23. Elianna

Chapter twenty-three

Elianna

I stood before the small cottage that was set an acre behind the manor of the Cadoria Estate, staring at my mate as he moved toward the house that built him. He rarely spoke of his mother, but anytime he did, I was paralyzed by an overwhelming sense of grief as his emotions consumed both of us.

He took another hesitant step toward the adorably crafted home that was set off to the far side of the backyard, surrounded by trees for a sense of privacy. I watched from a small distance behind him as he took in the sight of it all.

I closed the gap between us and laced my fingers with his as I pressed my lips to his shoulder. He took in a shuddering breath at the contact.

“It never gets easier. Returning here. I think it's the main reason I rarely ever do,” Jace admitted.

I pivoted my body and wrapped my arms around his front, our chests pressed together. “I’m very proud of you for what you did today.” He answered with a low hum. “And we don’t have to stay here, Jace. We can go back to your aunt's house and find a room, just as Zae and Gage had with the others.”

He let out a breathy laugh as he pulled me even tighter to him and rested his chin on my forehead. “I know. I was hoping for some alone time with you. We’ve had so little of it.”

“I know,” I whispered into his chest.

I tilted my head up to look at him as his gaze remained ahead. His hazel eyes sparkled beneath the moonlight, but his jaw was tense—locked, as if every ounce of pain he had ever felt for his mother came crashing back into him.

My gaze wandered past the cottage, where a small, woodsy area marked the boundary of his family's land. A private forest hidden within the valley, all to ourselves. A menacing smile curved my lips, and I was grateful he couldn’t see it from where he stood.

His body stiffened. “What are you up to?” he asked, his voice heavy with anticipation, causing a rush of heat to pool between my thighs.

I hummed softly. “I don’t know what you mean.”

His wicked laugh nearly brought me to my knees as his grip on me loosened slightly. “My darling Lia, you are up to no good.” I took a step away, looking up at him with a grin. He took a matching step toward me as he watched me beneath furrowed brows.

“What makes you think that?” I asked as I continued to move backward, toward the trees.

“You forget, I can now sense everything about you. As each day passes, I learn how to decipher it—how to decipher you . And you, my love, are absolutely up to something.”

“Something…” I drew out the word .

“Something wicked,” he answered, and my nipples tightened beneath my shirt. I watched his mouth as he spoke these words, and all I could think about was how I longed for his lips to be on me instead, putting them to far better use.

“Wicked indeed,” I answered with a wink right before I took off in a sprint, darting directly for the woods.

I expected him to chase after me immediately, but when I glanced over my shoulder as I ran toward the trees, I was surprised to find him watching me intently—his dimple on display as his face was graced with the most alluring smile.

I came to a halt at the forest’s edge and turned to face him.

“Not going to see what wickedness lies in my thoughts, Commander?” I called to him, triggering him to take a single step forward.

My heart raced in anticipation.

“Is it a chase you want, Elianna?” he cooed as his stride continued in my direction. “Because, my Lia , I will chase you to the ends of the world and beyond. Until there isn’t another step to be taken, for then I plan to freefall together into the vale. It’s just you and me, sweetheart—destined to relive our descent over the waterfall.”

His promise sent a chilling shiver up my spine. As his steps moved toward me, I continued our little dance and matched them backward once more until I was hidden within the shadows of the trees.

Jace’s pace quickened slightly as he lost sight of me. “So I will ask you once more, my queen. Do you wish for me to chase you to the edge of the realm?” His tone had darkened, and my knees nearly buckled beneath me. “I’m waiting, Elianna…”

“Always,” I spoke so softly I was almost certain he couldn’t have heard it until he suddenly charged at me.

I let out a noise that was equal parts giggle and squeal as I bolted further into the trees. I sprinted through narrow gaps of towering pines, leapt over jagged-edged boulders, and ducked beneath low-hanging branches, refusing to look back as I sensed him right on my tail.

Suddenly, it went quiet behind me, and my steps instantly halted. I listened to the wind as it whistled through the treetops and whipped around, assuming to come face-to-face with him, but was met with nothing but the woods’ shadows.

My eyes peered through the darkness of the foggy haze that glided between the trees. Crickets sounded, but there wasn’t an echo of footsteps or the sound of a gasping breath. It appeared I was completely alone, but I knew better.

Our bond throbbed beneath my skin, and I felt the steadiness of his beating heart and his deep, pulsing arousal.

On silent feet, I swiftly moved through the brush, carefully stepping over the roots, and pressed my back against the trunk of the oak tree to my right.

Steadying my breathing, I went to peek around once more, when suddenly, the touch of a calloused hand wrapped itself around my throat. A second later, I was enveloped in his scent of embers and cedarwood, fueling a menacing grin to spread across my face as I met my false attacker’s eyes.

His grip on my throat was light but put enough pressure to have me slightly straining for air. “What are your plans now that you’ve caught me, Commander?” I asked, my voice sultry.

A growl rumbled deep in his chest, and in one swift movement, his grip went from my throat to picking me up and pinning me against a tree.

He brought his lips to my ear, and the feeling of his breath sent a shudder through my body. “I’ve been dreaming of what I could do to you since I had you last.”

I inhaled a staggered breath at his words. He started kissing down my neck slowly, his teeth grazing my skin as he took his time teasing me.

I let out an involuntary moan. “Jace,” I breathed.

He lowered my legs back down to the ground while taking his hands and moving them over every inch of me, every curve. Our breaths became heavier, our pace getting more chaotic and rushed. My eyes closed under the weight of his touch as my heart pounded with anticipation and the need for him.

Once his hands met my hips, he gripped the buckle of my pants and tore them open, shoving them down my legs before ripping them off completely and throwing them to the side.

I glanced down at my ruined pants and raised a brow, to which he replied, “I prefer them this way.”

Before I could respond, his mouth was on mine once more, hoisting me up in his arms again as I wrapped my thighs around his waist, pulling myself closer…tighter…deeper into him.

Jace buried his face in the nape of my neck, kissing and nibbling on every inch of my skin he could find.

He tore the fabric of my shirt with ease, exposing my bare breasts. With my entire naked body on display for him, I knew there wasn't anything I wouldn’t do for him. The thought alone sent a pulse of rushing heat between my thighs until I felt myself growing wetter beneath his ravenous stare. A moment later, his mouth was on my nipples, securing one between his teeth—licking, sucking, and biting in the most torturous movements.

The feeling of his hands traveled down my body and a growl left him as his fingertips reached my soaking wet center.

His touch sent a jolt of pleasure through me. Holding me up against the tree, he brought his fingers to my mouth, and I sucked on them, closing my eyes while I let out a moan at the taste of me on him.

“Jace, please. I need you.” My words were barely audible. He gripped his cock and lined himself up with my throbbing center, and his restraint finally snapped as he slowly inserted himself and started spreading me open.

His muscular arms caught me effortlessly as my body bucked against his. Jace held me in place as his hands gripped my ass while he moved me up and down his cock, his movements never faltering.

My mate’s growls of pleasure and ragged breaths filled the forest air, and as his pace sped up, our bodies were reaching their climax together .

Nothing would ever feel as good as him— nothing . I felt as if my body would erupt from the intensity of it all.

He tugged me to him, pulling my back away from where it rested on the tree as our mouths collided. I caught his lower lip with my canines, biting down until I earned a moan from him.

Gently lowering our entwined bodies to the forest floor, he laid my back against the terrain. I wrapped my legs around his middle, pushing him deeper into me as I begged for more. His lips kissed my neck as he continued to thrust in and out of me while I grabbed his hair, running my fingers through it.

Our tether was on fire—burning in the intense blaze of our love and absolute need for one another. A surge of energy coursed through our linked souls, igniting a flickering flame that blazed within me, its heat so intense it felt as if I was being engulfed in a scorching inferno.

I peered down and was met with a gold-flecked hazel gaze and heaved my hips upwards as his cock remained inside me. Pushing my thighs over his body, I rolled us over and climbed on top of him to take charge. I sat up on his length and rolled my hips, earning a needy groan from him, which had me instantly going faster and deeper, circling my hips so I could feel every inch of him.

“Lia.” My name was a wicked curse on his tongue.

My fingers threaded through his tousled hair as I continued to ride his cock. He lifted his hand to my face and pressed his thumb into the swell of my bottom lip. “Such a good girl,” he cooed. “So fucking perfect. ”

And with that, we both came undone—the linked blaze between us erupted as we surrendered ourselves completely to one another.

With the rush of pleasure sizzling out in our veins, the sounds of rustling leaves transformed the forest floor into a tranquil sanctuary. Breaths heaving, I collapsed against his chest. Our limbs intertwined, we nuzzled into each other, watching the stars gleam through the trees’ canopy before sleep claimed us both.