Free Forged in Darkfire: An Amber Lee Novella (Amber Lee Mysteries Book 5) by Katerina Martinez Page B

around his back, and then he was inside her again. Only this time their eyes were locked, and Damien found himself falling into those deep, brown pools.
    Together they swayed, moaned, and groaned. Natalie’s hands explored the ridges of his lean muscles, her breasts rocked with the motions of their bodies, and Damien, at the last moment, closed the gap between their lips for one last deep kiss. One kiss before it was over, before the Magick took hold, before they bound themselves to each other for life in one single act.
    “Damien,” Natalie sang between kisses, “Please, please, Damien.”
    When she tightened her fingers around a clump of his hair Damien spilled himself inside her. Natalie’s body tensed at the sensation and she groaned into his mouth. A few rapid pulses, an instant and a lifetime of bliss, and he was spent—it was done; but Damien’s body continued to shake until long after.
    He couldn’t remember how long it was until they had separated; only that they eventually had, and now the sun was up.
    His body still tingled all over from what had just happened. Damien didn’t much care that he had just lost his virginity; despite being a big moment in his life, this wasn’t the important part. The important part was that Natalie was lying next to him, naked and with her arm around his chest, sleeping soundly and not unconscious and in the grips of some evil force.
    There was a knock at the door, and then Lily pushed it open a head’s length. The shades were drawn in the bedroom, but judging by the light peeking through the gaps Lily’s head wasn’t blocking, the day was definitely in full bloom. Realizing, suddenly, that he and Natalie were naked, he bolted out of bed, dashed toward the door, and placed his weight against it.
    “Morning,” Lily whispered through the door.
    “What time is it?” Damien asked.
    “A little after three.”
    “Three? Jesus.”
    “How is she?”
    “Asleep.”
    Lily nodded. “I’ll make you guys something to eat,” she said, “Come out when you want.”
    Natalie started to stir when Lily closed the door and left. Damien headed back toward the bed and she curled up to him, wrapping her arms firmly around his waist. He kissed her on the top of her head and, almost in response, she sighed deeply and kissed him on the shoulder, then on his chest, and finally his neck. Her fingertips sailed up the ridges of his abdomen and chest to find his face and pull it toward her lips.
    A jolt of electricity snapped between them as they touched; only he didn’t recoil. The sensation drew him to her, and the warmth that followed sent him warm feelings of comfort and happiness. Her mouth opened to his again and he found her tongue with his own, flicking the tip at first and then pushing deeper.
    Hungry again.
    Seconds, and Natalie was on top of him again. He was inside her again. And they were rocking again. He had bound himself to her; he knew from the vibrations in the Currents. There was only one now, where before there had been two. From now on their souls were one. Their bodies were one. Giving a part of himself to her had saved her life, but he knew their journey together would not be an easy one.
    They would be drawn together forever. Their souls and bodies would sing to each other, bound regardless of their feelings. Could he love her? He had tried so hard to keep her at arm’s length to protect himself, his Coven, and her. If he didn’t love her, even a little bit, the Magick may not have worked; at least that’s what he thought. And if he didn’t love her now he could learn to love her, this Witch of honey and cinnamon.
    Whatever happened now, the Magick had been set and their bond had been forged.
    Forged in Dark Fire.

I don’t know about you, but…
    Damien may have been a dick in Book 2, but when he told me this story I fell in love with him all over again. I mean, he didn’t love Natalie at the start. Maybe he did, at some point, but what relationship is final?