CHAPTER 3: Playing With Fire

Jax’s POV

His heat was hitting hard.

The sweet, fruity scent of his pheromones had completely flooded the room. He was trying to hold it back, but it was useless. That intoxicating smell tugged at something primal inside me and stirred my rut dangerously.

I could not afford to lose control. Not now.

I had spent years building my pheromone resistance. I refused to be undone by a doe-eyed omega.

“Unbutton your shirt,” I ordered.

He rolled his eyes in a seductive way and gave me a boyish grin. “Are you that eager to get me in your bed? It’s not that I mind though.”

“No!” I almost shouted. “I just want to clean the rest of your body. But since you’re strong enough, to do it yourself.”

I dropped the towel into the bowl and started to stand up.

“No, no, no,” he said quickly, gently pulling me back down. “I was just joking.”

The moment I sat back down, he undid his buttons and exposed his chest. His broad chest rose and fell in a slow, deliberate rhythm. As I cleaned the dried blood with the damp towel, smooth, hard muscle was revealed underneath.

He did not flinch when the cloth pressed against his raw wounds. Instead, he locked his sapphire eyes with mine. The intensity in that gaze made the entire room feel smaller.

That single look undid five years of self-control.

He shifted his hips slowly and deliberately. I caught the seductive glint in his eyes. He was doing this on purpose.

Every time my hand brushed his skin, he threw his head back and let out a soft, breathy moan.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing.

Until that moment, I had not noticed. My hands were trembling against his warm skin.

“I’m trying to clean you up,” I replied, my voice rougher than I intended. “Stay still.”

He did not stay still. He arched subtly into my touch, pressing his chest forward so my fingers grazed his hardened nipples. His breathing turned shallow. The sweet scent of his heat grew thicker, wrapping around me like a drug.

I clenched my jaw so hard it ached.

“Careful, omega,” I warned, my voice dangerously low. “You’re playing with fire.”

Kai’s POV

“You’re shaking,” I murmured, unable to hide the satisfaction in my voice.

His hands trembled against my chest. The sight sent a thrill through me. I loved knowing I could affect him this much.

“I’m trying to clean you up,” he replied, his voice rough. “Stay still.”

The commanding tone only made more heat pool in my belly. I bit my lip and shifted my hips again, slow and deliberate. Every time his rough fingertips grazed my nipple, a soft moan escaped my throat.

His scent grew stronger, thick and dark, wrapping around me. My own heat responded eagerly. Slick trickled down my thighs.

I knew I was pushing him, but I could not stop. This was my only chance.

He clenched his jaw. I could see the war in his eyes, raw hunger battling stubborn control. Part of me wanted him to lose that control completely.

“Omega…” he warned, his deep baritone making my stomach flutter. 

I might be playing with fire, but for the first time in many years, I was not scared of being burned.

While he focused on wiping the last traces of blood from my chest, I slowly reached down and tugged at the waistband of my trousers. My fingers deliberately brushed over the hard bulge straining beneath his fabric.

“You’ve cleaned everywhere else,” I whispered, my voice dripping with need. “But there is still blood down here too. Don’t you want to clean me up completely?”

I started unbuttoning my trousers and pulled them lower with a teasing tug.

His entire body was tensed. A deep, dangerous growl rumbled from his chest.

Before I could pull the fabric any further, he shoved the wet towel against my chest, forcing it into my hands.

“Enough,” he snarled, voice thick with lust. “Clean yourself.”

He stood up abruptly, breathing hard. His eyes were dark with hunger and frustration. The massive outline of his erection pressed clearly against his pants. The sight made fresh slick gush between my thighs.

He had thrown the towel at me like it burned him. He knew that if he touched me any longer, he would not stop at cleaning.

I bit my lip to hide my smile.

Even the cold, iron-willed enigma was shaking because of me. I had this much effect on him.

The realization sent a rush of power through my body.

‘Next time,’ I thought with new determination, ‘I won’t stop at just teasing. I’ll push harder. I’ll make it impossible for him to walk away.’

I picked up the towel slowly, never breaking eye contact with his back. A small, innocent smile played on my lips while my eyes promised sin.

I had found his weakness. And I was going to use it.