Chapter 8

Valerie:

The last of the guests were gone.

The music had faded, the staff had begun clearing glasses, and the huge hall that had been so full of power and performance now felt hollow.

I walked back to our room on aching feet. My earrings and necklace clinked softly as I unclasped them, setting them down on the vanity. My fingers were trembling with fatigue and something else I didn’t want to name.

The door opened behind me.

“Sabrina, please help me out of this dress. It's been a long day and I need to get out of these heels, this dress and these jewelries.” I'm altered, not turning around.

“You handled them well tonight,” Xavier said, taking me off guard. His voice was deep but quieter now, stripped of the public mask. I jumped when he spoke before turning to face him, looking down at my feet.

“I'm sorry I didn't notice you.” I said, and he hummed in response.

“I figured that much.” He said casually.

“The night went well,” I murmured. “I didn't expect it to, but it seemed that everyone was impressed. I'm glad about that.”

I reached behind me to tug at the zipper of my dress. It stuck halfway. Before I could try again, I felt him behind me, large and solid, his presence filling the room.

“Let me,” he said.

“You don't have to.”

“I know, but you were asking a maid to do it. Might as well have your husband do it.” He said, his voice dropping to just above a whisper.

His fingers brushed mine aside and caught the zipper, slowly sliding it down, his finger gently brushing over my back. The sound of it lowering was loud in the silence. My breath caught despite myself. And it took everything in me not to turn and face him, not to give in to this masquerade..

“Where’s Annalise?” I asked, staring at my own reflection instead of his. “I expected you to be with her tonight.”

He didn’t answer. His hands moved from the zipper to my bare shoulders, warm and steady. He bent his head, his lips grazing the back of my neck. I had to fight back and moan as I felt him kissing my neck, inhaling my Sant, his heart breath hitting my skin.

“You don’t need to ask,” he murmured. “I'm here by your side and I don't think that she's anywhere in sight.”

“I wasn’t asking for your sake,” I said softly. “I was asking for mine.”

Still no answer. Just his mouth on my skin, hot and deliberate now. His teeth grazed where his mark was. He's slowly grinded against me and I could feel his hardening cock against my thigh.

My hands gripped the edge of the vanity. “Xavier…”

“Don’t,” he whispered against my skin. “Don’t start a fight now. I want you, Valerie.”

He turned me to face him. His eyes were dark, his jaw tight, but his hands were firm as they slid down my arms. The space between us dissolved.

I hated that my pulse leapt, hated that my wolf stirred under his touch. But she did. She always did. And unfortunately, despite myself, I knew that I couldn't help but react to his touch. Whenever it happened, I just found myself melting into it.

He kissed me, hard enough to bruise, a clash of teeth and heat. It wasn’t gentle. It was claiming, angry, and it dragged a sound out of my throat I didn’t recognize. And much to my disappointment, I kissed him back just as hard, wrapping my arms around him as I pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.

He lifted me easily, setting me back on the bed we’d left rumpled hours before, his mouth following mine, his grip rough on my hips. I clung to his shoulders, nails digging into skin as he pressed me down, pushing inside of me, claiming me, his thrusts aggressive, claiming, filled with need… a need that I welcomed.

It was rough, a storm of pent-up fury and something else neither of us wanted to name. He moved like he wanted to punish and protect in the same breath, like he needed to remind himself I was there, still his. And I scratched his neck, leaving a mark, making him growl as he rested his forehead against my own, looking me in the eyes. He did. The two of us left our marks against one another.

I hated it. I needed it. I didn’t know which was stronger.

When it was over, we were both breathing hard. His forehead rested against mine for a moment before he rolled away, silent.

I stared up at the ceiling, my body still trembling, my wolf quiet but restless, my mind a whirlwind.

And to my surprise, for the first time in months, Xavier didn't leave the bed.

And that stirred more question in my mind than anything else.