Page 68 of Dark Princess: Shadows

Marina was still riding the high of her climax, and when he removed her blindfold, her eyes remained closed.

"Open your eyes, beautiful," he commanded.

She smiled lazily before lifting her eyelids. "Kiss me."

"Gladly." He positioned himself between her legs and kissed her as he pushed inside of her, going only a third of the way and letting her adjust.

Except, his little minx was impatient, and she lifted her bottom, urging him to surge in all the way.

"Mother above." Marina spread her legs wider to accommodate more of him.

"Perfection," he murmured as he looked at her.

Even after all the time they had been together, the sight of her still took his breath away—the blue hair that was spread across the pillow, framing her beautiful face, the blissful expression, the red lips, swollen from kisses—but it wasn't just her physical perfection that enthralled him. It was the light that seemed to radiate from within her.

Marina had no idea how extraordinary she was, how her smile could brighten even his darkest days, how her laugh made his heavy heart feel buoyant. The look of complete trust in her eyes humbled him.

Suddenly wanting her hands on him, Peter reached over Marina's head and released her wrists from their bindings.

"I'm so lucky," he murmured when she wrapped her arms around him.

"So am I." She lifted her head and captured his lips in a kiss before letting her head drop back.

He gazed into her eyes. "You're everything to me, my mate."

The word 'mate' still filled him with wonder. The Fates had chosen perfectly when they'd brought this remarkable woman into his life. She matched him so well.

"I love you," she whispered.

Those three words never failed to fill him with joy. He remembered a time when he'd dreamt of this kind of connection but thought he would never have it.

Marina had changed everything.

In just over a week, she would be his wife, and the thought made his chest tight with emotion. He would spend eternity showing her just how precious she was to him, protecting her, cherishing her, and loving her in all the ways she deserved.

Eternity.

They didn't have it.

But they might have longer than they'd thought possible if Bridget's hunch was right and his venom would prolong Marina's life.

"My beautiful Marina," he breathed against her lips. "My miracle."

As he claimed her mouth, Peter thanked the Fates for bringing them together. He might be immortal, but it wasn't until Marina entered his life that he truly began to live.

As he kept gently rocking his hips, enjoying the connection and not in a rush to bring this moment to an end, Marina cupped her breasts and then gently stroked her swollen nipples.

"Peter," she murmured. "I want more."

He pushed his hands under her bottom and squeezed her butt cheeks hard. "So bossy."

She smiled. "You can punish me for my bossiness later."

"Oh, I will." He pushed all the way in, retracted, and then surged inside of her again. Soon, he was pounding into her just like she wanted him to.

As her climax shook her body, his own reached critical velocity, and he gripped the top of her head, tilting it to the side and licking his favorite spot.

Marina's lips parted as she waited for the strike, not in fear but in panting anticipation, and as he sank his fangs into the smooth column of her neck, she screamed and climaxed again.