When Ends Meet (Marcus & Aro Volturi)

Chapter 16: Return & Welcome.

       The plane ride felt fairly short, considering I slept through the entire trip. I didn't even wake up until I felt myself jump when the car hit a pothole in the road.

"Sorry, Ana. I couldn't avoid it." Felix immediately apologizes.

I wipe the sleep from my eyes, and blink to orient myself to my surroundings. I notice that we are driving in the countryside, and it is just breaking dawn. "How far away are we?" I say groggily.

"We're ten minutes from Volterra. You were sleeping so soundly, we figured that we shouldn't bother you. You seemed to desperately need it." Demetri says.

"Thanks...the trip may have only been two days, but I feel completely exhausted." I lean back against the leather seats of the SUV, watching the pastels begin to fade and welcome the clear and blue skies. It doesn't take long before my views above are blocked by tall buildings of our small Italian city. Following backroads, we descend a slope and head into the underground garage of the castle. I unbuckle myself and am about to reach for the door when it is already opened for me. "Thanks Felix." I say out of habit as it is usually the burly guard that performs this act often.

"Take another look."

My head whips up, seeing Marcus' smiling face. "Marcus!" My body fills with immediate energy as I hop from my seat and into my mate's arms.

"I've missed you so much." He says into my hair.

"Me too. I finally feel relief now that I am in your arms again." I breath in his scent deeply, like a fix of an addiction.

"I wanted to be the first face you see when you arrived." He holds me tighter with his arms, but as he does, I hear the rustling of paper.

Looking to the odd sound, I see a large bouquet of assorted peonies. "Oh, Marcus! Are these for me?" I gasp, mesmerized by the beauty of his gift.

"Yes. I wanted to surprise you. I know that they are your favourite, so I made sure to have them for when I came to greet you." He hands me the bouquet and I hover my nose above them.

"They're gorgeous...and you are incredible." I beam up at him, planting a long kiss to his lips.

Pulling me in even closer, Marcus deepens the kiss by pushing his tongue into my mouth, and my back is suddenly pressed against the SUV. I push Marcus away with gasps of shortened breaths. "Marcus...we can't—Felix and Dem—"

"Have already left with your luggage." He answers my unfinished worry and lays me across the back seat of the car.

The pull of the mating bond makes me haze with lust, as I relax with Marcus' assurance that we are alone. Laid down, Marcus leans into the car, not completely getting in. He lifts one of my legs and begins to trail kisses along the inner part of my leg, hiking my dress up as he goes. My breaths are deepening as I feel his cool touch against my blazing skin.

"You look ravishing in this dress. Is this what you wore for Isabella's wedding?" Marcus mumbles against my inner thigh.

I gasp, feeling his face flush between my legs. "Y-yes. I...I was maid of honour." I say between moans.

Marcus smirks against me. "I wouldn't have doubted that. You are her only sister."

"Yes...Felix walked with me down the—" I yelp when I feel Marcus' thumb pressed hard against my clit.

"Don't mention another man while I'm pleasuring you, dilleto." He growls possessively, but my stomach flutters at his dominance.

"Yes, my king." I swallow, looking him directly as I call him by his nickname.