“To our new room to get some sleep.”
“I was just worried about them. I’m sorry.”
I pushed the door then leapt inside the main floor. “Don’t ever apologize for caring for your friends.”
“I love you,” she purred against my ear.
“I love you, too.”
I pushed my wings out and flew us up the stairs to the third floor then down to our room. Saraphina and I had been given a room in the house, one that we would share. Together. It was one thing I’d never ever in a million years thought I’d get to do, I’d never even imagined it. Sharing a room meant the same bed every night, waking up together every morning. And Saraphina hadn’t even questioned it when Tegan told us to pick our room.
The whole time we’d been picking earlier I’d been a nervous disaster.
But as I opened the door with her still in my arms I knew Saraphina had chosen the room well. The balcony off the back faced the Old Lands and natural light poured in through the windows.
We hadn’t had a chance to really move in or get any furniture – which were words I never thought would actually ever be said. But there was a smart television on the wall and a mattress on the floor in the corner. I carried her over to the bed then carefully sat her down.
She leaned back and hair splayed out all around her in a fiery halo that seemed to hold a bit of her glittering golden magic. She rested one of her arms over her head and she looked like a piece of art. Like something this beautiful couldn’t have been made. I dropped down on the mattress beside her jostling her ever so slightly.
She rolled to her side and pressed her hand to my stomach. The heat of her touch scorched through my shirt. She slid her hand lower then slipped under my shirt. Her nails scratched over my bare skin ever so slightly and my muscles burned to her touch. A low growl sounded in the back of my throat.
I lowered my head and pressed my lips to hers. Fire exploded behind my eyes like it was the first time we’d ever kissed. My breath was stolen from my lungs. I took her face between my hands and kissed her harder, needing to feel the graze of her teeth on my lips. I slid my tongue between her lips and our tongues danced. She hooked her leg over my hips and dragged me close, squeezing me flush against her body.
“That’s not why I brought you to bed,” I whispered against her mouth.
She chuckled then licked my tongue. “It’s why I let you carry me to bed.”
I pulled back to look down at her. “Saraphina—”
“We did our soulmate binding ceremony today, Riah,” she purred and blinked slowly.
She wiggled one hand over herself and light flashed— and her clothes vanished. There was nothing blocking my eyes from soaking in every ounce of her body. So I let myself drink her in. She arched her back, pressing her body into me.
“Saraphina,” I growled low in my throat.
She giggled and wiggled her fingers again — light flashed in my face and then warm air swept over my body. I froze and pushed up on my hands to look down at my body and gasped. There was nothing between us now but the air and the fire in her eyes told me that wasn’t going to be enough.
“Tricksy,” I whispered and nibbled on her bottom lip. I hissed as our bare bodies touched.
Her palms pressed to my chest— and I was flipped onto my back.
I gasped.
She grinned and climbed on top of me, her legs straddling my hips. “I don’t want to think any more tonight. I just want to feel you. I want you to chase away all my fears and worries and just let me be enjoy that I have my soulmate. Is that okay?”
“Saraphina,” I growled.
I sat up straight and pulled her closer right as she gripped my shoulders and lowered herself onto me. Our bodies surged together in a single smooth roll of her hips. She threw her head back and gasped. I groaned against her throat then sank my teeth into her skin. My heart thundered in my chest. Warmth spread through my body and low in my stomach. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her flush against me. My skin tingled every spot our bare bodies touched.
Together, we moved like riding waves. A sheen of sweat gathered over our skin and the sound of our ragged breaths filled the air around us. Her skin slid over mine in a delicious rhythm I couldn’t get enough of. Her nails dug into my skin with every roll of our bodies. I let her take control, moving at the speed she needed. I gripped her hips and pulled her tighter against me, needing her closer. Her long red hair fanned out around her face and draped over my shoulders. Her low groans filled my ears as she moved over me, finding a rhythm that drove me closer to the edge.
Her pace quickened and I felt myself going with her. Light exploded behind my eyes and I felt myself flying so high the world faded away to nothing. There was only her and me. We were finally us and there was nothing more I needed from her. She whispered my name in my ear over and over. Every muscle in my body tensed. I reached up and took her face in my hands. Our tongues danced and the world melted away.
Chapter Forty-One
Saffie
“Flower gleam and glow…that’s funny” I giggled and ran my fingers through his long blond hair draped over his chest. “I could definitely see you using a frying pan as a weapon.”
“Coincidentally enough, I have.”
“That settles it, you are Rapunzel.” I traced my fingers over the aquamarine crystal glyph on his chest. “Does that make me Eugene?”
“Some days, yet others you’re much more of a Flynn Rider.”
I bit him, though I had no idea why.
“That only proves my point, love.” He chuckled and I felt the rumble from his chest against my face. “I like watching you watch movies. They’re such a wonder for you.”
We’d been laying in bed literally all day long just watching movies and enjoying each other’s company. I couldn’t recall a single day in my entire life that I’d been this happy. And Riah made the best pillow.
I pushed up and rested my arms on his chest. “In October, when The Coven first let me use Lookout Tower and I started watching television and movies…I thought they were real.”
He grinned up at me, his eyes sparkling. “I remember. I particularly enjoyed watching you watch Harry Potter.”
I groaned and rested my forehead on him. “I actually texted Cooper about wanting to meet Hermione. It’s a bit embarrassing now.”
He untucked a hand from behind his head and cupped my face. “Do not be embarrassed. From what I have ascertained of mortal society it is that everyone speaks as if those stories are real.”
My cheeks warmed. I bit my lip. “I love you…even if you are a Hufflepuff.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, am I now?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’ve heard people say that so I went with it. Although I don’t understand why. I think Hufflepuffs are wonderful.”
“I hear there is an evaluation you can take to determine which house you’re in.”
I pursed my lips. “I think we must take this examination. I shall ask Tegan, she’ll know.”
Three quick knocks tapped on our door.
I groaned and pressed my face to his chest and whispered, “I can feel her magic from here.”