Chapter 35: Chapter 35

LUXURY

I could feel the way her pulse raced beneath my fingertips, the anticipation in the way she trembled, the heat in the way her legs shifted slightly beneath me. She was playing along. Letting me believe she’d given in.

~Smart girl.~

I eased my grip ever so slightly, my hands sliding lower, my mouth barely a breath away from hers, teasing, hovering—

And then—

She moved.

A sharp, calculated twist of her body, just enough to slip free, just enough to catch me off guard for half a second.

Half a second too long.

She bolted.

This time—~naked~.

A growl rumbled from my chest as I shot up.

She was already halfway down the hall, nothing but smooth golden skin and dark hair flashing in the moonlight spilling through the windows.

My jaw clenched, my entire body tensing.

~That little minx.~

She knew exactly what she was doing.

Running from me like that—bare, wild, mine—making me chase her again.

She was going to pay for that.

I moved, slow at first. Controlled. Letting her think she had the advantage, letting her think she might actually escape.

I huffed out a laugh.

Yeah,she wasn’t walking ~anywhere~ tomorrow.

Her scent—intoxicating, heady with arousal and adrenaline—lingered in the air.

Then—I stilled.

My smirk deepened.

I knew exactly where she had gone.

~My quarters.~

Of ~course~ she had.

Instead of hiding, instead of trying to escape, she had run straight to the heart of my domain. Where she knew I would take her apart. Where I would own every single moan, every breath, every ounce of pleasure she had to give.

She had chosen ~my~ space.

Deliberately.

I prowled forward, slow, savoring the moment.

By the time I reached my door, my patience was hanging by a thread.

The heavy wooden door was already slightly ajar, left open just enough for me to hear the sound of her breathing on the other side, fast and shallow, the sound of her body shifting, waiting.

Waiting for ~me~.

I pressed my palm against the door and pushed it open.

The room was dark, save for the silver glow of moonlight filtering through the tall windows.

And there—standing near the bed, her bare form bathed in pale light, her skin flushed, her lips parted—was my luna.

She didn’t run this time.

She lifted her chin.

Daring me.

Challenging me.

A slow, predatory smirk curved my lips.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, little wolf.”

Her eyes gleamed. “~And you love it.~”

I exhaled sharply, my hunger sharpening into something darker, something primal.

I reached back, shutting the door behind me.

Locking us in.

And then—I moved.

Fast.

Selene barely had time to react before I had her against the wall, her body pinned beneath mine, my hands gripping her hips, my mouth already at her throat, at her pulse, ~claiming~.

She gasped, her hands fisting in my hair, nails biting into my skin.

But I didn’t stop.

My mouth crashed against hers, raw and demanding, my hands braced on either side of her head as I pressed my body flush against hers.

She moaned into the kiss, her body already yielding to me.

To ~us~.

I growled against her lips. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”

She smiled, breathless. “I have an idea.”

Then, she pushed me back, guiding me toward the bed, hands pressing into my chest, ~possessive~.

I let her.

Let her ~claim~ me with every slow, deliberate shift of her body. She knew exactly what she was doing.

The moment Selene pushed me onto the bed, her eyes burning with something wicked, I knew I was in trouble.

She was breathtaking. My vision still wasn’t perfect, but clearer than the first time I had seen her.

Her dark hair spilled over her shoulders, golden skin glowing in the candlelight, her eyes smoldering as she straddled me.

She had taught me how to see her, not just through touch and scent, but through my eyes. And ~gods~—what a sight she was.

“You like watching me, don’t you?” she murmured, trailing her fingers down my stomach, nails scraping, teasing.

I growled. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.”

Selene smirked before shifting down between my legs, her hands gliding over my thighs, parting them just enough. My breathing deepened, my body thrumming.

She knew exactly how to unravel me.

And now, I could ~watch~ her do it.

Her breath ghosted over me, making my muscles tighten. Then, without hesitation, she took me into her mouth, ~hot~ and ~wet~ and ~perfect~, and I nearly lost my mind.

My hands tangled into her hair, my head tilting back. But I ~forced~ myself to look, to ~watch~ as she hollowed her cheeks, golden eyes flicking up to meet mine, ~challenging me~.

The sight alone had me wrecked.

“Fuck, Selene,” I rasped, my grip tightening as pleasure coiled low in my stomach. “You feel so fucking good.”

She hummed in response, the vibration making my hips jerk up instinctively, my body demanding more of her. She let me, taking me deeper, her tongue pressing against the sensitive underside of my cock. My entire body shuddered.

It was overwhelming. The heat of her mouth, the slick slide of her tongue, the sight of her between my legs, completely unafraid of how undone she was making me.

And then, just as I was teetering on the edge, she pulled away, her lips red, her pupils blown wide.

I barely had time to curse before she was crawling back up my body, her mouth crashing against mine. I groaned at the taste of myself on her tongue, the sheer filth of it, and flipped us, pinning her beneath me.

Her chest heaved, her lips parted as my fingers trailed between her thighs—already soaking. The scent of her arousal filled my lungs, making my wolf snarl in satisfaction.

I needed to taste her.

So I did.

I kissed, nipped, licked my way down her body, and the second my tongue met her slick folds, she cried out, her hips bucking. I gripped her thighs, keeping her still, keeping her right where I wanted her, and ~devoured~ her.

Her fingers twisted into my hair, her legs trembling around my shoulders. I watched as she came undone, her back arching, mouth open on a silent scream, lost in the pleasure I was giving her.

And I wasn’t done.

I lifted my head, licking my lips as I crawled back up her body. She was breathless, cheeks flushed, pupils dark with need.

I lined myself up with her entrance, teasing.

Her nails dug into my back. “Lux,” she breathed, a plea, a demand.

I smirked, brushing my lips against her ear. ~“Say it again.”~

She did.

And then I ~ruined~ her.

Her brows furrowed as another cry ripped from her throat, her body arching into me. Gods—watching her take me, feeling her squeeze me so tight it was torture, was almost enough to break me.

I groaned, my jaw clenching as I slowed, forcing myself to pull out just before the tension coiled too tight.

Selene whined, her nails biting into my shoulders.

“Luxury—”

I silenced her with my mouth, kissing down her body, savoring the way her golden skin trembled beneath my lips.

My hands gripped her thighs, spreading them wider as I tasted her again.

Selene gasped, her back bowing off the bed, her fingers twisting into my hair.

I devoured her, licking, sucking, teasing—until she was dripping for me. I felt her breath stutter as she neared release, but just before she could fall, I pulled back.

She shuddered, chest heaving, thighs quivering.

“You—~bastard,~” she gasped, chest heaving, thighs quivering.

I grinned, licking my lips. “Not yet, little wolf.”

Before she could respond, I pushed back inside her, slow, savoring the way she clenched around me, wetter than before.

Her fingers traced my shoulders, her legs wrapping around my waist, pulling me deeper. The sight of her—flushed, panting, lips parted—had me on edge all over again, but I refused to let it end too soon.

I ~stopped~ again.

Selene growled, amber eyes flashing, her hands gripping my arms in protest.

“Patience,” I murmured, pressing kisses to her throat, trailing my tongue over her pulse. “I want you to fall apart for me. Again. And again.”

She whimpered, bucking up, desperate for more friction, but I held her still, licking and biting down her body, making her plead.

And then—only then—did I thrust into her again, driving her toward another climax.

Selene’s body clenched around me, my name tumbling from her lips like a prayer.

I groaned as release tore through me, locking me in place as I emptied myself into her. Selene gasped, her fingers digging into my back, holding me to her as we trembled together.

I pressed my forehead against hers, breathing hard, feeling the steady beat of her heart against my chest. “I love you, Selene Artemis,” I murmured, raw with emotion. “And I’m sorry I didn’t find you sooner.”

She inhaled sharply, her fingers tightening on my arms. “We have each other now. That’s all that matters.”

I kissed her, slow and deep, mapping every inch of her. I had seen her now, really seen her, and gods—she was mine.

But the moment didn’t last.

A sharp knock rattled the door, followed by Erik’s urgent voice.

~“Alpha!”~

I tensed, my body going rigid over Selene’s. Erik never interrupted unless it was serious.

Selene’s brows furrowed. “What—”

“Lux, it’s urgent. We have reports of hunter activity near the eastern border.”

The heat of the moment vanished, replaced by duty. I forced myself to move, slipping out of Selene. Both of us winced at the loss of warmth. I grabbed my pants, already in motion.

Selene was fastening a belt, sliding a dagger into the sheath at her thigh. The shift from intimacy to readiness was sharp, but she didn’t hesitate. Neither did I.

I opened the door. Erik stood there, tension etched into his face. He was alone, which meant whatever this was—it was dire.

“How many?” I demanded.

“At least a dozen, maybe more,” he answered. “They were spotted near the ridge. Scouts are tracking them, but they’re moving fast.”

Selene was already set, her golden eyes sharp, Kora pacing beneath the surface. “Then we go now.”

“It’s a provocation, Lux. They want us to make the first move,” Erik warned.

A slow, simmering heat unfurled in my chest—not desire, but rage.

The hunters had taken enough.

Now, they wanted to test our borders?

Not on my watch.

I adjusted my sword strap, rolling my shoulders. “We’re not sending a message. We’re making a statement.”

Selene’s fingers brushed against mine in silent agreement.

Erik nodded. “I’ll alert the others. We leave in five.”

With that, he disappeared down the hall.

Selene turned to me, exhaling sharply, rolling her shoulders. “Are you ready for this?”

I met her gaze—her body still marked by me, her lips swollen, but her eyes fierce.

I cupped her jaw, brushing my thumb along her cheek. “With you? Always.”

Her breath hitched slightly before she smirked. “Then let’s remind them who the fuck we are.”

I grinned, the sharp thrill of the hunt settling deep in my bones.

Side by side, we left the room, ready to end whatever threat dared to challenge us.