23. Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Z oya

He gifts me with a new smile, one I’ve never seen before. It’s achingly slow, full of affection and appreciation, and… trust, because he bares the full length of his fangs for me, reminding me he’s not my kind. Perhaps he’s giving me one last chance to back out.

In answer to his unspoken question, I say one word. “Yes.”

He shows his animalistic roots when he moves so fast he’s almost a blur, lifting me into his arms and striding with me to the bedroom. Instead of ripping off my clothes and taking what he wants, Lash opens my thighs so I’m straddling his waist as he stands near the foot of the bed and kisses me.

His lips are soft and sweet as he teases a response from me. Our tongues tangle, not a fight but a dance as they speak their own language.

“You amaze me.” His voice is husky, full of meaning. “So beautiful. Such a kind soul.”

As his lips graze my neck, leaving a trail of hot kisses, I arch my back, offering myself to him. My nipples feel desperate. I need his hands on them as much as I need air to breathe. The sensation of his fangs grazing my jaw sends sparks down my spine. It’s a mixture of fear and desire that intensifies the passion between us.

I run my fingers through his hair, feeling the soft strands as I pull him closer. The scent of him, a mix of loam and musk, fills my senses, driving me wild, reminding me of my own animal roots hiding deep in my soul.

His hands roam my body, exploring shoulders to bottom with reverence and hunger. I moan into his mouth as my body responds eagerly to his touch.

His rigid length rides the valley between my legs. I’m no virgin. I shouldn’t be shocked, but I’ve never wanted this before. Never desired . Never been curious to see what a male hid beneath his pants. Never wanted to clutch his girth or taste his seed.

I do now. I want it all with Lash.

As if a dam has broken, the need for more overwhelms me. I squeeze his shoulders, urging him toward the bed. The moment he eases me to the mattress and joins me, I straddle him, taking control in a way I never thought I could—even though I just told him he should take the lead.

His eyes darken with desire, gray as a stormy sky, as he watches me.

“That’s right, Zoya. Take what you want. Slow or fast, hard or easy. I’m yours.”

He lies back, cupping his palms on the back of his head as if he is a secret present, just for me. All I need to do is unwrap him. And I do, with a hunger that surprises even me.

In this moment, with him beneath me, I feel powerful and free, a wild thing unleashed.

I revel in the sensations coursing through me as I explore Lash’s body with a newfound confidence. My hands, guided by desire and instinct, trace the lines of his muscles, feeling the strength and heat beneath his skin. Every touch, every caress, draws a response from him—a gasp, a shudder, a low growl of pleasure.

His masculine scent surrounds me, intoxicating and raw, igniting a primitive fire within me. I drink it in, letting it fuel my own lust-filled urges as I continue to unravel him, uncovering the depths of both his heated passion and open vulnerability.

I lean down to capture his lips in a searing kiss. Our breath mingles, hot and urgent, as we lose ourselves in the primal rhythm of our bodies, moving in perfect harmony as I ride him, grinding against him with ferocity.

I feel the weight of his gaze on me, overflowing with desire and hunger, a mirror to my own untamed yearning. In this moment, there are no rules, no boundaries—only the raw, unbridled connection between us that transcends words and thoughts.

I revel in the power coursing through me, a wild thing unleashed. With each movement, each touch, I claim him as mine, a fierce and beautiful creature who willingly offers himself to me.

I fumble with the drawstring at his waist, but eventually untie the knot and pull his sweats down and off. The heat of the moment cools as I focus on his ankles. His nice, safe, not-sexy ankles.

His chuckle vibrates through me. It’s so unexpected, it jolts me out of my paralysis. I capture his gaze with mine.

“Want the guided tour?” His tone is so open, so friendly. It gives me permission for everything I’ve done and everything I’m planning to do.

Try as I might to make this scary, Lash is using just as much effort to make this work. How could I not love him?

Blin! Did I just think that? Did I just say I love him? Even though it wasn’t out loud, its echo was deafening in my head.

“Hmm, pretty Zoya? Would it be easier to touch and not look? Look and not touch? Put my pants back on and wait until another day?” His brow furrows as his casual expression becomes serious. “It’s not that I don’t want you, Zoya. Perhaps you’ve snuck a peek and know I’m hard enough to crack cement. But that means nothing if you’re not ready.”

His words act like a magic spell. The more he says he’s happy to wait, the less patient I become. I slam my lids shut, thrust my hand toward him, and demand, “I want to touch and not look.”

Another feral chuckle tickles my senses as he grips my wrist.

“I’m big, but I imagine you’ve already guessed that.”

“Yes.” He’s tall and, though he’s not thick in the shoulders, he’s wiry and muscular. I don’t doubt he’s big below the waist.

“There’s another surprise, but we’ll get there in due time.”

Does he notice that every muscle in my body stiffens at the words, “another surprise”?

He doesn’t barge ahead, doesn’t yank my hand toward his cock. Instead, he pulls my hand to his lips as he sits up, performing an effortless crunch as he kisses each fingertip, then settles my hand on his chest.

It’s warm and slightly slick, perhaps from the effort of holding himself back from acting on what we both want. Mostly, though, my attention is caught by the feel of those perfect rippling abs.

“I watched you cooking the first day I stayed with you. You weren’t wearing a shirt. It made my mouth dry.”

“And here I thought you were immune to my charms.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t notice I was tongue-tied.”

“To be honest, you know wolven have a superhuman sense of smell. Your scent did give me a little hint that you were… impressed.”

“Impressed. Yes. That’s one way to say it.”

Now that my fear has eased off, he doesn’t let us get bogged down in talk. He places my hand on the trail of coarse hair that arrows down from his navel. When I pause, his tone is gentle when he asks, “Are you lost, little Zoya? Shall I help you find your way?”

Surprising myself, I nod.

He places my hand around his length, then pulls his hand away.

Part of me wants to open my eyes and take a good look, but I think waiting is the smart move. I’ll reveal my wolven male one sense at a time.

My fingertips graze along the underside of his shaft. “Soft as velvet,” I murmur.

“Not so much, really.” Again, his tone is so calm, as if we’re two lovers who know each other well. As though this isn’t our first time. As though we aren’t two different species. As though I haven’t been terrorized by a cock before.

I let out a little huff of a laugh as I grip him a bit tighter. “You’re right,” I admit. “Not so soft.”

No. Not soft. Hard as steel. As he said, hard enough to crack cement.

I feel as though I climbed a mountain and just reached the summit. Now that I’ve gotten to the top, it’s going to be a downhill slide from here. The difficult part is over.

“Now don’t freak out, Lash. I know your feelings are tender, but I’m going to open my eyes now.”

How about that? Instead of feeling scared, I just told a joke. I want to see the beautiful cock I’m gripping in my eager hand.