The Arrow of Midnight

Chapter 21

Calloused hands brushed my bare back as I finally woke up, my body feeling numb with a delicate ache, and my skin covered in light bruises. His arms were wrapped around my torso, gently holding me against his chest as I blinked away the remnants of sleep from my mind. He was still fast asleep, I quietly rolled from his grasp and slipped my legs from the bed. The cool marble floor felt refreshing under my feet. I smiled and glanced over my shoulder to see his chest rise and fall slowly. My mate. The room was filled with the smell of sex and I felt a rush of heat to my cheeks as I walked through the archway. The crisp morning air caused goosebumps to form on my body, and my nipples to peak.

I made my way to the pool and slowly submerged myself until the water brushed my neck. I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun drifting through the sky. Last night had been a turning point, a dream come true, and my heart fluttered at the thought. The overwhelming need to be close to him for the past few weeks now finally made sense, and I couldn't get that word out of my mind - mate. I lounged in the water for a while, letting the numb ache seep out of my limbs.

"Soaping up without me? Now that's rude." Maddox drawled by the archway, and my eyes snapped to him. A lazy smile adorned his lips, and my heart fluttered again.

"You were asleep."

"You could wake me." That smirk, the one that made me want to jump him without a second thought.

"You seemed like you needed the rest after last night," I teased, turning slightly on the pool step to rest my arm on the edge. He smiled again before joining me, his thigh brushing mine as he lowered himself down next to me.

"Rest can wait until I'm dead." He mused as his fingers brushed my arm and his lips met my neck. My body craved him, and my mind melted at his touch. Before long, he had me straddling his lap, with one hand resting on my lower back and the other cupping my cheek as he kissed me tenderly and lovingly. So different from the frenzy of the night before. We made love again. His hand shifted to coil around my throat, and his mouth nipped and kissed my breasts. Our minds linked, and I could feel every thought and need rushing through his mind, touching and pulling at my own. Our climaxes took longer this time as I rode him slowly and thoroughly. My hand brushing the membranes of his wings, savoring the gentle caress of his hand on mine. Touching someone's wings during sex was intimate, sacred and neither of us wanted the moment to end. I moaned his name as our climaxes finally broke.

"I love you." Those three words, I've said them only a few times in my life, but never have I meant them more.

"I love you too." A gentle smile tugged at his lips as he brushed my partially wet hair over my shoulder and kissed the bruise that had formed from his bite the night before. "We should cover those."

"No, I like them." I countered, and he gave me a warm smile before I slid from his lap, leaning into his side.

"How about we get some breakfast?" His chuckle vibrated through me, and I nodded.

"That's a really good idea."

Afterward, we washed away the sweat and sex from our skin before getting dressed. Maddox decided to wear the same clothes from last night since he didn't feel like making the trek to his room, which was almost on the other side of the castle. I chose light grey shorts and a soft sleeveless teal blouse, with my hair pulled up into a ponytail. I rarely wore my hair like this since it tends to damage my curls, but the only thing I could think of was the pit of hunger burning in my stomach. As we walked down the hall in comfortable silence, voices drifted from the open door leading to the dining room down the hall.

"Looks like everyone is awake," he mused beside me as we drew closer.

"This is going to be interesting." I added, chewing on the inside of my cheek. I was excited to tell my friends the news, especially Amy.