: Liam's vetiver (3)
Seeing that James' lips were glistening from juices, Cornelia grabbed a napkin with the intention to make him presentable.
James enjoyed the cleaning service, but he wished that Cornelia used her tongue.
When she was done, she pushed another napkin into his hands.
"Am I messy?", Cornelia asked while pursing her lips and moving her head sideways to give him a good view.
"A little bit", James responded and grabbed her chin.
Cornelia thought that he will wipe the mess, but the cheeky werewolf kissed her right there, for everyone to see.
His tongue quickly found its way into her mouth and caressed her tongue in ways she couldn't refuse, and Cornelia gripped his shoulders to steady herself.
James inched away and looked at Cornelia who was slightly dazed. He loved that he had this effect on her.
"I think I missed a spot."
He was about to kiss her again, but Cornelia was quick to put her hand over his mouth.
"Not here!", Cornelia whispered with urgency.
She was the second-ranked witch in the Coven, yet now everyone saw her being kissed. And it was not just that she was kissed, but she was kissing him back! How undignified.
"OK. I will lick that off later", James said and winked mischievously.
He chuckled at her outraged expression that sizzled away within a second. She was unable to be mad at him no matter how cheeky he was.
Neither of them could deny the fact that when they were together and touching each other, neither James nor Cornelia worried about the uncertain future.
The witches and werewolves gathered around the fountain, eager for the ceremonies to start.
The silvery flames danced above the statue of the woman and the wolf, spilling the light over the surface of the water, making the whole fountain appear like it came out of another dimension.
Amelia and Liam were first.
Witches started chanting and the couple stared at each other like they were the only two people on the planet.
The scene reminded Talia of the ceremony that Yasmin and Axel had, but this time Yasmin was next to Evanora, adding to the chants of high-ranked witches that were led by Evanora.
Amelia and Liam stepped into the fountain, and the chants intensified at the same time when the silvery flames at the top of the fountain started dancing wildly like someone was fanning them.
Shiny ripples in the dark water started moving toward Liam and Amelia, and then the light climbed up their skin. They glowed. Literally.
Amelia and Liam faced each other, the silvery light from the fountain ignited their golden tattoos, giving them the appearance of ethereal statues.
"The heavens are blessing your union", Evanora said when Amelia's and Liam's bodies were completely lit up. "May you have long lives full of happiness."
The witches burst into cheers when Amelia and Liam kissed.
The ceremony boosted their energy levels and Liam felt a pulsating need in his crotch area. He really wanted to jab himself inside her, but he was faintly aware of all the eyes on them and he knew that it wouldn't be appropriate.
Liam lifted Amelia in his arms and carried her princess style. Everyone knew that they were going back to Amelia's room.
Amelia loved how Liam had eyes only for her, and the fact that his erection was poking her behind told her that her mate means business.
Amelia used healing spells and herbs to ease soreness from all that lovemaking, and she hoped that Liam didn't notice because she wanted to make him happy. Well, he was making her happy also, many orgasms happy, but it was getting sore later, and she didn't want him to know about that last part.
Liam's steps didn't pause in the slightest when witches surrounded them with an intention to congratulate the couple. With one fierce growl from Liam, the witches parted to make way and Amelia giggled while snaking her arms around Liam's neck. His hostile expression softened in an instant when he looked at Amelia.
Yasmin patted her chest dramatically. That was romantic and raw, and she loved it!
Talia loved it as well. The animalistic urge to claim mate was super-sexy and Talia really wished to bite Damon and mark him again. Soon.
Her eyes moved to Damon to meet his fiery gaze directed at her.
'Mate looks yummy', Liseli spoke in Talia's mind. 'I can feel Sapa's excitement. Can we go for a run after the ceremony?'
'I'm sure we can.' Evanora never mentioned any restrictions related to moving within this realm, so it would be fun to let their wolves out to explore while spending quality time with each other.
Next were James and Cornelia.
The duo moved to the fountain to face each other.
Cornelia tilted her head up to see James' face and she wondered if he was always that tall.
The silvery light reflected on his skin, making the golden designs on his pale skin shimmer, his shoulders were broad, and he didn't look like a teenager, not even a little bit.
Yasmin and Evanora took turns chanting, and even a laywoman like Talia realized that something was different compared to the previous ceremony.
The air stirring at the fountain was sharper, and the flames on the fountain grew bigger.
Cornelia and James didn't break the eye contact, and they either didn't notice that the water in the fountain was splashing around them, or they didn't care.
Cornelia could feel the energy seeping into her, and she was in a euphoric daze. It was like she had a private channel with nature, only for her to use, and she wondered if James felt the same.
The more she looked at him, the more handsome he was, and the pull toward her soulmate became unbearable. It was like her skin was on fire and only his touch could soothe it.
Cornelia realized that something was wrong. Why was she getting aroused?
She bit the inside of her cheek harshly to snap out of her daze and then her head snapped toward Evanora and Yasmin.
"What are you doing?", Cornelia hissed.
Instead of responding, Yasmin chanted with more enthusiasm.
Yasmin knew about the challenges Cornelia and James were facing, and she discussed with Evanora to add to the ceremony a dose of sensitivity. Evanora was not willing at first, but Yasmin persuaded her. As usually.
With this addition to the ceremony, both James and Cornelia had become more sensitive to the energies around them, and that included nature and their mate bond. Everything else was a side effect of that.
Cornelia looked at James as the silvery light climbed his body, following the golden patterns on his skin and she wondered what was going on with him because he was just staring at her without moving a muscle.
Cornelia feared that James' wolf will end up hurt from this. She would scold Yasmin for doing whatever she was doing, but Cornelia found herself unable to move. Was James OK? He looked like he was struggling with something.
'MATE', James heard a voice in his head and the desire for Cornelia became maddening. James was fighting against his urge to claim Cornelia right then and there, but the attraction was intensifying by the second, clouding his mind completely.
Chapter 686
James was overwhelmed by the surges of desire that swelled within him.
His wolf was stirring and urging him to claim the female that stood in front of him.
James' throat was dry like he crossed many deserts without a single drop of water, and Cornelia was the water of life who could quench his thirst. He really wanted to consume her completely until they meld to become one.
His heart thundered in the rhythm of her name. Cornelia. Cora. His mate. His. HIS!
James was aware that Cornelia was several centuries old, but at that moment her eyes full of concern and love made her appear like an unspoiled delicate maiden who was oblivious of the savagery males were capable of. Males, like him. Would his touch desecrate her beauty?
His whole universe was reduced to the chocolate-colored Goddess in front of him, yet he felt like his world expanded. She was glowing like a beacon that showed him the only way to happiness, and his stomach tightened with the need to merge with her in every way possible.
The chants and winds dimmed to background noise, and James could hear Cornelia's breaths that were in sync with his. She smelled of sweet wild berries, and her slightly parted lips were silently begging him to claim her.
James was absolutely certain that Cornelia's heart, mind, and soul were his. The only thing he didn't claim was her body and an irresistible need overwhelmed him to take that part of her as well because only when she was completely his, he could be at ease.
The chanting stopped and silence blanketed the garden. Out of several hundred witches, no one made a peep as all of them were focused on Cornelia and James who were standing in the fountain and glowing.
Normally, Cornelia's skin looked darker in contrast to James' white one, and her natural melanin made him look much paler than he was, yet now they were both glowing in pulses that matched their synchronized heartbeats. The silvery light enveloped them completely, erasing the distinction between the two and making them appear as one.
James resisted, he really did... but then something snapped.
"Mine!", James growled, and his hand landed at the back of Cornelia's head at the same time his lips crashed on hers.
Cornelia's eyes were open wide in shock as he was never so rough. She wanted to push him away, but the pull was unbearable as she was fighting against her own madness, and he tasted delicious, and her arms moved around him.
James kissed Cornelia hungrily and his free hand caressed her cheek and then moved down her jaw and neck, and he swallowed Cornelia's shaky moan when her body trembled against his.
James pulled away and stared into Cornelia's unfocused eyes that were directed at him. His nostrils flared when he picked up the scent of her arousal, and that was the last straw. He flung her over his shoulder and walked out of the fountain.
James didn't need to growl for witches to make way for them as he carried Cornelia back to her room like she was a sack of potatoes.
Cornelia was unable to react. It all happened so quickly!
Unsure how to face her sisters after being so embarrassingly manhandled, Cornelia buried her face into James' back and pretended that she was unconscious.
"The heavens blessed your union!", Evanora shouted after them.
The witches exchanged confused glances while murmuring among each other, hesitant to cheer and congratulate the couple because they left.
"YEAH!", Yasmin exclaimed while fist-pumping in the air.
The ritual amplified both James' and Cornelia's sensitivity to energies, but Yasmin did it mostly for Cornelia.
When Yasmin found out about the stalemate between the duo, she couldn't believe it.
Did Cornelia really think that James should return to his pre-Cornelia life without her? How could Cornelia make such a decision on her own?
It's not that Yasmin didn't understand Cornelia's concerns, but that kind of reasoning didn't belong between soulmates.
Since ancient times, soulmates were meant to be together. From the moment they recognize each other, soulmates become one, and they stick together no matter what life throws at them because separation will harm them both.
What Cornelia was doing went against nature; as a witch, that was the closest thing to breaking the law!
It was obvious that James was head over heels for Cornelia and only a blind person would miss all the signs they were mates, which meant that the person putting a wall between them was Cornelia.
At first, Yasmin tried to talk some sense into Cornelia, but that led nowhere, so Yasmin decided not to meddle. However, how could she remain a spectator when James approached her to ask for help? But casting spells out of the blue was risky so Yasmin needed to find the right opportunity, and then Yasmin heard that Cornelia wanted to take part in the ceremony, and that was exactly what Yasmin was looking for.
Yasmin carefully prepared a potion and arranged that it gets mixed in Cornelia's and James' wine during the feast. This ritual stimulated the right components to react, and the wheels were set in motion. Now it was up to the mated couple to figure out what they will do with all that pent-up sexual energy.
With this, Cornelia will stop avoiding the inevitable, and if it succeeds, Cornelia will be grateful to Yasmin. Eventually.
"Let's take a short break!", Evanora announced.
"Mother!", Yasmin exclaimed. "Are you alright?" The high priestess looked unusually pale.
"I just need a moment and then we can proceed."
Talia was quick to approach Evanora. "If you are unwell, we can do it some other time." She really wanted the ceremony with Damon, the fountain, silver flames, and everything else called magic, but not at the cost of Evanora collapsing halfway.
Talia was wary because the lovey-dovey moments she planned with Damon ended in a disaster, and she hoped that this won't be one of them. But if Evanora can't complete the ceremony, where will that leave them? With one more bitter experience? Talia wanted this to be perfect. She needed this to be perfect, and if magic and witches can't make it come true, then no one can.
Evanora waved like it was not important. "Nonsense. The moon is in the right position and the mood is right. I just need a few minutes to catch my breath." She turned to one of the witches that were helping with the chants. "Serena, can you bring me a glass of water?"
The witch confirmed and disappeared into the crowd.
Evanora didn't want to disclose how taxing it was to work with the energies from the fountain. Yes, other witches were chanting as well, but as the one leading the ceremony, Evanora took most of the burn.
Evanora remembered the scene when Talia reignited the flames with ease, yet those same energies were too much for the old witch to manipulate for two ceremonies back-to-back. How could Evanora admit to such a weakness and still be considered as the high priestess?
And also, Yasmin stood right next to Evanora, yet she was completely fine.
Was it because of the babies Yasmin carried in her stomach, or… Evanora exhaled sadly while remembering Yasmin's father. It was probably his bloodline that made Yasmin so much better than any other witch, but Yasmin never saw herself as above others.
Chapter 687
In Cornelia's room…
James kicked the door to close and flung Cornelia on the bed.
Cornelia yelped in surprise, and she grimaced in preparation for the impact, but then she felt hot palms on her back that lowered her softly on the mattress.
Before she could regain her senses, James was on top of her, kissing her hungrily and swallowing her words before she could form any.
Both were practically naked, so there was a lot of skin-to-skin contact, the flimsy garments covering their crotch areas provided no obstacle for them to feel each other.
Cornelia could sense the urgency behind James' every move, and his masculine energy enveloped them both.
So far, James embraced Cornelia many times. He was always caring and gentle and considerate of her needs, and this time it was still all that, but it was different.
She could describe the experience as animalistic and raw, and she was drowning in his need to be with her. Was this how it would feel from the start if he was of age when they met? At that time, she didn't know him at all, and Cornelia didn't think she would be comfortable with a stranger feeling her out, even if that stranger was her soulmate. In a way, she was glad that they had this time to meet each other before doing the deed.
James' palms caressed her body with unexpected proficiency, setting her soul ablaze and she was surprised when he jumped off the bed.
'CRACK!'
Cornelia felt like someone poured a bucket of ice on her when she realized that James crushed a glass with his hand that was now balled into a bloodied fist.
"James!", Cornelia shrieked while scrambling off the bed.
She reached to grab his injured hand, but he jerked his arm out of her reach.
"Don't touch me.", he said breathily.
James walked to the open window to greedily inhale the air like he was suffocating.
Cornelia didn't know what he was doing, but that definitely looked like he was in distress.
"James, please… tell me what's going on."
James closed his eyes. "This… just… leave me alone."
"Not until you talk to me."
She touched his shoulder, and he twisted his body away.
"Don't", he squeezed through his teeth. "Why can't you leave?"
"I'm not leaving. This is my room.", she said stubbornly. The fact that he avoided her touch twice was killing her from the inside.
"Your room?", he asked while looking around, like it was the first time he heard about it. "Right. This is your room. I will leave."
"No!", Cornelia exclaimed and with one wave of her finger, the open window closed, and all three windows were shut now and shimmering in silvery light just like the door, and James knew that she locked them in.
James puffed his cheeks. "You want to know what's going on?"
"Yes."
"This is not right."
Cornelia realized that he was talking about what was almost happening on the bed. "What do you mean, not right? Don't you want it?"
"Yes! My desire for you is so strong that I had to cut my hand for the pain to help me regain control because I don't want to do something you will hate me for.", he responded in one breath.
"I wouldn't hate you."
James snorted. "Yeah, right."
"I'm not lying."
"But you are not telling the truth either."
Cornelia frowned. Did he call her a liar? "And you know what I'm thinking better than I do?"
James was looking straight into her eyes now. "I know that you are not willing, Cora. This is just the effect of the ceremony that did… something." He didn't tell her that his wolf told him they were mates, because that was not important. "Now you feel the arousal, but once it wears off you will be back in your thoughts about how no matter how much we love each other, we can't be together because I can't stay here, and you can't come with me since I'm not strong enough to protect you."
Cornelia's heart cracked. Those were her words and she said them more than once, but now that he said them… it hurt. Why did it all sound like James was the one who needed to compromise? Like he was the lacking one? Was there really no way for them to be together?
She felt guilt eating her up. James was her soulmate, yet she cornered him into a place where he didn't have a say, and where he felt inferior. What kind of a mate does that?
"It's my fault", she said. "Instead of looking for solutions, I was looking at obstacles."
She reached for his bleeding hand and was happy when he allowed her to inspect his injury.
James gritted his teeth and glared through the closed window like his mortal enemy was right there, all in the effort to ignore the magnificent sparks of their bond that prickled his skin wherever they touched.
Cornelia frowned at the sight of glass that was stuck in his palm and she ushered him to sit on the chair. She kneeled by his side and started carefully pulling the glass pieces out of his flesh.
Cornelia's heart shook with emotions she never experienced before. The tent in his crotch area was proof that he was aroused. Just a minute ago, she was on the bed under him, willing to let him take her and satisfy his hunger, yet he didn't. He choose to deny himself what he wanted and to harm himself, so he doesn't harm her.
Can he be any sweeter?
Cornelia's hands moved steadily to remove the glass as she talked.
"Since I've felt the bond, and I found out about your background, I was only seeing one obstacle after another. If you are just a guy from Damon's pack, it would be easy. If you are a guy from Talia's pack, it would be easier. But instead of making it easy, the forces beyond us decided that we should be soulmates and things became… challenging."
With the last piece of glass out of his hand, Cornelia murmured ancient chants that sounded like a lullaby, and his wounds closed at the rate visible to the naked eye.
After confirming that his wounds were gone, Cornelia spoke again.
"I am the second-ranked witch in the Silver Flame Coven, and you are the smartest person I've ever met. With my power and your mind, we have a lot to work with, and if anyone can make this work, that will be the two of us."
She raised his gaze to see his endlessly blue eyes trained on her.
"What are you saying?", he asked stiffly due to the tension that built within him. His wolf was stirring his emotions and muddling with his mind, urging him to claim mate, but James resisted.
"I am saying", she paused to lick her lips nervously. "We are mates, and we will find a way to be together."
James stared at Cornelia, and she could clearly see emotions washing over him. Disbelief, happiness, doubt, hope.
James waited for her to say more, but that was it. He chided himself. What was he expecting? Just the fact that she said how they should try to be together was progress.
Chapter 688
James pried his hand out of Cornelia's hold.
"Thank you for healing me, Cora." That sharp pain helped a bit, but now that it was gone there was nothing to distract him from the throbbing need in his crotch. "If you don't mind opening the door, I need to put some distance between us." He wanted to get up, but he knew it will be in vain until she removes the silvery restriction.
"Why?", she asked.
"Because staying this close to you is torturous. I don't want to do something you will hate."
Cornelia panicked when she realized that James wanted to leave. She grabbed his hand. "I already said I won't hate you, or the things you do to me."
James stared at her hands holding his, the fantastic sparks of their bond should be the best thing ever, but now they tormented him because he couldn't act on that primal need to claim his mate.
Did she know how much he suffered right at that moment?
Cornelia was right there, nearly naked, for him to see. Her chocolate-colored skin embellished with golden designs, her melodious voice that awakened butterflies in his stomach, her scent of sweet wild berries all around him... it was all perfect to awaken the possessive beast that only wanted to copulate, and her touch made it several folds worse.
James heard Cornelia when she said that she won't hate him and that they should stick together, but maybe it would be better to stay apart if he was not allowed to claim her. He might lose his mate, but at least he will keep his sanity because nothing can be worse than this agony he was enduring.
James swallowed hard and the bobbing of his Adam's apple was accompanied by the tick in his jaw muscles as he pressed his teeth together. He needed to get out of there before he did something that can't be undone.
Cornelia scooted to kneel in front of him and she gently pressed his knees to spread his legs apart further.
James watched her as she hesitated for a moment before reaching for the silvery cloth that was covering his crotch area, and she flicked it to the side to expose his erection.
She stared at his cock. Of course, she knew what that was. She saw many pictures and in the human realm she saw some racy videos (for research purposes, of course), but this was the first time for her to see that organ in person. It was big and slightly intimidating. And she remembered that healthy males grow until the age of twenty-five. Didn't that mean James can grow bigger?
"Cora…", James called in a strained voice, and she knew that it was a warning how she shouldn't play with fire.
Cornelia had no idea what she was doing, but she steeled her resolve to do it anyway. James was an existence branded into her soul and if being close to him will burn her alive, then… so be it. If soulmates can recognize each other naturally, then she only needed to follow her instincts and things will be alright.
"You are not willing to do things to me, out of fear that I will hate you", she said. "So, I will do things to you in order to prove that it's OK."
Her dark brown eyes didn't leave his blue ones as she reached to hold onto his cock that was hot and hard, and she saw the way his chest rolled as he sucked in a breath upon contact.
Just how she saw in movies, Cornelia started pumping his length while wondering if she should squeeze more. Or was this too much? But then... they were mates and if he could feel the sparks, any type of touch will do.
She was uncomfortable because this was new, but she didn't want him to think that she was forcing herself because she wanted to drown in their bond. However, for someone who was always watching her image of a dignified witch who knew what she was doing, Cornelia found it difficult to let go of the control.
Cornelia threw a quick glance at his face and she swallowed hard when she saw him staring at her with intensity like he could see her most hidden thoughts.
Insecurities crept into her mind. The people in the videos she watched were wiggling about and moaning, and James didn't move a muscle. Was she doing this right? What if she was making a total fool of herself? Ah, but she already started and she can't just stop! What to do? She decided to ask...
"Is this OK, Jay?"
"How did you call me?", James asked breathily.
Cornelia realized that this was the first time she addressed him as Jay. The truth was that she came up with it at the same time when he called her Cora. Cornelia thought it went well, Jay and Cora, but she was too shy to say it aloud. Until now.
"Jay. Can I call you like that?"
James' mind was clouded with lust by electric sparks that danced over his cock, but he was aware that she gave him a nickname. No one ever did that. People called him the 'young Alpha', the 'future Alpha', or James, and this was the first time he got a nickname that didn't remind him of a position that didn't belong to him. He liked it.
Cornelia saw him nod in approval of the way she addressed him, so she went back to her first question. "Is this OK?"
It was slow and she was too gentle, and he would prefer if she used her mouth or straddled him, but he didn't want to freak her out. "It's... fine."
Cornelia was not sure if she should believe him. Who says that he is fine with an expression like he was in pain? Shouldn't it be enjoyable?
"Now that your senses are intensified, did your wolf speak to you?"
"Yes", James confirmed, knowing where she was going with this. "He said that you are my mate."
Cornelia smiled. It's not that she was doubting it, especially after the ceremony they just completed, but another confirmation was good to hear.
"Did he say anything else?"
James groaned. "Are you really expecting us to have a conversation now?"
"Maybe?", Cornelia said in a singing voice.
James put his hand over Cornelia's that was holding onto his cock, and she thought that he will remove her hand from there but he leaned to look into her eyes up close.
"You said that you won't hate me, no matter what I do."
"I did say that, yes."
"Can I do anything?" He wanted to make sure.
"We are mates, Jay. You can't harm me, and I can't hate you."
"Good", he said. The nickname Jay sounded foreign and dear to his heart at the same time.
Without delay, James picked up Cornelia and carried her to the bed.
His desire for her exploded during the ceremony at the fountain. Since they came to this room, Cornelia healed his hand, agreed that they should stick together, gave him a nickname, and held onto his cock, and she said that she won't hate him no matter what he did... and he was determined to test the boundaries of that last one.
Chapter 689
Driven by his craving for that skin-to-skin contact where he will feel Cornelia's perky breasts against his chest, James lowered himself, careful to hold most of his weight on his elbows so that he doesn't make her uncomfortable.
The sparks danced over his flesh wherever they touched, and considering the amount of touching surface, he thought that he will come just from this. It was fantastic!
James' hips moved and she gasped when his erection pressed at the cradle of her thighs, two flimsy fabrics didn't provide much padding.
Cornelia dug her fingers in his back and James was never so excited in his life. His mate was right there, under him, pulling him closer while arching her body into his, and it was the best feeling ever!
He wanted to do to her so many things, but in their current situation, it could all be narrowed down to two.
"I want to claim you as mine Cora.", he growled. "I want to mark you."
His lips moved along her jaw, slightly open so that she can feel his teeth.
He nipped on her skin, just below her ear and then he licked her there, and he loved the sensation of her trembling under him; but more than her body accepting him, he needed to hear her say that she was willing.
James lifted his head so that he can see her eyes. "Can I?"
Cornelia opened her mouth to respond, but no sound came because her heart was stuck in her throat. She inhaled forcibly and tried to speak, but again, she was mute.
The pull of their bond was messing with her mind before, and the ceremony made it several folds worse, and now that they were technically naked on the bed, both feeling the bond and accepting each other as soulmates, none of her reasons to hold back seemed important.
Seeing his brows coming together as he searched her face for answers, she nodded fervently.
"Yes.", she forced the word out of her mouth.
"Yes, what?", he asked.
"Yes, mark me, and yes… for the other." Yes, for everything! Why was he making her say all those embarrassing things?
James smiled as he dove to claim her lips in a deep sensual kiss that made her toes curl. He kissed her many times before, but this time it was different. She could feel the anticipation and promises that were hidden behind every move of his tongue.
His hands caressed her body with no reservation. His left hand kneaded her breast, his thumb mischievously flicking her hardened nipple, and his right hand brushed the skin of her stomach, teasing her in circular movements and going slightly lower with each rotation.
With one swift tug, the string around her waist was torn.
Cornelia was dazed from all the kissing, and she opened her eyes when she felt the chill where James used to be. Did he leave the bed again?
No, he was still there. She could feel his hot palms squeezing her thighs.
Cornelia's breath hitched at the sight of James who was sitting on his knees, right between her legs as his heated gaze roamed her body and burned her skin.
His palms were on the inside of her thighs, keeping her legs open for him to see everything.
Cornelia was not used to being so exposed, but somehow, she knew that he truly adored every inch of her body and she let him have that visual treat.
James enjoyed the way her breasts moved as she breathed, those two hard peaks were calling for him louder with every heartbeat, and this time he won't need to hold back.
He admired her curves. Her waist expanded into childbearing hips; lovely legs that were soft and lean, yet not muscular how most of the she-wolves have them. And then there was Cornelia's neatly trimmed pussy that glistened from her juices, and he took a deep breath to inhale her sweet scent of wild berries that was driving him crazy.
That right there was his breaking point, in the middle of lust and madness and knowing that his chocolate-colored Goddess was willing, it was the last straw for him to let go of the brakes.
James crawled back on top of Cornelia and she thought that he will kiss her more, but he stopped advancing when his lips reached her breasts.
Her body arched when he started sucking her nipples harshly, and a surprised gasp escaped her lips when she felt his fingers caressing her clit without any warning.
James growled into her flesh when he felt how wet she was.
His fingers prickled at the point of contact, and he wondered if she could feel those sensational sparks as well, but he kept those questions for later because this was not the time for intellectual conversation.
James had them more than he cared to remember. It was one (sometimes two) per event where such activity was expected.
It was not like they were forcing him into anything, but he was not particularly willing either. He was young and curious, and he let the other party take the lead, to start the process. At that time, he would sit or lay on his back, and women would do most of the work. They thought that he was used to being served, and none of them believed that he was not experienced.
A few parties later, James got plenty of the experience, but his interest dwindled; not because those women were not attractive because they were, and they knew how to please a man. However, James saw the whole act as a way to survive. Most of the future Alphas were enjoying sexual liberties their position allowed them, and James needed to blend into that crowd. He was going through the motions so that his father wouldn't scold him as a non-worthy future Alpha.
Ah, what all he needed to do to create the perfect image of the future Alpha of the Red Moon pack. Well, not perfect... just what his father expected it to be.
There were times when James hated it, he hated himself, but now all that will be put to good use because he was familiar with a woman's body, and right there next to him was a gorgeous, naked, woman's body he wanted to please.
Compared to his previous encounters, intimacy with Cornelia was different.
His body ached for Cornelia. Everything with her was out of this world, but the best part was that she accepted him as her mate. She said that he can claim her and mark her and he was super-nervous at the thought that it was happening.
For Cornelia, it was the first time to be with a man in such an intimate situation, and centuries filled with life experiences didn't prepare her for this tornado of sensations as her every cell came alive.
She tried not to think about the way how James skillfully caressed her body. Considering his age, she thought of him as inexperienced, but his every stroke proved that her assumption was wrong. Or was it just beginner's luck? She didn't believe in coincidences and luck, but before she could think more about it, his finger slipped inside her and curled to hit just the right spot, and her eyes rolled at the back of her head.
Chapter 690
Cornelia had no idea how long it lasted. A minute? Three? Ten?
James was kissing her neck and growled lowly while stroking her down there, she could feel the heat of his body splashing on hers, and the familiar pressure in her core was building at an alarming rate.
Now that they were on the bed like this, Cornelia wondered why she hesitated to indulge in this intimacy so far. Even if James didn't feel the bond fully, he was still attracted to her, and the sensation of his skin on hers was out of this world.
Cornelia touched herself many times before, but it was never this intense, and if this was the introduction to the pleasures to come, Cornelia was eager to welcome her mate with her arms (and legs) open wide.
Her body tensed and James swallowed her scream without stopping the movements of his fingers that caressed her intimate parts relentlessly.
He loved seeing her like that, unrestrained, lost in lust, gasping for air, because of something he did. Was it possible that she became more beautiful?
Cornelia's chest heaved as she blinked to focus her vision only to see James licking a see-through slimy substance that stretched between his fingers. Did that come from her? How embarrassing.
James smiled wickedly. "You are delicious, Cora." He regretted using his fingers instead of his tongue. Next time.
He never went down on a woman before, but he was confident that it will be good for both of them because she tasted of sweet wild berries, his favorite, and he would lick her until she collapses from orgasms.
James went back on top of Cornelia to settle between her legs, and his lips hovered above hers.
"Last chance to stop me, Cora", he said, and he really hoped she won't do it.
Cornelia was touched that he was still giving her a choice and showing her that he cared.
Her hands moved lower on his back, and he felt her thumbs hooking on the string that was around his waist. The cloth hitched to the side, and it was on his hip now, but it was still a symbol to remind them that there were obstructions between them.
With one swift tug from Cornelia, the fabric gave in and both of them were now completely naked.
She looked him in the eyes as her insides trembled from the anticipation of what was to come.
"I love you, James.", she spoke against his lips, and before he answered, she kissed him.
He couldn't respond to her confession without breaking the kiss, and he didn't want to break it. After all, he had the rest of his life to tell her how much he loves her, or even better… he will show her.
Their kisses morphed from sweet and slow into fervent and passionate, but they didn't stop; not when he was grinding against her to spread her juices over his shaft, not when she felt the pressure increasing, and not when her insides stretched to accommodate his length… he swallowed her gasps and moans and inhaled her cries, and they were one.
James groaned when he was all the way inside her. She was tight and hot and all around his cock, and there were mind-blowing sparks, and he wondered if he came already. It was that good.
A surge of energy swelled in his chest, and he broke the kiss abruptly as his head jerked to look at the ceiling.
"AWOOOO!"
His deafening howl shook the windows, and some of the glass panels cracked.
James looked down at the woman under him, to see that her eyes were full of tears. He thought that she was in pain, or maybe his howl disturbed her, but her unfocused gaze was on him, and she was smiling a little.
James kissed Cornelia's tears away and started rocking into her, groaning with every push and silently congratulating himself that he didn't come already.
He loved that her hips moved in the rhythm he set, and her gasps and moans were music to his ears.
That was his chocolate-colored Goddess right there, under him, welcoming him. It was surreal.
They were both delirious as their bond grew stronger, allowing them to sense each other's emotions a bit more with every sway of their bodies.
None of them used any particular technique as they moved on an instinct, an instinct to merge with mate, and James somehow knew exactly where and when to kiss and lick as his fangs itched to come out and mark her.
"Oh, James…", she moaned, and his lust level rose further, urging him to move faster.
Damn, she felt good. This was the best! No wonder newly-mated couples don't come out of seclusion for days. He didn't want this to stop. Ever!
"Fuck, Cora!", he cursed loudly. "You are perfect. You are mine!"
He gripped her hip and started thrusting into her with more urgency, and the outrageous sounds of flesh slapping against flesh filled the room.
James groaned when Cornelia's fingers dug into his back and he felt her insides coiling around his cock in rhythmical pulses, and he knew that was it.
His fangs sank into her flesh, and Cornelia trembled under him as orgasm trashed her insides.
James' unintelligible sounds were muffled in her neck as he filled her with his venom and with his seed at the same time, the pleasure was so overwhelming that he feared he might pass out.
James knew it was done. The marking was complete, and their movements were jerky from the aftershocks of their orgasm, but they were reluctant to stop because they wanted this to go on forever.
The sensation of belonging enveloped two bodies. It was euphoric.
James licked her neck while relishing the fact that he marked his mate. She was his. Irrevocably. It was beyond fantastic.
With this, James confirmed that the stories were right: sex with the mate was the best thing ever. Probably because it was not sex, it was making love, or it would be better to call it making forever since it went beyond physical gratification as two souls merged into one.
James looked at her flushed face and grinned foolishly.
"You are mine", he said.
"Yours", she confirmed.
"Only mine."
She smiled. "There is no one else, Jay. Only you, and it will always be only you."
He liked that. He liked it a lot.
His tongue darted to moisten his lips before he asked, "How are you feeling?"
She hesitated to answer, and he could see her cheeks darkening as she glanced down to the point where their bodies were connected. He was still inside her.
"I am fine."
James chuckled. "I was asking about your neck."
"Oh…" Cornelia thought how she made a fool of herself. Yasmin told her how werewolves were insatiable, and she assumed that James was asking if it was OK to go for the second round. Did he think of her as lewd now? How embarrassing. "My neck is fine also."
"Cora, Cora, Cora…", James chanted. "Do you know how happy I am?"
Her lips lifted into a smile. "Tell me about it."
James' eyes flashed with mischief. "How about I show you?"
His hips moved, and she gasped into his mouth.
She was still sensitive from what they did, but instead of giving her a breather, James was picking up his pace and Cornelia gripped his shoulders because she knew that her mate was aching for her and now that they mated and his venom was coursing through her system, she had no intention of denying him what was his.
Chapter 691
Talia and Damon stood in the fountain and faced each other while holding hands.
The water reached their knees, and neither of them paid attention to the chill that enveloped the lower parts of their legs.
'Are you sure you want to do this?', Damon asked Talia through their private mind-link.
'Yes. You?'
'Absolutely.'
Talia was confused. 'Then… Why did you ask me if I'm sure?'
'Because you are nervous.'
Talia closed her eyes and took a deep breath before responding, 'I am fine now.' Actually, she just closed off her emotions so that Damon couldn't sense them.
Her nerves were acting out because Evanora's request for a break was strange, and then Yasmin sneaked in a spell for James and Cornelia when the ceremony was supposed to be just a blessing, and Talia and Damon had a history of things going wrong… so yes, she was nervous.
What was to say that the witches won't try something shady to control them or imprison them? What if they want to keep Damon as a sex slave? Before her temper flared, Talia pushed away those thoughts. Since when was she so suspicious and paranoid? Yasmin wouldn't allow for any foul play, but… can she trust them?
Talia glanced at Evanora who stood next to the fountain. Yasmin was there, on Evanora's left, and five more witches stood behind the mother-daughter duo, all of them getting ready to start the third ceremony for the evening.
Talia hoped that she didn't misinterpret Evanora's firm gaze and that it meant confidence and not stubbornness or resolve to do something bad.
Next to the seven witches who were assigned to guide this ceremony, Axel was standing with Keith and Cassandra, and many other witches who seemed eager to get close to Keith.
Damon gave Talia's hands a squeeze, reminding her that he was there.
"Eyes on me, kitten."
Talia smiled at the silly Alpha. Was he sulking because she looked at someone else?
Talia's eyes widened in anticipation when Evanora started chanting, and Talia saw the high-priestess making complex signs with her hands. A few seconds later, Yasmin joined in, and then the other witches.
It started!
Talia quickly turned her full attention to Damon because she didn't want to miss a single change in him.
The energies from the fountain will affect them, and Talia wondered if Damon's powers will manifest. Surely, he got an ability after Talia marked him (more than once!). Damon didn't mention his non-existing powers, but Talia saw him pouting while observing members of the Midnight Guardians pack.
With her peripheral vision, Talia could see the silver flames of the fountain dancing wildly, and the fact that Damon's right side was shining brighter told her that the flames increased. She wanted to see what was going on around them, but at the same time, she was unable to look away from her handsome mate.
Damon could disarm her with a look, a smile, a word, a gesture… and even if he stood completely still, his scent was intoxicating. Everything about him was made to get her attention.
Talia wondered if the chants from witches became background noise because something magical was happening, or because Damon overtook her senses (it wouldn't be the first time).
Damon looked at his adorable kitten whose big, honeyed eyes full of love were directed at him and the admiration he saw in there made him feel accomplished like he discovered a planet or conquered an army of immoral enemies. She had the power to stir his soul, and his wolf, and he was ready to follow her anywhere; across the seas, to the edge of the world, or into a fountain in the realm where witches rule.
The truth was that Damon was not eager to go through this ceremony where he would be exposed to magic. His previous experiences taught him that nothing good happens when someone casts a spell on him. But he couldn't deny anything to Talia, not when he was so excited about a thing they were about to do together. This ceremony was important to her, and he didn't want to be the sourpuss. However, he was eager to be done with this and confirm that both Talia and he will end this evening without any unpleasant effects.
The first thing Damon noticed was that Talia's eyes started shimmering in silver, and the golden tattoos on her skin started lighting up, giving Talia an appearance of a Goddess. His Goddess.
Talia inhaled deeply and smiled at the sensation of energy that tickled her toes and climbed up her calves, thighs… making her feel weightless like physical constraints were voided. It was ethereal.
Were the golden designs on her body lighting up? Probably.
She wished for a big mirror so that she can see this awe-inspiring spectacle. She regretted not getting her phone so that someone records this, and she would watch it later. It would be a wonderful memory of her and Damon glowing in the fountain while magic envelops them.
Talia's brows came together when she realized that Damon was not glowing. It was the opposite; his golden tattoos turned darker.
Based on the two previous ceremonies, the silvery light was supposed to envelop both of them, yet the only light she saw on Damon was the one reflecting from her.
Yasmin's voice grew weaker as she watched the unexpected scene that everyone else was seeing.
The flames of the fountain increased, and the light reflected on the surface of the water, and it started traveling toward Talia and Damon… and then things took a turn no one could predict.
As the silvery ripples reached the couple that stood in the water, they all converged toward Talia, and Damon stood in the dark water.
No, he didn't stand in the darkness, he was the darkness like the light refused to go to him. Yasmin knew a lot about blessing rituals and she never heard anything like this.
Yasmin felt a smack on her shoulder, and she looked there to see Evanora glaring at her. Evanora's hands didn't stop moving.
Yasmin snapped to her senses. She had no idea what was going on, but stopping the ceremony halfway was never good. She needed to finish this. Besides, all chants and hand symbols were for energies to bless the couple, and that can't be bad.
As the ceremony progressed, Talia's body started glowing.
So far, light from Amelia and Liam, and Cornelia and James, morphed to create a blinding sphere, yet with Talia and Damon, only Talia was glowing while Damon was like a manifestation of darkness that swallowed Talia's light, making them appear like he was holding hands with a half-sphere.
"What is going on?", Keith asked no one in particular. He was clueless about magic, but he could feel the witches stirring with anxiety and that told him that something was wrong.
Axel was also there, looking at Yasmin with concern obvious on his face, and Axel's muscles tensed like he was about to rush in there and stop the ceremony. But Evanora was pale again and Yasmin was serious and that told him how it was important to continue.
Chapter 692
The chants from witches were intensifying as the ceremony proceeded and it lasted longer than the previous two, yet it showed no signs of stopping.
Keith's anxiety shoot through the roof when he saw Damon standing in front of a half-sphere of light; the light was cut off abruptly before it reached Damon like an invisible shield that didn't allow Damon to be affected by Talia's brilliance.
The scene reminded Keith of a transparent ball with a divider halfway; one half was filled with a shiny substance, while the other one was left empty.
What made this more unusual was that the light from Talia didn't spill on Damon at all, and it actually stopped in thin air, like there is an obstacle between them. Damon's golden markings were now completely black, a stark contrast to Talia who became the light.
Keith panicked. Was Talia alright? The silvery light was so much stronger than what Keith saw during the previous two ceremonies. What if Talia was suffering in there? Why was no one helping!?
Witches stirred with amazement as Talia's light output increased. It was blinding.
Witches spent a lot of time communicating with nature and researching spells, and they never saw anything like it!
How could Talia channel the energies of the fountain to such a degree? Wasn't she a she-wolf? Even if Talia was from the Midnight Guardians pack, what was happening right there transcended what was possible no matter how much in tune with nature Talia was.
Since the fountain regained its flames, the witches performed numerous rituals there, and Evanora led most of them, but the high-priestess couldn't stimulate forces of nature to perform such a magnificent display of might. Witches were confident that they were witnessing something monumental. Was Talia secretly a witch and their next high-priestess?
And what was going on with Damon? All creatures would embrace the energies of nature, and even if he couldn't use the excess, it would go through him, yet Damon stood there, untouched by the visible energy that was stirring around him. It made witches curious and wary because that was not normal.
The scene was strange and captivating, but Keith couldn't immerse himself in the view because he worried about how this will end.
With no one explaining what was going on, Keith's mind started producing various scenarios, one worse than the other.
This was beyond just Damon being hurt. What if Talia gets hurt also? What will happen to Keith if Talia gets harmed (again!) on his watch? What if both Damon and Talia end up harmed beyond fixing? How was Keith supposed to return to the Dark Howlers pack? And what will happen to the pack without its Alphas?
Keith saw Cassandra looking at the fountain with excitement and reality hit him.
For the last two days, Keith spent most of the time with Cassandra, Calla, and other healers from the Midnight Guardians pack. He was comfortable with them because they didn't look like they were thinking of eating him up, and Keith forgot that Cassandra was the one who nearly killed Damon. Also, because of Cassandra Damon couldn't feel his mate bond and Talia suffered humiliation. Did Cassandra do something again?
The more Keith thought about this, the more he realized that Cassandra's crimes were grave.
"This is because of you!", Keith shouted at the Oracle. "Your dark magic affected my Alpha and who knows what will happen next?"
Cassandra shook her head fervently. "No, no. The dark magic from his body is gone.", she was speaking desperately in front of Keith's fury, but even she was not convinced in her words. The truth was that the ritual which dispelled the dark magic was way beyond Cassandra's level, but she heard witches saying how Cornelia reported that the ritual was successful and that Damon's energies were clean.
Talia was high on the energy that poured into her like it had no intention to stop.
She could feel every cell of her body and see every crack on the stones that formed the edge of the fountain, and then there were people, animals, heartbeats, and the tiniest movements… it was all like under a magnifying glass for her to see. The gentle sensation was calming, soothing, welcoming... like the whole world was hers and she could end it with a thought, and mortal creatures would gladly accept any fate she chose for them.
The omnipotence was intoxicating and it stirred Talia to get lost in that power, but Talia had no intention of looking further than the man in front of her.
She focused on Damon, and she would think that he was gone if she was not holding onto his hands.
No matter how much she focused on the space in front of her, there was nothing. Like he was not there.
'Damon?', she called through their private mind link. 'Damon!?', this call came with more urgency when he didn't respond.
Talia wanted to move but her body refused to obey her command. It was like her consciousness spilled outside the confinement of her fleshy vessel, and it gave her the ability to be aware of everything in the universe, everything except for the one man she wanted to see.
Why was only a blob of impenetrable darkness where Damon was supposed to be?
'He is there', Liseli spoke in Talia's mind. 'I can feel the bond. Mate didn't leave.'
That didn't pacify Talia because she wanted to see him and confirm that things were fine. The fear of losing him, or him forgetting about her was real and… This was supposed to be a blessing ceremony, where did it go wrong?
Talia cursed internally. This was about Damon and her and she should have known that something will go wrong.
Talia groaned as she fought mightily to regain her senses. She was confident that she was holding his hands, so he was definitely there, but what if he was suffering? A horrid image flashed in her mind, what if only his hands were there!?
'Liseli, help me!', Talia shouted in her mind.
'First, you need to calm down', Liseli responded. Talia was a mess and it affected Liseli as well.
'OK. OK. I am calm.', Talia said.
'You are not. Take a moment or two. When you are ready, you need to push.'
Talia was confused. What the heck was that supposed to mean? 'What should I push?'
'The energy that seeped into you from the fountain. Keep what you need and push the rest away. Your current state is because of extra energy. Get rid of it and you will be back to normal.'
'How do I do that?', Talia asked, her voice much calmer now.
'Feel the energies around you, pull them inwardly, in the pit of your stomach, and then blast it away.', Liseli explained, and then she started guiding Talia, 'That's it. You are doing good. A bit more… more… almost…'
The atmosphere around the fountain was tense.
Axel and Keith were close to snapping as their eyes darted from the chanting witches to the oddly half-glowing couple in the fountain.
Evanora was pale as a sheet of paper, and the five witches behind her were sweating as well. The only one looking fine was Yasmin, but her facial features were arranged in a frown of concern.
