She closed her eyes, but the golden light surrounded her even now as she arched desperately.
His lips rested against her throat as she clung to him for dear life. It felt as if she was hanging above an abyss, held just by a thin thread...
And then he slid into her again, heat flared, and the thread snapped.
Dimly, she could hear herself cry out as light streamed through her. Wave after wave of ecstasy filled her as her body pulsed around him.
She could hear him groaning her name, his own body tensing as he came.
But she didn’t fall. She was floating, drifting on
wave after wave of pleasure. She was soaring—soaring with her griffin, surrounded by light, held safely in his arms, their bodies still joined.
He didn’t slide out of her until long minutes later, when their breathing had at last calmed down again.
Even now, when he moved to his side so he wouldn’t crush her, he carefully kept an arm wrapped around her. With a pleased sigh, she snuggled into his embrace, loving the way the firm, masculine planes of his body felt against hers.
She still hadn’t heard from her aunt. Maybe her dad had told her not to talk to Chiara—but she couldn’t believe that.
Her dad had been worried for her, that’s why he’d stopped talking to her. He’d never drag Auntie Mary into this.
And even if he tried to, she wouldn’t have allowed it.
Thoughtfully, Chiara trailed her fingers across Jared’s chest.
“What are you thinking about?” he murmured sleepily, moving his own hand to cover hers.
She smiled helplessly when he entwined their fingers. Beneath her hand, she could feel his heart beating. The strong thuds were reassuring. It was a melody that told her that everything was going to be all right.
That there were still things she badly needed to fix—but that she’d have Jared by her side. Always.
“I’m thinking about my dad.” She gave him a wry smile. “Sorry. Not the best bedroom talk, I know.”
He tugged up their entwined hands, then brushed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “Hey, if there’s someone who understands what it means to have lost your parents, it’s me.”
She felt her smile widen and leaned forward, brushing her lips against his. “I’m so, so happy for you.”
With a content sound, he wrapped his arms around her again, holding her tightly.
“Call your aunt again in the morning,” he said firmly. “And if she still doesn’t answer, we’re going to fly out there. Surely that’s what wings are for.”
“What about your own parents? We can’t just abandon them. You’ve only just found them!”
“They’re not going anywhere.” His fingers gently rubbed her nape, his touch warm and reassuring. “I mean it. We’ll fix this tomorrow. You deserve to have your own life back.”
She settled into his embrace, barely able to suppress a yawn.
“Okay,” she murmured, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. “But I don’t want my old life back. Just my dad. I’ve already got the best life I can imagine...”
He said something in response she couldn’t make out, sleep tugging at her with irresistible hands. But his voice was warm and soft, and through the mate bond, she could feel his love for her, steady and strong like the sun itself.
Everything will be all right, she thought as she fell asleep, a smile on her face. It had to be.
***
“Damn it, why isn’t she answering her phone?” Chiara glared at her own phone in frustration.
They’d slept in—she’d needed the sleep after all the excitement of the past days. Jared had prepared breakfast in his generous kitchen with the wide glass doors, which led out onto a patio that overlooked the small town nestled into the mountain valley.