Rokan

ROKAN

I kicked the bathroom door shut behind us, my gaze never leaving Arilee. She stood before me, defiance and desire radiating from her. My blood surged, pulse quickening as I drank in every curve and line of her body.

"Last chance to back out," I growled, giving her one final opportunity to change her mind.

Arilee's lips curved into a challenging smile. "I'm not going anywhere."

Four little words. Four little words that made me lose what was left of my control. In two swift strides, I closed the distance between us, my hands finding her waist. I lifted her easily, setting her on the edge of the counter.

"Good," I murmured, my voice rough with need.

My fingers found the hem of her shirt, tugging it upwards. Arilee raised her arms, allowing me to pull it over her head. I tossed it aside, uncaring where it landed. My gaze roved hungrily over her newly exposed skin.

Arilee's hands weren't idle, her touch like burning embers everywhere her fingers trailed, stoking the fire building in my core.

"Your turn," she breathed, reaching for the fastenings of my shirt.

I allowed her to remove it, watching her face as she took in the sight of my bare torso. Her pupils dilated, a flush creeping up her neck. Her sweet, honeyed scent hit me, making my head spin.

"Like what you see?" It was impossible not to tease her, just a bit.

Arilee's eyes snapped up to mine. "You know I do," she retorted.

Her hands slid down my abdomen, fingers dipping just below the waistband of my pants. I sucked in a sharp breath, fighting to maintain control.

"Careful," I warned, my voice low and dangerous. "You're playing with fire."

"Maybe I want to get burned," Arilee challenged, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

I growled, unable to resist any longer. My mouth claimed hers, pouring all my pent-up desire into it. Arilee responded with equal fervor, her arms wrapping around my neck to pull me closer.

As we kissed, my hands worked at removing the rest of her clothing. I peeled away each layer, revealing more of her soft, enticing skin. Arilee shivered as the night air hit her, but I knew it wasn't from cold.

When she was finally bare before me, I pulled back to admire her. My eyes raked over her form, committing every detail to memory. Arilee squirmed under my intense gaze, her cheeks coloring.

My gaze lingered on Arilee's exposed form, savoring every curve and contour. But as my eyes reached her neck and wrists, I froze. Angry welts marred her delicate skin, a harsh reminder of Gorin's brutality.

I'd known about them. Seen the marks before. So why did they affect me now?

Fury erupted within me, sudden and scorching. I yearned to rip Gorin apart for daring to harm her. The need to shield Arilee, to guard her from further torment, consumed me.

But I pushed those thoughts aside. They had no place here, not now.

"?" Arilee's soft voice claimed me from my dark musings. "Is something wrong?"

I shook my head, forcing a smile. "Nothing. You're beautiful."

My fingers ghosted over the bruises on her wrist, gentle as a feather. Arilee trembled at my touch, her eyes fluttering closed.

"Do they hurt?" I murmured.

As she opened her eyes, I had the strangest sensation of falling into them.

"Not anymore."

I leaned in, pressing my lips to the marks on her neck. Arilee gave a blissful sigh, her hands flying to my shoulders.

"Let me make you forget," I murmured against her skin. "Just for tonight."

Arilee's expression softened for a second before that familiar spark of defiance returned to her eyes. "You're still overdressed," she pointed out, her hands moving to the fastenings of my pants.

I let her undress me, my breath catching as her fingers brushed against sensitive areas. When we were both nude, I lifted her once more, carrying her towards the shower.

"Ready?" I asked, my hand on the controls.

Arilee nodded, her eyes never leaving mine. I turned on the water, adjusting the temperature before stepping under the spray with her in my arms.

The warm water cascaded over us, steam rising to fill the enclosed space. Arilee inhaled sharply as the heat hit her skin, her body arching against mine. The feeling of her wet, slippery form pressed against me was intoxicating.

I set her down carefully, making sure she had her footing on the slick tile. My hands ran down her sides, savoring the feel of her smooth skin beneath my palms. Arilee's eyes fluttered closed, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

"Turn around," I instructed, my voice husky with desire.

Arilee complied, presenting her back to me. I reached for the soap, lathering it between my hands before beginning to wash her. I started at her shoulders, kneading the tense muscles there. Arilee leaned into my touch, sighing contentedly.

As I worked my way down her back, I marveled at the contrast between us. Her pale, delicate skin against my gray, battle-hardened hide. We were so different, yet in this moment, we fit together perfectly.

My hands slid around to her front, cupping her breasts. Arilee gasped, her head falling back. I nuzzled into her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent.

"," she breathed, her voice thick with need.

My hands continued their exploration of Arilee's form, softer and more delicate than any I'd ever known before. My fingers rolled her pebbled nipples between them, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from her. She arched into my touch, her body a symphony of reactions, each one resonating within me.

"," she whimpered as she shook. "What are you..."

"Making sure you're totally clean," I replied, my voice a low rumble against the backdrop of the water's rhythmic patter.

My hand trailed down her quivering belly, fingers splaying over the smooth skin of her lower abdomen. Heat emanated from her core. My hand slipped lower, brushing through the soft curls before delving into her slick folds.

Arilee's breath hitched as I found her clit, circling the sensitive bundle of nerves with deliberate precision. Her hips bucked, seeking more, and I obliged, my fingers deftly working over and around her most intimate places.

"Oh, God," she moaned, her hands reaching back to grip my thighs for support.

I licked and nipped at her neck, my canines grazing her skin, careful not to break it. Her scent was maddening, a drug I couldn't seem to get enough of. And then, an unexpected urge surged through me—the primal drive to claim her, to mark her as mine with a Vinduthi claiming bite.

The shock of the thought nearly made me recoil. What was I thinking? I was too broken for a mate, too tainted by the wars and the horrors I'd seen. I couldn't offer her anything more than fleeting pleasure, a temporary respite from the harsh realities of her life.

And yet, the idea of sinking my teeth into her, of binding her to me with my DNA, was intoxicating. It was a foolish, dangerous fantasy, one I quickly pushed aside.

"You're so responsive," I whispered into her ear, my fingers continuing their wicked dance. "So beautiful."

Arilee's response was a series of incoherent whimpers, her body writhing under my touch. Her walls tightened around my fingers as I slowly finger-fucked her, the heel of my palm grinding against her clit with each deliberate thrust.

The sounds of our mingled pleasures echoed off the tiled walls, audible proof of the desire that raged between us. I wanted her, needed to consume her, to brand her with my touch in ways that went beyond the physical.

"Come for me, Arilee," I commanded, my voice barely recognizable to my own ears.

As if my words were the final key, Arilee's body convulsed, her inner muscles clamping down on my fingers as she cried out her release. The sound of her pleasure was music to my ears, a triumphant cry that filled the small space.

I pulled Arilee into my arms, her body limp and sated from her recent climax. Her head lolled against my chest, a faint, satisfied smile playing on her lips. I carried her to the bed, the soft sheets a stark contrast to her flushed skin. Gently, I laid her down, her blonde hair fanning out around her like a halo.

Kneeling between her legs, I took a moment to appreciate the sight before me. Arilee's body was a canvas of pale skin, marked by the harsh realities of her past, yet she lay there, trusting me with an innocence that both humbled and terrified me. Those beautiful blue eyes met mine, a silent invitation that ignited a fire within my core.

I leaned forward, my hands on her thighs, spreading them wider. I could smell her arousal, a heady scent that beckoned me closer. My gaze fixed on the glistening prize between her legs, and I licked my lips in anticipation. Nothing had ever tasted as good as Arilee's desire.

"," she whispered, her voice a mixture of need and vulnerability.

"I've got you," I assured her, my voice a low growl that vibrated through the room.

I lowered my head, my tongue darting out for a tentative taste. The sweetness of her exploded on my tongue, a flavor so intoxicating that I could only groan in approval. Arilee's hips bucked at the sound, a soft whimper escaping her lips as she fisted her hands in my hair.

My hands moved to grip her hips, holding her in place as I delved deeper. My tongue lapped at her, swirling around her clit before I sucked the sensitive nub into my mouth. Arilee's response was immediate, her body arching off the bed as she cried out in pleasure.

"Oh, God, ," she panted, her fingers carding through my hair, grazing against my horns.

The feeling of her touch on such a sensitive part of my anatomy went straight to my cock, a reminder of our differences, yet in this moment, those differences only served to heighten the experience.

I fucked her with my tongue, each stroke deliberate and precise, desperate to memorize every fold, every texture, every taste of her. Arilee's cries of pleasure grew louder, her words jumbled and incoherent as she neared the edge once again.

"Please, , I can't—" she gasped, her body tense with the impending release.

I knew what she needed. I increased the pressure, my tongue flicking rapidly against her clit as I slid two fingers inside her. Her inner walls clenched around them, a vice-like grip that threatened to undo me.

"Let go, Arilee," I murmured against her, the vibrations of my voice adding another layer of sensation. "I've got you."

Her cry reverberated through the room as she shattered beneath me. Arilee's body quaked, her hips bucking against my face while ecstasy coursed through her. I savored every drop of her essence, the flavor making my head spin.

I pulled back, pressing my lips to her inner thigh before standing tall. There lay Arilee, the picture of fulfilled bliss, her chest heaving with each labored breath. A surge of pride swelled within me at the sight of her expression.

But I'd only just begun.