Chapter 96

I stared at Hadrian, my mind reeling from his words, my eyes locked onto the burning intensity in his gaze—a clear sign he meant every syllable.

"You can't just kill her..." I muttered, my voice laced with unease.

A slow, almost indifferent shrug lifted his shoulders. "Selene has more skeletons in her closet than you'd think. I just need to find them and accuse her of something worthy of execution."

He spoke as if it were inevitable, a mere matter of time.

I forced a wry smile. "You really think she'd let anything slip after working so hard to become queen?"

Hadrian's lips curled into a dangerous smirk. "That’s why I'll have to make her reveal all her secrets."

The weight of his words settled heavily in my chest, but curiosity won out. "And how do you plan to do that?"

"I'll have to... play nice for a while," he said, the chuckle that followed carrying an unmistakable edge.

I swallowed hard. "You mean seduction."

His smirk deepened, but before I could argue, he closed the distance between us. "Are you jealous, my love?" he murmured, his lips finding the sensitive curve of my neck.

"Stop..." I protested weakly, my resolve faltering against the wave of desire rising within me. "I'm covered in blood and sweat."

He snorted softly. "You're right. Let's fix that."

With a tenderness that contrasted his earlier menace, he kissed me gently before lifting me effortlessly into his arms and carrying me toward the shower. I barely managed to kick off my shoes before he set me down inside. He undressed with the same ease that left me breathless, stepping into the shower before I had even pulled my top over my head. His gaze raked over me, dark with intent.

Before I could finish undressing, he took matters into his own hands, tearing away the remaining fabric in a single, decisive motion. The water cascaded down, rinsing away the crimson stains that had painted my skin, swirling at our feet. His fingers threaded through my hair, massaging my scalp with a gentleness that sent shivers down my spine.

"Let me take care of you," he whispered, squeezing shampoo into his hands and working it through my hair.

At first, the intimacy felt awkward—vulnerable—but it quickly transformed into something else entirely. His touch, so thorough and deliberate, sent tingles racing down my spine. The way he soaped my body, his hands gliding over every inch with aching slowness, made my pulse race. His eyes never left mine, burning with a hunger that left me trembling.

As the soap spiraled down the drain, Hadrian pressed his body against mine, capturing my lips in a kiss that stole the breath from my lungs.

A teasing smile tugged at my lips as I gently pushed him away. "I may be clean... but you're still sweaty."

He arched a brow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Vampires don't sweat."

I blinked. "They don't?"

He chuckled, pulling me close again, but this time, I was determined to take control. I broke the kiss, tilting my head back, and placed my hands firmly on his chest, pushing him back once more.

"Still... you need to be washed properly," I said, squeezing the shower gel into my palm.

His lips curled into a grin as he surrendered, spreading his arms wide in invitation. I took my time, trailing my fingers down his neck, over his broad shoulders, and across his collarbones. My hands slid lower, tracing the hard planes of his chest, and I gazed into his eyes. A sharp intake of breath escaped me—his pupils burned with a predatory hunger that sent heat pooling low in my belly.

Flustered but unwilling to back down, I moved behind him, trailing soft kisses down his spine. My hands ghosted over his chest, teasing his sensitive skin until his breathing grew ragged.

"Don't," I whispered as his fingers twitched, eager to seize control.

His muscles tensed beneath my touch, and a deep, guttural growl rumbled in his chest. In an instant, he spun around, slamming me against the shower wall, his hands braced on either side of my head. Lust burned hot in his gaze, and when my eyes flickered downward, I found him painfully hard.

He leaned in, but I pressed my palms against his chest, stopping him once more. He smirked, eyes dark with amusement and confusion.

A boldness I hadn’t known I possessed took over as I sank to my knees, heart hammering wildly. I met his gaze as I took him into my mouth, tentative at first, then with growing confidence as his groans of pleasure filled the air.

"Thalassa..." he groaned, my name a desperate plea on his lips.

I reveled in the power I held over him, savoring the way his body tensed under my touch, the way he fought to maintain control as I prolonged his pleasure. When he finally came undone, his roar echoed through the steamy enclosure.

He looked down at me, his chest rising and falling with exertion, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "I'll punish you for that."

Before I could react, he hauled me up, sweeping me into his arms once more.

His punishment lasted until the early hours of the morning, drawing from me cries of ecstasy I hadn't known I was capable of. He didn't stop until I was pleading for mercy, breathless and sated beyond comprehension.

Only when I gasped out my forgiveness for his week-long absence did he allow himself the victory, pulling me into his arms and pressing a final, lingering kiss to my forehead.

Finally, he let me sleep, a satisfied grin playing on his lips as he held me close.