Chapter 37

"Already?" I shivered, my nerves jumping to attention.

Brady studied me closely, his hand slowly moving up and down my arm, sending little pulses of electricity that both calmed and excited. "It's not done yet, but I've done all I can at the moment. Damion will set everything into motion for me." He leaned forward and pulled my face over to look at him. "Hey." His voice was soft. "You don't have to do anything you're not ready for."

I watched his Adam's apple bob as he waited for me to respond. His muscles corded along his neck, his expression guarded, but all of these things only adhered me to him more. I could wait. Even now, he'd wait for me, despite everything we'd been through.

With a deep shuddering breath, I nodded.

It was all the prompting Brady needed. His eyes flashed, neon blue swirling pools that sucked me in and wouldn't let go. Each movement he made was slow and easy. He leaned forward, cupping my cheek, then pressed his lips to mine in the softest kiss.

My body immediately responded, more forceful after our separation. I was a drug addict, finally granted a fix, and I lunged for it, craved it, gripping his shoulders and pulling him closer.

Brady hummed. "You have to say it, Sweetheart. Out loud." His lips found my neck, soft opened mouth kisses that he trailed down to my shoulder.

I couldn't speak when he did that. My mind wouldn't work. I focused on the feel of his lips against my skin, his tongue each time is darted out to taste my skin, the warmth of his breath. My body thrummed with energy, desire blooming like spring, and with each new caress of his hand, each new touch of his lips, it pulsed and grew.

"Amelia?" Brady gently bit down on the hollow of my shoulder. "Say it. Please."

"Please," was my whispered plea. "Yes. I'm ready."

Brady sprung forward, forcing me to the mattress and positioning himself above me. One large hand ran along my head, tilting it back until I had to arch my neck to accommodate him. His mouth met mine, rough, demanding, a kiss so passionate it could only exist in fantasy.

A soft mewling sound left my chest, and Brady let out a satisfied groan in response. He gripped my legs and lifted them, pinning me so tightly beneath him I could feel every last inch of his frame. His hips circled, grinding into me as the kiss deepened.

I cried out, Brady broke away.

His glowing eyes locked with mine, set in determination. "Do you want me to make love to you, Amelia?"

"Yes." My hands lifted to the back of his head, trying and failing to pull him back down.

"You have to say it," he said, holding firm. "If you don't say it, I can't. It won't work." He kissed me once again, rougher, animalistic, then pulled away. "I really want it to work, Sweetheart."

I stared into his eyes as the reality of what I was about to do set in. Am I really ready for this? Forever? A Brady loving zombie?

His electric blue light swirled, a galaxy of stars, and every memory we'd shared, every word he'd said, the things he'd done for me, all flashed through my mind like a motion picture. Can I really say no?

I didn't want to. It was crazy. Insane. I felt like I barely knew him, and at the same time, like I'd known him forever. I felt terrified, and at the same time, excited. All of these things wrapped into one big ball of emotions, and I knew, it didn't matter, because one thing was clear, even if the rest wasn't.

I never want to let this go.

"Make love to me, Brady."

His eyes flashed, and I was suddenly surrounded in every square inch of the god-man that he was. His lips hit mine, hungry and desperate, and the electric current surged, evolving into lightening as it struck. It filled me, every vein, every limb, every inch of skin, a tidal wave of pulsing magic.

Brady lifted just enough to yank the shirt over his head, then immediately dropped back down to kiss me again. "I've waited so long for this," he groaned. "You're so perfect. You've no idea what it's been like for me." He continued to kiss me, never giving me a chance to respond before once again sending me spiraling.

I let my hands trail over his shoulders, down his chest, to his waist and lower still. I felt his muscles respond to my touch, rippling under my hands, tightening as if I could feel the similar sensations moving through him.

When my exploring drifted too low, Brady grabbed my hand. "Not yet. I want to take my time with you." His voice was deep, deeper than usual, and the smooth and sultry sound of it increased the pull inside my chest.

His hands ran down my waist, then slowly lifted, bringing my shirt with them. Those eyes locked on the skin of my mid drift, moving upwards as he uncovered more. His jaw tightened, and in a flash of movement, my shirt and bra both disappeared.

I let out a yelp at the sudden exposure, but Brady silenced me with his mouth. "I'm sorry. I couldn't wait." He sat back to stare at me, his eyes glowing brighter.

Instinctively, I lifted my hands in an attempt to cover myself.

Brady made a low noise, and with a flick of his hand, my arms fell to my sides immobile. "I can't let you do that right now," he said, eyes never leaving my exposed skin. He lifted his fingers and slowly ran them from my neck, all the way down to my belly button.

My back arched as the invisible tether between us tightened. "Brady," I urged, feeling as if I'd die if he didn't help me, but unaware of what it was I needed him to do.

He repeated the motion, only this time, both his hands travelled my length, stopping to caress each breast as he made his way down to grip my hips. He tugged me closer to him and leaned forward. I could feel him there, so close, pressing against the most sensitive part of me. "I'm going to spend eternity worshipping you." His lips touched the corner of my mouth, then again on my jawline.

I lifted my face and pressed my mouth to his. "Then stop torturing me."

Something about the command set him into motion. Brady made a noise, deep inside his chest, and his grip on my legs tightened. The air fizzled and cracked, and a moment later I felt his skin against mine.

The blanket pulled back on its own, lifting over top his back and cocooning our naked bodies in its soft embrace.

Brady continued to kiss me, keeping the small gap between his hips and mine as his hands ran along every inch of my skin.

It was too much. I needed him. My body was screaming for him to continue, and my brain was desperately in agreement. A whimper left my chest. "Brady. Please."

His lips twitched up into a satisfied smile. "I like you begging."

Was he serious? "Brady!"

He let out a low husky laugh. "Alright, Sweetheart." He leaned back to meet my gaze. "I can deny you nothing." His expression fell serious as he lifted my hips, his arm wrapping around my back and holding me up to meet him.

I felt him there, so close, and my body stiffened in anticipation.

"Relax," he murmured, softly staring down at me. "I would never let you feel pain."

My heart constricted, and I sensed it when he finally decided to move forward. His eyes held mine, the connection palpable, a signal being made, alerting us that this was right.

The gravity between our souls had been leading us to this, ever since the first day I met him. That energy, that attraction. It'd always been there, I'd just never admitted it. I hadn't understood it.

Brady did, and the look on his face let me know just how much this moment meant to him.

He leaned forward, still holding my waist. His lips met mine in another kiss, softer, gentler. "Wrap your legs around my waist, Sweetheart."

I did as he asked, my heart pounding, chest rising and falling heavily in anticipation.

"Relax," he murmured, sending his magic coursing through me and easing my muscles.

The time had come. It was really happening. Another moment, and I'd be joined to him in a way unlike any other.

But a burst of orange light suddenly appeared like a glowing red stop sign.

"Uh oh. What have we got here?"

Brady jerked away and pulled the covers over my body like a shield. His eyes flashed red, zeroing in on the man standing only a few feet away. "Damion, if you don't leave, I swear I'll kill you. It's not a joke. I'll murder you where you stand."

Damion smirked, but he didn't move away. "I'm sorry to interrupt. Truly. But you've got a problem."

"What is it!"

I jerked at his tone, and he ran his hand down my arm in that same calming way, before glaring at Damion once more.

"Well, you said it was one guy, but I regret to inform you, that fucker has an army."

Brady's eyes narrowed as the red tinge brightened. "An army?"

"Yes. A large one. It appears you're not as popular as you thought. Apparently, you've betrayed your people for a human." He looked at the two of us pointedly, his eyes dancing with humor. "Who'd have thought. They like me better than you, Brady."

"How big?" Brady asked in a tight voice, ignoring Damion's taunting.

"Well, darling? Seems you're more apt to answer that question than I am."

"Damion!" Brady made a move, both clothing himself and me in a simultaneous motion.

Damion held his hands out in front of him. "Alright! I don't know for sure, but it's large. Hundreds at least."

Brady pulled himself up to sit on the edge of the bed and ran a hand down his face. "Find out what you can," he said.

Damion tilted his head. "Will you go to the council?"

Brady's jawbone flexed. "I have no choice."

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