Chapter 4

Elara's POV 

I initially didn't like the idea of intimacy before the official ceremony, but his persuasive, seductive words made me feel at peace. What was the worst that could possibly go wrong?

He didn’t resist. He let me lead the kiss, his arms circling my waist, his palms flat and warm against the small of my back as he pulled me closer. My chest pressed against his, and after a few lingering moments, something in him snapped. He took over.

He lifted me effortlessly and carried me from the deck of the yatch to the cabin, never breaking the kiss. When he sat down on the sofa, I found myself straddling him, legs on either side of his. But I wasn’t shy or unsure. I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted him.

I felt his cock under me, and there was no question, tonight, we were giving in to everything we had been holding back.

He broke the kiss but didn’t pull away, resting his forehead gently against mine. “Are you sure, Elara?” he asked, his voice low and unsteady. I could feel his breath on my lips, could see in his eyes that he was just as shaken by our kiss as I was.

“Yes,” I whispered, my voice breathless. “I want to be with you, Ryker. I’m yours.”

He didn’t hesitate. Rising from the sofa with me in his arms, he headed for the stairs. My legs stayed wrapped around him, and I scattered kisses across his face as he carried me to the room.

I used my legs to grip him tighter as I rubbed against his cock. I had never been this forward with anyone, but I couldn’t deny the thrill of getting under his skin. His desire for me was unmistakable.

Ryker locked the door behind him as we entered my room, then let me slide slowly down his body as he set me down. The love and the hunger in his eyes was unmistakable.

“Are you sure you’re ready, Elara?” he asked, his voice laced with tension. “This is it. Once I mark you, you’ll be mine forever.”

There was a trace of pain in his tone, as if the thought of me changing my mind might break him. But I wasn’t going to change my mind, not tonight.

“I’m absolutely sure, Ryker. I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine, until the end of time,” I said, looking deep into his eyes as I gently stroked the hair at the nape of his neck. I was more than ready to claim him, to make it known to the world that Ryker was mine.

His smile, pure joy, lit up the room. He dipped his head and slow and full of promise. When he broke the kiss, it was only to tug his shirt over his head before pulling me back into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck, already breathless as his mouth found mine again, leaving me weak in the knees. I wanted everything this man had to give.

Ryker walked me backward toward the bed, his lips never leaving mine. When the backs of my legs bumped against the mattress, he broke the kiss and slowly lifted my T-shirt over my head. I stood before him in just my jeans and bra, heat rising to my cheeks as his gaze swept over me.

“You’re so beautiful, Elara,” he murmured, and the sincerity in his voice made me blush even deeper.

My eyes dropped to his chest, surprised by how defined and strong he was. I reached out, hesitant at first, and let my fingers trail along his skin. His muscles tensed beneath my touch, a quiet reaction that told me how much he felt it.

There was something between us, something soft and electric. Not just the overwhelming spark of a mate bond, but a steady current that hummed between us and made my skin tingle. I pressed my palm flat against his chest, then slowly slid it down, savoring the way he responded to every movement.

I traced every ridge and contour of his chest and stomach, my fingers memorizing the shape of him. I only stopped when I reached the top of his jeans, my hand hovering at the edge of his V-line. I let it rest there, too shy to go any further, silently waiting for a sign from him.

My eyes stayed fixed on his chest, my breath caught in my throat, as I waited to see what he would do next.

He quickly unsnapped his trousers and leaned down to take them off. He was only in his underwear now, and he guided my hand down until my hand was on top of his cock. His groan of need rang out in the room as I slowly moved my hand.

He was rubbing one of my nipples through the thin fabric of my bra. My nipple was so hard I thought it would surely cut through the fabric. I felt an ache start in my core, and I wanted so much more. I started tracing his abs with my fingertips, and his response to my touch made me thrilled. He wanted me just as badly as I wanted him.

Ryker reached behind me and unsnapped my bra. I let it slide down my arms to the floor. Ryker’s eyes blazed with desire. He leaned down to lick one nipple and then the other. He went back to the first one and sucked the nipple into his mouth, and I couldn’t contain my moan of pleasure.

I unsnapped my jeans and pushed them down a little, letting them slide off my legs. I stepped out of one leg and before kicking them away. I was standing there in front of him in my white cotton panties, and I had never felt more desired in my life. Ryker was holding and touching one breast as he sucked and licked the other. He traded off and repeated his actions. I could feel my panties getting soaked as he touched me.

Ryker pulled me closer to him and kissed me again. His tongue searched my mouth, and I wrapped my arms around him as I pressed into him. My breasts felt sensitive as they rubbed against his chest. My nipples aching to be tugged into his mouth again. Ryker reached down and cupped me. I knew that he felt my panties were drenched. He picked me up and placed me on the bed before sliding my panties down my legs. Ryker stood there, looking at me like I was a masterpiece, like he had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. I won’t lie, it gave me a boost of confidence.

The shyness I once felt around him was gone. He had already made me feel seen before, and now he was doing it again. He kept his boxers on and climbed onto the bed with me. He leaned in, took one of my breasts into his mouth, swirling his tongue around my hardened nipple until I began to whimper. Then he kissed down to my stomach.

He settled between my legs, holding my thighs with his hands. He then quickly bent down to touch my vagina with his tongue, running his tongue all the way up my slit, and when he got to the top, I gasp at the same moment as my body tenses. I was shocked at how good it felt.

My head was going from side to side on the pillow as I felt the most delicious feelings. He used his fingers, gently pulling my lips apart to give his tongue better access. Something was building up inside me, and I knew that whatever it was would be big. I didn’t have long to wait. I cried out as my legs shook and something washed over me. Ryker didn’t let up, he kept sucking on it, and making it continue. I felt like I was out of control, but the pleasure was so intense I didn’t really want it to end. I was still shaking when I felt Ryker get off the end of the bed and then come back to me.

I felt his cock at my entrance. He was rubbing it up and down, hitting that sensitive spot again and making me shiver in pleasure. Ryker looked down at me, holding himself above me with one arm. He slid into me slowly while looking into my eyes. He pulled back a little and then moved swiftly into me. I whimpered at the intrusion, but he kissed my face. He started speaking gently to me and telling me how much he loved me.

The pain passed pretty quickly, and I moved forward towards him instinctively as he smiled down at me and kissed me one more time before bracing himself on both arms and moving again. This felt good, really good. I felt full, and I wanted more, but I didn’t know how to say it. Frustration bubbled inside me. I hated that I couldn’t find the words, that my inexperience was so obvious. What if I was disappointing him? I just wanted to feel that rush again, the one I felt earlier. But I was too embarrassed to ask, and worse, I didn’t even know what to ask for.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. My eyes stayed fixed on the sheets, too afraid of what I might see in his expression, disappointment, regret, maybe even anger. If he was upset… would that stop him from marking me?

The thought alone made my chest ache. I wanted to cry. Our beautiful moment, everything we had just shared, felt like it was unraveling, and it was all because of me.

What if he had slept with me only to realize I wasn’t enough?

That fear sank its claws into me, dragging my thoughts into a spiral. I could feel it, crushing, suffocating, the idea that I wasn’t worthy of him. If he walked away now, if he looked at me and decided he had made a mistake… I wouldn’t survive it.