Author’s Note:
I had so much fun bringing this to you! Let’s be real, I couldn’t leave these two alone for a second. I kept coming back to them over and over. I asked readers if they wanted to see the epilogue from Julius’s POV. Of course, we both agreed. Yes. A thousand times: Yes. So, here it is!
Spoiler Alert: This is part of a full 10-chapter novella that has been noodling around in my noggin for a while that I have yet to write (so many projects!).
Here’s the premise: Julius, as Mid-Prince, needs to seek permission from his father to marry. Permission, he’s not likely to get. If his father finds out about his mate, it could mean his death. And hers too.
_____________
Julius
The sun was warm against his back.
Stepping back into the human realm gave him an odd sense of belonging. He’d been waiting for this day and the closer he’d gotten to Erica, the more his body hummed. For the first time in weeks, he and his vampire were completely in sync. As though he knew exactly who he was again.
Julius Craul, brother, businessman, and soon, mate.
As soon as he’d crossed portal lines and came within distance of a cellphone tower, his phone beeped with a string of text messages from Erica.
I know you won’t get this until you get back. Just thinking of you.
Love you.
Miss you.
He missed her too, passionately. The messages kept coming, little thoughtful notes, until the last one pinged.
Welcome home. I can’t wait to see you.
Those few words turned the corners of his lips upward and a wave of relief settled his shoulders back.
The two-hour flight it took to get from the portal to Erica was painful, and the drive was longer. He’d practically ripped Evan’s throat out for not driving fast enough to get to the apartment building she used as her art studio. He was still a bit early, but every moment away felt as though his heart had been torn from his chest. And every step closer, made him feel more whole.
“Alright Lover Boy, we’re here,” Evan painstakingly put the car into park.
Julius couldn’t find it in him to respond. Instead, he jetted inside the building, not bothering to run at a human’s pace. He took the stairs three at a time. He needed to get to her. Her scent brightened the halls as soon as he reached her floor, gaining in strength the closer he got to her front door.
He knocked.
He hadn’t seen her in weeks, but listening to her feet crossing her studio had his stomach tied up in anticipation.
Behind the door, a shadow eclipsed the peep hole, followed by a muffled shout of gleeful surprise. His vampire danced to the sound of her excitement as she tore the door open and jumped into his arms. Gods, she felt good.
“You’re early!”
“I’m back,” he said in relief, trying to keep his grateful smile contained. He’d fretted over this moment since leaving her side. He’d thought maybe she wouldn’t want him anymore once he’d left. But her matching enthusiasm, made him realize the gods had showed him favor.
He’d finally had someone who wanted him for him. Not the crown he wore on his head or the titles that came after his name. Erica loved him.
Her lips touched his, sending his vampire into an appreciative frenzy. By the gods, he missed her.
“That’s seventy-three. I haven’t lost count.”
He smiled. He’d wagered her one hundred kisses and she was making good on her side of the bargain. He returned a delicate kiss even though every bit of him wanted to do a lot more.
“Seventy-four,” he said.
“You even smell the same.” Erica burrowed her face in his neck and breathed deeply. “I missed you so much.”
“I’ve been dying without you.” And even more so now that her soft curves were brushing up against him. His cock jumped in his pants.
“You don’t look it,” she smiled with relief as if grateful he wasn’t actually dying, then turned to the kitchen. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
“No, I ate on the plane and fed in the car.” He lied. There was no way he could eat or drink knowing what was to come. He was too excited. But maybe she was hungry. Perhaps she’d been waiting for him so they make take an afternoon meal together. He hoped not. His vampire ached to claim her again. “I hope you’re not hungry because I’ve been, what did you call it, jonesing for you since I left.”
“Well, I could go for something,” she teased, her hazel eyes flashing with mischief.
“Please say sex. I don’t think I can hold my vampire back any longer.”
“For sex or for bonding?”
“Both.”
“You’re ready to bond with me?”
Of course, he was. Was she?
“I’m ready for it all.”
She flossed her fingers in his hair and pulled him down for another kiss. “I’m ready too.”
“There’s no going back,” he warned. If she had any reservations at all, they could wait. Nothing would change how he felt about her. He didn’t want to rush her into anything she wasn’t one hundred percent comfortable with.
“I don’t want to,” she assured him.
“Things will change. You’ll be able to read my mind.”
“I’m pretty sure I know half of what’s in that dirty mind of yours already.”
“Ouch,” he chuckled, then poked at the spot on her ribs that made her laugh. “I thought you missed me.”
“Stop it.” She giggled and swatted him playfully. “You know I did. I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Home. I like that.” No, he loved it. He’d have home with her in any way she wanted, but he needed to make sure she wanted to be mated with him. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Absolutely.” There was no hesitation, then the expression on her face dimmed. “Julius, if you want to wait…”
“No!” He rushed out before she had the chance to change her mind. “There’s no more waiting for me. I’ve been waiting an entire lifetime for this.”
Her face softened. “Okay, now how do we do it again?”
“First, we share blood,” he explained. It was becoming much more difficult to think being so close to the one thing all vampires dreamed of. Finding one’s mate was not common, some vampires lived their entire lives never experiencing the privilege of joining their life force with another, yet he was moments away and his mate had a look of disgust on her face at the prospect of sharing blood.
“It won’t be bad,” he assured her. “Try it.”
His fangs dropped down. He pricked his finger and offered it to her, his heart puttered in his rib cage. This was it.
Hesitantly, she glided her tongue over his finger. If it were possible, he became harder at the feeling of her soft flesh on him. Even in this innocuous situation, it reminded him of her lips all over his naked body. He needed to focus. He watched her fervently, wondering how she’d take it. Her hazel eyes flickered from right to left as she tasted his blood.
“It’s not bad,” she said after giving it some thought.
Good. Another part of him relaxed. Now, for the real thing. He bit his wrist to get a good flow of blood and held it out. She took it without hesitation. Her lips suckled his offering, the way she had when she’d last had his cock in her mouth. By the gods, she was going to be his undoing.
Then, her lips stopped moving.
“Is that it?” She asked, peering up at him curiously when his wound closed and he didn’t go for another bite.
His breath caught. She was beautiful like this, her lips slightly stained from his blood, her eyes warm and filled with adoration and love.
“A taste is all we need.”
“Your turn,” she breathed, taking a step closer, encouraging him to take the next step in their bonding cycle.
He lifted her chin, then kissed her several times. “Eighty.”
Then, he tilted her head to one side and sunk his fangs into her neck and pulled just a small amount of blood from her. When he finished, he pulled back and left a gentle kiss behind.
“Eighty-one. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
It only took a moment for him to begin to see the visions. His memories flickered to life, weaving together the story of their love. If it went as it was supposed to, she’d see them too. Their need for each other would grow into something more carnal. Their spiritual bond would need to be affirmed by a physical one. Then, as their bond grew, they would begin to see into each other’s minds, have access to each other’s thoughts and emotions.
Erica’s small hand reached up to a point past his head. She was beginning to see the visions. It was working. Another part of him, one he hadn’t realized was still tense, relaxed.
“Do you see them too?” He asked.
“What are they?”
“My memories,” he smiled and looked up with her.
“Will we see mine?”
“Eventually,” he turned to face her. As soon as their eyes connected, he felt the next phase take form. It was as if his body was being teleported and lit ablaze from the inside. The mating bond raced through him, starting where her hands touched his shoulder and down through his heart. Every inch of him heated and an overwhelming need to be inside her grew. His vampire begged to take hold and give her pleasure until they passed out.
“Do you feel that yet?” He asked softly, unable to do more under the weight of the bond’s power. In response, her fingers trembled, and something inside of him knew she’d felt the same pull of the bond.
“Now, what do we do again?” Her voice shook as the delirium of their mate bond weaved its way through them.
They needed to affirm their bond, and affirm it over and over until it was finished with its work. Yet, his explanation was sparse.
“We need to close the bond.” He could smell her arousal intensify.
“How?”
She knew exactly how. She felt it. The bond led them both to the same calling.
They needed to drown in a sea of their mating until they desperately had to come up for air. With her this close, with her scent driving his vampire insane, the heat of their bond called for him to put his cock in her. He managed two words.
“We fuck.” The words were hoarse and thick, but not brutal. It was the confirmation she needed. Her dainty hands tugged his shirt from his pants, then went for his belt buckle.
He tore at her clothes, making short work of her leggings and painting frock with splatters of oranges and dusty pinks across it. When her hands met his bare skin, a bolt of pleasure, stronger than a lightning rod, struck him.
The images circling around them exploded when the palms of her hands caressed him. Fuck, he was going to make release before they had the chance to start. He needed his first release to be inside her. That’s what the bond was calling him to do. He grabbed her wrists and turned her around so her fingers gripped the back of the couch instead of sending him over the edge.
“Ready?” He asked, watching his release pool at the tip of his cock. He needed to be inside her now.
A nod was all he needed. She gasped when his being collapsed into hers. She was tight. Tighter than he’d remembered. Warmer, and wetter. A single pleasure-filled groan sung to him as her body accepted him deep.
“I’ll never get used to that,” she moaned. Her head dropped and hung there. He wouldn’t either. The pleasure erupting from the place where they met was so acute, it was almost painful.
“By the gods, I missed this.”
She arched her back when their hips met again. She moaned and pushed back against him, she needed more, coaxing his vampire to the surface. His eyes pooled and his fangs sharpened. Fuck, he wanted to bite her again. Take in a taste of her blood as he pulled from her, but his vampire was only in tune with her whimpers.
Almost as if sensing his vampire had been unleashed, Erica’s legs shifted, widening and planting themselves firmly, ready for him to plunge back into her. His vampire was up for the challenge.
He grabbed her hips and pulled her back onto him as he pushed into her. As soon as he was completely inside of her, everything started to collapse around him. The images he’d seen earlier scattered into chaos. Her moans amplified and his world spun as they raced to the edge.
Frick, if we keep this up, I’m going to pass out. Her words passed through his mind. His vampire openly growled his agreement. Yet, there was still one last thing the bond needed: a declaration of eternal love.
“Tell me you’re mine.” His lips moved on their own accord, reveling in the pleasure washing over him like a waterfall.
“I’m yours. Always yours,” she whimpered.
Fuck, he couldn’t hold on anymore. Not with her squeezing him, sucking him deeper into her. It was almost too much to bear. The pleasure in it sent a blinding light across his eyes and at the center of it was Erica’s body clamping down on him, her cries of pleasure spilling from her perfect pink lips. Her legs shook, her back arched and her body released. He came a moment later, letting his essence spill inside of her.
In that moment, everything became aligned. Like they were meant for this single purpose. Him loving on her and she on him. Everything became in tune. The sudden synchronicity of it caused his vision to blur like a drummed rubber band. Their breathing, their touches, even the rhythm of their hearts thudded in sync, beating as one. Together, they went into equilibrium, into stillness—into wholeness. Their bond took hold, latching into place.
“I’m yours.” She repeated breathlessly. Her thighs quivered and her body shook around his cock. He came again.
“I love when you say that,” he finally pulled out of her, completely spent. Another rush of pleasure quaked through his body as he settled back onto her sofa, pulling her with him.
“S-say it back,” she demanded between breaths.
“I’m yours, Erica,” his vampire relinquished. He’d thought the exquisite feeling of being inside of her was overwhelming. It meant nothing standing up against his words of declaration in their mate bond. He was hers. In every way possible. She held him, his heart, and now his soul. The swirling images of their pasts and their present formed into a tight circle as she rested her head on his chest.
“Say it again.”
By the gods, he loved this woman. His woman. His mate.
He engulfed her small frame next to his. She was so soft against him. He put his nose in her hair and inhaled her honeysuckle scent before giving her a gentle kiss.
“I’m all yours,” he said, basking in the light of their bond. “Forever.”
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