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The city glittered below us, but I couldn’t look at it. Not when he was standing there-tall, immovable, golden eyes locked on me like I was already his.
I crossed my arms over my chest, more for armor than comfort. “You know, usually when a girl follows a guy back to his… lair, there’s a drink involved. A toast. Some icebreaker so it’s not just two strangers glaring at each other until
someone panics.”
His mouth twitched. “Are you panicking?”
“No,” I lied immediately.
“Yes,” he said, and his voice dipped just enough to make the word dangerous.
Before I could fire back, my phone buzzed. Cassia. Again.
Cassia: Do you need me to come up there? Blink twice. No wait, I can’t see you. Okay, stomp twice on the floor if you’re alive but he’s creepy.
Cassia: What’s the address? I’ll bring garlic. Do wolves hate garlic? Or is that vampires?
Cassia: Elara, ANSWER. If you die, I’m dead too. Dad will roast me alive for “losing his niece in Europe.” Don’t make me face that funeral lecture.
I groaned out loud. “Oh my god.”
He raised a brow. “Persistent cousin?”
O
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“She thinks you’re about to chop me into pieces and sell me on the black
market.”
He didn’t even flinch. “I don’t share.”
That shouldn’t have sent a shiver down my spine. But it did.
I texted back quickly: Still alive. No garlic necessary. Stop texting or I’m blocking you.
The phone buzzed immediately.
Cassia: Don’t block me. If you die, how will I know who to avenge you on?
I let out a strangled laugh, dropping the phone face-down on the table. “Sorry. She doesn’t have an off switch.”
“I noticed,” he said dryly. But the corner of his mouth betrayed him with the faintest smile.
He moved a step closer. Not much. Just enough that my breath caught, because suddenly I could see the flecks of amber in his eyes.
“Do you always run toward trouble?” he asked.
“Do you always look like trouble?” I shot back.
He chuckled low in his chest, and the sound curled through me like smoke. “Depends on who’s asking.”
“Let me guess,” I said, tilting my chin up. “Women in bars?”
“No,” he said softly, eyes on my mouth. “Just you.”
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We were so close now that the air practically vibrated. My wolf was clawing at the surface, demanding I close the last inch.
His hand lifted, brushing a strand of hair back from my face. His fingers lingered against my jaw, warm, sure, claiming without words. My body went still, waiting.
The moment stretched. I could feel the kiss before it happened – the anticipation itself was intoxicating.
And then-
Cassia: PINEAPPLE. SAFE WORD. Do you hear me, Elara Quinn? If you don’t text back, I’m calling in backup. Don’t test me.
The phone lit up again, blaring Cassia’s ridiculous safe word across the
screen.
I let out a bark of laughter, nearly bumping my forehead against his chest. “Oh, for the love of-”
His lips curved, patient and amused. “Pineapple?”
“Don’t ask,” I said, covering my face with both hands.
When I peeked out again, he was still watching me, calm as stone. But his thumb was still against my jaw, and his eyes were molten gold.
“Do you always get interrupted like this?” he asked.
“Only when I’m about to make bad decisions,” I said breathlessly.
He leaned down just enough that his words brushed my skin. “Then maybe we should get rid of the interruptions.”
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I forgot how to breathe. The city, the hotel, even Cassia – gone. Just me and him, and the slow inevitability of this moment crashing down.
And then, finally, his mouth claimed mine.
The kiss was nothing like I’d prepared for. It wasn’t sweet, or cautious. It was possession, fire and thunder rolled into one, the bond snapping tight and singing through my veins like lightning.
There was no space left between us. No hesitation.
And this time, no interruptions.
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The kiss deepened until I forgot how to breathe. His mouth was firm and hot, demanding but gentle, like he couldn’t decide whether to devour me or protect
“Elara,” he murmured, my name reverent on his lips.
“Thorne,” I whispered back, tasting it like a secret I wasn’t supposed to know.
Something flickered in his golden eyes, but instead of asking, he kissed me again, harder, until my head spun.
We stumbled toward the bed, bumping into furniture along the way. I laughed nervously, clutching his shirt. “We’re going to break something.”
His smile was quick and crooked, softening the sharp lines of his face. “Let the hotel send me the bill.”
The joke made me laugh again, but it didn’t hide the flutter of nerves in my
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stomach. This was new. Too new.
When his shirt came off and the light caught on scarred muscle, I froze. He was breathtaking. Strong, controlled, powerful in a way that made my pulse
race.
I swallowed hard. “You look… unfair.”
His golden gaze swept over me, hot and lingering, until I thought my skin might ignite. “So do you.”
But when his hands slid to the hem of my top, I hesitated. He stilled
immediately, his brow furrowing.
“Tell me to stop,” he said softly, “and I will.”
I shook my head quickly, heat rushing to my cheeks. “I don’t… I mean, I’ve
never-”
Understanding dawned in his eyes. A breath left him slow, controlled, like he was wrestling something inside himself. Then he leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine.
“Then we go slow,” he murmured. “We don’t do anything you don’t want.
You’re in control.”
Something about the certainty in his voice calmed the nerves buzzing under my skin. I nodded, and he kissed me again – slower this time, coaxing instead of consuming.
Clothes fell away piece by piece, each touch sparking something both terrifying and addictive. His hands were reverent, his lips tracing every line of me as though memorizing.
“You’re shaking,” he whispered, brushing his thumb over my hip.
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“Not scared,” I whispered back. “Just… overwhelmed.”
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He gave a low, rough sound that went straight through me, then kissed me again, long and deep, until the trembling in my body turned into something else entirely.
When he finally pressed into me, he moved with painstaking care, pausing when I gasped, his gaze locked on mine.
“Breathe, Elara. Look at me.”
I did – and the sting softened into something else, something deeper, something that made me arch toward him instead of away.
The world blurred into heat and rhythm and whispered names. He kissed me through every moment, murmuring my name like it steadied him, while I clung to him like I was afraid he’d vanish if I let go.
His hand trailed down my side, sending shivers across my skin, before settling on my hip. He pulled me closer, pressing his hardness against my thigh. I moaned into his mouth, feeling his length twitch against me.
Our mouths parted slowly, breaths mingling as we stared at each other, hearts pounding in sync. Thorne’s eyes held a primal intensity, like a wolf ready to claim its mate. “Elara,” he growled, nipping at my lower lip.
“I need more.” I arched against him, feeling his erection press insistently into my thigh.
“Show me what you need.”
Thorne lowered himself down, supporting his weight on his forearms as he brushed the head of his cock against my wetness. I whimpered, arching up to meet him, but he held back, teasing me with shallow touches.
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“Please,” I begged, wrapping my legs around his hips. He groaned, closing his eyes briefly before capturing my mouth in a searing kiss. At the same time, he pushed into me, filling me completely.
Thorne began to move, slow and deliberate, drawing back before sliding home again. I moaned into his mouth, my nails digging into his shoulders. He set a relentless pace, each stroke rubbing against that sensitive spot inside me. Pleasure built steadily, coiling tight in my belly.
“Thorne…” I panted, breaking the kiss. His eyes blazed down at me, feral and possessive. “Don’t stop.”
“I won’t,” he growled. “I can’t.”
My words seemed to drive him wild. He surged forward, kissing me fiercely as he drove into me, faster and harder. The room filled with our sounds, the slap of skin, the rasp of breath, the gasps and moans of pleasure. I clutched at his back, urging him on, meeting each thrust eagerly. Our bodies moved together, slick and urgent, chasing the peak that hovered just out of reach.
“Faster,” I panted, digging my nails into his back. “Harder.”
Thorne complied, driving into me with such force that the headboard banged against the wall. I wrapped my legs around him, pulling him deeper, wanting all of him. Our bodies were slippery with sweat, sliding against each other as we moved together. The scent of sex filled the air, musky and intoxicating. He buried his face in my neck, teeth grazing my skin.
Thorne’s teeth grazed my shoulder, and I gasped, the sensation shooting straight to my core. He nibbled and sucked, marking me as his, and I loved it. I wanted everyone to know I belonged to him. His pace increased, each thrust pushing me closer to the edge. I clung to him, desperate for release.
“Please,” I begged, not even sure what I was asking for.
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“Let go, Elara,” he commanded, his voice rough with need.
“Elara,” he growled, his voice a low rumble against my ear.
“You feel incredible.” I bit down on his earlobe, eliciting a guttural groan from him.
“So do you,” I panted, digging my heels into his back to spur him on.
“Don’t hold back, Thorne. I want it all.” With a snarl, he reared up, grabbing my hips and pulling them towards him.
Thorne’s grip tightened on my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh as he slammed into me with renewed vigor. The bed creaked and groaned beneath us, threatening to collapse under the force of our passion. Sweat dripped from his brow, landing on my chest, mingling with my own perspiration. Our bodies glistened in the dim light filtering through the curtains, highlighting every curve, every muscle.
His body tensed, and I felt him throb inside me. “Gods,” he growled, burying his face in my neck. The sensation sent shivers down my spine, and I clung to him tighter, feeling my own release build from somewhere deep within.
“Come for me, Elara.” My fingers dug into his shoulders as I cried out, my vision blurring with pleasure. He thrust once more before collapsing atop me, our bodies slick with sweat.
Thorne propped himself up on his elbows, looking down at me with a mix of tenderness and desire. His eyes traced the curves of my body, lingering on the flush across my chest and the rapid rise and fall of my breasts. With a smirk, he rolled onto his side, pulling me against him so that our legs tangled together, and our faces were inches apart.
I reached up, running my fingers through his thick hair, pulling him down for another kiss. Our tongues met in a dance of passion, and I could taste the salt of
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“Stay right here.” With a final kiss, Thorne slipped out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom. I heard water run briefly before he emerged, a damp cloth in hand. He approached the bed with a predatory grace, eyes fixed on me. I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly self-conscious under his intense gaze. “What are you doing?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. A wicked grin spread across his face. “Taking care of you.”
I blushed, understanding dawning. “Oh.” He chuckled, a low rumble in his
chest. “Yes, oh.”
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He climbed back onto the bed, kneeling between my thighs. His touch was gentle as he wiped away the evidence of our lovemaking, cleaning me with surprising tenderness. I watched him, fascinated by the contrast between his strength and the delicate care he took with me.
The warmth of the damp cloth sent a shiver through me, but it wasn’t just the physical sensation. It was the intimacy of it, the way he looked at me like I was precious, like I was his. After he finished, he tossed the cloth aside and settled between my thighs.
Later, tangled in the sheets, my head on his chest, he brushed a kiss into my hair. “Elara,” he whispered one last time, softer than sleep.
I lay awake listening to his heartbeat, steady and strong under my ear, memorizing it like a secret I’d never get to keep.
Because this was only one night. That’s what it had to be.
When dawn crept pale across Paris, I slipped from his arms, dressing in silence. The first threads of dawn were already softening the Paris skyline when I slipped out of bed.
Thorne was still asleep, his arm sprawled across the sheets where my body
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had been. In the pale light, he looked impossibly different less the devastating stranger who had devoured me last night, more… human. Quiet. Vulnerable.
My chest tightened.
Don’t.
I forced my gaze away, searching for my dress in the chaos of the room. My blouse was crumpled, my shoes half-kicked beneath the couch. I gathered everything in silence, every rustle of fabric sounding louder than it should.
What was I doing? Running, obviously. That was what I was good at. One night. That’s all it was supposed to be.
I lingered at the door, my heart thundering in my chest as I looked back at him. The golden-eyed man who had treated me like I was something precious and ruined me all the same.
If I stayed – if I let this become something more—I didn’t know if I’d survive
So I slipped out, barefoot shoes in hand, tiptoeing past the suite’s double doors into the silent corridor.
The staff barely glanced at me when I hurried through the lobby, dragging my small bag behind me. No check-out. No signature. Because the suite wasn’t mine to leave. It was his.
And I was just a shadow passing through.
By the time the taxi doors closed behind me, my throat burned with unshed words I refused to name.
It was just one night.
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That’s all it ever was.
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