Chapter 7: Morning Heat and Unwanted Guests

​I woke up to the sensation of being completely, undeniably trapped in a cage of solid muscle and scorching heat.

​Bright morning sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the penthouse, casting a warm golden glow across the black silk sheets. For a disorienting second, I forgot where I was. All I registered was the intoxicating scent of dark pine and woodsmoke filling my lungs, and the heavy, tattooed arm draped possessively over my waist.

​Somewhere during the night, we had shifted. I was no longer facing away from him.

​My cheek was resting directly against the hard, sculpted plane of Kael’s bare chest, right over the steady, powerful thud of his heart. One of my legs was tangled between his, and the thin strap of my black silk nightgown had slipped completely off my shoulder, leaving my bare skin pressed flush against the furnace of his torso.

​Carefully, terrified of waking the sleeping predator holding me, I tilted my head back to look at him.

​In sleep, the cruel, ruthless edge of the Shadow Alpha was gone, leaving behind devastating, raw perfection. Dark, silver-streaked hair fell loosely across his forehead, brushing against thick black lashes. His lips were slightly parted, his breathing deep and even.

​"If you keep staring at me like that, little mouse," Kael’s gravelly morning voice rumbled right beneath my ear, without him even opening his eyes, "I'm going to assume you want to start our second lesson right now."

​I gasped, jerking backward, only for his muscular arm to tighten around my waist like a steel band, pulling me right back against the hard length of his body.

​His eyes opened slowly. In the morning light, the stormy silver-gray was ringed with a lazy, molten gold that made my stomach flip violently.

​"Let go of me!" I whispered fiercely, my cheeks burning crimson as I tried to tug the silk strap back onto my shoulder. "You took advantage of me while I was asleep!"

​A slow, wickedly arrogant smirk curved Kael’s mouth. He shifted effortlessly, rolling over until he was looming right above me, caging my smaller frame between his muscular arms on the mattress.

​"Sweetheart, you were the one clinging to my chest at three in the morning like I was your personal heater," Kael murmured, lowering his head until his warm breath fanned across my bare collarbone. "Though I have to admit... this silk dress looks even better in the daylight."

​His rough fingers trailed slowly down the side of my neck, tracing the edge of the lace neckline. Everywhere his skin brushed mine, a trail of liquid fire followed, making my breath hitch and my pulse hammer wildly against my ribs.

​"Kael, stop," I breathed out, though my hands braced weakly against his bare shoulders, feeling the ripple of hard muscle beneath my palms.

​"Why?" he whispered darkly, his golden eyes locking onto my parted lips as he dipped his head an inch closer. "Your heart is racing, Elara. Tell me you actually hate my touch, and I'll get out of this bed right now."

​The words died in my throat. He was so close I could taste the heat radiating off him, my eyes fluttering shut as his lips brushed the corner of my mouth—

​BANG!

​The heavy double doors of the master bedroom flew open without a knock, slamming loudly against the marble wall.

​"Kael, darling, the High Council elders just arrived downstairs, and—"

​A sharp, feminine voice froze mid-sentence.

​I gasped, trying to scramble out from underneath Kael, but he didn't move an inch. Instead, he kept one arm locked firmly around my waist, shielding my barely covered body with his broad torso as he turned his head slowly toward the doorway with a look of pure, lethal murder.

​Standing at the entrance of the bedroom was a tall, breathtakingly gorgeous woman with platinum blonde hair and a skin-tight red designer dress. Her heavily painted eyes dropped from Kael’s bare chest straight down to me lying tangled in his black silk sheets, wearing a nightgown that clearly belonged to his bedroom.

​Her face twisted in pure, venomous fury.

​"Who the hell is this little slut in your bed, Kael?!" she shrieked, her manicured nails digging into her designer clutch.

​Kael didn't flinch. Slowly, deliberately, he leaned down and pressed a lingering, possessive kiss right against the sensitive skin of my throat before looking back at the blonde woman with cold, deadly eyes.

​"Watch your tongue, Camilla," Kael snarled softly, his Alpha aura making the glass windows vibrate. "Or it'll be the last word you ever speak. Allow me to introduce Elara... my wife, and your new Luna."