Chapter 221
Elsa
"It's... nice," Drake said, surveying the living room with an appraising eye. "Good security building. High-end finishes."
"You sound surprised," I said, dropping my purse on the kitchen counter with more force than necessary. "Did you think I'd choose something substandard? Some shitty little hole in the wall?"
"I thought you'd choose something practical," he replied, running his fingers along the marble countertop. "This is actually beautiful."
I tried not to react to the compliment, crossing my arms over my chest defensively. "Do you want something to drink? I'm not sure what's in the fridge yet." My voice came out more brittle than I intended.
Drake ignored my question, moving closer until I felt the counter press against my back. His scent enveloped me—stronger now, more intense. My wolf whined with recognition and longing, and I felt heat pool low in my belly.
"You've been avoiding me," he said softly, his eyes never leaving mine. "Since the hospital. Since we..."
"I've been busy," I said weakly, knowing how pathetic the excuse sounded. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. "And you... you have responsibilities. To your pack. To Vera."
The mention of her name made his jaw tighten. Before I could react, he had me pinned against the door, his body pressing against mine. A gasp escaped my lips as his lips found mine in a kiss that was both punishing and desperate, stealing the breath from my lungs and the resistance from my limbs.
Goddammit , I thought as my body instantly responded. My hands betrayed me, sliding up to grip his shoulders as I began to sink into the familiar heat of his touch.
Just as I began to respond, the sound of the front door opening made us both freeze. Drake cursed under his breath, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the nearest room—my bedroom.
The door closed behind us just as I heard Oliver's voice, accompanied by what sounded like multiple people. "And this is the living room," he was saying, his voice slightly slurred. "Elsa's got the whole place now. It's fucking amazing."
I pressed my ear against the door, mortified, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure Drake could hear it. "He brought his friends here," I whispered to Drake, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I thought he'd be gone for hours. Shit!"
Drake's eyes had darkened, his breathing still uneven from our interrupted kiss. "Then we'll have to be quiet," he murmured, stepping closer again.
"Drake," I said, putting a hand on his chest to maintain some distance, feeling his heart race beneath my palm. "What do you really want from me? Why are you here?"
He stared at me for a long moment, something vulnerable flickering behind his usual mask of control. "You know why, Elsa."
"No, I don't," I insisted, my voice rising slightly before I caught myself. My fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt. "You want any pretty woman who catches your eye. What's love got to do with it? Who have you ever truly loved, Drake?"
"You," he said simply, the word hanging between us like a confession. "Only you, Elsa."
I shook my head, refusing to believe it could be that simple. My eyes stung with unexpected tears. "Bullshit. You just want to control me again. To keep me in your orbit while you pursue whatever future your father has planned for you with Vera or someone like her."
Drake's hands came up to frame my face, forcing me to look at him. "I only want you," he repeated, his voice dropping to a growl that made my wolf strain toward him. "I've only ever wanted you."
Before I could argue further, his mouth claimed mine again, more gently this time but no less insistent. My body betrayed me, responding to his touch with a familiarity that years apart couldn't erase. Traitor , I cursed my body silently as my arms wrapped around his neck. His hands slid down to my waist, pulling me closer until every inch of me was pressed against him.
A knock on the bedroom door shattered the moment.
"Elsa? Is that you back there? Are you home?" Oliver called out, his voice slightly slurred.
I broke away from Drake, my heart pounding with a mixture of desire and panic. "Fuck," I whispered, pressing a trembling hand to my swollen lips. Our eyes met in the dim light of the bedroom, both of us breathing hard, both aware of how close we'd come to crossing a line that would change everything.
Drake
I traced my fingers lazily along Elsa's spine, feeling her shiver beneath my touch. Her scent—sweet vanilla with undertones of warm honey—filled my nostrils, making my wolf stir possessively. The soft glow from the bedside lamp cast shadows across her bare shoulders, highlighting the marks I'd left there earlier. My chest rumbled with satisfaction at the sight of them.
"Drake," she whispered, her voice a mixture of warning and desire. Her fingers clutched the sheets beneath her. "We shouldn't be doing this—"
I silenced her with a hungry kiss, pressing her deeper into the mattress. Her resistance was halfhearted at best, her body betraying her as it always did. I could smell her arousal, hear the quickening of her pulse. My hand gripped her hip possessively, pulling her closer.
The sudden sound of footsteps in the hallway made Elsa freeze beneath me. She quickly pressed her hand over my mouth, eyes wide with panic, her heartbeat accelerating for an entirely different reason now.
"Shit! Shh!" she hissed, her body tensing like a bowstring. "It's Oliver!"
I smirked against her palm, amused by her fear of discovery. My hand continued to stroke the sensitive spot at the nape of her neck, enjoying how she struggled not to react. Her eyes narrowed in irritation, a flush creeping up her neck. I could smell her body's response—the sweet scent of her arousal intensifying despite her attempts to appear angry. Her legs shifted restlessly beneath me.
A soft knock at the door. "Elsa? You still awake?" Oliver's voice was muffled through the door.
Elsa cleared her throat, keeping her hand firmly over my mouth as she called back, her voice remarkably steady, "Oliver, I'm in, just sleep, okay?" Her free hand pushed against my chest, her eyes pleading with me to behave.