*Grace's POV*
As I stood before my mate in my true Archangel form, the look on her face told me she loved everything she was seeing. I was wholly accepted by her, and it made me want to get even closer to Xavia, in all sense and meaning of that word. I, too, wanted to see her true form, and without actually asking her about it, she began to change. I felt it happening; her power was rising incrementally... just by that feeling alone, I was eager and stunned. I knew she was intensely powerful, but I didn't know how much until I realized she hides a lot of it away for some reason.
I'll ask her about that one day.
The reveal was gradual, and part of me wondered if she was teasing me. However, I eventually surmised the meaning behind her slower speed; she was nervous, and it made sense. I had just felt something similar, and though I was eager to see everything she was, I wasn't going to rush my mate. I quickly glanced at Raziel, who silently observed us; I wondered what might be going through his mind.
She had the demonic form of a couple of animals merging into what looked like velvety, smooth, pitch-black skin. I knew everything I would see would only make me want her more. Her transformation began at her dragon feet, connected to perfectly-sized werewolf legs. I saw her long tail that reached the ground; it curled a little between her legs, which told me she was still very scared. Part of me wanted to frown at that, but I wouldn't show that kind of expression; she needed my reassurance more than anything, and... If what I was seeing was anything to go by, she honestly had nothing to worry about.
I find her demonic side so sexy.
Throughout her body, rippled animalistic muscles and her hind legs were strong, especially in Xavia's torso area. Those abs... As her body continued to change, her dragon-style wings emerged from her shoulder blades, and they stretched, extending the size by double her height. To finish the transformation, I saw two sets of horns emerging from her skull, one above her ears, which swirled through her long jet-black hair, almost tracing her back. That pair stopped above her pelvic bone, and the second set of horns came out from her temples. Those that went upward appeared to be mirrored 's-shaped' with their base being thicker. The top portion that curled to the sky narrowed to a very sharp point. Her arms and claws looked so strong and protective; they proportionately matched the size of the rest of her body.
When my mate finally finished shifting into her demonic form, she still kept her eyes closed, and they were closed tightly. Not only that, but the way she kept clenching and unclenching her jaws and fists told me how utterly nervous she was. It dawned on me that her fear was because of how I might look at her. I understood where that worry came from, and all she needed was my reassurance. All her life, Xavia was told she was nothing but pure evil and that she wouldn't ever find love or be happy. Everything her father told her was untrue, and I had to prove it to her.
I am more than ready to do so.
"Xavia... don't be afraid of me or my reaction..." I paused, placing my hands on either side of her face, adding additional comfort I knew she needed at that moment. I already loved doing this with her, touching her in this loving way... it was perfect. With my voice barely above a whisper, I promised, "I am right here. I'm not going anywhere... Please, look at me."
The last part of my sentence was barely finished when my mate listened to me, her eyes opening, revealing those fantastic black depths again. Instantly, I smiled; I stared at her and didn't move a muscle. I needed her to see that I wasn't going anywhere. When Xavia was ready to speak, she did, and in doing so, revealed she also had top and bottom incisors as she said, "You're still here?"
I nodded and let my thumbs graze her cheeks, feeling her velvety soft skin, which made my smile widen. Her black eyes held so much emotion that I was caught up in them; I felt myself starting to get emotional. Then, I stated firmly, "I'm not leaving you."
"Promise?" Xavia asked ever so softly; her voice, too, was full of emotion.
I knew what to say next and took a step closer to my mate. Our bodies were basically touching, and I leaned my forehead against hers as I whispered, "How can I leave you when you hold my heart and soul in your hands?"
Upon hearing and understanding what I said to her, Xavia's heartbeat matched mine. Her eyes fixated on my lips for a few seconds before she met my eyes again. She not only melted at my words, but she completely trusted them. The genuine smile she produced next was proof of that... in my peripheral vision, I also saw something else. Her tail removed itself from between her legs and began to sway a little. She looked truly happy, and her body was reacting to what she was feeling, too.
She's so perfect.
When her eyes landed on my lips again, Xavia admitted one of the phrases I had been dying to hear her say, "I really want to kiss you."
Yes, please!
My heart began racing.
"I really want you to," I responded.
I tried my best to keep my voice even, but I knew I failed, and... I didn't care. I wanted her to know exactly how I felt about everything; I wanted us as close as two people could ever be. I wasn't sure what she was thinking as I looked into her eyes, but I knew she was happy. I had a feeling it had to be because she could tell how excited and eager I was for this moment to happen between us. The way her soft smile grew into a sexy-ass smirk was utterly alluring, and I happily got lost, staring at it.
Xavia soon moved her face closer to mine, and with our faces just barely inches apart, she softly asked, "May I?"
That answer was easy.
"You may," was all I could say.
Before her lips could touch mine, I saw my mate briefly look over to Raziel. Not even a millisecond later, he left our area, and I giggled, "He's a smart one, huh?"
Xavia's smile grew, and with a playful tone, she said, "Yeah, but he can also be sarcastic, so... I guess it all just depends on the day."
Suddenly, we both could hear Raziel's voice as he remarked, "I heard that, and yes, I am taking my leave. I'll be back in a little bit..." He then paused, and I had a deep feeling that what he really wanted to say was about to come. With his most sincere tone, he added, "I am really happy for you both."
Our smiles showed our appreciation.
Ironically, our reply to him came at the same damn time, "Thank you!"
Within seconds, I knew my mate and I were genuinely alone; I could sense it, and I knew Xavia could, too. I was glad my hands were still on either side of her face because I had planned to wrap them around her neck very soon, deepening our kiss. I had played this moment out in my mind, and I couldn't wait for it to come true. When Xavia rested her hands on my hips, not only did my body shiver with anticipation, but our moment was soon to come. When our eyes locked while her thumbs massaged my hip bones, I felt a shock through me; she felt it, too.
Whatever nervousness I saw in Xavia's eyes a little bit ago had vanished. Before me stood a confident lover, someone who unknowingly knew every part of my body and soul. The slow way she handled the situation, I knew she was allowing us to savor the moment for all eternity, and... that only made my love for her increase beyond the average amount possible. I absolutely loved that my mate felt safer and ready to accept my love for her.
I have so much of it to give, too.
However, I wasn't expecting to see a tear slide down my mate's face. I quickly became worried, and I hoped everything was okay. My body instinctively reacted by wiping that lonesome tear away as I asked, "Are you—?"
Xavia's movements were so unbelievably quick that I didn't even catch it. Her velvety finger was pressed softly on my lips, stopping me from finishing my question. Instead, she answered it herself, saying, "I'm okay, Grace... I'm just so fucking happy that I still can't believe this is happening... that you're real... You're real and—and you're here, and right in front of me—my other half, and... you want to be with me."
Xavia paused for a moment as she caught her breath and continued speaking from her very heart. I would wait forever for her, and I could see she knew I would by the way she looked at me. With her eyes peering into my soul, she added, "I never thought anyone could love someone like me... But here you are... I've never known why I felt so lost and alone in this vast universe. I had a void in my being that couldn't be filled, but now... I am complete. The void has been filled, and I feel... I feel wonderful. Thank you, Grace. This wonderful fullness in my chest is because of you, and I couldn't be happier. I'm complete, and it's all thanks to you..."
Wow...
Xavia's words left me breathless and unable to form any of my own. The woman standing in front of me was magnificent. How could I not love someone as perfect as her?
I understood why saying this out loud to me was important for her. Simply showing me emotion the way she did was essential, and I was thankful to have her trust the way I did. I knew she could tell how I felt about her; I didn't have to reply to her words, and she didn't need me to do so. I saw her eyes; I saw everything in them—all that was unspoken was clear and concise.
Together, we closed the distance.
The moment our lips finally connected, the air around us stood still for only a second, if that. The kiss we were sharing was unexplainable, and what happened next only served to prove that. Suddenly, the air picked up speed and began swirling in a circular motion, creating a barrier of sorts. It was as if the world and energy around us had been waiting for Xavia and me to connect in such a way, and I couldn't agree more.
The Prophecy was coming true with each passing second.
Our kiss was tentative, full of promise and intensity, but we were eager, and it showed, too. The wait had been long enough, and it was time to show how much we needed and wanted each other. I enclosed my arms around Xavia's neck and felt her strong embrace lift from my waist as they wrapped around my back. Together, as one, we brought ourselves even closer. The sheer sensation of finally feeling her against me in such a manner was abundantly potent.
I was lost in all that she was.
All that she is.
And I wanted more.
Xavia seemed to understand my silent plea as her talented hands began massaging my back, causing me to moan in satisfaction at how amazing it felt. She creatively used that moment to brush her tongue over my lip in an unspoken question. A question that I readily answered. Her tongue sought entry, and I gladly allowed it. I would always allow it. That same talented tongue plunged in and tasted the inside of my mouth. Our tongues entwined eagerly and danced in a symphonic harmony.
My eyes rolled back inside of my head at the startling feeling of pleasure that was coursing through me. It was mesmeric, and I melted into my mate's waiting arms. Every movement of her luscious lips sent a spine-tingling jolt through my very being. She may have been leading this dance, but I was more than happy to match her pace. I took as much as she gave, all the while returning the mind-numbing pleasure back her way.
A blaze was building.
It was all-consuming.
It increased and increased, building between us like a raging inferno that could not be stopped. The merging of our very beings was unlike anything I had ever experienced.
And... I didn't want it to stop.
This was only the beginning.
Our beginning.