An Unacceptable Mate

Chapter Forty Four

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The rogue army was now just a blanket of dead bodies, each soon to disintegrate. I couldn't help but feel relieved at such a massive death count. For the first time in too long, we weren't under threat.

"All of our problems aren't exactly solved yet," Inerra told us. We were all sitting in the living room. Acera had me on his lap, our fingers intertwining as we listened. I was holding him tight. No more games. I was going to be his everything.

Dremos rolled his eyes as he drank from the tall glass he was very fond of. "Brilliant."

"My mother is still very much at large. A lot of vampires respect her more than Acera. They'll follow her if a warstarts," he explained grimly.

I frowned. "Your mother? I thought you killed her?"

He scratched the back of his head. "Not quite. She sort of...got away."

I swiftly dismissed any panic and any fear. We'd make it through this, when the time came. We defeated Violem and an entire rogue army. We could take an ex-queen, right?

"We can hunt her down, though. I can track better than anyone; it's second nature to me," Inerra said, fiery blue eyes scanning our faces. He wanted us to go with him. I felt my head start to shake, gripping Acera's hands tighter. I couldn't risk losing him again.

"I'll go," Dremos said.

"And me," Alastria agreed.

Each started to accept the offer until Acera and I were left. I dropped my ashamed eyes. I wanted to be selfish. I wanted Acera all to myself.

"We'll leave when you've all restored your health. I want a forceful attack here," Inerra ordered.

I looked at him, watched him stand and then head for the door. He looked back over his shoulder and our eyes locked. Desire ignited in his gaze and he smiled a little. Then he was gone. I felt like my vision was cleared and when Acera and I were finally left alone, I turned and I saw only him.

He smiled, amber eyes caressing my lips and then back up to my eyes. I felt a cool fingertip brush my cheekbone.

"We can stay here for as long as we like, Charlie. No running away."

I closed my eyes, lips twitching. "I've waited so long for you to say that."

Birds sang in the nearby forest and a pair of soft lips claimed mine. At first, we were both extremely gentle and loving and slow. Our tongues were practically making love while my hands took to his hair and his spun me round so that I straddled him. I sucked on his lower lip and he moaned, wrapping his arms around me so that I was lying on him with no gaps.

My hands slid down from his dark, soft hair to his shoulders and then chest. I could feel my heart racing against my hand.

"Are you feeling...alright...since Violem?" he asked breathlessly.

I pressed against him and then moved back, repeating slowly; steadily. "I'm feeling..." I began and then started to smile, kissing him again and again. "I can't explain."

All of a sudden, we weren't in the living room, but in his bedroom. I pulled back to stare at the change of scenery with wide-eyes. "Christ, you people are efficient."

He had the door and curtains closed as he lay me down on the bed. My eyes slid shut as he kissed down my neck, groaning in appreciation at my wild heartbeat. He pulled at my leggings, managing to slide them all the way down my legs before tossing them away. I lifted his black top and then got him to kneel on the bed in front of me, shirtless.

I leant in and kissed the crook of his neck before working my way along his collarbones. He stroked his hands down my sides, then dragged me close. I trailed warm, wet kisses up his neck to his jaw, thumb parting his lips. When our mouths met, there was no more making love.

He pushed his hands back through my hair and kissed me harder. I reached for his jeans and started to undo them. The sound of the zip going down caught my breath. I had no doubt. All I could think about was my mate.

I pushed us round so he was lying on his back and yanked his jeans off. Black boxers were all that covered the sex god. He reached for me, abruptly ripping my shirt off of my body before pulling me onto him. I moaned, rubbing my lower half against his.

He cussed against my mouth, unclasping my bra. I whimpered, pressing my forehead to his shoulder. His breathing was fast, matching my own. I could feel how much he wanted me.

I grinded on him harder and harder and we kissed more and more fervently. Sweat glistened across my skin like a blanket. He continued to make me moan with his hands at my chest and then one hand slid down my side to my pants. I tightened my fingers in his hair.

"Yes," I breathed.

His mouth worked down my throat as he slid my underwear down my thighs and further until passing my ankles. He reached between us and I instantly jerked forward at his cool touch. He smiled vaguely, then choked up when I pushed his hand to the side and pulled his boxers down. My lips moved down his body as my hands removed his boxers and then hurled them over my shoulder.

I looked up at him through my lashes and he covered his eyes with his hand. "Fuck, Charlie."

I slid my nose up his stomach to his chest to his neck to his mouth. I could feel myself tingling in anticipation, heart pounding and body humming. Our mouths played sloppily and the kisses were so deep I lost myself in his attention.

Then he switched our positions and hovered above me. I swallowed and looked into his beautiful amber orbs.

"I love you," he said hoarsely.

My hands claimed his biceps. "I love you too."

He kissed me once more.

I was pretty sure everyone in the house could hear us, but, frankly, I didn't give a fuck. I had never been in a greater state of euphoria. Even after and when he had me lying across his body, I felt more than alive.

"You are an acceptable mate," I teased in a whisper, eyes heavy with tiredness.

He chuckled quietly and then kissed the top of my head. "As are you."

My hand slid over his, our fingers twining together. A gentle exhale left my lips. "I love you, Acera," I murmured.

"And I love you, Charlie Rose," he told me for the hundredth time, holding me like he would never let go.

Three Years Later

The world looked different, but a good sort of different. The sky wasn't just blue, it was green and purple and red all at once. The clouds looked softer and more touchable and the trees were greener. Everything I reached for felt more authentic. Especially him. Now we were the same. And just as he was my king, I was his queen.

The Queen of Darkness.