Chapter 226: Carved Into My Soul

LEITANA

“My lamb, come to bed.”

Ravial’s voice was low and rough behind me, that deep timbre that always made my stomach flutter even when I was tired.

I was still sitting on the edge of the bed in the guest room, gently stroking Arabella’s hair. She had finally fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep after crying for almost an hour. Her face was peaceful now, but there were still dried tear tracks on her cheeks. I felt so sorry for her. She had carried something so evil for so long, all because she wanted to be perfect.

I sighed softly and whispered, “Sleep well, Arabella. You’re safe now.”

Ravial’s large hand settled on my shoulder, warm and heavy. Before I could say anything else, he bent down, slid one arm under my knees and the other behind my back, and lifted me effortlessly into his arms like I weighed nothing.

“Mi Ravial… ” I gasped softly, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck.

He didn’t answer. He just carried me out of the room, his steps long and sure down the hallway until he pushed open the door to the master bedroom. The moment we were inside, he kicked the door shut behind us with his foot.

He set me down gently on the edge of the massive bed, but he didn’t step back. Instead, he reached behind his neck and pulled his black shirt off in one smooth motion, revealing that broad, powerfully muscled chest I had secretly admired so many times.

My breath caught.

Even after everything, the long night, the fear, the exhaustion, heat bloomed low in my belly at the sight of him. The hard planes of his chest, the ridges of his abs, the way his shoulders looked strong enough to carry the whole world… and me.

I reached out before I could stop myself, my small hand pressing against the warm, firm muscle right over his heart. I rubbed slowly, feeling the heat of his skin under my palm.

“Mi Ravial…” I whispered, eyes tracing every inch of him. “I love your chest tattoo.”

He flexed slightly under my touch, the muscles shifting and tightening. I giggled, cheeks warming.

“What?” I asked, still smiling as I looked up at his blindfolded face.

Ravial’s lips curved into that dark, dangerous little smirk I loved so much. He caught my wrist gently, holding my hand flat against his chest so I could feel his heartbeat strong, steady, and completely mine.

“You’ve been staring at it for months, little lamb,” he murmured, voice low and teasing. “I was starting to wonder when my wife would finally admit she likes what she sees.”

I blushed harder, biting my lip. “It’s beautiful… and strong. Just like you.”

He made a low, satisfied sound in his throat and leaned down, capturing my mouth in a deep, slow kiss. His hands slid under my thighs, lifting me properly onto the bed as he crawled over me, caging me with his powerful body without putting any weight on my belly.

“You can touch me as much as you want tonight,” he whispered against my lips, nipping gently. “But first… let me hold you, my lamb. You’ve had a long night.”

I melted into him completely, fingers still tracing that tattoo on his chest as he pulled me close, wrapping me up in his arms like I was the most precious thing in the world.

Ravial’s tongue rubbed the roof of my mouth, sucking on my tongue and licking my bottom lips in that deep, slow way that always made my toes curl, unhurried, possessive, like he had all the time in the world to taste me.

His tongue rubbed against my tongue again, coaxing soft whimpers from my throat as his large hands gripped the backs of my thighs, holding me open beneath him without putting any pressure on my belly.

When he finally pulled back, I was breathing hard, lips swollen and tingling.

I couldn’t stop touching him.

My fingers traced every ridge and valley of his chest, sliding over the smooth, warm skin and the bold black ink that covered the left side, intricate, ancient-looking patterns that swirled across his pectoral and up toward his shoulder. I had noticed it so many times before, but I had never been brave enough to ask.

“What… what does this tattoo mean, mi Ravial?” I whispered, leaning forward to press a soft, lingering kiss right over the center of the design. My lips brushed his skin, and I felt his heartbeat quicken under my mouth.

He let out a deep, rough groan, one hand sliding up my back to cradle the nape of my neck.

“It’s old,” he murmured, voice dark velvet. “Very old. Marks of power. Of things I once was.”

I kissed it again, slower this time, letting my tongue taste the salt of his skin. “It’s beautiful on you,” I breathed, rubbing my cheek against the firm muscle like a kitten. “So strong… so masculine. I like touching it.”

Ravial’s grip tightened, a deep, satisfied sound rumbling in his chest.

“You can touch it whenever you want, little lamb,” he said, voice dropping lower. “This body is yours as much as yours is mine.”

I blushed furiously but kept exploring, my hands roaming over his chest, thumbs brushing his nipples until they hardened. I leaned in and kissed one, then the other, sucking gently. Ravial hissed through his teeth, hips rolling slowly against me so I could feel how hard he already was.

“Fuck… you’re going to kill me one day,” he growled, but there was a smile in his voice.

I looked up at him through my lashes, shy but bold at the same time. “Mi Ravial… will you ever get another tattoo?”

His blindfolded gaze seemed to burn into me even though I couldn’t see his eyes.

“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I’m going to get one of you. Right here.” He took my hand and pressed it over his heart. “Your face. Your eyes. Your name inked into my skin so everyone who looks at me knows exactly who owns this heart.”

My eyes went wide, lips parting in shock.

“Yu no need to do that, mi Ravial,” I whispered, voice trembling with emotion. “Mi already know yu love mi. Yu don’t have to mark your body for me…”

He caught my chin gently, tilting my face up.

“I want to,” he said, voice rough and serious. “I want my skin to carry you the same way yours carries our son. I want to look down and see you on me every single day. You’re permanent, Leitana. You’re carved into my soul. Might as well let the outside match.”

Tears pricked my eyes again, but this time they were happy ones.

I surged up and kissed him hard, pouring all my love into it. My hands roamed greedily over his chest, nails lightly scratching as I kissed down his throat, across his collarbone, and back to that beautiful tattoo.

“I love you,” I whispered between kisses, lips brushing his skin with every word. “So much it scares me sometimes.”

Ravial groaned, flipping us carefully so I was straddling his lap, his back against the headboard. His hands gripped my hips, sliding under my shorts to cup my bare ass.

“Then let me show you how much I love you tonight,” he rasped, voice thick with lust. “Slow and deep, little lamb. Until the only thing you can feel is me.”

I moaned softly as he pulled me down against his hardness, already wet and aching for him again.

“Yes, mi Ravial… please.”