Saving Verakko: The Clecanian Series Book 3 by Victoria Aveline (books to read for teens TXT) 📕

“I had to kill him. He would’ve hurt you.” Verakko retreated a step again.

“I don’t care about that!” Lily’s hands flashed out, her small fists slamming into his chest in a loud thump. “You were going to leave me!” she snapped.

Verakko stepped back again, lost. “I would never leave you,” he argued, searching his mind to understand what she was talking about.

Her gaze grew fiery, enraged, and she pounded on his chest again. Pushing him farther back and against the door. “You were going to let him take you!” Tears streamed out from her furious eyes, and her scent of fear intensified.

Verakko’s heart thudded out of control in his chest. This fear is for me?

She slapped his shoulder hard, stinging his skin.

“Stop it, Lily,” he warned.

“He would’ve killed you!” She slapped again. “Or worse!”

He rattled another warning, then when she began to pound repeatedly on his chest, he snatched her wrists and spun her around, pressing her back into the smooth metal door and bracing her hands above her head. “Stop! Calm down!” he boomed, trying and failing to sway.

Lily stopped struggling and gazed up at him, face etched with anger. Her breath came and went in shallow gasps, her chest rising and falling in time with his. “You were going to let him take you away.” Her voice broke.

He inhaled deeply and bent so his gaze was level with hers. “You have to know I would’ve come back.”

“Your eyes were black. I don’t know how, but you were hurt in some way. And you were going to let him take you. What if you couldn’t get free?”

“I would’ve found a…a way to…” Verakko’s words stuttered out as her words finally registered. “My eyes?” The world around him slammed to a halt, the thunderous pounding in his chest freezing as though even his heart feared he’d misheard her.

I recognized her? She’s mine.

He peered down at her, his dry throat working soundlessly.

Her brows drew together. Then, without warning, she leaned toward him as far as she could with her hands still pinned above her and kissed him.

All thought fled. His mate was in his arms, safe, and she was kissing him. He released her wrists and ran his hands over her slippery body as though he’d never get another chance. Her hands flew to remove the scrap of fabric at her chest, then down to his pants. He palmed her breasts roughly as she fumbled with the fastenings on his pants. He groaned at the touch of her tongue to his and felt rare antivenom fork an icy path through the roof of his mouth, filling his fangs.

He slipped his hands beneath the loose fabric of her wet, thin pants, and they slid to the floor. Then, he palmed her ass, pulling her in close. Not close enough.

Lily slid a chilled palm onto the overheated length of his cock and whimpered sweetly into his mouth. He released her lips with a groan and descended on her neck, nipping and licking his way along the sensitive skin while she ran her hand up and down his shaft and scraped her nails across his scalp.

The scent of her arousal hung heavy in the air, driving him wild. He slipped his hands along the underside of her thighs, then gripped her ass, lifting her up and crushing her between his chest and the cool door. Lifting her higher, he sucked and swirled her dusky nipple until it pebbled.

Lily arched her back toward him and moaned softly as she dug her nails into his shoulder in the most delightful way. He lowered her again and touched her mouth with his, marveling at the sensations the new act created. Kissing felt more intimate than anything else he’d ever done, and he couldn’t imagine sharing it with anyone else.

She panted his name in between wet kisses and wrapped her legs around his waist, rolling her hips and gliding her slick folds against him. Anchoring herself with one arm around his neck, she reached between their bodies, pressed tightly together, and gripped his shaft.

Lily jostled him with her hips, trying to put a little space between them, but he remained unmoving. He pulled his head back and stared into her eyes. Using his body weight to pin her in place, he placed his palms on either side of her face.

Her cheeks, forehead, and the top of her nose were all flushed. Long, shaky breaths were sucked in between her red lips, swollen from his kisses. She rocked her hips against him again. Whenever the small nub at her entrance slid across the head of his shaft, she let out a little gasp.

It was becoming harder and harder to hold himself back.

“Are you sure?” he croaked in a husky voice, looking deeply into her gold-flecked eyes. “If we start, I’m not going to be able to hold back. I’ll have all of you tonight.” He let his eyes drift to her neck so she knew what he meant. “In all ways.”

Her brows furrowed, and she nibbled her lip.

He waited, his breath trapped in his throat, for her response. Finally, she gave a small nod.

“Yes?” he growled, his cock pulsing white hot in anticipation.

“Yes,” she said breathlessly. Her hand snaked between them again. He eased his hips back but kept his eyes locked on hers. One of his hands cupped the base of her skull firmly while his thumb rested under her ear, holding her head in place. The other slid under her ass, hiking her higher up his body.

When the head of his shaft was lined up with her entrance, pushing lightly, Lily panted and ran her hand back up his body slowly before stopping to grip his shoulder.

Verakko pushed into her only a little; electricity seemed to crackle along every nerve. They both let out