Chapter 88

Ardal

Kadeem growls and thrusts his leg between mine, lifting me up effortlessly and pressing me hard against the cold, tiled wall.

I wrap my legs around his slim waist for support as pushes into me. A sharp gasp escapes my lips as the unrestrained wave of pleasure crashes through me. He kisses me feverishly and our bodies move together in a powerful rhythm, merging into one being.

I breathe him in and his honey, clove-like aroma fills me with a sense of home. A bittersweet lump forms in my throat, but his thrusts become more fervent and insatiable.

"Ohhh," I utter deep and breathy, like a sigh. I lean my head back against the wall, lost in ecstasy.

Kadeem's wild, untamable spirit surges between us and I can feel the faint scrape of his werewolf teeth on my neck, sending an electric current through me. My own wolf is restless in response to him, straining towards his marking bite.

But he inhales sharply and shakes his head with a tortured expression, like he’s trying to regain control. I watch his eyes shift from a luminescent blue to his familiar chocolate pools as he suppresses the wolf inside him.

I don’t have time to ruminate about any of that. Kadeem finds another angle of penetration, hitting just the right spot, and I reflexively squeeze my eyes shut, my toes curling in the pleasure of it. I cling onto him tightly and try to muffle the cries I can't suppress into the crook of his neck.

My breathing is ragged and Kadeem's body is drenched in sweat as he pushes into me faster and harder, pushing me to the edge of orgasm until I'm shaking uncontrollably from the sheer intensity of it. With every moment, I'm closer and closer to exploding in pure ecstasy, until I reach the crescendo, giving into it with a blissful cry.

Kadeem follows me quickly after, groaning out his release, before he gently lets me down. His chest is heaving in exhaustion.

He holds me tightly in his arms, our bodies still trembling as we stand there quietly for a few moments, soaking up the last rays of our shared pleasure, neither of us wanting this moment to end. I press my head against his chest and listen to his heart continue to pound.

As though Kadeem is guided by his wolf again, he nuzzles his head against mine, burrowing his nose into my hair. Softly, he inhales my scent, breath tenderly lacing around me like he is trying to memorize me.

Then he pulls himself back, like he’s fighting a battle of wills, to step out of our embrace. His cheeks are flushed and he's glowing with sweat. He's so beautiful in this moment, I want to memorize him.

He tucks a damp lock of hair behind my ear. "You're not running away." His tone is cautious and there's an implied question at the end of it: Are you going to?

His eyes are intense, like search lights blinding me.

I look away and shrug at him a little too causally. "Right now, I'm just basking."

The truth of what is happening between us is beginning to sink in, but instead of the aching emptiness I felt after being with Jack, there’s a warmth radiating inside of me.

It feels lovely and delicate, like all my broken pieces have suddenly come together. Like I am known, and loved, and belong.

And it also petrifies me. I feel myself falling for him again - not just the memory of him, but the flesh and blood man standing before me.

His expression softens and he breaks into an easy smile, eyes twinkling brightly. "I'm glad letting go of your inhibitions wasn't as bad as you thought." He wags his eyebrows playfully. "Maybe you could try it more often."

God, he always knows how to push my buttons. Already back to his impish teasing! I should take it in stride, but all I feel are pricks of annoyance and a sudden shame for my vulnerability with him.

I quickly pick up my clothes from the floor around us and hug them tightly against my body, hiding my nakedness behind the fabric like a shield. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," I say, my voice turning to ice.

He rigidly observes my sudden unease. He frowns slightly as he bends down to retrieve his discarded clothing from the bathtub.

"Please," he retorts, standing upright. He holds out one hand in a ‘come hither motion’ and a wry smile comes over his face. “Go on, tell me you don’t want to do this again.”

Hastily, he puts his underwear back on and glances at me out of the corner of my eye as I fasten my bra.

My cheeks blaze with embarrassment about being watched in such a state of undress, but in an act of petty spite, I slow things down to a languid pace, as I clasp the last prong of my bra, refusing to rush my response.

He crosses his arms while I keep him waiting. I hope it puts him on notice for his presumptuousness! With a calculated grace, I snake into my panties, still managing to maintain some decency and not sparing him a single glance.

I straighten my shoulders and project the air of a princess as I meet his unwavering eyes.

"Okay,” I drawl slowly, emphasizing my boredom. “I don't want to." Without another word, I idly check my nails for chips to feign haughty nonchalance.

Kadeem rolls his eyes, the dull brown of them reflecting annoyance as he wrestles with the absurd, ill-fitting shorts. "Alright then," he says, gritting his teeth. "If you're so eager to keep playing this silly game."

My back stiffens and I cross my arms over my chest. "There is no game, Kadeem!"

He heaves an aggravated sigh and pulls his shirt over his head. "You're full of shit. Do you know that?" He leans in and captures my chin in his hand, planting a searing kiss on my lips.

Tendrils of heat coil around me and I cave into him, my facade shattering in an instant as he reduces me to jelly. He pulls away, a smug look plastered on his stupidly handsome face.

"It's animal nature," I blurt out, flustered by my agonizing weakness.

He furrows his brow, suddenly serious. "Tell me when love isn't?"

My stomach knots. How easily he spit out the "L" word again! At least it's in private this time, rather than being practically hurled at a man I'm dating, but still, shocked indignation crashes down on me like an ice bucket.

“Try lust, asshole,” I snap.

Kadeem grasps the door handle with one hand and places a quieting finger over his lips with the other as he whispers goodbye. “Until next time,” he grins, pulling the door open.

Trying hard to keep my voice low, I hiss at him, "Don’t count on it.” The declaration sounds patently false, even to my own ears.

His expression doesn’t falter and he replies simply with an audacious wink.

My fury explodes and I heave my shirt at him as hard as I can. He easily sidesteps it and the fabric drops pathetically to the ground and chuckles at my feeble attempt.

His mocking laughter should rile me up more, but instead, when I look at him in this moment, I suddenly glimpse past the cocky swagger he likes to wear. All I see is the warmth beneath it, as he looks at me with something like adoration - or yes, perhaps even love.

The moment he’s gone, I miss him.

Fuck.