20. Zane

20

ZANE

The dojo is quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of our breathing and the soft rustle of fabric as we move. The aftermath of sparring still buzzes in the air, mingling with the gradually brightening morning light that filters through the high windows. Shadows recede, giving way to a warm glow that softens the edges of the room.

Aria stretches nearby, her movements deliberate, as if she’s trying to stretch the tension out of her body. I watch her, feeling the weight of everything unsaid between us.

“How’s your eye?” she asks without looking at me, but there’s a hint of concern lacing her tone.

I touch the swelling around my eye, offering a small shrug. “Nothing I haven’t handled before. You have a good right hook.”

She smiles a little at that, the corners of her mouth twitching upward, and it feels like a win. I lean back, letting the coolness of the mat seep into my skin, and for a moment, we sit in silence. It’s a tentative peace, fragile but real.

“You aren’t what I expected,” Aria says suddenly, her voice quiet but steady.

I glance over, meeting her gaze. “Neither are you.”

She raises an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. “And what did you expect?”

I think about it, about the past and the version of her I thought I knew. “Someone who’d never look at me again,” I admit. “Someone who’d run the second she saw me.”

Aria tilts her head, studying me. “I thought about it, but I’m tired of running.”

We fall silent again, but it’s different now—less charged and more contemplative. I’m not sure how we got here, sharing the quiet like it’s some kind of truce, but I don’t want to break it. The soft hum of the air-conditioning fills the space between us.

“What’s next?” Aria asks hesitantly.

I sit up and lean forward, placing my elbows on my knees. The movement causes the mat to creak slightly. “We have to be smart about this. Logan—Noah—whatever he’s calling himself, he’s good at playing the long game. We’ve tightened security, but he knows how to slip through cracks.”

Aria nods and looks away, a blush creeping up her face, leading me to wonder if that’s what she was actually asking. “What if we stop reacting and start planning? We’ve been on the defensive, but maybe it’s time to take control.”

I can’t help but smile at the resolve in her voice. “I like that. It’s bold.”

She shrugs, but there’s a spark in her eyes. “I’m done letting him dictate the terms. We set the rules now.”

We lean in, the energy between us shifting from tense to collaborative.

“What if we set up a fake meet?” Aria suggests, her eyes bright with intensity. “Draw him out on our terms.”

I nod, considering the notion. “Could work, but he’s cautious. We’d need to make it irresistible.”

“His ego,” Aria says, snapping her fingers. “That’s his weakness. If he thinks he’s outsmarted us…”

“He’ll get cocky,” I finish, feeling a spark of excitement. “Maybe we leak some false information and make him think he has the upper hand.”

Aria’s already shaking her head. “Too risky. What if he calls our bluff? We need something more…”

“Personal,” I interject. “Something only you would know.”

She pauses, a shadow crossing her face. “There might be something, but it… it isn’t easy to talk about.”

I reach out, almost touching her arm before stopping myself. “Hey, we don’t have to go there if you aren’t ready.”

Aria takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. “No, you’re right. It’s time to use everything we’ve got.”

As she starts explaining her idea, I marvel at her resilience and quick thinking. It’s like seeing her for the first time, and I have to remind myself to focus on her words, not the way her eyes light up when she’s onto something.

“Zane? Are you still with me?” she asks, snapping me back to attention.

I nod sheepishly. Honestly, I’m not even sure I know what she said.

“Yeah, sorry. Just… You’re really good at this. I don’t think I ever gave you enough credit before.”

A small smile tugs at her lips. “Better late than never, I guess.”

“You’ve really thought about this,” I say, impressed.

Aria lets out a small, self-deprecating laugh. “You learn a lot when you’re constantly looking over your shoulder.” She glances at me, her eyes searching mine. “Do you think he’ll try to make contact again?”

I nod, the seriousness of the situation settling over us. “He isn’t done, Aria, not by a long shot, but we won’t let him get to you.”

There’s a long pause, and then she reaches out, resting her hand lightly on mine. It’s a simple gesture, but it feels monumental. “Thank you, Zane, for… for trying.”

I squeeze her hand gently. “I’m not just trying, Aria. I’m all in. Whatever it takes.”

We sit side by side on the mat, our hands still linked. It isn’t a grand reconciliation or a sweeping promise, but it’s a start. The morning light fully fills the room now, casting a warm glow over everything and highlighting the dust motes floating in the air.

I don’t want to release her hand, but far too soon, she stands, and I follow, not wanting to let go of her.

As we gather our things, I catch her looking at me, a question hovering on her lips. “What?”

“Dinner,” she says, almost as if testing the word. “To talk strategy. Somewhere public.”

I nod, unable to suppress the smile that spreads across my face. “Sounds perfect.”

Suddenly, a thought occurs to me, and I feel a twinge of uncertainty. “The others… The pack… They might have opinions about this.” We were all doing this together, and I don’t want to feel like I have one up on the guys, but I’m hoping I can call this a start.

Aria pauses, considering. “Let them. We’re doing this our way.”

Her assertion, so confident and unyielding, sends a surge of admiration through me. It’s so quintessentially Aria—strong-willed and determined.

I watch her walk toward the door. She’s perfect, and I’m a fool for taking this long to see it.

She pauses as though she can feel my eyes on her and turns slowly, blinking those beautiful hazel eyes at me and giving me a soft smile.

“Fuck it,” I hear her whisper before she drops everything and runs toward me.

My heart crashes against my chest, and I catch her, but the surprise of her running toward me and not away shocks me so much I’m slightly unbalanced. I tumble to the mat on my back, adjusting so she doesn’t hit it, then I roll her under me, pinning her wrists gently but firmly above her head. Her pupils dilate, and her breath hitches, the scent of her arousal filling the air.

Before I can breathe, she kisses me, her lips soft yet demanding. For a moment, I’m too stunned to react, my mind struggling to catch up with what’s happening, but then instinct takes over, and I kiss her back with equal fervor, one hand tightening around her wrists while the other trails down her side, feeling the goosebumps on her skin.

The kiss deepens, months of tension and unspoken desire pouring out between us. Aria’s fingers flex under my grip, and I can feel her heart racing against my chest. The world narrows down to her body beneath mine, the taste of her on my tongue, and the soft sounds she makes as I trail kisses down her neck, inhaling her scent deeply.

Her fingers thread into my hair, tightening her grip, as her lips crash onto mine, the heat of her mouth leaving no doubt about her intentions. My hands slip around her waist, gripping her tightly as our bodies press together.

“Wait,” I rasp, pulling back slightly. Our breaths mingle in the scant space between us. “Are you sure about this? You know what I like, Aria. I need you to be sure.”

Aria’s eyes are dark with want, but there’s clarity there too. “I’m sure, Zane. I want this. I want you. I want you to take control. I want you to own me.”

Her words ignite something primal within me. I capture her lips again, pouring every ounce of pent-up longing into the kiss. My hands roam over her body, memorizing every curve and shiver. Aria arches into me, raking her nails down my back, the slight pain sending a rush of pleasure through me.

With a sensual bite to my lower lip, Aria breaks the kiss and starts unbuttoning my shirt, her nimble fingers working fast. Her eyes never leave mine as she pulls the fabric away from my body, revealing my chest, which heaves with every labored breath. Desire courses through me as she drags her fingernails across my skin, leaving trails of fire in their wake.

“You’re driving me crazy, Aria,” I growl, my voice thick with lust. “I can’t wait to be inside you and feel your heat wrapped around me.”

Done with my shirt, Aria rolls me over, and she eases my pants down, along with my boxers. My erection springs free, hard and throbbing with need, and my knot pulsates. Wrapping her warm hand around the base of my shaft, Aria looks up at me and smirks devilishly before she licks her lips and takes me into her mouth. The sensation of her soft tongue swirling around the head nearly makes my knees buckle.

“God, Aria,” I hiss. “Your mouth feels so good… so hot and wet.”

Aria takes me deeper into her mouth while her hands begin to stroke what she can’t fit between her lips. I swear under my breath as sensations overwhelm me. The wet warmth of her mouth, combined with the expert movements of her tongue, has me shuddering, but I don’t dare move. I let her take control, her movements sending waves of pleasure through me.

“You’re making me rock hard, Aria,” I growl. “I need to be inside you. I need to feel your tight pussy gripping me.”

Knowing I need more, I reach down and gently tug on Aria’s hair until she releases me from her mouth. Panting, I help her to her feet and roll her under me again, pressing her firmly against the mat. I hook my fingers around the waistband of her tight leggings, feeling the heat radiating from her core. With a teasingly slow motion, I peel them away, along with her panties. She kicks them off and wraps her legs around my waist.

“You’re incredible,” I whisper into her ear as I position my throbbing cock at her entrance. The scent of her arousal is intoxicating. “And you’re mine. I’m going to claim you, Aria. I’m going to make you feel so good.”

The things I want to do to this woman… I want to grip her hands and hold them above her head as I rut into her then lock her. I want to make her submit to every little desire.

She smiles, a mix of shyness and boldness. “Show me,” she challenges softly.

I growl, a primal sound of need and acceptance of her challenge. Leaning down, I capture her mouth in another searing kiss as I thrust into her, filling her completely in one swift motion. I swallow her gasp, her body arching to meet mine. The feeling of her, hot and tight around me, is overwhelming, and I have to pause for a moment to maintain control.

Breaking the kiss, I grip her wrists and pin them above her head with one hand. Her breath hitches, and her pupils dilate even further. I love seeing her like this, spread out beneath me, her body open and willing. Mine.

“You feel so good, Aria,” I murmur, my voice rough with desire. “So tight and wet. You’re taking me so well.”

I start to move, slow and deep, each thrust deliberate and intense. Aria’s eyes flutter closed, her head tilting back as she moans softly. I watch her, taking in every expression, gasp, and shiver. I want to memorize her like this, lost in pleasure… lost in us.

“Open your eyes, Aria,” I command softly. “Look at me.”

Her eyes flutter open, meeting mine. The connection between us intensifies, and the air crackles with heat and desire. I pick up my pace, my thrusts becoming harder and faster. Aria’s breath quickens, her chest heaving, her skin flushed.

“Zane,” she whispers. “More.”

A growl rumbles in my chest at her demand. Releasing her wrists, I grip her hips, change the angle, and drive deeper. She cries out, digging her fingers into my arms. I feel her body tensing, her inner muscles clenching around me.

“That’s it, Aria,” I growl. “Take me. Take all of me.”

Leaning down, I scrape my teeth against her pulse point, then I soothe it with my tongue. She tastes sweet and salty, her scent like a drug, filling my senses and driving me wild. I feel my knot start to swell, my body ready to lock into hers.

Fuck, I want to bite her, mark her, and bond to her.

Aria wraps her legs tighter around me, urging me on. The scent of her slick fills the air, intoxicating me. “Zane,” she pleads, a whisper of submission that sends a shiver down my spine. “Bite me, alpha. Make me yours.”

I pause, buried deep in her wet heat, and grip her chin, forcing her to look at me. “Baby girl, you can’t say shit like that,” I growl, my voice thick with lust. “You’re playing with fire.”

She licks her lips, her eyes filled with hungry desperation. “I want to get burned, Zane. I want you to mark me, claim me, and fuck me like I’m yours.”

A primal groan escapes me, and I force her head to the side, licking her neck right where I want to bite her.

Fuck me, I want to, but she has no idea what she’s saying.

Releasing her chin, I grip her thigh firmly, digging my fingers into her soft flesh, then I hitch her leg higher around my hip, the angle allowing me to sink even deeper into her tight, wet heat. She cries out, digging her nails into my shoulders, the sharp pain mixing with the overwhelming pleasure, pushing me closer to the edge.

“You feel so good, Aria,” I rasp, my voice hoarse with desire. “So hot, so tight around me. You’re driving me crazy.”

“Please, alpha, bite me.” This time, she grips my chin and forces me to look at her, and this time, I see complete clarity in her hazel eyes. “You think I wouldn’t ask you if you weren’t buried deep inside me?” Holy fuck, that’s hot. She leans up and bites my lip with her tiny little canines hard enough to draw blood. My cock twitches inside her. “Make. Me. Yours.”

I look back and forth between her eyes, nerves rumbling in my stomach. “Are you?—”

“Yes.” She eases the bite with a kiss, and when she lies back down, there’s blood on her lips. My blood.

I lean down, finding the tender spot where her neck meets her shoulder, then I bite hard enough to leave a mark and claim her as mine. She moans, her inner muscles clenching around me in response to the primal act.

“That’s it, baby,” I whisper, my breath hot on her ear. “Milk my cock. Show me how much you want this… how much you want me.”

Her moans echo in the dojo, bouncing all around us.

“Let go, Aria,” I growl, my voice rough with desire, my own control hanging by a thread. “Let me feel you come. Let me feel you submit to me, to us. Come all over my cock, baby. Show me how much you love this.”

I can taste the faint metallic tang of her blood as I lick the bite mark, sealing our bond. Her body responds to mine, her orgasm crashing over her as she screams my name, and her pleasure sends me spiraling closer to my own release.

“Fuck, Aria, you’re squeezing me so tightly,” I say, my hips moving faster, pumping my cock in and out of her convulsing heat. “I can’t hold back much longer. I’m going to fill you up, baby. I’m going to fill you with my cum.”

As if on command, her body trembles, her orgasm ripping through her. She screams my name, her channel clamping down on my length, and I fall over the edge with her. My knot swells, locking us together as I spill into her, wave after wave of pleasure crashing over me.

“Take it, Aria,” I demand, my body shaking with the force of my release. “Take every last drop. You’re mine now, baby. All mine.”

We stay locked together, our bodies slick with sweat, our hearts pounding in sync. I bury my face in her neck, inhaling her scent deeply, committing this moment to memory. This is more than just sex, more than just physical release. It’s a claiming, a promise. She’s mine, and I’m hers.

Eventually, our heartbeats slow and our bodies cool. I roll us onto our sides, still locked together, not ready to let her go just yet. She snuggles into me, her head fitting perfectly into the crook of my shoulder.

“That was…” She trails off, as if words fail her.

I smile, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Yeah, it was. It was fucking incredible.”

We lie in silence for a while, just holding each other, basking in the afterglow, but reality eventually starts to creep back in. There’s still so much to deal with, so much to figure out, but for now, in this moment, everything is perfect.

“We should probably clean up,” Aria murmurs, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my chest as she looks up at me. “Maybe have dinner.”

I chuckle, capturing her hand and pressing a kiss to her fingertips. “Sounds like a plan, and then maybe we can come back here and do this all over again.”

Her pupils dilate as she pushes me down onto the mat, rolling her hips. Aria leans down, her breath hot on my ear. “Maybe we should just stay here a little longer,” she whispers, her voice sultry and full of promise. “I’m not ready to let you go just yet.”

A low growl rumbles in my chest, and I grip her hips tighter, encouraging her movements. “You’re playing with fire, Aria,” I warn, but my voice lacks any real threat. I’m already hardening inside her, my knot still locking us together, her movements sending shocks of pleasure through me.

She smirks, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Maybe I like the heat,” she teases, rolling her hips in a slow, torturous rhythm. “Besides, we have some time before dinner, and I have a few ideas about how to pass that time.”

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh, you do, do you?” I challenge, flipping us over so she’s pinned beneath me again. Her gasp of surprise turns into a moan of pleasure as I capture her mouth in a fierce kiss. “Well, let’s hear them.”

Aria grins up at me, her eyes sparkling with desire and excitement. She wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. “How about I show you instead?” she whispers, her voice laced with promise.

As she starts to move beneath me, her body arching into mine, I can’t help but smile. This is going to be an interesting evening, but for now, I’m more than happy to get lost in her and let the world outside fade away as we explore each other, learning each other’s bodies and desires.

There will be time for reality later. For now, it’s just us, locked together and lost in our own little world. It’s perfect.