58 - Satisfaction Personified

Fraser

The night wears on and the moon builds my power as I feast on the blood of unsuspecting prey. A chill hangs heavy in the air, but I don't mind as long as I'm next to the lass that sets my body warmer than ever.

The feeling is unlike any other, sneaking around from town to town with my mate's hand in mind. We slip into alleys and behind trees, and I send her on her way. She uses her feminine wiles to lure away drunken fools. Some male, some female, all loose and more than willing to listen to an innocent lass as she guides them to me.

Then, as soon as they're within arms length, I pounce. I drink to my hearts content, letting it flood me with strength.

After the humans stagger off, I allow my sweet little mate to feast from me. It's satisfaction personified to provide for her.

It's thrilling to work together. Her sweetness and skill at wrapping people around her finger paired with my strength and knowledge of hunting makes the best combination.

Every second spent with her is my new favorite moment. Between each feeding I cannot seem to keep my hands off of her.

She smiles against my lips each time, both our mouths tasting of blood. I sometime sink lower, taking a brief drink from her neck because I can't resist. The other blood pales in comparison to the ambrosia of her taste. It's not even a close race.

My heart seems to swell to triple its size.

Not only is my body alive at her presence, but my heart warms with each expression, each passing glance.

In the short months I've come to know Ailsa, I have never seen her as happy as she is tonight.

She simply beams with it, like poisonous rays of sunlight that could blind or burn, so potent and yet so beautiful in its power.

Pride makes my chest nearly to bursting. My mate. Ailsa survived it all. Not completely unscathed, but the fact that she is so strong makes me question how the Moon Goddess would think I am worthy of someone so admirable.

So it's on this night that I firmly decide to never take her for granted. I will always strive to be worthy of her. Protect her. Love her. Her life has been hell, and I have eternity to make up for that.

After hours of fun, running through the hills and feasting until we're overly full, I pull her into my arms like a bride and carry her all the way to my home. Our home.

When I built the house years ago, I never thought I'd share it with a mate. It was something that seemed so far off, like I had all the time in the world before I found the other half of my soul.

I'm so glad that I was wrong.

"Am I your bride this night, Fraser?" She asks as I carry her over the threshold, and I chuckle, throwing her over my shoulder and shutting the door loudly.

"Only if you wish it, my love." I say teasingly. Ailsa smacks at my back as I round to the stairs, taking them two at a time as she thumps against me. "But, I must admit, it's closer to dawn now."

I duck under a beam before heading to our bedroom. That door is soon shut too, and my mate is splayed across my covers.

I prowl closer, and she shrinks into the pillows, her face warming to a kissable pink.

"You look like you belong there." I say, and she frowns, blonde browns bunching.

She can lie all she wants, but I could smell how much she wants me from down the road.

"Of course you would say that." Ailsa sniffs, and I narrow my eyes as I climb onto the mattress.

"And why is that?"

Her expression isn't amused.

"Because you're a man."

I laugh again, so close now that I'm hearing down on her. I shake my head as I press my body into hers, pushing her back into the blankets below.

She pulls her bottom lip into her mouth, whether to suppress a moan or stop a smile, I don't know. Her gaze is fixed on the ceiling, and I have to grab her chin to get her to look at me.

"I'm no man, Ailsa. I'm much worse."

She tries to shake her head against my grip, but I hope tighter.

"No. You're not. As far as I am concerned, you are better in every way." She sighs, and I see clouds descend on her gaze, blocking her light from me. "Men I've known have only hurt me, or let me down in horrible ways."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..." I hang my head slightly.

"I'm the one who brought it up." She murmurs, cupping my face in her hands like I'm some precious thing. Only Ailsa could make me feel so important and good.

"Yes, but this is supposed to be a safe place for you. A home where no fear or anguish can touch you ever again. I shouldn't let the conversation turn to those...those..." I search for a word, and finally decide on "monsters." Because it seems the most fitting.

Ailsa presses a kiss to my cheek, then one to my nose, my brow, each of my knuckles, and the en my lips.

I groan, letting the kiss deepen as my eyes close and my tongue delves shallowly into her mouth for a taste of heaven before she pulls away again.

Our faces are so close our noses touch and our breath mingles.

"I love you for trying, but you can never ensure that. I trust you to keep me safe, but my past, my experiences, they will stay with me forever." She says on a whisper.

"I wish I could take it all away." I whisper back, pain coloring every word.

It's not fair. It's not fair that she had to go through what she has. It's not fair to happen to anyone, but especially not her.

"I know. But I don't. Because it all led me to you, to this." She gestures around the room. "This life. This happiness. I wouldn't trade anything for it. I would live through all of it again if I knew I could have this. Have you. So don't poison the now with the past, because I'm enjoying myself too much to dwell on that journey."

She shakes her head, blond hair tousling.

"I've never been happier. I can't imagine being happier, Fraser."

I stare down at her, mulling over her words and the wisdom in them.

I feel an unexpected grin split my face.

"How did you come to be so smart? I'm the old one here."

She giggles as I tickle her side, shoving at my chest.

"I don't know! Stop!" Ailsa laughs, and I do, but only so that I can kiss her some more.

I trail kisses down her neck, and realizing she's wearing too much clothing.

I make direct eye contact, a question in my gaze. One nod is all it takes for me to start undoing her laces and buttons that keep her glorious body hidden from my eyes.

My hands slide against her alien skin, and my breath catches in my throat. I've never felt anything so perfect.

She's pale, nearly white as the clouds.

"You need more sun." I joke, and she looks stunned for a moment before her face softens.

I realize my mistake.

"You don't have to be afraid, darling. There is nothing to be ashamed of here. Not your body, and certainly not the things that you feel. It's all natural and perfectly normal. Well..." I pause, staring down at her chest and her smooth stomach that is softly rounded, her thighs that touch together at the top. "I wouldn't say normal. You're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen."

Although I don't have anything to compare it to. Besides paintings, I've never seen a woman in the nude. I know I don't have to. They would never measure up, because my mate is perfect to me in every way.

"What if.. what if I displease you?" She murmurs, and I see real fear looking back at me when I finally glance up at her face.

"You could never. This is all your decision, my wee mate. I would be more than happy to go to sleep now and pretend this didn't happen if that is what you wished. Can't you see? As long as I am near you, I am pleased."

Her lips quirk as she thinks, her arms automatically shifting to cover some of her nakedness.

I don't want to push the subject much, but I have to be honest.

"My main concern is your pleasure. If I can make you feel good then I will be well and satisfied."

"It... feels good?" She wonders, and her innocence gives me pause.

The humans truly fail their daughters. Ailsa was set to be married and knows nothing of the body.

I breathe out slowly, letting my anger escape before speaking again.

"Yes. You enjoy kissing, yes? It makes you feel good?" I ask, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

She nods exuberantly, which makes me smile.

"Imagine that, but quite a bit more. A lot more. Beyond your imagination." I promise, and that changes things.

Soon she's grabbing me and kissing me, and I can't contain my laughter at her enthusiasm.

My clothes come off too, and I show her how good she can feel.

When it's over, she's splayed across my chest, cheeks and chest pink and eyes bright. She stares up at me longingly.

Her hand is on my stomach, moving and searching and I grab it so that I can press a kiss to her palm.

"What are you thinking about?" I have to ask.

Her smile is small, thoughtful.

"I was thinking I needed to amend my earlier statement."

I bark a laugh.

"Which one would that be?"

"I was wrong about not being able to be happier."

Epilogue is next 😭

I hate to say goodbye to this book, but the next one is my favorite in the series, so I guess I can't be that upset; right?