I ran my hand along Paris’s jaw, feeling the tickle of stubble beneath my fingers. The light was fading, signaling the coming gloom and my deepening disquiet.

“I’m coming back, you know,” he said.

I sighed and snuggled closer to him, relishing his warmth. “I know.” But dread had gripped my heart ever since I learned of Menelaus’s challenge. At sunset, my beloved would meet my husband on the field of battle outside the walls of Troy. Menelaus had never been defeated, a demon of martial prowess that rivaled that of the gods. He had an army of mortals at his back, fooled into believing their leader was Greek. Instead, they followed the darkest demon, bent on destruction.

A tear slid down my cheek, landing on the golden hair at Paris’s chest.

“Shh,” he said and stroked my back. “I will always come for you.” He pulled me to him and possessed my lips, our breaths and tendrils of our souls mingling. I wished it would always be like this, the two of us together.

I broke the kiss as tears rose in my eyes. “I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t.” His cerulean gaze made a promise I knew couldn’t be guaranteed. Death prowled the edges of the room, sneaking through the shadows of the coming night.

He commanded my mouth again and pulled me astride him, pressing me into him as he palmed my backside. Even in my fear, he kindled a fire within me. I entwined my arms around his neck and rocked against him. His shaft had already thickened against my core.

With a fluid movement, he rolled me onto my back and spread my legs wide. He claimed me, a sharp sigh escaping my lips as he thrust fully into me.

Paris watched me, holding my gaze as he withdrew and sank back into me, the pleasure strengthening our already-powerful bond. I wouldn’t let fear take this moment from me. I’d lose myself in him.

He bent his head to lick my nipple before encircling it with his lips, sucking it, and sending chills down my body. His steady rhythm never stopped as I clutched the sheets, feeling the bliss building up within me.

He reached down and stroked me with his thumb, causing a moan to rise from my lips. His rhythm quickened. He pulled back and watched as I arched for him, as if wanting to sear this moment into his memory forever. I pushed the thoughts of forever out of my mind and focused on the here and now. I returned his gaze and trailed lower, watching the clenching muscles of his torso as he continued rocking into me, filling me. I raised my hips, wanting every inch of contact with him, needing to feel the delicious friction. I wrapped my fingers in his hair and pulled his head to mine, again partaking in the sweet communion of our kiss.

His tongue was adept at teasing me into wanting more. Knowing what I craved, he sped his pace and lifted me from the bed, sitting me atop him and leaning me back so he had free access to my breasts. With one arm behind me, he used the other hand to continue stroking me into a frenzy as his mouth played at one nipple and the next.

“Gods,” I breathed.

“Helen,” he growled, no doubt feeling me tightening around him, the peak of my ecstasy approaching.

Spreading my legs even more to increase the contact, I knew I couldn’t hold out much longer. He pulled me back up to him and locked his lips on my tender neck as my nipples grazed his hard chest. The feeling was too much. I cried his name as I came, helpless to stop myself. The pleasure surged through every inch of me, and the air around us hissed with my magic. With a final powerful thrust, I felt him erupt, his seed filling me. His strokes were sure and strong, pumping the fullness of his life into me. When we were both spent, he fell back toward the foot of the bed and clutched me to his chest.

I clung to him, feeling his strong heartbeat thumping a steady rhythm against me. I closed my eyes. Ignoring the deepening shadows—the harbinger of darker deeds to come—I focused on the warmth and life of my beloved Paris.