Fates Entwined

36

"That's amazing!" Ayla said while Kaden looked less pleased. "I'll have to loan you the Sun Witch tome I have. Once you're ready, of course. Oh, this is so exciting. Do you think Griffin has magic too?"

"We're not sure yet," Jordan said.

"The Sun Witches must be thrilled to know that the curse is broken," Ayla said.

"But it means Roxandra will be even more relentless in pursuing Jordan," I said.

"Do you need us to stay and help?" Kaden asked.

"I appreciate the offer, but we're fine," Jordan said.

Kaden nodded. "If you change your mind, let us know. We can send some warriors to help patrol. Although we've had our own disappearance too."

"What do you mean?" I asked, suddenly worried.

"An older Moon Witch named Maricar has gone missing from Coronis," Kaden said. “We’re not sure if she went exploring and got lost, or if someone took her, but we can’t find her. We’ve sent some people to see if they can pick up her trail, but so far we've found nothing."

“Oh no,” I said, a bit of panic rising up in my chest at the thought of a Moon Witch wandering around alone. They'd all been living in Lunatera so long that they didn't understand the modern world, and sometimes they got confused easily. “I hope she comes back soon, and that she’s okay. Larkin must be so upset.”

"She is," Ayla said with a sigh. "But we'll keep looking for her."

They continued to update me on other things happening in Coronis, and while I missed everyone a lot, I found myself not as homesick as I expected. My village kept going without me there, and it was clear I was needed more here right now.

As Ayla talked, I watched as Jordan popped a cherry in his mouth, stem and all. He held my gaze, looking smug, and I wondered what he was doing now. When he opened his mouth, the cherry was gone and the stem was tied into a knot.

"Show off," I mouthed to him. I knew all too well how good he was with his tongue. I squeezed my legs together, heat pooling between them again.

When I looked up, Kaden was looking at me, eyebrows raised. “Unbelievable,” he muttered and shook his head. Jordan looked at him, the perfect picture of innocence like he didn’t know what Kaden was talking about.

"On that note, I think it's time we got going," Ayla said, rising to her feet. “We just wanted to check on you, but it seems like you're doing fine. Better than fine, even."

"Thanks for dinner," Kaden said grudgingly as he followed Ayla to the door. "Stella, do you want to stay here, or come back with us to Coronis?"

“I’m going to stay here,” I said. There was still work to do with the Leo pack, and the thought of leaving Jordan didn’t sit right in my chest either.

Kaden’s eyebrows shot up on his forehead, while Ayla looked pleased and Jordan looked surprised. "If that's what you want," Kaden finally said. I could tell it would take him a while to get used to the idea of me being with Jordan, but he was trying.

“I’ll walk you both out,” I said. Jordan said goodbye, giving Ayla a quick hug, and then I walked Ayla and Kaden outside.

Ayla pulled me into a hug. “I’m happy for both of you,” she whispered, squeezing me tight.

When she stepped back, Kaden stood with his hands in his pockets. He grunted and avoided looking at me in the eye. “Be careful."

I hugged him. “I will. You both stay safe too, okay?”

“We will,” Ayla said. She gave us a wave, and then she and Kaden vanished as she teleported them away.

When I returned inside, Jordan was cleaning up in the kitchen. I moved to help him, but he caught my wrist in his hand, spinning me to face him.

"What does this mean?” he asked. “That you’re staying.”

I remembered the way he'd said he loved me without any hesitation and swallowed. “It means I’m willing to see where this thing between us goes."

He grinned and arched an eyebrow. "And where would you like it to go right now?"

"I have an idea." I ran my hand down his shirt and paused, right above the waistband of his jeans. I wasn’t ready to go all the way, not when it might bring the mate bond back. But I could do something else. “I have to find some way to thank you for what you did earlier, after all."

"You don't need to thank me," he said. "But I'm not going to stop you either."

I dragged him out to the plush rug in the living room and removed his shirt, slower this time. Then Jordan let out a breath as I dropped to my knees in front of him, keeping eye contact as I slid my hands across his stomach.

“f**k, Stella,” he said, his voice a little strained. “You look so good. I never imagined I’d have you on your knees like this.”

I unbuttoned his jeans and tugged them down, then his boxer briefs went with them. When his c**k sprung free, I ran my hand over it. It was big and hard, and I felt a thrill shoot through me, knowing he was turned on because of me.

Jordan groaned and threw his head back, eyes closing. I stroked him slowly, teasingly. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, and I could tell he was trying to be patient.

"Is this okay?" I asked.

"Don't stop," he said, his voice rough and full of need. "Please."

"Since you asked so nicely," I teased, before licking him from base to tip. He moaned, and his body jerked at the sensation.

I took him into my mouth and slid down his length, swirling my tongue around him. He wrapped his fingers in my hair and pulled slightly. I let him guide me deeper until the head of his c**k hit the back of my throat.