Light of Dawn

by Angela Colsin

  Now, when she asked herself am I ready for this, all she could think was hell yes, I am.

  Chapter 33

  Ulric couldn't get back to Charlotte soon enough.

  He'd been eager to discuss things with her, thinking she'd be in a somber mood, and maybe even reluctant to talk. But instead, she was smiling, playful, driving his paranoia away, and when he recalled the words I'm already aching for you, hiding his arousal became a problem.

  This made the time it took looking for Dalris seem to go by much more slowly, and when they finally located him leaving Isaac's room, Ulric wasted no time going to his own.

  He arrived a few moments later to find his bedroom washed in the warm glow of the fire burning in the hearth, and shut the door quietly, locking it. Charlotte was sitting on his bed, and he took the sight of her in.

  Her hair was clamped at the back of her head with wisps framing her face, and she wore a lavender robe that cut off at her thighs, revealing bare legs—making him exceedingly curious about what was beneath it.

  Again, Ulric wondered how he'd gotten so damned lucky.

  Biting her lip, she commented, “I'm sorry I asked you to wait, but I just thought we both needed to unwind after today, so I wanted to start a fire and get changed.”

  “You made the wait worth it,” he replied hoarsely, ready to grab her and take advantage of the setting when she distracted him by pulling her hair down, her long, silky locks shimmering in the candlelight. After settling the clamp on the bedside table, she smiled and patted the space next to her in playful invitation.

  Ulric almost forgot reason, but somehow maintained control, walking over to sit while commenting as plainly as possible, “You seem relaxed.”

  Charlotte casually shrugged. “I feel better now, and yes, that means better about us.”

  His gut clenched, but he strove for a casual demeanor, asking, “Then you have reservations?”

  “I did,” she confirmed, “but talking to Edith helped me realize a few things.”

  After how uncertain she'd been that morning, now, there was a definite confidence underlying her words, easing his worry. Ulric laid his hand over hers, intent on reassuring her that she could tell him anything, but the warmth in her gaze as her fingers turned to thread through his rocked him to the point that he heard himself asking instead, “What were they?”

  “I just wasn't sure I was ready for this,” she stated rather plainly. “The connection between us confused me … even scared me. I thought it might've been the only reason we made love last night, and I needed more than instinct telling me to be with you in order to feel comfortable moving forward.”

  Charlotte began untying her robe with her free hand as she spoke, nearly causing him to forget what they were talking about entirely. Beneath the garment was a lavender camisole that cut off over her midriff, exposing her navel. The collar was tight around her breasts, complete with a ribbon tied at the center, accentuating her cleavage.

  The matching bottoms were boy cut, leaving very little to the imagination. He stared covetously at the curves they accentuated, growing uncomfortably erect in his jeans.

  But her next statement got his complete attention despite his arousal. “Then, I overheard your conversation with Isaac, and what you went through … ”

  When she paused, Ulric was overwhelmed by the need to inform her, “I never intended for you to find out that way, Charlotte. There's more to it, things I need to explain—”

  He stopped when she slid over next to him and placed two fingers against his lips, her eyes shimmering with tears as she whispered, “You don't need to tell me anything tonight, Ulric. The point is that I can't begin to imagine how horrible it was, and I'll never let you go through that again, not for me, or anyone.”

  Realizing she really hadn't been disgusted by some misconception about what she'd heard, and hearing the concern in her voice—not to mention the anger—Ulric's control vanished. Without thought, he grabbed her to tug into his lap, claiming her mouth in a demanding kiss that bordered on desperation.

  Charlotte sweetly moaned, pressing her hands beneath his shirt where she traced her fingers along his body, and Wrath consumed him. He had to fight to hold onto even a thread of thought, finally breaking his lips from hers to relate, “You make it all seem unimportant, Charlotte. I used to think I'd never completely get over what happened. It's injured my relationship with Dalris, made me paranoid that he looked down on me, but I was … too ashamed to ever talk about it.”

  She frowned up at him, stroking her fingers across his cheek. “You don't have anything to be ashamed of, Ulric. They hurt you.”

  Gazing at her lovingly, he returned, “I know, but now I have something to look forward to. I want a future with you so badly that I can't think of the past. What we have is far more than just instinct, and I'll spend eternity proving it.”

  She shuddered against him, her voice full of affection and need as she replied, “I know it's more than instinct, Ulric. When I was waiting on you earlier, I realized my divorce didn't just mess up my plans, it made my whole life seem unstable. But when I met you, that slowly started changing, and not just because of what's between us.”

  Reaching up to sweep her hand over his cheek, she finished, “You told Isaac you felt as if you hadn't proven yourself, but you have, and I trust you to always be there. I've still got a lot to get used to now that I'm fae, but no matter where my life goes, I need you in it, Ulric. I'm just sorry if I worried you because I was so confused by everything.”

  Her words had relief washing over him as warm as the flickering firelight from the hearth, his grip on her tightening. “Don't apologize, sweetness. You've been through so much, and it hasn't been easy for either of us.”

  Looking dazed, she whispered softly, “Nothing's ever easy, remember?”

  He recalled the night he'd spoken those words, and gazing down at Charlotte now, having her warm in his arms, he thoughtfully amended, “True, but you're more than worth the effort.”

  An infectious smile graced her lips, which he kissed for several long moments, taking the ribbon at her breasts to slowly tug open like a cherished gift. As it loosened, he asked, “Where did you get this, anyway?”

  She bit her lip, shrugging. “Nowhere special. It's just something I sleep in. Do you like it?”

  Ulric groaned, shifting so she could feel his erection. “What do you think?”

  She gasped, batting his hand away before he could disrobe her further. “I think it's like dragonnip, but we still have things to discuss.”

  “I can't focus with you dressed this way,” he admitted honestly.

  Smirking, she leaned up to kiss him, simultaneously grabbing his shirt to tug off. Ulric lifted his arms to help, then let her push him back, laying across the mattress. As she climbed up to straddle him, and his hands traveled up her thighs to grasp her ass, Charlotte leaned down, whispering, “I've wanted to do this for so long,” before her lips pressed against his temple, then grazed down over his cheek.

  Ulric soon realized she was tracing his markings, closing his eyes with a deep groan, her lips kissing their path along his chest, over his nipple, then down his torso. At the bottom tip, she went to the other side, starting at the top again.

  It became a struggle to let her continue without taking over, but his mind blanked when she reached his pants a second time, and opened them. Pulling his erection free, Charlotte didn't hesitate, hungrily running her lips along the hard length.

  Instantly, Ulric gripped her shoulders, growling in pleasure. “Gods, you're like a dream, sweetness.”

  Her tongue laved over the shaft and up to the swollen crown where she began to suck, making his hips jolt. He watched in erotic bliss until his head fell back against the mattress, only vaguely catching her question when she replaced her mouth with her hand.

  “Are you still planning to leave?”

  “Leave?”

  “To hide me, like you told Isaac. Because I'm staying here.”
<
br />   Despite his mindless state, Ulric realized what she was saying—and doing. “You're trying to seduce me,” he groaned.

  Pausing, she looked up with a sheepish smile, playfully admitting, “Maybe just a little.”

  Though the confession was amusing, and he had no intentions of going through with that plan, he was too curious to see how she'd react not to say, “I haven't thought about it.”

  Her fingers squeezed his aching cock while she purred, “Why not?”

  That was a damned good question, especially when she took him back into her mouth. Wicked little fae, he thought, all too ready to play this game with her. Though, as he watched her lips slide down around his swollen shaft, he knew he wouldn't care if he lost.

  “You'd be in danger if a fight broke out,” he answered inanely, his hips bucking when she rubbed her hand into his heavy pair, drawing a louder moan from his throat.

  “So get me ready,” she suggested.

  Damned if he could ignore the implication of those words. “Get up here and I will.”

  Charlotte smirked, teasing her tongue along the crown before whispering, “You know what I mean.”

  “Not so sure I do, sweetness. All I can think about is ripping that skimpy little outfit off and fucking you in every position imaginable.”

  He thought she might give him a playful retort, but instead, Charlotte groaned, slipping off his lap to stand near the bed—a wise decision when he was about to grab her.

  “I was asking you to train me so I could help.”

  Sitting up while she remained just out of arm's reach, he allowed, “I will,” then added just to get her going, “eventually. Now come here, I'd rather make love than argue.”

  Her emerald eyes became attractively determined, and not only did Ulric find this game too tempting not to play, he also wasn't above turning the tables on her.

  In fact, he looked forward to it.

  It was official, Charlotte had the most stubborn mate ever.

  Maybe she should've kept at her seduction, but the way he turned everything into an innuendo made it hard for her to concentrate. Just as he'd admitted, all she wanted to do was make love to him, not argue. If he'd just give in, it wouldn't be an issue.

  “I'm not backing down from this, Ulric. We need to stay here.”

  Charlotte diverted her gaze from his sculpted body to focus on her statements, and realized soon enough that was a mistake. When she wasn't looking, Ulric snagged one of her wrists, pulling her over to sit in his lap with her back facing his chest.

  She felt his erection against her ass as he latched an arm around her waist, asking, “Do you think I believe you're fragile?”

  Trying not to shiver over his deep, accented voice against her ear, she muttered, “You act like it.”

  Ulric's hand swept up to hook his fingers into the straps of her camisole, jerking her top down to expose both breasts, cupping one as he growled, “I don't. You're strong, and so damned exquisite.”

  His thumb brushed her nipple, making her heart hammer as she grasped his wrist despite the growing wetness between her legs. “I'm not through arguing.”

  “You don't want to argue,” he countered seductively, pinching her stiff nipples one at a time.

  “Y-yes I do,” she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.

  When his opposing hand pushed into her panties, and his thick fingers slowly searched them to find her slick flesh, she stifled a moan.

  “You're so wet. I don't think you could focus on it.”

  He was right, she couldn't think, shivering as he ran kisses along the back of her shoulder. Still, she rasped halfheartedly, “I could, but you're not listening,” and wasn't even sure what she would've said if he was.

  “Because we're not talking about it now,” Ulric returned, and her hips jerked when he began circling her swollen clitoris beneath the pad of his finger, adding wickedly, “In a few minutes, I'm going to bend you over and sink my cock so deep inside you nothing else will matter.”

  With the promise given, his digit pressed against her tight entrance, never going inside even though it was all she wanted now. But he only stroked, then teasingly flicked her clit, building her desire until she was digging her fingers into his thighs and panting.

  “Please, Ulric!”

  At that, his digit finally pushed deep inside her, thrusting in and out as he growled, “I said no.”

  “Oh god,” she gasped, parting her legs wider for more. “I mean I need you!”

  He groaned, his wrist working to pump harder when he added a second finger between her legs. “How badly?”

  Charlotte's head fell back against his shoulder, and she admittedly shamelessly, “I feel like I'll die if you don't bend me over right now.”

  The confession must have pleased him because Ulric stopped and lifted her with little effort. Charlotte soon found herself on her knees, facing the headboard, and she leaned forward at an angle to grasp the metal rods while he tugged her panties down around her thighs.

  She looked back just in time to feel his hard shaft at her slick entrance, her eyes closing when he pushed inside. Ulric grasped her hips to hold tight, and her heart pounded as he slowly filled her with a loud groan that she matched with a moan.

  His flesh was so hot she couldn't think of anything else, sinking deeper, then deeper still, until he was completely wedged within her.

  “You're so slick, baby … So fucking hot.”

  “Ulric … yes!” she rasped when he slowly thrust in and out. Each movement was like a brand, and she parted her legs wider between his, pushing her hips back to meet him. The pleasured sounds he emitted drove her wild, and Charlotte knew she'd never get enough of him, no matter how hard or fast they moved.

  “I love you, Charlotte.”

  She was so lost in pleasure she wasn't sure she'd heard him right. “W-what?”

  Ulric bent forward, his chest at her back as he growled, “I said I love you, and I'm never letting you go.”

  With that, his hips began moving hard enough to rock her against him. Charlotte gasped, trying to keep up while her mind reeled over his confession. The bond between them was already as strong as ever, but knowing he loved her, hearing those words made all the difference in the world.

  She wanted to tell him the same, but couldn't quite get it out when he was driving so deep, each plunge inside demanding her complete attention, bringing more pleasure than she could've imagined.

  Already, she was heading toward a violent climax.

  As if sensing it, Ulric sat back, pulling her up to his chest to hold with an arm crossing her breasts, his opposing hand cupping her sex while he rasped at her ear, “Getting close?”

  “Yes! I … Oh!” With her answer, he started hammering between her thighs. She clutched his arm in both hands, her back bowing as the pad of his finger found her clit, strumming it hard.

  Her head fell back on his shoulder, her hips bouncing from the force of his thrusts. She couldn't hold on, couldn't think, tensing until a scream erupted from her throat with a merciless orgasm, sending waves of erotic bliss through her body as she thrashed against him.

  Charlotte simply didn't realize she was chanting I love you the entire while.

  Chapter 34

  Ulric had to fight when he felt a hot, wet rush come over him as Charlotte thrashed in a hard orgasm, growling with the effort of withholding his seed to make this last. But it was almost impossible when he felt the clench of her inner walls milking him so sweetly.

  Then she began chanting the words I love you, Ulric again and again, and he almost lost it completely.

  His chest tightened with emotion, uncaring if she realized what she'd said, or was simply in too much pleasure to notice. Those words coming from her sweet, sensual lips was like something out of a dream, driving him wild.

  Still, he somehow managed to hold back, stilling his hips when Charlotte finally went limp. Ulric held her tight in his arms, burying his face against her neck to kiss her
skin and inhale her floral scent.

  “I've never felt this way before,” she whispered breathlessly.

  “What way?”

  “Like I'll die if I can't be with you.”

  Her confession maddened him even more, satisfying an unspoken yearning he'd always had to hear his mate telling him such things. He wanted to spend eternity thanking her for it, and tonight was a damned good night to start.

  She was still trembling when he withdrew from her body long enough to turn her back across the mattress, her hair fanning out over the sheets with her legs parting around him. Leaning over her, he positioned himself, finding absolutely no resistance pushing back inside.

  Charlotte whimpered, and Ulric would never get over that tight, slick, and utterly hot sensation of being wedged so deep in her body. Groaning, he brought her knees up close to her shoulders and locked his arms around them, bracing his hands on each side of her head.

  Hovering just above her now, he could see the anticipation in her eyes, proving she was ready for more, and it rattled his resolve even further.

  “You're so damned gorgeous,” he growled, slowly rocking his hips, taking her with a measured pace. After he'd denied his release, Ulric could scarcely think of going slow, but needed to work her back into a frenzy.

  When her eyes shut, he growled. “Look at me, Charlotte.”

  She silently complied, her gaze meeting his with a mixture of excitement and disbelief, as if still surprised making love was so enjoyable. He relished the thought when he'd been the one to show her such things, driving as deep into her body as possible.

  “Ulric ... ”

  “That's it, sweet love, I want to watch you come for me this time.”

  A blush stained her cheeks, but she never looked away while her slick walls took him, fitting like a second skin. With each thrust, her expression grew more pained, until her hips started squirming beneath him for more.