Azura rocked on top of him, her bones immediately weakening. She felt Onyx nip her neck slightly as he spilled inside her, letting out a rumbly growl on the nape of her neck.
“Damn, Azura,” he snarled.
Azura began laughing with her lover still inside of her. They moved together like the waves against the shore, and she realized that love was a kind of madness.
The best kind there ever was.
They both panted and groaned as their climaxes came down, eventually plopping onto the bed and laying side by side. Azura was staring up at the ceiling again, loving her newfound ability to stay present with Onyx by her side.
“Magic,” Onyx muttered.
She looked at him, still smiling.
“What was that, love?”
“You’re magic,” he said. “The fact that we met, that I found my mate, that you love me back, it's magic.”
He was laying on his side, his thick muscles trembling. It was a sight to behold, and Azura couldn’t believe she was going to be able to make love to this man for the rest of her life.
She rolled onto her side and propped her head on her hand. She still felt the sweat trickling down her body and made a mental note that they needed to change the sheets before leaving.
“Tell me about that,” she murmured back.
Onyx was looking dozy, a man dizzily in love. He looked off behind her, speaking to himself more so than anyone else.
“Not every shifter finds their mate, and even if they do, their mate doesn’t always love them back. Especially ones from Earth. I was so afraid that you wouldn't love me, so afraid.”
Azura snuck closer to her beloved and then used one finger to trace along the ridges of his chest muscles.
“You don’t have to worry about that anymore, love,” she said, her voice sultry and tempting. “You have me now, and I have you.”
Onyx’s eyes became glassy, which gave Azura a big lump in her own throat.
“You’re right,” he said quietly.
They kissed tenderly and lay in bed for almost an hour, talking about lighter and sweeter things.
Azura decided they should head back to Nova Aurora and get their lives set up. Plus, there was a wedding to organize.
They changed the sheets, showered, and Onyx called their driver back. As they waited outside on the newly installed garden bench, Azura looked at the house.
She didn’t regret deciding to live in Nova Aurora. She knew there was a time for grieving, and that was an entire lifetime ordeal. She also knew there was a time to move forward with that pain, learning to live with it in your pocket rather than attached to your ankles.
Onyx took her hand as the car arrived. Azura knew she would be back to help host events and deal with the business end of things. But she also knew that it would be the last time she thought of it as her home.
Her gaze lingered, and she took a deep breath.
Thank you, Mom and Dad. You gave me the sweetest of dreams. Now it is time to chase some new ones.