“Fuck, baby,” I gasp.
Ash murmurs something incoherent.
I lean forward and brush her hair over her shoulder, then brace my weight on one hand and plant gentle kisses along her neck, my other hand roaming over her silky skin. My orgasm is right there, but I want this to last. I pull her body up flush against mine and grip her chin, turning her face to mine.
“You are everything to me, Ashwiyaa.”
Her dazed eyes blink open, and she sinks her fingers into the hair at the back of my head, pulling me closer so our lips touch as I rock into her. I fuck her slow and sweet, drawing out the pleasure for both of us.
Sliding my hand down between her legs, I rub in slow circles, our breathing becoming ragged. Her walls clench around me, and I drop my head to her shoulder and let go, my orgasm ripping through me.
Ash’s body trembles, her soft whimpers trailing off as she follows me over the edge. We collapse to the floor, our limbs tangled together, gasping for breath. Our chests rise and fall in sync, the intensity of the moment leaving us both spent.
“We really need to start having sex in a bed,” I tease, nipping at her shoulder playfully.
Ash chuckles, her laughter warm. “Beds are overrated.”
“Well, I need my bed right now.” I grin, scooping her up in a bridal carry. She lets out a small squeal of surprise, then wraps her arms around my neck as I carry her toward the stairs.
Ash rests her head on my shoulder, her fingers lightly tracing delicate patterns across my chest. The simple, intimate gesture sends warmth coursing through me. As we ascend the stairs, the house is quiet, the only sound the gentle creaking of the wooden floor beneath my feet.
The moonlight filters through the window, casting a soft, ethereal glow across the room as I step into the bedroom. I walk us toward the bed, the cool air brushing against our skin. When I pull back the covers, the fabric rustles gently, releasing a faint scent of fresh laundry that mingles with the lingering scent of her on me.
I slide us under the cool sheets, the fabric a welcome relief against our heated bodies. Ash nestles into my side, her body seeking the warmth and comfort of mine. My arm instinctively wraps around her, pulling her closer.
In the quiet of the room, she whispers, “I finally belong somewhere.”
Her words, so simple yet so profound, make my heart swell. I pull her even tighter against me, my lips brushing over her temple in a tender kiss. “You belong wherever I am,” I murmur into the darkness, the truth of the words resonating deep within me.
Ash sighs, content, and relaxes against me. The weight of the world seems to lift, if only for a moment, as we lie there in each other’s arms, the moonlight our only witness.
Chapter forty-eight
Ashwiyaa
“The only thing I know is this: I am full of wounds and still standing on my feet.” -Nikos Kazantzakis
Aloud banging startles me awake the next morning, the sound reverberating through the room and jolting me upright. I blink against the soft morning light filtering in, my gaze sweeping across the empty bed. Kai is already up, and I immediately sense the presence of several shifters outside. Their distinct energies are familiar, and I realize the pack is here.
A rush of nerves hits me unexpectedly, my chest tightening as if invisible strings are pulling me taut. My heart hammers against my ribs, picking up speed as I slip out of bed and hurriedly pull on my clothes. The morning light filters through the curtains, gentle but unrelenting, a reminder that I can’t hide here forever. Things between Kai and me are official now—a thrilling thought, but one that comes with its own shadows.
What if I don’t belong? What if the others don’t accept me as part of their pack? The fear gnaws at me, sharp and persistent. They’ve known each other for so long, fought together, bled together. And me? I’m still an outsider, no matter how much Kai insists otherwise. My hands fumble with the buttons on my jeans, my pulse racing in tandem with my swirling thoughts.
Then, like sunlight breaking through a storm cloud, Kai’s voice cuts through the chaos in my mind.
“Don’t be silly. They love you. Now get that sexy ass down here.”
His words float through the bond between us, a mix of teasing warmth and quiet reassurance. I can’t help but smile, the tension in my chest loosening as his presence wraps around me like a comforting embrace. Somehow, he always knows exactly what to say to pull me back from the brink.
“Be there in a second,”I reply, my voice steadier than I feel. Even as the nerves linger, Kai’s confidence in me bolsters my resolve. I suck in a deep breath, letting it fill the spaces where doubt has taken root. Maybe he’s right. Maybe they’ll see me as he does.
Without giving it another thought, I call on my shadows, letting them envelop me in their cool embrace. In the blink of an eye, I fade into the darkness and reappear downstairs, my feet touching the ground silently behind the group that is gathered in Kai’s living room.
“There she is,” Kai says, pushing past Felix and wrapping his arm around my waist to face the pack.
Everyone’s mouths drop open in stunned silence, and it’s Salena who finally breaks it, her voice loud and filled with excitement. “Oh my god, you’re mated!”
Thesheer joy in her tone takes me by surprise. As the alpha, Salena has always been cautious around me—not afraid, but certainly wary, and rightly so. But now, all I see in her eyes is pure joy and excitement.
