Then I reach between us and guide the head of his cock into my entrance, slowly, so slowly sinking down as he clings to my hips like he’s being shredded apart bit by bit.

I take my time, savoring the stretch and the way he fills every inch of me. When I’m fully seated, I wait, remembering the first time we did this. Remembering when I’d fought so hard against it but then I finally fell, and the plummet was the greatest feeling of my life.

“Are you okay?” he asks, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear and trailing a finger along my cheek. There’s so much concern and love in his expression that my heart expands in my chest. This cruel prince who kidnapped me and tied me to the foot of his bed while he threatened to feed me to his pets. This cruel prince who isn’t so cruel as long as he loves you. The prince who took my heart and held it in his hand and forced me to see him. But who would have handed it back to me if I’d asked.

“I’m okay,” I say, and then I lift up and drop down as we slowly churn together, our breaths mingling and hearts aligning in this divine bliss.

“I love you,” I say. “I need you to understand just how much I love you.”

He quirks a smile, and the sight makes my heart seize in my chest. “I know, Lor. I know you didn’t want to—”

I cover his lips with my finger.

“No. That isn’t true. I wanted to. From the very beginning. I never didn’t want to.”

He smiles, and it’s bright and beautiful, and I ride his hips, clinging to his shoulders as he guides me up and down. Our magic weaves together, his ribbons taming my lightning. We move as one, exploding together before I fall against him, and we sit in the tub, wrapped in one another, until the water grows cold.

Then we exit the bath and cocoon ourselves in warm towels before he sweeps me up into his arms and carries me to the bed. We snuggle under the covers, and he folds himself around me so I’m nestled into the curve of his body.

This is where I belong.

He is where I’ve always belonged.

CHAPTER 31

We sleep late the following day, desperately needing rest. My eyes peel open to the smell of coffee and bacon wafting up from downstairs. We had only a few bites of food before we passed out, and my stomach growls. The sound is enough to wake Nadir, whose lashes flutter as he gives me a lazy smile.

“Morning, Lightning Bug.”

“Morning,” I say, snuggling up to him.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m tired and sore, but I’m so happy you’re here,” I say as my stomach protests again. “And hungry.”