Chapter 29

Ethan

The confession sends something sharp and hot through my chest, a rush of possession, of relief, of something far deeper than desire. She is mine.

I don’t give her time to doubt her words. Instead, I lift her into my arms, her breath hitching as I lower her gently onto the floor. She looks up at me, eyes wide, pupils blown with anticipation, and fuck, I’ve never seen anything so goddamn beautiful.

I kiss her. Again. And again. And again.

Slow. Deep. Desperate.

I kiss her until we’re both breathless, until her fingers twist into my hair, pulling me impossibly closer. My lips move to her neck, grazing the delicate skin there, feeling her pulse hammer wildly beneath my tongue. I drag my mouth lower, nipping at the sensitive spot just beneath her jaw, then down to her shoulder.

Her skin is warm beneath my lips, and I savor the taste of her as I peel away her shirt, exposing more of her to me. My mouth moves lower, capturing a hardened nipple between my lips, my tongue swirling over the sensitive peak as she gasps, arching into me.

Fuck, I love her sounds.

I trail kisses down her stomach, feeling the way her muscles tense beneath my touch, her breath coming in shallow pants. When I reach the waistband of her pants, I glance up at her, silently asking for permission.

She nods, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip, and I swear to the Goddess, I almost lose my patience right then and there.

But no. I want to take my time. I want her to feel this.

I unlace her shoes, sliding them off along with her pants, leaving her in nothing but her underwear. My hands run up her bare thighs, thumbs pressing into the soft flesh, spreading her legs open for me. I kiss her inner thighs, my lips teasing, moving higher, higher, my breath ghosting over the damp fabric that separates me from where I want to be most.

A soft, needy whimper escapes her lips, and my cock throbs in response.

I hook my fingers into the waistband of her panties and drag them down, exposing her glistening heat to me. I lower my head, pressing a kiss to her slick folds, and she jerks slightly beneath me, a breathy moan slipping past her lips.

“I love that sound,” I murmured, my voice rough with need.

Then, without another word, I flick my tongue against her clit. She gasps, her back arching off the floor as I press my mouth against her, licking and sucking, drinking in every sound, every tremor that courses through her body. I tease her entrance with my tongue before moving back up, circling her clit with slow, torturous precision.

Her fingers fist in my hair, tugging, guiding, as her hips move in time with my movements.

“Ethan,” she whimpered, her voice breaking on my name.

I don’t stop. I keep licking, keep devouring, until she’s trembling beneath me, her thighs tightening around my head. She’s so fucking close, I can feel it.

“I want you inside me,” she gasped.

I groan against her, my cock twitching at the desperation in her voice.

Happy to comply, I push myself up, wiping my mouth as I stare down at her. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips swollen, her eyes dark and full of hunger.

I strip off my clothes in one smooth motion, my gaze never leaving hers.

Her eyes drop to my cock, standing hard and heavy against my stomach, and she swallows, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.

“Please,” she breathed.

Fuck. That single word nearly undoes me.

I move over her, pressing kisses along every patch of skin I can reach, my hands roaming her body, memorizing every curve, every dip, every inch of her that belongs to me.

Her arms wrap around my neck, pulling my mouth back to hers. Our kisses are messy, frantic, filled with heat and need, our tongues tangling as I press myself against her.

She tilts her hips up, silently urging me forward, and I reach down, lining myself up at her entrance.

Slowly, I push inside her, inch by inch, stretching her, filling her.

She lets out a choked moan, her nails digging into my shoulders as I bury myself to the hilt, stilling to let her adjust.

I can feel her pulse around me, her body molding to mine, and fuck, she’s so tight.

I lean down, pressing my forehead against hers. “Are you okay?” I murmured.

She nods, her breath hot against my lips.

I pull back slightly, then thrust forward again, rolling my hips in slow, deep strokes.

She holds her breath, her gray eyes locked onto mine, filled with something more than lust - something deeper, something real.

We don’t look away. Neither of us dare to break the moment.

I thrust into her, steady and controlled, feeling the way she clenches around me, taking me so perfectly.

Her lips part, a soft moan spilling out, and I know she’s close. I feel it in the way her body tightens, the way her thighs tremble around my waist.

I nod at her once, and she nods back, both of us knowing we’re right there, teetering on the edge.

I claim her mouth in a desperate kiss, swallowing her moans as I thrust harder, deeper. Once, twice - until she breaks.

Her orgasm crashes over her, her body tightening, her cries muffled against my lips. The sight of her coming undone beneath me is too much, and with one final thrust, I let go, spilling inside her with a groan that shakes me to my core.

Afterward, we lay together on the floor, the quiet of the room wrapping around us like a soft blanket. Rose’s head rests on my chest, rising and falling with each breath I take. My arm is draped over her, holding her close, unwilling to let go. The world feels still - like nothing else matters at this moment but her, us, the warmth between us.

For a long time, neither of us speaks. It’s the kind of silence that feels comforting, like we’ve said everything that needed to be said. But then I feel her stir slightly, her fingers tracing lazy patterns across my skin.

“I want to turn into a wolf,” she whispered, her voice quiet but steady. I feel her breath warm against my chest, and her words hit me with the force of something monumental. “I don’t want to wait any longer.”

I freeze, the gravity of what she’s saying sinking in. She turns her face up, looking at me with those storm-gray eyes that always seem to hold more than she lets on. There’s no hesitation in her gaze now, just a quiet determination.

“And I want you to be there,” she added softly. “Next to me.”

Her words fill me with a rush of emotions - relief, joy, hope - but mostly, love. I’ve waited so long for her to say those words, to make this decision. I brush a strand of hair away from her face, looking deep into her eyes, searching for any lingering doubt, but all I see is that spark burning brighter than ever.

“I’ll be right there, Rose,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

She rests her head back on my chest, and I feel her relax against me, as if some heavy weight has finally lifted. The moment feels sacred, like we’ve crossed some invisible threshold together. I press a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in her scent, feeling the steady beat of her heart against mine.

I know that the road ahead won’t be easy. The first shift is painful, especially for someone who’s waited so long, but I also know that we’ll face it together. No more distance. No more holding back.

As we lie there in the quiet of the room, I feel a sense of peace settle over me that I haven’t felt in years. And for the first time, I truly believe everything will be okay.