Who: Shayna Mae and Knox When: Late evening, Sunday, December 31st Where: The woods near home, then indoors Warning: turns NSFW Status: complete
Despite the chaos that had come with the fog, Shayna Mae was feeling fairly optimistic about the New Year. She could still feel the ripples of darkness permeate throughout Point Pleasant, but it wasn’t as acute as it had been in the past week. This told Shayna Mae that the fog was truly gone, with whatever had traveled with it - but the danger wasn’t over yet. In any case, while Shayna Mae liked to keep her finger on the pulse of the town, she also didn’t hesitate to remain somewhat optimistic and start the new year off properly. She wasn’t strong enough to protect everybody, but she could, and would, protect her own, including her home.
Welcoming the new year with a renewal ritual was one of her most favorite things to do. It never failed to bring her closer to nature, and to the magic that still lived in the soil beneath her feet. It did something to the magic running through her veins that Shayna Mae didn’t think the other witches in town got to experience, unless they were out here as well, in the middle of the woods with markings painted in blood covering their naked bodies.
Knox was with her tonight, because he always seemed to boost her abilities when he was around. Shayna Mae kept them warm in the circle and she already had a small bowl of blood she had obtained earlier in the day. She knew that a lot of people considered blood magic to be dark, or evil, but it was all in the intent. And Shayna Mae’s intent was to strengthen the protection around her home, and her family.
With everything in place, she offered the bowl of blood to Knox before shimmying out of the robe she wore outside earlier. She didn’t need very many markings on her body, but Knox would know what to do and where they went. It wasn’t the first time he had helped her with this, and she doubted it would be the last - assuming the entire town didn’t get swallowed up in darkness by the end of the year.
“We’ll probably hear the fireworks at midnight from the marina,” Shayna Mae mused. “Might be able to see them too, if we move a bit further out of the woods.”
Knox liked rituals. He enjoyed it anytime the O’Reillys used magic around him, of course, enhancing and facilitating their work was his whole purpose for being. But there was something soothing about the structured rituals, the ones with steps and build-up and so many years of history behind them. Maybe it was because the rest of his existence was so loose and free-wheeling, Knox didn’t know. All he knew was that whenever one of his charges really got going and the magic was flowing freely and building to a crescendo? He tingled all over with euphoria.
It didn’t hurt that some of them required the practitioner to be sky-clad. That was just icing on the cake. Knox himself was covered enough for a beach -- not that they were anywhere near one -- with a soft deerskin loincloth tied around his waist, something he’d made literal ages ago. He liked to be as close to naked as the witch was comfortable with when he got involved in things like this, and Shayna Mae hadn’t complained for the past few years they’d done this on New Year’s Eve. It was a powerful night of renewal, and Knox’s skin was already prickling as he accepted the bowl of blood from Shayna Mae.
Carefully, he started to paint the symbols onto her body with his fingers, treating the act with the reverence it deserved. She was stunning, a goddess in flesh, but Knox stayed focused. Her comment made his lips twitch upward a bit. “We can move to see them when we’re done if you’d like,” he offered, glancing up at her eyes. Knox was all hers for the night, more than happy to do whatever she wanted.
Shayna Mae held still while Knox painted her, watching his fingers move over her skin. Everything felt a bit tingly in the best way, but that was just a normal reaction of her body whenever Knox was near. It was like her magic hummed in his presence and it was a sensation she was used to by now. Smiling at his suggestion, Shayna Mae nodded. "That would be nice. "It may be cold, but the fireworks from the pier always look amazing from here. I should have asked Aidan and Max if they had any plans." At least for after this particular ritual. Aidan might have joined in if she asked him to, but Shayna Mae had always preferred doing this on her own... with Knox's help, of course. And who knew what her brothers were up to from day to day. Max might not have been feeling up to doing much of anything for all she knew, but she still felt the need to make sure he was okay. Her lips twitched as she studied Knox. "I'm not taking you away from anything fun, am I? I always feel like I'm hogging you on New Year's Eve."
Knox saved the symbol that went between Shayna Mae’s breasts for last, using his pinkie finger to get the details of it as clear as possible. As ready as he was for this ritual to get underway, part of him wanted to pull her in close against him, feel her bare skin against his own and touch the parts of her that were still off-limits to him. Knox was used to suppressing those desires though, and he flashed her a warm smile before he licked the last of Shayna Mae’s blood off of his fingertips. “They’re doin’ fine on their own,” he assured her. It was currently true, even if Knox was generally worried about what had happened to Max. He set that aside, then chuckled and shook his head. “Nowhere else I’d rather be, promise.” Human holidays didn’t mean much to him beyond what they meant to his people. Knox still planned to get drunk later, but this was his priority for the night. “Are you ready? You look like a goddess.”
Shayna Mae felt her entire being tingling, not only from the magic and blood, but from Knox being near. And she knew he was right about her brothers. They would be fine. If nothing else, they could take care of themselves, and she had a feeling they would find something entertaining to do that night. "I'm ready," she told him, smiling at the compliment. She certainly felt like a goddess. There were others who would probably disagree, given she was naked in the middle of winter with blood symbols drawn on her body. But that didn't matter. She stepped back to the center of the circle. Shayna Mae had already placed the flowers and herbs needed, some of which she had picked from her garden that morning. The night air crackled with power that most of Point Pleasant would never feel, and Shayna Mae did her best to ignore the underlying darkness of it all. This was about rebirth and renewal, and she didn't want to let the bad things in.
She closed her eyes and lifted her face up toward the sky, her arms outstretched. Almost immediately she could feel her body warm and it felt like thousands of flowers were growing and wrapping themselves around her. Blossoming in the dead of winter. Shayna Mae began to bless the land around her, where her family had lived for centuries. They might have been on what some called the "outskirts" of town, but Shayna Mae preferred it that way. It was easier to protect themselves, and their home, from whatever evil gripped Point Pleasant on any given day. Shayna Mae was lost in the way the ritual made her feel, floaty and unencumbered. So when the first flash of red, hot and painful, cut into the misty white of her mind, Shayna Mae jolted. There were eyes, dark and penetrating, watching her. Her chest seized and Shayna Mae opened her eyes to find Knox, a shaky breath huffing past her lips. "Did you feel that?"
Goddesses weren’t always sultry or matronly beings -- sometimes they were vengeful and covered in blood. Shayna Mae had the latter down, at least. Blood was life, and that was what this ritual was all about anyway. A renewal and rededication to life in the coming year. In spite of the cold and the snow, it was all around them, in the trees and sleeping plants and the animals that always roamed no matter the time of year. The earth was always alive, no matter what it looked like on the surface. Knox positioned himself at the southern point of the circle and closed his eyes, listening to Shayna Mae and feeling the magic that bloomed around her. He amplified it without trying, as was his nature, putting that special oomph behind it that he couldn’t really explain. The warmth enveloped him as it rolled through the circle and beyond.
It stung when the flow was abruptly cut off, and Knox’s own heart jumped in alarm. A feeling of foreboding and threat washed over him. His eyes snapped open and his shoulders tensed as he looked around them for some external danger. He moved in closer to Shayna Mae by instinct. “Yes,” he said, low and grumbly. “What was it?” Knox couldn’t tell, only that it was malevolent ... but it was an oddly familiar flavor of malevolence.
It was frustrating, the feeling Shayna Mae had. She had been so immersed in nature, her magic and even Knox and it had been so abruptly interrupted. Not only interrupted but interrupted by something gleefully dark. She took a deeper breath, thankful for Knox's presence. "I don't know," she admitted, her gaze scanning the trees in front of her. "No one is here. But it was like something had pierced into my consciousness to stop the magic. Or just frighten me, I can't tell." And then the image of Lyttle Hill seemed to flash in her mind, only it was from centuries ago, with nooses hanging from the trees. Shayna Mae's stomach churned uneasily and she turned her gaze to Knox, concern evident in her expression. "I think that thing we've been feeling, that ominous discomfort? I don't think it was the fog. I think something, or someone, is here to cause trouble for us."
Knox could sense a layer of mischief mixed into the alien presence as well, but it was a dark, dark sort of mischief. Shayna Mae’s words seemed to sum it up perfectly -- there was something there to cause trouble. Not just for them, it felt bigger than that. For everyone. There was nothing to see out in the woods, Knox couldn’t sense any physical manifestation and the animals were peaceful and quiet. It was just a feeling. He put his arm around Shayna Mae’s shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I think you’re right,” he murmured with regret. They’d felt badness coming, and the fog didn’t seem to be the end of it. “But we’ll weather it, just like every other storm.” Knox kissed her blonde head. “Do you want to finish?”
Shayna Mae was grateful for Knox's optimism because she had never had another entity interrupt her magic before. At least not in the sense that it had been able to get into her mind and startle her. That was the mark of something extremely powerful. Her arm slid around Knox and she rested her head against him for a moment before reluctantly shaking her head. "No, if it's still around, I feel like it would taint the whole purpose of the ritual." She looked down at the ground, frowning at the sight of the flowers that she had placed around the circle. They were all dead, shriveled and black. "It looks like it already has. We should get our things and head back to the house. We can always do a more simple, candle ritual inside. It won't be as potent, but it's better than nothing. And then we can come back out for the fireworks." There, she could pretend like she hadn't been shaken by whatever had just joined them, even for a brief moment.
He noticed the flowers for the first time when Shayna Mae looked at them, and Knox found himself agreeing that it was time to pack it in. The ritual was important, something Shayna Mae and her predecessors had been doing for centuries, but it wasn’t worth risking something awful happening. As far as Knox could remember, this sort of thing had never happened before. “Sounds right,” Knox murmured, already thinking maybe they would have to watch the fireworks from the roof. The ground didn’t feel good at the moment. He kissed the side of Shayna Mae’s head and pulled away to start picking up their supplies so they could take it inside. It felt off-kilter and Wrong, but it was what had to be done for the moment.
A part of Shayna Mae didn't want to stop. She wanted to continue the ritual in defiance of whatever entity might be watching. But she also knew how magic could go awry and she couldn't risk accidentally botching it because she was feeling stubborn. In a way, she felt like the entity, whatever it was, had made a mistake making itself known to her, and to Knox. Because Shayna Mae could look into what it could possibly be, or who. And she could reach out to the other witches as well to warn them. She helped Knox gather up the supplies, frowning the entire time. "Maybe we should ward the property again, with something stronger. I don't know if that thing just tapped into my mind, or was nearby when they did it. I hate feeling frustrated like this. Like someone is able to sabotage anything I might try to do."
The last thing they needed as a family was to court more danger. There was a reason they lived out in the woods and kept to themselves. Isolation was safer. It hadn’t protected Max from getting hurt by one of the otherworldly creatures in the fog, but he seemed to be recovering all right, and all of them were keeping an eye on him. This though ... this had felt malevolent. Definitely not something to trifle with, not when they didn’t know what it was. Knox glanced over at Shayna Mae as he finished picking up supplies, leaving it to her to dispel the circle so they could go back inside. “I don’t sense anything out there,” he said doubtfully. That wasn’t very reassuring; it took power to reach out magically over distances. “But I think more wards would be a good idea. Talked to Aidan about it earlier today, even. I was gonna wait ‘til after this to mention it. Let’s get you inside and I’ll do a quick fly-around to check the property.”
Shayna Mae picked up her robe from the ground, feeling out of sorts and mildly grumpy that her ritual had been interrupted. Now it felt as though she was stuck in limbo somehow, wanting to finish the magic but also afraid of what could happen. She definitely needed to reach out to a couple other witches in town. Maybe Caius D'Onofrio, as they had seemed to have a civil conversation the night of Zania's party. He was from a powerful family, so he might know more about whatever this was. "I'm frustrated," she admitted as she followed Knox back towards the house. "And... restless. Being in the middle of a ritual like that... I know we can finish it, but it feels off now. I want to lash out at whoever interrupted me, but... obviously I can't."
Knox gave a sympathetic nod. He wasn’t a witch himself, but no being liked to be interrupted when they were doing something, especially not so abruptly and by something with such a dark aura. “Patience, patience,” he murmured to her, free hand on her back as they walked up the steps to the door. “Something just revealed itself, maybe we can find out what it is and do something about it. Or at least guard against it next time.” Knox wasn't quite sure how they would do that, but they would find a way. In the meantime they would strengthen the wards around their place and hopefully keep it from happening again. The house felt almost too warm once they were in and shut the door, and Knox rolled his shoulders, giving an uneasy look behind them. “Set up again if you wish, I’m going to do a check, be back as quick as I can.”
Shayna Mae nodded, shivering lightly despite the warmth of the house. While Knox checked the perimeter of the house, Shayna Mae made some space in the living room to set down her supplies. It wouldn't be as good as it was outside, and she would probably be distracted, but this was better than nothing. Hopefully neither of her brothers came home during, because while Knox obviously didn't mind seeing her naked form, she doubted her brothers wanted to have that image burned into their brains. Shayna Mae lit some candles before closing her eyes to tap into her magic again, reaching out to the earth just to see how it felt. There was no darkness there, no lingering fear. Whatever had come outside seemed to be gone. But she would still wait for Knox to make sure.
Knox had stepped back outside and was shifted into an owl before he finished walking the length of the porch. He took to the frigid air on soft wings, getting some height above the trees and looking at everything with keen eyes. As always when he was an animal -- especially a bird -- Knox felt that glorious freedom soar through his heart, like he could just fly and fly and fly in any direction. It was just muted tonight, as he was on a mission. He circled the property three times, seeing nothing below in the trees but animals going about their business. No men, no bad witch circles, he could feel that his warning wards were still intact, there was nothing. It made him think this intrusion had come from far-off. Since he’d promised Shayna Mae he would be quick, he veered back toward the house and landed on the porch, giving a hop or two before he had human feet again to walk him inside. Knox came into the house looking a bit windswept, his face serious. “I didn’t find anything,” he told Shayna Mae once he found her in the living room. He wasn't sure if that was good or bad news, really.
Normally Shayna Mae would have been pleasantly distracted by Knox's look, but she was too curious about what he might have seen. And she was relieved, and maybe slightly disappointed, that there hadn't been anything. On one hand, obviously it was good that nothing dark was hanging around their home. But Shayna Mae would have preferred to have something to tell them what had been going on. So she sighed and nodded. "I didn't really expect you to find anything. I don't feel anything off right now either, so whatever it was, I think it's gone." She glanced around at the candles and herbs and frowned. "I think we should be okay if we do this here. I don't know that it will have the same power as being outside, but... I guess it's better than nothing?"
Knox understood the desire to have something concrete to fight against. In the flesh, so to speak. But there was nothing, so they would just have to be vigilant for other kinds of enemies. More slippery ones. “Better than nothing,” he agreed, moving to take his place again in the smaller, indoor circle. At least this wasn’t a complicated, unknown spell. It was something that had been done by the family for centuries, every year, so it was written deep in Shayna Mae’s blood. He had faith she would get through it this time, with the house itself providing extra warding and protection. It was better not to break tradition and send out some weaker magic than miss the opportunity and go a year without anything. Knox sank to his knees and stayed watchful.
It took Shayna Mae a couple of moments to let go of the uneasy feeling she had so she could focus. Once she felt right again, she stood in the smaller circle and closed her eyes. The magic that began to flow through her felt natural and untainted, her mind free of any intruders. Whatever had interrupted the ritual outside was no longer around, or maybe the wards and protections on the house itself kept it at bay. Everything began to bloom inside of her and Shayna Mae forgot all about what had happened, diving deep into her magic to bless the house, and her family. It took longer being inside, as she had to work harder to use the earth around her, but it still felt good and freeing and when she opened her eyes and looked down into her palms, she saw two fully bloomed lilies in them. Smiling, Shayne Mae curled her fingers around them and looked over at Knox. "It worked. Did you feel it too?" He had enhanced everything for her, so she was sure that he had. But it had been unmarred by outside forces, and that had been the important thing.
Being in the presence of his family working magic was like a drug, warm and intoxicating. Knox knew in an intellectual way that he’d been magically bound to feel that way, another incentive for him to stick around, but that didn’t make it feel any less good. He breathed deep and slow and floated along on the current of Shayna Mae’s magic, injecting even more color into it in those ways he couldn’t explain with words. When she was finished, he felt pleasantly stoned. Knox opened his eyes and beamed lazily at her. His beautiful earth crafter. “I did,” he confirmed, standing up in one smooth motion. “And I sure as hell feel blessed.” He gave an indulgent stretch, then let his arms drop and grinned at Shayna Mae again. “Happy New Year, goddess.”
Her smile widened when he confirmed that he had felt what she had. It helped that she always felt a flush of pleasure when he called her a goddess. He made her feel like one. Shayna Mae wouldn't forget what had happened outside, but it felt good to know it hadn't been tainted in here. She walked over to him and offered him one of the lilies. It would stay healthy for a while, thanks to the magic. "I feel better," she told him. She knew she ought to grab her robe and cover up, but she never felt uncomfortable with her nudity in front of Knox. He had seen her bare before. "We should still tell Max and Aidan about what happened, but that can wait until tomorrow. We can get bundled up and maybe go up to the roof to watch the fireworks if you want?"
Knox accepted the lily in one careful hand and used the other to brush some blond hair back over Shayna Mae’s shoulder. She looked so beautiful, like she was glowing, he wanted to run his hands over every inch of her bare skin, soak in some of that glow for himself. Along with a different sort of soaking. With Shayna Mae’s magic singing in his veins, he felt kind of heady and electrified and bold. It was a new year, and Shayna Mae was the leader of this family in everything but official name, and gods, he wanted to belong to her. “Can I help you bundle?” he asked in a murmur, his brown eyes slowly roving over her face. Knox’s hand hovered at Shayna Mae’s shoulder, fingertips lightly brushing her skin.
He was so much taller than her, but she loved having to look up at him, especially when he was so close. Her skin felt warm and tingly where his fingers touched her and she nodded, her smile softening. "Of course. An extra pair of hands is always helpful." She didn't really need the help, but Shayna Mae knew Knox knew that. In a way she already considered him hers and had for a long time. Yes, he belonged to the family, but... their bond was different. She reached up and took the hand that hovered over her shoulder, curling her fingers around his before turning to lead him toward the stairs. She could clean up the mess in the room later. Her brothers would know what she had been doing, and they wouldn't mess with it.
Knox got a warm little thrill in his lower belly when Shayna Mae started to lead him. He’d always had an affinity for her, even when she’d just been a sprite of a thing, riding on his shoulders with her white-blonde hair wisping out everywhere. Knox never really felt fatherly toward the O’Reilly children, he was more of a big brother as they grew up, and he’d been enamoured with more than one of them throughout the years. And now his favorite was grown, a fully blossomed woman with hips that swayed in a tantalizing rhythm as she walked. He watched them openly as they headed to the stairs and then started to climb. Knox had been in her room a thousand times, but it felt a little different walking into it now, like something had shifted. The depth of their relationship would be ultimately up to Shayna Mae, and he was hoping he was reading the vibe between them correctly.
She knew that whatever might happen would be her choice. Knox had never, and would never, pressure her into anything, or presume to know what it was she wanted. But Shayna Mae was feeling the new year, she was feeling her magic intertwined with his, and she was well beyond the age of what some might deem too young. Not that she had ever really cared about that part, but Shayna Mae had always been someone who tended to wait on things until they felt right in her gut. The floor was warm beneath her feet as they continued up the stairs until coming to the second floor where her room was located. It was simple and uncluttered, a place where Knox had been hundreds of times over the years. When she led him inside, Shayna Mae turned on the lamp near her bed to give them a little bit of light before she smiled at him and glanced down at her body. The blood markings had long since dried on her skin. "I should probably clean this off if you can wait for a minute."
“Why? I like it,” Knox murmured, giving her a rakish smile as he moved in close to her again. He liked it up in Shayna Mae’s room and always had. It felt like her. Knox lightly traced the symbol he’d drawn between her breasts with one finger, his eyes on her face. She was more than welcome to clean up if she wanted to, of course, but the idea of bedding her with all of the magic still flowing freely, both of them in their natural state, made Knox’s insides feel all buzzy. “The new year is a good time for changing dynamics, you know ... new energies ... new loves ...” He arched a brow at her a tiny bit, still faintly smiling.
Her pulse quickened when he touched her and she decided that cleaning off the blood wasn't exactly necessary. Besides, it felt like a bad idea to pull away and leave, even if it was only for a moment or two. Her nipples tightened at his close proximity. It felt as though her body was starting to burn up in the best way. Shayna Mae kept her eyes on his face, a smile curving at her lips. "I think so too." Unable to help herself, Shayna Mae lifted her hands to his chest, just because she wanted to touch him, feel his skin against hers. Knox was solid and warm, but that wasn't surprising. It wasn't like they hadn't touched one another before, but there seemed to be a different kind of energy behind it tonight. "And I want all of those things. If you do too."
Knox’s skin tingled pleasantly under Shayna Mae’s touch, and he skated the tips of his fingers down the length of her arms and back up again as he shifted in another half-step closer. He could feel the warmth radiating off of her body now, and it made his own feel hotter. She sounded like she was talking about the same things he was, they were vibrating on the same frequency, but wasn’t that the most natural thing in the world? Of course they were, that connection ran deep inside both of them, centuries old. Knox slipped one of his hands around to spread lightly against Shayna Mae’s smooth back. “I do,” he said softly. “Have for a long time.”
She knew they were both talking about the same thing. There was no doubt in her mind, no worry that she had misconstrued Knox's intention or feelings for her. The new year felt like the perfect time for both of them, like coming together would somehow strengthen their magic, although it obviously went much deeper than that for Shayna Mae. Knox might have been the only person in her life that knew her better than she knew herself, the only one who could intensify every part of her being. His heart was beating beneath her fingertips and Shayna Mae would have been content and happy to just stay there for the rest of the night, lost in the sensation of it. But she wanted, and needed, more, so she pushed up lightly on her toes to press her lips to his. She tried not to be tentative about it, to be confident and bold, but her own heart had begun beating harder and she wanted to make sure she took the time to commit this moment to memory.
There was that lovely sensation of being on the cusp of something wonderful, where he could practically see the demarcation line of one thing moving into another. And then Shayna Mae made the move and good feelings exploded inside of Knox’s stomach, like his own personal fireworks. He knew immediately that this was Right, and his arm slid more solidly around Shayna Mae’s slight body. She was so small, and yet so strong and bright, how could he not adore her? Her lips were warm and pliable, and Knox kissed her chastely at first, just exploring how their mouths fit together, but it didn’t take him long to part his lips to get a better taste of her. A real taste, finally. He could feel hot arousal spreading through his belly, the kind that was so layered, so different than the run of the mill carnal desire he’d felt a million times -- no, this lust was meaningful. This was part of his purpose.
Shayna Mae had touched Knox a thousand times before, but it felt so acutely different this time. His skin seemed to thrum with heat and magic beneath her hands, intensifying her own. Her lips parted against his and she could feel the arousal inside of her begin to ache in a way she hadn't known was possible. Shayna Mae's hands lifted to cup his face, her thumbs brushing along his cheeks. She had kissed men in the past, but none of their lips had ever made her body tingle this way. All of the sudden she was very aware of how naked she was, and she wanted him to be the same. One hand fell to the loincloth that he had tied around his waist, and she worked on untying it.
Knox had had sexual relationships with several O’Reillys down through the years, but fewer of them had been the heads of the family. It had been so long since he’d been involved with one of those, he’d practically forgotten just what it felt like. There was something special about it, some way that their magic reached in and mingled with his own, that made it an incredible thing to experience. Knox was starting to feel that invisible build up now, like a vibration in his groin, and it just made him all the more eager to completely connect with her. He felt the soft cloth fall away from his body, and he smiled faintly against Shayna Mae’s lips. “I am yours,” he whispered to her, skimming his hands down the curves of her bare sides.
"I know," Shayna Mae murmured. "And I'm yours too." She knew as much as anyone Knox's history with her family. Just as she knew years ago that someday he would belong to her. It was just a matter of timing. And when Shayna Mae took over, unofficially, it had felt inevitable. But there was love mixed in there with all the lust and possessiveness. How long had she loved Knox? Shayna Mae honestly couldn't say. It felt like years, a lifetime even. She doubted anyone would really understand it, but that's okay, no one else needed to. Her hands slid over his bare hips and back up to his abdomen and stomach. His skin was hot, his muscles firm but quivering beneath her fingertips. Her lips curved again against his and she took his hand to lead him over to her bed. No one was home, and she hoped it stayed that way for a bit. Then she turned to him, feeling her face flush warm a bit. "You know I've never..." Usually Shayna Mae was pretty open about her life, even to her family. There were vials and jars of her blood kept in storage in the basement - virginal, magical blood was powerful and potent - and while Shayna Mae was skilled in many things, she only knew what her hands on her own body were capable of. She didn't want to disappoint him.
Knox hadn’t known this was inevitable, but he’d suspected. He’d always had a special connection to Shayna Mae, and as she’d matured he’d felt a chemistry growing that he’d hoped would bloom completely when she was ready to take over the family. It hadn’t always worked out that way, with different witches wanting different things from their lives, but Knox could get a sense of just how much Shayna Mae felt for him, and it gave him hope that this could really be something. He was smiling faintly as he let himself be pulled along toward the bed. He looked a tiny bit surprised at her confession -- it was something he knew, because of her magic, but it wasn’t something he’d thought about changing yet. He supposed she was right, and she wouldn’t be a virgin anymore. Knox gazed down into her pretty face, brushing his fingers through her long hair again. “We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for,” he murmured to her softly. She would have more reason to want to preserve her virginity than any other young woman, he thought. The blood was extra magical. “I’m happy just to please you.”
Was she ready? Shayna Mae felt like she was. Magic was still thrumming through her body, and she couldn't deny how desperately she was aching for Knox at that moment. It wasn't that she doubted how she felt, or what she wanted. But there was the extremely human fear lodged deep in her belly that she might not be good at any of this. Shayna Mae smiled as his hands brushed through her hair. It was the best feeling... his touch. "I want to please you too," she told him. Licking her lip, Shayna Mae ran her hands over his sides and up to his chest again. She couldn't stop touching him either. It was like she wanted to push him down and just nuzzle and kiss every inch of his body that she could. "I just don't want to disappoint you," she admitted, ticking her gaze back up to his face.
“Impossible,” Knox said with a slow smile. He cupped the side of Shayna Mae’s face, thumb tracing the line of her jaw. He’d been with virgins before, of course, though they’d all been in the family. Knox had confidence that whatever happened, it would end up as beautiful as they wanted it to be. Shayna Mae was already making him feel warm and tingly just by the way her hands felt on his skin, so eager to explore. He also knew from experience that sometimes it was better just to slowly feel their way through it than try to sort it out with words. Bodies were often far wiser than minds. He took one of her hands in his and got a knee up on the bed to climb onto it and stretch out. “Come here,” he murmured, as if she would go somewhere else. They could just lie down together and kiss some more and see where things led. Knox wasn’t in any rush, they could just let nature take its course.
She followed without question or hesitation, climbing up onto her bed to stretch out beside him. Her heart was still racing, but she felt less nervous, probably because Knox was so calm about it. And it felt incredibly nice to be there, naked and still feeling the magic that had bound them together downstairs. She had almost forgotten about the dark entity that interrupted her outside, because she felt safe with Knox, and she wouldn't let whatever it was ruin this. They could worry about it soon enough. Shayna Mae let her hand wander over his body, his hip and chest and shoulder. Then she leaned into him again to kiss him, wanting to feel those pleasant tingles deep in her belly, that rush of warmth between her legs.
She looked like a feast, stretched out beside him like that, bare and beautiful and finally all his to touch and explore. Knox ran his hand down Shayna Mae’s side as their lips came together again, a slow breath escaping through his nose as he traced her curves. Her mouth felt incredibly good against his, almost like a relief from years of waiting and hoping and admiring from afar. Knox let his hand slide further in and he cupped one of her breasts, kneading gently and brushing his thumb over her pert nipple. All of her was just as silky soft as he’d always imagined, and Knox felt his hard cock twitch slightly where it was pressed against Shayna Mae’s hip. He caressed his tongue against hers and let out a soft, deep sound, feeling the magical heat starting to build between them. It felt like summer sunshine.
While she was a virgin, Shayna Mae had kissed other boys before. Men. A few had groped her breasts or tried to feel her up, but she tended to put a stop to it pretty quickly. She understood that it might make her seem like a prude, but she didn't care. She felt like a sexual person a lot of the time, but that was because her magic made her feel that way. Her magic, her blood, was too important to her and she knew once she had sex, it would lose some of that potency. But right now, she didn't care. Knox was the one, and she knew he was the one for some time now. The way he touched her sent shivers down her spine and she arched into him, her tongue slipping into his mouth to taste him fully. Her hand was everywhere, trying to explore every inch that she could reach in the position she was in. His body was magnificent, although Shayna Mae already knew that. They all did. But now it was hers, and she could touch and kiss him anytime she wanted to.
Knox wasn’t one to care what his family did with their bodies. Not in a judgemental way, at least. He wanted them to be healthy and happy, and if that meant getting laid as much as possible, he was fine with that. Jealousy wasn’t really built into him. But at the same time, he found himself glad that Shayna Mae had waited for him. Not all of them had, and that had been okay, but this made it even more special. Knox wanted to be her one and only, to escort her to the heights of pleasure and down again, show her what it all could be. Nothing that some run of the mill idiot boy could match. He kissed her back with growing intensity, sliding their tongues together and nibbling lightly at her lips. Knox stroked at her breasts for another moment or two, exploring the curves and weight of them, then started to slide his hand down over her belly until his fingers curled around her sex. Even if this was as far as it went tonight, he wanted to make her feel good.
Shayna Mae liked to think she wasn't a jealous person. She had never been in a situation where she might feel that way. She was fiercely protective of her family, her brothers especially, but she didn't think their relationships with other people stoked jealousy. She couldn't even begin to predict how she might feel if Knox decided to do something like this with another. He had in the past, of course. Shayna Mae wasn't so naive to think otherwise. And it didn't really bother her, because he was with her now and that was the important thing. The way he was touching her had essentially pushed aside all thought in her head anyway, and she was more focused on his hands than anything else. A soft moan formed in her throat when his fingers slipped between her legs. Without thinking she rocked against his hand, her own sliding down to his hip to press her fingertips into his flesh.
The way Shayna Mae moved her hips sent heat racing down Knox’s spine. It was an electric sort of feeling, making the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. He knew just from knowing her as he did that she was a sensual person, very grounded in her body, and he’d wondered fairly often how she pleasured herself, how she looked all flushed and arching. Knox had heard a few things, moans from her room, it was difficult not to when they shared a house, but he’d tried not to intrude. Just fantasized a little. And now here they were. Knox was gentle as he slid his two middle fingertips down Shayna Mae’s cleft, his stomach twisting again when he felt how wet she already was. He rubbed in slow circles while he kissed her, positive he could feel her sensitive skin get hotter with every passing second.
Shayna Mae had touched herself enough times to know what she needed. But Knox's hand was doing magical things to her already, and it was like he knew what she liked too. Maybe it was just familiarity, she didn't know. It didn't matter at the moment either. It felt more important to focus on breathing, because her entire body was trembling as his fingers found her, wet and wanting. Shayna Mae moaned against his mouth, gripping his hip even harder as her thighs parted to give him easier access to her body. Gods, everything about him was gorgeous, and Shayna Mae had to resist curling around him and just begging him to take her. Her body might feel that level of impatient desire, but she so desperately wanted to make this last as long as she could, and she moved her hips gently with his fingers to add a touch of extra pressure.
Maybe it was familiarity or just instinct or how close they were, magically and otherwise, but Knox felt pretty confident in what he was doing to Shayna Mae. He had faith that she would tell him if he went astray somehow or if she needed something else. He could feel her body responding under his fingers, her slick folds getting more full and warm to the touch. The way she moved her hips made him want to have his cock buried deep inside of her, but he could be patient. Knox didn’t really need to breathe, but he made sure to give room for Shayna Mae to do so within the kiss, though his lips didn’t leave hers for long. He stroked her clit for another few moments before he slid his fingers lower and slipped one of them inside her. Her body was hot and tight and he let out a soft groan into the kiss.
Shayna Mae inhaled sharply at the first feel of his finger slipping into her. It wasn't uncomfortable in the least. No, it felt amazing and had her wondering what it would feel like to have another part of him pushing deep into her body. The inhale became a moan and she reached down to slip her hand over his. Not to stop him, or guide him in any kind of way, but to touch him as he touched her. She was aching now and Shayna Mae wanted to touch him too, intimately. Make him groan and push into her hands, but right now, she felt selfish enough to want to enjoy this for just another moment or two. It was everything she had wanted for so long, everything she had fantasized about when she was laying in her bed at night, alone. The magic still spread across her body in blood seemed to intensify the pleasure and she wondered if Knox could feel it as acutely as she could.
Knox was definitely feeling the flow of something that ran deeper than just sexual chemistry. They were connected on a deeper level than just physically, and Knox could sense it rolling over them like warm ocean waves, immersive and far more powerful than the both of them. He was happy to listen to any guidance Shayna Mae wanted to give, but it was nice just to have her hand there for encouragement too. He curled his wrist a bit to push his thick finger in deeper, then started slowly working it in and out of her. She was so wet and ready, he could very well imagine what it would be like to eventually slide his cock in instead. He could be patient until then. After a moment or two, Knox carefully added a second finger, all his senses open to any sign of discomfort or distress.
There was no discomfort, and definitely no distress. There might have been mild discomfort when he entered a second finger, but it quickly felt good and Shayna Mae moaned louder, moving her hips in time with his fingers. What would it feel like to have him buried inside of her? Pumping in and out of her body, his lips on her own? Just the thought of it had her squeezing around his fingers, a desperate sort of sigh escaping her as she sought out his mouth for another kiss. It was the perfect night for this. Not only through the renewal of her magic, but the new year always brought such possibility for new and exciting things. Knox was both of those things for her, even though she had known him her entire life. Something had shifted between them, and she knew nothing would be the same again. She was counting on it, actually. Unable to help herself, Shayna Mae let go of his wrist to touch him, curling her fingers around his erection and stroking slowly, just to get a feel for him.
That squeeze made Knox’s balls throb sweetly, and he was dimly grateful that his binding into physical form could include sensations like that. He didn’t have a lot of animal sex anymore, because fucking as a human was always far better and more intense. Animals didn’t do foreplay like people did, they didn’t enjoy the slow burn, meandering path to penetration. He was more than happy to take his time with this. Shayna Mae deserved that. Still, when she wrapped her warm smooth hand around him, Knox felt that base urge to roll on top of her and fuck her until neither of them could move anymore. That was all part of what was so good about it, that delayed gratification. Knox groaned against her lips, pushing his fingers into her pussy even deeper to encourage her. His own hips started to rock a bit, his body hungry for more sensation, more friction, more her.
She loved the way his hips began to move with her hand, and those noises he made sent fresh waves of heat through her body, pooling achingly between her legs. In a way she felt like a teenager again, building that intense need for more though hands and lips, although Shayna Mae had always held back in the end. At least from going "all the way". And she loved how he felt in her palm. Smooth and hot. Hard. He wanted her, and that made Shayna Mae feel desirable. Powerful. All she could do was moan as his fingers moved inside of her, pushing her higher until she was sure she could explode. But she continued to stroke him, wanting to add that friction for him too. It felt like she might come and all Shayna Mae could do at that moment was tuck her face against his neck as her hips moved frantically against his hand, desperately now. She nearly panted that she was going to come, but then it was happening and her body shivered, her pussy throbbing around his fingers as she released a soft, almost whiny moan against his neck.
What she was doing felt really good, but Knox wasn’t focused on himself at the moment, so he wasn’t in any danger of interrupting her pleasure with his own. He wasn’t as tied to his physical body as most real human males, so he had pretty damn good control over things like that, which came in handy when he wanted to be more generous than selfish. He could feel Shayna Mae ramping up toward an orgasm, and Knox rode along with her, letting out breathy moans of appreciation as he did his best to read her body’s cues and finger fucked her harder. The way she moved her hips was incredibly enticing, and the anticipation of feeling all of that around his cock felt so sweet in the moment. He grinned as she started to climax, loving the way her body gripped and pulsed around him. “That’s my girl,” he whispered, gently rubbing his palm against her clit to draw it out as long as possible.
It took her a while to catch her breath. Her body quivered against Knox's and she just wanted to ride it. It felt more amazing than anything she had ever done to herself. When her breath started coming back, Shayna Mae smiled lazily, her fingers still sliding up and down his length. She was feeling so good but there was a deep need for more. For Knox. Kissing him again, she poured as much desire and devotion into it as she could, hoping now that he wouldn't pull away and make her wait for another night. "I'm ready," she whispered against his mouth. "Please."
Knox wasn’t going anywhere until Shayna Mae wanted him to, and it was obvious that she wasn’t ready to part yet. He kissed her back with equal feeling, the emotions between them almost as palpable as the flow of magic. It thrummed in time with their heartbeats. She tasted like pleasure and the sweet dark earth, so full of mysterious life. Her request wasn’t a surprise, but it still made him smile against her lips, his hand still on her sex for the moment. Knox almost asked if she was sure, but he could feel that she was. Her wish was Knox’s command. Wordlessly, he pulled his hand away from her body and maneuvered his way between her legs, settling in with most of his weight on his elbows and knees. He angled his hips so the underside of his cock rubbed against Shayna Mae’s wetness, just to tease them both for a moment as he kissed her again. “Tell me if I hurt you,” he whispered, shifting until the tip of his cock caught against her opening and he slowly began to push.
Shayna Mae watched him, her hands coming up to grip at his waist. Her lips were parted with shaky breaths, but there was absolutely no reluctance. This was what she wanted, and who she wanted it with. Her knees lifted a bit and she shivered at the feel of Knox's cock rubbing against her for a moment. She wanted him to go slow, but at the same time, Shayna Mae bit into her lip to keep from begging him to hurry. She had no idea what to expect, not really. Shayna Mae didn't feel like a blushing virgin or anything, but the unknown could be a confusing, yet wonderful, place to be. As soon as Knox began to push into her, Shayna Mae inhaled softly and then brought her hands up to cup his face, her thumbs brushing along his jaw. It was such a delicious stretch and she lifted her hips slowly to ease him along.
Knox pressed his forehead against hers, giving her room to breathe but still staying close. It felt intimate and warm and perfect, and while it wasn’t Knox’s first time having sex, it felt like an important First all the same. The way her body gripped him as he slid into her sent hot electricity up his spine, and Knox had mental room for the vague hope that he wouldn’t come too fast and make this a bad experience for Shayna Mae. His breath shuddered a bit as his body finally pressed flush to hers, and he held still for a moment to let them both adjust. This human form he’d gotten locked into had a sizeable cock, and he didn’t want to go too fast and hurt her, but gods, she felt so good. Knox briefly pressed their lips together, cracking his eyes open to peek at her expression, all of his focus on her and reading how she was feeling.
There was little to no pain as Knox pushed inside of her and once he was completely seated, Shayna Mae exhaled, her hands sliding down to grip his shoulders. It was a feeling she couldn't have described even if someone asked her to. She felt so full of him and her body was throbbing in a way that drew soft moans from her lips. He was solid and warm and large in the best ways. In a way, Shayna Mae knew she would never have another lover after Knox. He was the person she was meant to be with. And that wasn't romanticizing. Shayna Mae was too level headed for that. It was just the truth. "Feels good," she whispered, smiling a bit as she carefully wrapped her legs around his waist.
She felt so tiny under his bulk, but so curvy and sexy at the same time. Knox had always liked her height against his, and now that they were pressed so intimately together, he realized he enjoyed the difference on a whole new level. He was already looking forward to all the ways he could fuck her, all the positions they could get in with him supporting her weight. The moment they were in was perfect though, so he brought his focus back to now. “It does,” he whispered back, quirking a tiny smile at her. He gave a slow roll of his hips, drawing halfway out before easing back into Shayna Mae. He didn’t feel any of the resistance he might have expected, and that grip around his cock was absolutely delicious. Knox started a very slow rhythm, his heavy-lidded eyes on Shayna Mae’s face.
Shayna Mae knew she was small, but she never felt overwhelmed or dominated by men. Knox had height and muscle on her, but he had always been gentle with her. She felt the difference between them now, but she loved it. Shayna Mae still felt safe beneath him and she knew without a doubt that Knox would never harm her, or do anything she didn't want. Her eyelashes fluttered when he began to move and she found herself wanting to move with him, soft moans escaping her lips. Her hips rocked up tentatively, just to make sure he liked it too, although it all felt so good she couldn't imagine Knox not wanting it too. Her hands wanted to glide over his entire body but she couldn't reach everything, instead they slid down his sides to his hips, gripping tight now that he was moving. The pleasure began to blossom inside of her, growing with every thrust of his hips.
He loved the way she touched him, loved the way she moved underneath him, loved everything about all of this. Knox moaned softly to let her know that what she was doing felt good, and he slipped his big hands underneath the backs of her shoulders. Her body felt so good around him, and he could tell that Shayna Mae was enjoying it too, and that more than anything made him want to draw it out as long as possible. His spine rolled as he paced himself on the rhythm he’d built, dipping his face in to kiss at Shayna Mae’s neck and shoulder, breathing in her scent. He knew it so well, but there was an added layer to it now, something dark and earthy that was just for him. Knox nipped lightly at her skin, muffling groans into her neck, his strong body working over hers. He wanted to make her come again, to feel it around his cock, to show her just how good he could make her feel, how well he could serve her in all ways.
She felt like she could do this all night long. She rolled and rocked her body against Knox, accepting every thrust of his cock inside of her. Shayna Mae had already come once, but she wanted it again, wanted to know what it felt like with him buried deep. But gods, he was so sexy. She could feel his muscles bunch and strain underneath her palms, and the feel of his hot breath against her neck was something she knew she was going to want again and again, probably for the rest of her life. Shayna Mae had known Knox all her life, and shared so many intimate moments with him where it came to her magic. This was just another step, another moment that would bond them even further. Her eyes closed, Shayna Mae arched her hips to his, wanting him deeper, if that were even possible.
This went beyond a simple physical joining, this would entwine their magic together even further, Knox knew. He wasn’t always in a relationship with the leader of the O’Reilly clan, but when he was, it made them all stronger. That was just how the whole arrangement worked, how it had always worked. Shayna Mae was special to him though -- for the first time in a long time, he had actively hoped for this. He’d wanted her, body and magic and soul, and now they belonged to each other. Knox pulled his head up to kiss her again, having to keep them brief so she could both breathe, but making them deep nonetheless. He rocked with her, the pleasure-pressure building up in his balls as he started thrusting faster, every one of them deep. He didn’t strictly need to breathe, but he was doing it harder now, groans escaping him with every other breath.
She had wanted this too. For so long. It felt like years she had been waiting, but it had been worth it. Shayna Mae felt like the timing was so important, not only in magic but with most of her life. It might surprise someone, given how loose and free-spirited she was, but she never pushed anything that didn't feel right, at the right time. With the new year, this was definitely the right time, even if they had been so rudely interrupted during their ritual outside. Gods, but the noises he made were sexy. Every groan sent a thrill through her and she clenched around his cock. When he moved faster, Shayna Mae moaned loudly, arching beneath him. She breathed his name, encouraging every movement.
Knox didn’t want to go too fast or too hard. The energetic, pounding sex could come later, for now he wanted to stay engrossed in the warm passion of the moment. The way her body reacted to his made him feel like crawling out of his skin in the very best way. He loved the way she arched, like she knew exactly where she wanted his cock to hit inside of her, and hearing his name roll so deliciously off of her lips made him shudder with intense pleasure. He moaned louder and reached one hand up to grip the headboard as he started thrusting into her with more abandon, his strong body flexing above her. Knox was starting to get lost in the pleasure, the ecstasy mixing with the magic humming through him, making him feel close to exploding even if he still had control over himself. It wouldn’t last forever, but for now he could make sure he properly pleasured his mistress.
Like Knox, Shayna Mae felt lost, but in the best possible way. She never wanted it to end, and yet she felt that tight coil of pleasure start to unravel deep in her belly. Her moans grew louder, mixing with Knox's as she gripped his back, her short nails pressing into his flesh. Her body felt damp and eager and Shayna Mae threw one arm out until she was gripping the blanket beneath her tightly in her fist. Her cries began to fill the room, but she couldn't stop. When her orgasm exploded, it stole her breath and her head fell back, her lips parted in a soundless scream. All she could do was tremble violently, awash in the acute sensations that bordered on painful in the most exquisite way.
The more pleasure ramped up in Shayna Mae, the harder it was for Knox to hold back. He felt like he couldn’t only feel it in her body underneath him, but humming in the very air. He gasped out a few ‘yes’es as she started to peak, those sharp cries of hers making his balls throb with restraint. Then her body was clenching around him, and Knox groaned deeply, his hips still pumping through her orgasm. He tried to slow down a bit to make sure it wasn’t uncomfortable, but it just felt so good, it was hard to pull back. It was such a rush to make her come again, to feel those strong squeezes around his cock. Once he felt like her pleasure was starting to fade into aftershocks, Knox slowed his thrusts down, covering her mouth with his for a moment. He wanted to let her soak in the moment without rushing along to his own finish line. “I love you,” he whispered against her lips, quirking a tiny smile. It felt like time to say it with a different layer now.
She was still trembling, happy little sighs escaping her lips as she rode out her orgasm. The way Knox continued to move inside of her only kept it going and she moaned happily when he kissed her. Shayna Mae felt boneless and sated and it was like nothing bad could ever touch her again. His words sent warm, pleasant shivers down her spine and Shayna Mae brought her hands up to his hair, pushing it back from his face as she opened her eyes to look up at him. "I love you too," she murmured. She had said it before, but she said it to everyone in her family. It carried a different meaning now and they both knew it. But she meant every word.
Knox felt it in a different way, and it was lovely. He’d been loved before, but it never ceased to feel incredible to him, enough that he could never remember how he’d lived without it in the time before the family. Those had been wilder, less grounded days, when he didn’t need anything at all. He never thought of himself as tamed or domesticated, but things were definitely different now. He hummed deep in his throat, smiling as he kissed her a few more lingering times. He hadn’t climaxed yet, but he still felt sated and warm and perfect, so stupidly happy that he’d made Shayna Mae happy. “You like it, then?” he murmured, grinning a bit wider as he nuzzled their noses together.
"I do," Shayna Mae said with a smile. "If you couldn't tell." It had been everything she imagined when she thought about Knox, and how it might feel. And Shayna Mae knew she would want him again soon, if he was willing. His hair was so soft and silky in her hands. She slid her fingers through it again and hummed happily before pressing another kiss to his lips. Her feet slid down the backs of his legs and Shayna Mae realized he still felt hard inside of her. She nuzzled him again. "Did you...? I mean, did you get there too?" She didn't think he had, but Shayna Mae had no experience before this, so she wasn't entirely sure what to expect. If he hadn't, she wanted to make sure it was as good for him as it had been for her.
He could definitely tell, but it was nice to hear it anyway, especially since it was Shayna Mae’s first time. He’d known it would be good, but he was still kind of ridiculously proud of himself. Her fingers felt so nice in his hair, if his body still wasn’t buzzing with arousal, Knox knew she could easily put him to sleep like that. He hummed and pushed deeper into her at her question, shaking his head a bit. “Not yet,” he murmured. “Wanted to get you off first. Still feel good?” If she was uncomfortable at all, he could finish himself off elsewhere, but Knox was more than happy to come inside of her if she was okay with that. He couldn’t get her pregnant, so that wasn’t a concern, but he didn’t know yet if she could take more stimulation after she was done.
"Yes," Shayna Mae whispered, cupping his face when he moved again. She didn't think it would ever feel bad, or uncomfortable with Knox. Feeling him inside of her was heaven. And Shayna Mae wanted to feel as complete and satisfied as she did. And there was something sexy and natural about wanting Knox to come inside of her. Shayna Mae didn't think he could have children, so she wasn't worried about pregnancy. But she wanted him to claim her, the way she had claimed him.
That was all the encouragement he needed, and Knox gazed down into Shayna Mae’s eyes as he started to build up a rhythm again. Pleasure rolled through him anew, and he groaned softly as he thrust in deep and slow for a while. She seemed to still enjoy what he was doing, so it was easy to lose himself inside of it again. Knox groaned low in his throat as he built up some speed, that intense pleasure-pressure taking over his lower body again. He didn’t try to hold it back this time, letting it wash over him like warm ocean waves, until his cock and balls were tingling intensely. “Shayna Mae,” he gasped as he got close to the edge, and a few more strokes had him flying over it. He thrust deep into her, his cock jerking and throbbing as he let go, a few strong shudders running up his spine.
The slow, almost lazy pace was just perfect. It still felt so good, so sensuous and loving. Her body responded to it in a way that didn't surprise her and yet she was sure if she slipped her hand down between her legs she might have nearly come again. But Shayna Mae wanted to focus on Knox, the way he looked and felt. Her hands drifted from his hair to his shoulders and arms, his chest and waist. He was perfection personified. Gods, he was gorgeous and now he was hers. They belonged to each other. Her breathing picked up as his thrusts did and just as he came, Shayna Mae swore she could feel it, the way he swelled inside of her. She couldn't help but smile, her hands coming back up to the back of his head to drag his mouth back to hers. "Mine," she whispered against his mouth.
It was the sweetest kind of relief, making his whole body feel pleasantly overheated and relaxed. Knox didn’t need much prompting to kiss Shayna Mae again, humming softly into it. That one word made him smile slowly and he nodded very slightly. He was hers, body and magic and mind and soul and everything, and now he knew just how well they fit together. Things could only get better and more fulfilling. Knox kissed her a bit more, slow and lingering, then picked his head up again and started to push himself up on his palms so he could gingerly pull out of Shayna Mae. He flopped onto his side and stretched lazily, but quickly snuggled in close again. “So do you want me to stay every night here, mistress?” he murmured with a faint smile.
As soon as Knox was stretched out beside her, Shayna Mae snuggled in toward him, her arm slipping over his waist. "I want you here," she whispered, a smile on her lips. It was thrilling to hear him call her mistress, now that their relationship had shifted. "But I also want you to know you have your freedom the way you always have. If you need or want your space, you're free to it." Shayna Mae loved his presence, and the thought of spending every night curled up beside the solid warmth of his body was a dream come true. But she never wanted Knox to feel stifled.