5 - Two Years Ago: Unstoppable Danger

Thade’s POV

Yes, she says without a pause and I’m so incredibly grateful. I wonder if she can tell that I was holding my breath. I’ve won a prize, or something. After kissing Lana, it was clear she wasn’t a whore, that she’s sweet and innocent and inexperienced. I could feel the longing in her body, everything in her wound tighter than a bow string.

Lana told me I can kiss her again and I don’t hesitate either. I watch, mesmerized as a drop of cool water peels away from her rich dark curls and slides over her features, pooling at the corner of her mouth. I lean forward and press my lip to the bead of moisture. I’m so curious about everything she is. Where did she come from, why is she here? First I want to taste her again, and see so much more of her.

My wolf, Kilak, is raging at me from within. He’s desperate to tear off the clothes that cling with such invitation to her soft skin and to sink into her. Claim her! He’s snarling at me and it’s taking far too much effort to keep him in check. Illure, the Kingdom I serve isn’t ready to learn that the Otherworld is real. That werewolves and fae live outside of legends and stories, we’re still here among them. That our magic drives the magic that they accept so easily as part of their daily lives. Ravaging an innocent woman would raise far too many questions. He’ll have to accept compromise. Neither of us want to endanger our people.

I kiss her again, dominated by the sense of her. The gentle curves in my arms. I want to touch all of her at once and it takes the rest of my restraint to hold back. I’m rock hard with unspent passion and her body fits so well against my own. Caught between me and the door I can feel all the lusciousness of her curves against my frame. Her skirts are hitching, damp from the rain and making my trousers wet. I couldn’t care less. I lose myself in the kiss, in every honied moment. Her lips part and I sink harder against her. Probing gently with my tongue.

I can taste her inexperience, feel the flutter of her racing heart as I run a hand across her shoulder and hold my palm against her chest. I want to pull down the top of the fabric and worship the exposed skin, but if I start getting her undressed, I’m not convinced I’ll be able to stop myself. Kilak’s demands are tempered and he’s growling within, protective. He knows that I’m right. That we both want her, but it’s not worth hurting her.

If I scare her, she might run from me and I’m not sure I could face that. I absorb every movement of her mouth against mine as she leans into me. Melting perfectly against my form. On her toes, her chest is pressed to mine and I groan. I lift my hands, burying them in the thick curls at the back of her head. Holding her still as I probe again with my tongue, exploring her mouth as she presses back.

When she lifts her own hands, I realise that I’m holding my breath again. Eager for her to touch me. Her small hands land on my shoulders for balance, fluttering nervously against my skin and I force myself to remain still. Even as every hair on my body lifts, standing to attention. Eager for her touch. It feels like magic, but not something I’ve ever experienced before. Like a pulse of warmth washing over us both as she relaxes. As each second passes I can feel her growing bolder.

Her hands slip down, over my bare chest, through the tangle of hair that leads toward my abdomen and groin. Surely she can feel the press of my erection. I could burn through my trousers, I’m pressed against her middle and I need to be inside her. I’m panting, drawing back from the kiss. I have to put a stop to this, before the madness takes over.

I draw back and she lets out a breathless moan and I’m lost. Leaning back in to kiss her again. It’s already too late. Whatever lies and promises I told myself about staying in control, I can’t keep them. Maybe I am a monster. I can’t fight Kilak and myself at the same time, not when she’s making soft little noises like that and looking at me from hooded eyes. Her lips swollen from my kisses, hair tangled in my hands.

I drop my fingers, echoing the path she explored on me. I grip the shoulders of her dress before following the scoop over the tops of her breasts. Thumbs dipping beneath the fabric, her skin is burning and I grin, looking down to watch the swell of her bosom as she sucks in a breath. Hard nipples pointing through the fabric sticking to her skin. I grin and glance up at her face once more.

‘You’re so beautiful,’ it’s a harsh whisper and her cheeks flush. Her breath catches again and her breasts lift into my hands. I smirk, feeling far too smug and satisfied that this profound and reckless desire isn’t onesided. I lick my lips, studying the fastens of her dress. A single cord wound back and forth in the centre of her chest and tied in a neat little bow. I glance up at her again, then back at the cord. We both know what I’m about to do as I hold the tail of the bow between finger and thumb. I can’t help the wicked little grin that escapes me as I pull it taut. Slowly, slowly increasing the tension as the damp cord grips then starts to release and unravel.