Within their dreams (Reverse Harem)

Chapter 26

Owen's POV

"May I cut in?" I don't wait for a reply as I sweep Ivy into my arms and twirl her across the dancefloor. Her skirt spreads out around us, glittering under the lights. I should've spent more time telling her how beautiful she looks in that gown before we entered. Having her in my arms again after spending the last forty minutes pretending to pay attention to whatever Emily or Eliie or whatever her name was was excruciating. But it reminded me of how addicted I've become to Ivy's touch. The way it burns into my skin, embedding itself into my DNA. Now that she's close, I can finally breathe again. There's no way I could survive a life without her now. To hell with the council, this girl is mine.

"I missed you, gorgeous," I murmur into her hair, my lips grazing her temple.

"Was the girl that horrible?" Ivy teases, but I notice the tension in her muscles. I run my knuckles down her spine, pulling her close until our chests touch. I close my eyes and let her emotions flood into me, sinking into my bones. Her anxiety, insecurities, love and...possessiveness? I smirk, my hand running up her back and into her hair. Our girl is possessive over us. Something I can relate to. Her head slots perfectly under my chin, her breath hitting my collarbone. I tilt my head up slightly, inviting her lips to mark me there.

Her eyes catch mine, raising her brow. I grin down at her and urge her forwards, the hand in her hair pushing her closer.

When her lips meet my neck I moan softly, feeling my cock stir. At first, her lips place soft kisses just above my right collarbone, sending tingles across my upper chest. But hearing me moan spurs her on and I feel the graze of her teeth, biting down into the flesh. I shudder, struggling to keep up with the music as she continues her attack on my neck. Her soft tongue darts out, easing the small sting of pain at the bite. When she pulls away, the area is throbbing slightly, only making me harder.

I watch her face flush when she sees the mark she's left and I grin tilting her head up to capture her lips in mine. I pull away to lift her in the air, spinning in a slow circle, my eyes locked with hers. The chandelier creates a halo above her head, making her glow, a gold aura surrounding her. Her green eyes sparkle in happiness as she looks down at me with a grin that lights up her face. The noise from the ballroom falls away until it's just us. The sound of our breaths, the swish of her skirts fluttering around us as we move in synch, our bodies in perfect harmony with one another.

In this moment, I realise that there is nothing and no one that could keep me from having her. I'm completely captured in whatever spell she has put on me, a willing prisoner ready to give her anything she wants. No one told me the mate bond could feel like this. It's not love, it's complete and utter obsession. There is no life without her. She is life.

I barely notice Leo making his way over to us, too encaptured with her gaze on mine, heating my body from within. She jerks when Leo's arm wraps around her waist, shaking her from the enchantment.

"Stealing her away already? I barely got two minutes with her." I pout, pulling her closer despite Leo's grip on her.

"You two were dancing for thirty minutes. People were entranced watching you."

I look around, spotting huddles of people gazing in our direction, seeming to have been stuck in the same spell we were.

Ivy's face flushes pink once again, letting Leo and I pull her from the dance floor. Leo notices the mark she left on my neck, giving me a look.

"Jealous?"

He doesn't say anything, turning away and leading us over to a group of our parents' friends. I catch sight of the mark in my reflection, my chest swelling with pride. I had a small bite mark framed with a light shade of pink, matching the lipstick Ivy is wearing.