down at himself and adjusted his erection to try to make it less obvious.

Chloe opened the door, and Sparrow had to peek to see outside. Because the moment she opened it, he felt the air in the room change. The bond between him and his goddess was established. The dark feelings that ran through her also seeped into him.

He went alert. Uneasy.

Whomever was at the door was not a welcome sight. He started to glide to his goddess to deal with that unwelcomed visitor but she motioned him to stay put.

He didn’t like it but the goddess order was absolute.

“Carla,” Chloe gasped. “How did you—”

“Find you? It wasn’t that hard, Chloe.”

Chloe didn’t invite her in. Her demeanor changed drastically. “This is unexpected. Is there something you want?”

“You know what I want, but in case you haven’t picked up on it in all these years, I’ll state it clearly. I want you to stay the hell away from my son.”

The speaker had a slight lilt to her voice. Accented. He became curious. Leaning slightly, he peeked through the front window’s blinds. That audacious creature was a middle-aged, haughty-looking human female. Her carefully coiffed blonde hair was tightly styled beneath a small, round hat in the same deep blue as her expensive-looking clothes. Everything about her said she was wealthy and particular. The iciness in her voice, the negativity she sent into the house, said that she was probably a royal bitch.

“Carla, I’ve been trying to stay away from him for years, which is why you’ve come all these miles to see me. I left town. I changed my number, tried to make myself hard to follow. He keeps looking for me.”

The woman named Carla huffed derisively. “I never wanted you to marry my Norman. You were never good enough. I don’t know why he still wants you after…everything. I’ll do everything in my power to keep him away from you.”

“Good!” The frustration in Chloe’s voice prompted Sparrow to step out and make his way toward the door.

“But if he finds you, don’t you dare let him charm you into getting back together,” Carla warned.

Chloe laughed bitterly. “I don’t find anything about Norman remotely charming.”

“Good. Because I don’t want my bloodline sullied with the likes of yours. He wouldn’t have spent the last decade in prison if you hadn’t made him chase you.”

Chloe flinched as if she was slapped with an invisible palm. “You know what your son did to me. I ran to protect myself. He tried to run me down with his car, for God’s sake.”

“Norman is a gentle soul. It’s you who turned him into what he is now. Stay away from my son.”

“Gladly! You don’t have to twist my arm for it.”

“Good!”

Chloe slammed the door and slammed her back against it. Sparrow wanted to teach that woman a lesson, but she was gone. The woman shouted a few things he couldn’t make out as she walked away.

“What are you doing?” Chloe asked.

“I was going to punish her for insulting you.”

“You’re not my guardian.”

“But I am.”

Chloe sighed, and Sparrow realized she was trembling. He pulled her into his arms. “I’m here for you, remember?”

Her arms wrapped around him, and her cheek rested against the front of his shoulder. “Yeah.”

“At least let me set her hair on fire?”

Chloe laughed, but it choked off in a sob. Sparrow touched her hair and cradled her against him, and let her cry as long as she wanted.