Emily gasped softly, both from the chill of the water and the sudden closeness of Niklaus. She blinked, her heart racing as she looked up at him, her hands instinctively gripping his shoulders for support. The waves gently rocked them, but Niklaus remained steady, his dark eyes locked on hers with a smoldering intensity.
He smirked down at her, his voice low and teasing, "Always pulling me into trouble, princess."
Emily's cheeks flushed, though whether it was from embarrassment or the proximity of their bodies, she couldn't tell. "I didn't— I mean, it was an accident," she stammered, her wide blue eyes flicking between his face and the water surrounding them.
Niklaus smirked, a slow, lazy smile that sent a shiver down her spine. "You keep saying that. But somehow, I always find myself wrapped up in your messes."
Emily's eyes flashed with irritation as she glared at Niklaus, her cheeks flushed. "You made me wet," she accused, her voice filled with both frustration and embarrassment.
Niklaus chuckled, a dark, low sound that sent a shiver down her spine. His smirk deepened, mischief glinting in his eyes. "This is not how I intended you to be wet, princess," he murmured, his voice dripping with innuendo.
The ocean around them rippled gently, the moonlight casting a silver glow over the scene. Emily tried to step back, but the depth of the water made it difficult, and she stumbled slightly, her hands finding purchase on Niklaus's broad chest. His heart beat steadily beneath her palms, a stark contrast to the wild fluttering of her own.
Her body pressed against his, the soft fabric of her gown billowing in the water, tangling with his legs. She couldn't help but notice the way his wet shirt outlined every defined curve of his chest and arms. Her breath hitched slightly as she felt the warmth of his hands on her waist, his fingers firm but gentle.
"You— you should let me go," Emily whispered, though her voice lacked conviction. The heat between them, even in the cool ocean water, was undeniable.
"Let you go?" Niklaus echoed, his gaze never leaving hers. "That's not something I plan on doing, princess."
Before she could respond, he tugged her closer, their bodies fully pressed together now, the water swirling around them. Emily's breath caught in her throat as Niklaus leaned down, his lips brushing softly against her ear.
"Besides," he continued, his voice a low, dangerous whisper. "We both know you don't really want me to let you go."
The teasing edge in his tone made Emily's heart skip a beat. She opened her mouth to argue, but no words came. Instead, she found herself staring up at him, her pulse quickening as his face hovered just inches from hers. His dark eyes were filled with something unreadable, something that made her chest tighten.
His smirk widened as a thought crossed his mind, a thought that made his eyes darken with desire.
"Do you remember the bet we placed before coming here?" he asked, his tone casual but with an edge that made Emily's pulse quicken.
In the water, Emily shivered, though she wasn't sure if it was from the coolness of the ocean or the intensity of his gaze. "Your second wish," she whispered, her voice barely audible as her mind raced.
"That is correct," Niklaus said smoothly, stepping closer to her, the space between them shrinking with every movement. The water lapped at their bodies as if it too felt the tension that had begun to crackle between them. "Will you fulfill it, princess? After all, a bet is a bet."
Her eyes flicked up to his, uncertainty clouding her thoughts. "What is it?" she asked, her voice trembling despite herself.
"Kiss me," he said, his voice firm and commanding, yet there was something more behind the words—a challenge, a dare. Niklaus had kissed her before, had touched her in ways that left her breathless, but she had never kissed him back. She had never been the one to initiate, and the mere thought of doing so made her heart race with a mixture of fear and excitement.
Emily's breath caught in her throat. She didn't know why the idea of kissing him back terrified her so much, but it did. She could feel the weight of his words pressing down on her. She shook her head slightly, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can do it."
Niklaus's eyes glimmered with something she couldn't quite place. He had expected this, anticipated her hesitation, and in some part of him, this was exactly what he had wanted—a confirmation that she wasn't quite ready yet. His smirk softened into something more tender, though his eyes remained as intense as ever.
"Fine," he said with a shrug, though his voice was laced with something deeper. His gaze never left hers, and the tension between them only thickened. She shivered again, but this time, she wasn't sure if it was from the cold water or the intensity of his presence.
"Then try kissing me back, princess," he murmured, his voice taking on a teasing edge as he closed the distance between them, leaning toward her lips. "I hope you won't chicken out."
The playful challenge in his words sparked something in Emily, and before she could think, her glare hardened. She was determined not to let him win, even if it meant stepping out of her comfort zone.
Niklaus wasted no time. His lips met hers in a searing kiss, but this time, instead of just receiving it, Emily responded. Slowly, hesitantly at first, she kissed him back, her lips moving tentatively against his.
Niklaus's control shattered the moment Emily's lips responded to his, the last fragile thread of restraint snapping with a low, primal growl rumbling from his chest. His hands, firm and possessive, slid up her arms, capturing her wrists and guiding them around his neck. The feel of her soft skin against his, the way her body yielded to his touch, sent a surge of heat through him. He pulled her close, their bodies colliding with a sudden, raw need that made the cool water around them seem irrelevant. Every inch of her pressed against him, their forms molding together as though they were made to fit this way.
Emily's body moved instinctively, her hands gripping his neck, fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer. Her soft curves molded into the hard planes of his chest, the thin fabric of her gown clinging to her wet body, only heightening the sensation of skin against skin. She gasped as his teeth grazed her lower lip, biting down in a teasingly rough gesture that sent a lightning bolt of heat through her core.
His mouth claimed hers again, this time with a hunger that was almost feral. Their tongues met, not just clashing but entwining, fighting for dominance in a rhythm that was both desperate and controlled. His kiss was deep, possessive, as if he were marking her, staking his claim with every movement. Emily could feel the heat of his desire in the way his fingers dug into her waist, pulling her against him as though he couldn't get close enough.
The water lapped at their bodies, but it did little to cool the fire raging between them. Niklaus's hands slid down her sides, tracing the curve of her hips before gripping her firmly and lifting her slightly, pressing her harder against him. Emily's breath hitched in her throat, her chest heaving as she moaned softly into his mouth, the sound swallowed by his insistent lips.
His hands roamed her body with a purpose, exploring every curve, every dip, as if memorizing her. His touch was rough, yet tender, each stroke igniting a new spark of desire in her. The sensation of his hands on her wet skin, his lips devouring hers, made her head spin with want. Her body trembled in his arms, and for the first time, she didn't fight it—didn't resist the need pulsing through her. She let herself get lost in him, in the intoxicating mix of pleasure and power that his touch stirred within her.
Niklaus pulled back just enough to let their foreheads rest together, their breaths mingling in the cool night air as they both panted, trying to catch their breath. His eyes, dark with desire, bore into hers, filled with a hunger that promised more than just a kiss. His fingers traced her jawline, then slid down her neck, lingering just above the swell of her chest. His thumb brushed her skin, sending shivers down her spine.
"You're mine, princess," he whispered, his voice low and rough, filled with the certainty of his claim. "Every inch of you. And I'm not done with you yet."
Their breaths were ragged when they finally pulled apart, the ocean swirling around them, but the fire between them burned hotter than ever.
Niklaus's breath was ragged as he gazed at Emily, her chest rising and falling in tandem with his, the cool ocean water swirling around them, forgotten in the heat of the moment. His lips descended on her neck again, grazing her skin, his hot breath contrasting with the cool evening air. The tension between them crackled like a fire that neither of them could extinguish. His hands, rough and sure, traced the delicate line of her collarbone, his fingertips teasing the edges of her exposed skin, making her shiver under his touch.
Niklaus's lips descended on Emily's neck with a hunger that made her gasp, his mouth latching onto her skin with a possessive intensity. Each press of his lips sent shockwaves down her spine, a deliberate claim that burned its way into her very soul. His teeth grazed her pulse point, and she instinctively tilted her head, giving him more access as if every fiber of her being craved to be owned by him in that moment.
His hands, firm yet reverent, found the delicate straps of her gown. With a slow, deliberate motion, he gripped the fabric and began to pull it down. The friction of his touch against her bare shoulders was electric, and she shuddered, her skin prickling under the heat of his touch despite the coolness of the ocean breeze. Every movement was agonizingly slow, almost torturous, as though he was savoring every second of undressing her, dragging out the moment to relish in her vulnerability and his control over her body.
Emily's heart raced, her breath catching in her throat as she felt his touch ignite something deep within her—a fire that roared with the same intensity as the ocean surrounding them. Her body reacted on instinct, trembling as the sensation of his fingers against her bare skin sent a thrill through her veins. It was as if his touch was a flame, and her body was the kindling, ready to burn with him. The weight of his gaze was palpable, and she felt herself drowning in the depths of his desire.
As though the same hunger gripped her, the need to shed every barrier between them, she lifted her arms and slowly, sensually slid them out of the straps. The gown fell further down her torso, clinging to her wet body, the fabric heavy with the weight of the water. Each movement was deliberate, her body betraying her desire to be free from the constraining fabric and fully exposed to his gaze.
Niklaus's breath hitched audibly as the gown slipped further, the curve of her collarbones.
Her hands instinctively clutched his shirt, pulling him closer as his lips continued their assault on her neck, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. His hand slipped under the water, gripping her thighs as if she weighed nothing, lifting her effortlessly in the waves. Emily wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, bringing her lips to his once more. The kiss was fierce, consuming, and she gave herself over to the sensation of being utterly lost in him.
Niklaus's hands threaded through her soft, wet blonde hair, tugging slightly as he deepened the kiss, only to pull away moments later. His gaze roamed her face, taking in her flushed cheeks, her dilated eyes clouded with desire, and the way her chest heaved with each breath. She was panting, her lips swollen from the kiss, her body trembling with need.
With a firm but gentle grip, his fingers pressed into her cheeks, forcing a gasp from her lips, the sound vibrating between them. "Fuck," he growled, his voice thick with raw need, before burying his face in her neck again, his lips and teeth making her skin burn under his touch.
His hands moved to her corset, undoing the laces with practiced ease. The soaked fabric fell away and floated to the shore, leaving her in nothing but the thin, translucent white petticoat that clung to her body. The cool air mingled with the heat of the moment, her nipples pressing through the damp fabric, visible and begging for his touch.
Niklaus's eyes darkened further, burning with an intensity that made Emily's breath hitch. His gaze was predatory as it trailed over her chest, the rise and fall of her breathing mesmerizing him. "You are truly an elixir," he muttered, his voice dripping with reverence and desire, as though she was the answer to a hunger he couldn't control.
His fingers found the knots holding her petticoat together, tugging them loose with a smooth pull. The fabric loosened, revealing more of her skin, the upper swell of her breasts exposed, and the small mole just above her right breast drawing his attention like a beacon. The valley between her breasts was illuminated in the moonlight, and his eyes followed the lines of her body hungrily.
Her legs stayed wrapped around his hips, and as the waves rocked them gently, the hem of her petticoat rode up higher, exposing the soft curve of her thighs. The cool water danced against her skin, a sensual contrast to the burning heat between them. Niklaus's breath came in harsh pants as his hands roamed her body, tracing every curve, every dip, memorizing the feel of her beneath his touch.
"Do you feel that, princess?" he whispered against her skin, his voice low and dangerous. "This is only the beginning."