"Look at me."
She shook her head.
"Ellie, my love, look at me."
Defiantly, she looked up at him. Someday, he would leave. Someday, he would realize he was stuck with an embarrassment, and that day would destroy her. But when she looked into his eyes, she saw something she had never seen before.
It was almost as if she could see herself through his eyes. The love she saw there promised that it would never hurt her, never leave. When she saw herself through his eyes, she saw something wondrous.
"You are so pure and exquisite that I am afraid to touch you." When his hand reached up to cup her cheek, it trembled slightly. "Will you give me what I want most? What I crave?"
"What?"
"A home. Can I find my place in this world in you?" Grant placed his hand over her heart. "Will you let me live here and never leave?" She nodded; she couldn't speak.
"Eleanor Kimball, will you do me the honor of becoming my mate? Will you give me permission to claim and defend my home?"
"Yes, Grant Douglas, whatever I am, however you see me, I am yours. I will be your solace, your warmth, and your home," she promised.
Though he smiled, two hot tears fell from his eyes to her cheeks. Leaning his weight to one side, he slipped his hand between them and guided his pulsing cock into her. Slowly, he slid in and out of her, never looking away. It didn't take him long to build his pace until he was thrusting as deep as he could.
She held on to his biceps and took what he offered. He was branding her as his from the inside out. She flexed her hips downward, changing his angle, and he let out a harsh cry. He looked down at her his eyes wild. "My Ellie!"
He lost all control and buried his face in her neck. "Never. I'm never letting you go!" With a savage howl, he thrust into her as far as her body would allow as his canines bit into her shoulder. She rode the wave of pain into an explosion of pleasure.
"Grant!" She tilted her head back, arching her body.
He pulled away, and she felt warmth begin to grow over her heart. They both watched as two mists lifted from their bodies and swirled together. They seemed to dance playfully before merging. They flickered once, then twice before separating to become two pieces.
When the mist settled into her chest, she felt a sense of belonging. Never again would she face the world alone. Even if Grant wasn't at her side, he would forever be in her soul.
He carefully pulled out of her body and collapsed to his side. He reached out his hand and rested it on her belly. She recognized the gesture for what it was, his need to constantly be touching her.
She rolled until she could snuggle under his arm. Chuckling, he pulled her close.
"Can we stay here forever?" she asked, knowing that eventually they would have to return to the real world.
"We can stay here for as long as you like," he vowed.
She knew that if they didn't have the children to tend to, he would keep that promise. He would let everything else in the world descend into chaos as long as he could be with her like this.
Soon, they would have to get ready to return to their reality, but for now, she was content to lie in the grass, in her love's arms, and stare up at the stars.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ellie looked in the mirror and realized where the term afterglow came from. She looked amazing. Her skin was flushed and held a healthy sheen. For the first time in her life, her hair cooperated without her breaking down or offering up sacrifices to the gods. After discovering how Grant saw her, she felt comfortable in her skin for the first time in her life.
When she looked in the mirror, his words echoed in her mind instead of the hateful words of her own self-doubt. She turned a bit, almost as if daring her subconscious to find something wrong, but she couldn't. Every time her mind started to focus on her curves, all she could remember was the way Grant's hands had trembled as he touched her. He made her feel like a siren. She took a deep breath and nodded at her own reflection.
Grinning, she added a bit of lipstick and opened the bathroom door. Grant looked more relaxed than she had ever seen him, which wasn't long, but after their claiming the tightness around his eyes was gone. He sat in the chair and a half, his feet propped up on the ottoman, eyes closed.
She cleared her throat, and he opened his eyes. "Damn baby, you look amazing." He frowned. "Do the others need to see you looking like that?"
Ellie laughed. She was slowly beginning to see herself through his eyes. "This old thing?" She twirled in her black wrap dress. She knew it hugged her curves, and the plunging neckline played up one of her best features: her cleavage.
"Maybe you could change into a burlap sack." He nodded. "Yes, a shapeless sack so that no one else can see your perfection but me."
"I'd be worried if I thought you were serious." She held out a necklace. "Can you put this on me?"