Dorian cocks his head to one side and runs a hand through his already disheveled after-sex hair. Geez, if he gets any hotter, I’ll spontaneously combust!
“Right here,” he says pointing to the spot below his thumb, right before the back of his hand meets his palm. “That way, whenever our fingers are intertwined, our anchors will be side by side. Forever anchored to the other.”
I break into an amorous smile and nod, offering my right hand. I can hardly wait to wear Dorian’s mark, to literally have him engraved in me forever. He takes my hand and kisses every knuckle sweetly. Then in an inconceivably swift movement, he’s sitting upright, still holding my hand with his left. He holds up his right index finger and suddenly it is alight with electric blue flames. I am instantly captivated by it, unable to look away. Dorian’s magic completely enthralls me.
“Be still, little girl. It won’t hurt much but it may be a little jolting,” he says.
“Have you done this before?” I ask meekly.
Dorian cocks his head to one side before shaking his head, a sexy grin playing at his lips. “No. I have never wanted to mark anyone. Just like you are the first I have ever linked my life to. These acts are incredibly rare for my kind.”
A frown creeps onto my face. “Why?” I sit up as well, my long waves dangling at my breasts.
“We don’t love easily. You can imagine how difficult it is for us to commit our lives to merely one person, to give and love unselfishly. I never thought I could, honestly. I never had any interest in that level of commitment. But then I found you…” he trails off, lost in his own memory. “You have permanently altered me. Two and a half centuries and it takes a twenty year old girl to change my life.” He shakes his head, smiling disbelievingly.
His words, so earnest and heartfelt, spark the intrusion of doubt unexpectedly. If I were just an ordinary girl, not an immortal magical being, not expected to be the most powerful force ever created, would he still want me? Would he love me if I were human? Are we only anchored by our love? Is it actually me, Gabriella, that he desires, or is it the Dark Light?
Dorian reads the anxiety on my face and his brow furrows. “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to,” he mutters.
I try to mask my unease with a smile and nod. “No, I’m ready. Mark me, baby,” I wink.
Amused by my playful banter, Dorian brings my hand up, turning it gently to the side. I hold my breath as he carefully lowers his ignited finger to my creamy skin. It initially shocks me and I struggle to maintain my composure. It doesn’t hurt yet it isn’t exactly pleasant either. It is…jolting, like he said. The sensation can only be best described as burning cold.
Dorian concentrates on making even, level strokes with his finger against my skin. His touch leaves behind visible bluish ink etched deeply into my flesh. When he is finished a mere few seconds later, a small dark blue anchor no larger than a quarter rests on my right hand. It’s simple, beautiful and profound. Perfect.
“Do you like it?” Dorian asks, almost timidly. I finish assessing my new piece of artwork before launching myself into his arms and joining his mouth with mine. It’s virtually painless and I let both my hands roam his hard bare back and shoulders passionately. Dorian cups the soft flesh of my backside in response and I instantly feel his manhood awaken.
I pull away, smiling brightly at my beautiful lover. “I love it. And thank you for letting me spend your birthday with you.”
After Dorian has marked his own hand, he joins it with my right, intertwining our fingers. Our twin anchors are identical in every way and I am overjoyed at the prospect of carrying a piece of Dorian with me for the rest of my life, though he has shown that he is dreadfully opposed to more conventional shows of commitment. I frown at the memory.
“What’s wrong?” he asks me, noting the aggravation on my face. Shit, I really need to learn to control my emotions. I shake my head, not wanting to ruin the moment, or his birthday. My trivial girl worries will have to wait.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be shy. You know I’ll find out one way or another.”
Again I just shake my head, not wanting to delve into the murkiness in my mind. Live in the moment, Gabs.
Dorian reaches out and strokes my cheek gently. “Please, little girl. Tell me,” he whispers.
The sentiment and yearning in his voice catches me off guard and I look up at him, startled. So much emotion that I can’t even begin to comprehend washes over him. What happened to keeping things light and casual? His intensity is staggering.
I take a deep breath and look down at my hands, resting on my naked thighs. “When I mentioned marriage, you looked like you were horrified, disgusted at the idea. I’m not saying that’s what I want. I’ve never even put much thought into it. But it just kinda caught me off guard, how upset you looked. Like you could never imagine marrying someone like me.”