chapter 133
Tori's POV:
Lucas stood in the doorway, one eyebrow raised slightly.
I couldn't tell if he believed me or not, but there was something in his gaze that made my heart skip.
He moved into the room with that predatory grace that seemed to come naturally to him, his steps silent on the carpeted floor.
"You seem tense," he said, closing the distance between us.
I was acutely aware of my slightly elevated heartbeat, my quickened breathing. The search results were still fresh in my mind. Increased sexual desire. Heightened possessiveness. Physical discomfort when separated...
Had I been causing him pain all this time by keeping my distance?
He reached for my hand, which was trembling slightly against the closed laptop. His touch was gentle, his skin warm against mine.
"You're not very good at hiding things, little wolf," Lucas said, his voice both amused and knowing. His thumb traced along my wrist, right over my racing pulse. "What were you really looking at?"
I pressed my lips together, embarrassed to be caught. His eyes held mine, patient but persistent.
"Tori," he said, just my name, but somehow infused with gentle command. "Tell me."
I exhaled slowly, knowing I couldn't hide from him anymore.
"I was just... I was looking up some information," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "About Alphas and... bonding."
The words hung between us, charged with meaning. My cheeks grew warmer.
Lucas's expression softened as he looked down at me, his thumb tracing light circles on my palm. The simple touch sent shivers up my arm.
"You don't need to worry about any of that," he said, his voice low and reassuring. His free hand moved to my face, fingers lightly brushing my cheek. "Everything happens at your pace. Not mine, not anyone else's."
The moonlight streamed through the window, casting his features in silver and shadow. In that light, he looked less like the powerful Alpha that commanded the city and more like a man—a man looking at me with unmistakable desire in his eyes.
He wants us, Tracy whispered in my mind. I can feel.
I found myself leaning into his touch, my body moving of its own accord.
The distance between us seemed to shrink with each heartbeat.
"Lucas, I can," I whispered, my voice catching.
He moved closer, his hand sliding from my cheek to cup the back of my neck.
The gesture was possessive yet tender, making me feel both protected and desired.
When our lips met, it was different from our previous kisses. There was no hesitation, no holding back. His lips moved against mine with a hunger that matched the growing ache inside me.
Yes, Tracy purred. Finally.
My hands found their way to his shoulders, feeling the solid strength beneath his shirt.
The laptop slid forgotten to the side as he guided me backward onto the bed. His weight above me was reassuring rather than oppressive, his body fitting against mine as if designed for this purpose.
His lips traced a path down my neck, lingering at the spot where my pulse raced beneath my skin. I gasped as he placed a gentle bite there, not breaking skin but claiming nonetheless.
The sensation sent a jolt of electricity through my entire body.
"Are you sure?" he murmured against my skin, his voice rougher than before.
His breath was warm against the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder, making me shiver despite the heat building between us.
In answer, I pulled him closer, my fingers threading through his dark hair. I arched into him, letting my body speak the language my lips couldn't form.
His eyes, now glowing with that primal Alpha light, held mine as our breaths intermingled, the last barrier between us dissolving.
Later, I lay nestled against Lucas's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. My body felt both exhausted and strangely energized, a pleasant soreness settling into my muscles.
"Come," he said softly, pressing a kiss to my forehead before carefully lifting me into his arms.
I made a sound of surprise, but didn't protest as he carried me to the adjoining bathroom. He set me down gently on the edge of the oversized bathtub while he adjusted the water temperature.
Steam soon filled the room as the tub filled with warm water.
When the bath was ready, he helped me in, the warm water enveloping my sensitive skin like a gentle embrace. Lucas followed, settling behind me so I could lean back against his chest. His hands, strong and sure, began working through my long hair, untangling the strands with careful attention.
"You're beautiful," he murmured, his voice a rumble I could feel against my back. "My wolf."
I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling of being cared for.
"Tomorrow," Lucas said, his hands still working gentle magic on my tired muscles, "I want to take you somewhere. To celebrate."
"Celebrate what?" I asked, relaxing further into his embrace.
"Your freedom. Your name cleared. Us." His arms wrapped around me, secure and protective. "Would you like that?"
"Yes," I whispered, reaching up to touch his face, marveling at how natural it felt now. "I'd like that very much."
---
I awoke to soft kisses trailing along my shoulder and the gentle morning light filtering through the curtains.
The room was bathed in a warm golden glow that made everything seem dreamlike.
"Good morning, little wolf," Lucas said, his voice a low rumble that sent pleasant shivers down my spine. He offered me a steaming mug of tea, the minty aroma rising with the steam. "I thought you might need this."
I sat up slowly, feeling a delicious soreness in my muscles.
The silk sheet slipped slightly, and I clutched it to my chest as I accepted the mug, suddenly aware of my nakedness in the morning light.
"Thank you," I said, feeling unexpectedly shy despite the intimacy we'd shared. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "What time is it? I must look a mess."
Lucas's eyes, bright and alert despite the early hour, traveled over my face with undisguised appreciation.
"Just after ten," he answered, reaching out to brush his thumb across my cheekbone. "And you look perfect—though perhaps a little tired. I may have been... demanding last night."
There was a hint of mischief in his expression that I'd rarely seen before.
I felt heat rush to my cheeks at the memory of exactly how "demanding" he'd been, but couldn't stop the small smile that formed on my lips.
"I wasn't exactly complaining," I murmured into my tea.
As I sipped the perfectly brewed drink, I became aware of something new—a warm, constant presence at the back of my mind, like a thread of golden light connecting me to him.
The mate bond, I realized with a start. Lucas and I were truly connected now in a way that went beyond the physical.