Elara couldn't stop, and neither could Darius. Their breaths mingled as they gave in to the magnetic pull between them, their hands desperate to memorize every inch of each other.
Darius kissed her with a hunger that stole the air from her lungs, his hand cradling the side of her neck. His lips devoured hers, tender yet possessive, as though she were his salvation, the only thing tethering him to this world. Before Elara could process it, she found herself out of the bath pool and on top of him. Water dripped from her bare, wet body, soaking into his clothes, but neither seemed to care.
Darius's hands roamed over her, mapping the contours of her damp skin, claiming her as if she were his and his alone. One hand traced her spine, leaving a trail of heat in its wake, while the other slid to her right breast. He caressed her softly, his touch igniting sparks of pleasure that coursed through her body.
Elara gasped, her head tipping back as her senses danced between the lines of bliss and warning. But before she could think too long, Darius's fingers tangled in her hair, gripping it with enough force to pull her back toward him. The movement was deliberate, dominating, yet it sent a thrill through her that made her breath hitch.
His mouth claimed hers again, rough and urgent, as though he were trying to imprint himself onto her very soul. He kissed her like an angry storm, sucking on her lower lip until it was swollen and tender, the taste of her becoming his obsession.
Elara's heart pounded, her body betraying her, and for a moment, the world beyond the two of them ceased to exist. All that remained was their feverish embrace, the fire that consumed them, and the undeniable pull that bound them together in ways neither could explain.
Darius felt every ounce of his control slipping away, his body trembling as he fought against the primal urges clawing at him from within. His wolf stirred restlessly, pacing and growling in his mind, demanding release. It had been far too long since he'd shifted, and he knew the moment he did, his body would likely collapse into a coma from the strain. But now wasn't the time.
He kissed her deeply, his lips moving with a frantic desperation against hers. Over and over, he chanted silently in his mind: Just kiss . Just kiss . His hands tightened on her waist as her warmth pressed against him, testing the fragile limits of his resolve.
Elara's hands slid up his chest, her palms pressing against the hard planes of muscle beneath his damp shirt. She could feel the strength there, the tension rippling through him. Her touch was light, tentative—until her movements stilled.
She felt it, pressing against her from below, hard and insistent. A blush crept across her cheeks as her body reacted involuntarily, a soft moan escaping her lips. Darius swallowed her sound greedily, his hand cupping the back of her head to keep her close.
She shifted, unsure, trying to ease the sensation, but the more she moved atop him, the more her body betrayed her. Another moan slipped free, and this time, she could feel Darius's response—a low, guttural groan reverberating in his chest.
He began to move beneath her, his hips bucking slightly, meeting her every shift. Each movement sent shockwaves through her, her body tingling with an unfamiliar intensity that left her breathless. Elara's head fell back, her lips parting as a louder moan tore from her throat.
Darius groaned again, his hands gripping the tile staircase for support as his muscles strained and tightened. He could feel the tiles cracking under his grip, but his focus was solely on her—on the way her body moved, the way she made him feel like he was unraveling.
Elara's movements grew frantic, her body instinctively seeking something she couldn't quite name. She wanted more, yet every nerve screamed at her to stop. Confusion and desire warred within her until, at the last moment, she jerked away, gasping for air.
Breathing heavily, Darius remained where he was, his chest heaving as he tried to collect himself. His hooded eyes opened, glinting with a mixture of frustration and concern. His voice came out hoarse, deep, and raw.
"What? What's wrong?"