His expression was hard to read, but I didn’t miss the flash of grief in his eyes. “I will have to pass the mantle on at some point. They’ll have their own stone, though, since it’s unique to the being it chooses. So, no, I won’t lose my powers.”

“You didn’t really need the boost,” I said, my eyes closing briefly as exhaustion pressed into me. “But how will you choose the right one to pass it onto?”

“It will be difficult,” he said. “If they’re not worthy, then that could be as catastrophic to the realm as what Dannie is attempting to do. As we discovered with Ixana.”

It was a lot of pressure for him. Generally, the realm chose, but in this case, it might have to be Shadow himself who selected the next Supreme Being and if he chose wrong, he could condemn his people to being ruled by someone who might use the stone against them.

“Don’t worry about it tonight,” he said, sliding his hands into the long strands of my hair. He tightened his grip, pulling me up to meet his lips. I went willingly, letting out a soft breath when we kissed.

Our kiss deepened, as always happened, and without thought, my body twisted into a more comfortable position. I straddled Shadow, my already wet center pressing into him. His fire filled my core first, and then he entered me in one hard thrust. There was resistance. There was always resistance with someone Shadow’s size, but no lie, that was almost my favorite part. That first burning stretch.

Kissing like our lives depended on it, I let my body move on instinct against him, going with what felt good. In this position, it basically all felt good, and even though there wasn’t a huge range of movement, I got into a rocking rhythm. Shadow’s hands cupped my breasts, his thumbs playing with the hard peaks of my nipples, stroking over and over, sending shivers through my already over-aroused body.

I rocked harder, moaned louder, and relished in the pleasure of this moment with him. When he’d had enough of letting me lead the pace, he released my nipples and placed his hands on my hips, lifting and holding me in place so he could slam up into me.

“Shadow, fucking fuck,” I cried, my body starting to quiver as the first thrums of a heady orgasm made itself known. We’d had sex not that long ago, but somehow, with Shadow, it always felt like the first time.

“Hold on, Sunshine,” he growled, and he spun me in a heartbeat, his fucking magic once again doing the impossible of keeping him buried deep inside even while we shifted positions.