slaughter everyone.” “Why are you telling me this, Tristan?” I asked. A feeling of dread washes over me. He’s in the Kixions?! “Because you will only be spared if you are my mate. And I cannot bare to imagine living in a world without you in it. Even though you’ve killed many of my friends today.” My heart melts as Tristan places his hand against my dirty cheek. I feel a tingle begin in my toes and start to creep up my legs. His hair is shaggy and hangs in front of his eyes and I instinctively brush it away and tuck it behind his ear. The stubble on his cheeks feels nice against my hand and I let my palm linger on his face. Even the most simple of interaction feels magical with him. Meant to be, even. A silly concept that I never believed in until this very moment. He leans forward and closes the tiny gap between us until I feel his moist lips against mine. I can practically feel a gush of emotion erupting from him and entering into me as we become one with each other. He is warm and making me hotter, as I feel a single drip of sweat rolling down my spine. His fingertips caress my neck and run across my shoulder and his tongue swirls around in my mouth. It feels like we are anywhere in the world but here on this day of the Famine Festival in the Honor Woods. He is gorgeous and we are beautiful together. His hands follow the outline of my body and rest against my hips and he pulls me against him. I reach down and unsnap my belt, allowing my weapons and security to fall to the earth beneath us. How could weapons be important when I have such a strong protector in front of me? I squeeze his triceps and continue to kiss him while pushing my hips against his. I feel a stiffening in his pants and he thrusts himself against me with an animalistic presence. For a moment he pulls away from me and stares in my eyes. The deepness of his yellow eyes with dark amber flecks of color are mesmerizing and utterly enchanting. I smile shyly at him and he grins back. “My name is Bianca.” I realize that he still didn’t know my name and I have at least some standards. “That’s the most beautiful name for a glorious girl.” Tristan’s eyes run up and down my body. “I’m sure you clean up nice,” he says with a knowing smile. I immediately feel embarrassed. I am dirty, sweaty, and smeared with blood. My black tank top is ripped, stretched, and smells terrible. Luckily, Tristan doesn’t think I need a shirt at all. He dives in and his mouth begins kissing and sucking on my neck gently, causing vibrations of pleasure to rush throughout me. He nibbles gently in all the right places, waiting momentarily to give my exposed collarbones extra attention. He then lifts my shirt over my head and exposes my dark gray bra. I notice a voracious hunger in his face when his tongue runs down my chest and his hands cup my breasts. I moan softly, worried that others might hear and come running. I run my fingers through his course hair while he kisses the top of my breasts. Tristan then unhooks the clasp and allows my breasts to fall free, the cold air perking my nipples up instantly. He bends his neck forward and pulls one of my nipples into his mouth while his other hand gently pinches and squeezes upon my other exposed nipple. I arch my back and feel a wave of pleasure between my legs, stronger and more intense than the feeling I had in bed the other night. We stand in the center of this clearing, the only people who matter in the world. The most unlikely couple that feels so right. I tear off his t-shirt and run my hands down his chest. His breathing becomes more shallow as he unbuckles his belt and unzips his pants. Before he can step out of them, I drop down to my knees on the forest floor and look up at him. From down here, he’s even larger than life. He takes my head in his hand and guides it toward the bulge in his pants and I pull his jeans down to his ankles. I let my mouth rest firmly on the top of his boxer briefs