Chapter 21: Twenty One

ROMAN

My heart hurt watching her speak. And when she dropped those dreadful words, I momentarily stopped breathing.

She did not understand how dangerous it was for her to stay by my side. Forever? That was such a cruel joke. In every possibility I could see, she would end up dying. There were too many variables. The odds were against her. But...how could I tell her that?

"Solana—" I started to say, but she cut me off.

"You don't understand, dearest. Even if I'm in pain. Even if there's a boulder in my chest, it wouldn't matter as long as I'm here with you," she said, reaching for my hand.

"I want to live, Alpha. For the first time in a long time, I, Solana, want to live," she went on to say, stealing the air from my lungs.

She was so beautiful. Her heart was such a beauty too. But would it be enough? She had no idea what she would face.

Reaching for her with my free hand, I gently wiped the tears off her face with the pad of my thumb.

"I want you here, Solana. I do, but—"

"Please," she whimpered.

Damnit.

I hesitated a little, a feeling of discomfort spreading through me. I had the strongest feeling that I was moving out of my comfort zone.

"Come here," I said, and she did. I pulled her onto my lap so that she was facing me, my arms circling her waist.

"You want to stay here? Then you have to become stronger. Strong enough to beat the odds that are against you," I told her, and she leaned against me, resting her head on my shoulder.

"And if I beat the odds?" She asked in a small voice.

I ran a hand down her spine, breathing in her scent.

"Then win the bet," I rasped.

She pulled away slightly, looking into my eyes.

"You want me to make you fall in love with me?"

I nodded, and she slid her hand from my chest to my cheek.

"What happens after that?" She whispered, lightly stroking my cheek.

I didn't overthink it. I let the words come naturally.

"You get to stay," I said. "Forever."

Her eyes glistened with tears, her heart a wild drumbeat of emotions pounding against mine. Then slowly, she leaned in to kiss me.

My eyes slipped closed as I tasted her, pulling her closer as our lips brushed in a maddening dance of desire. She slid her arms around my shoulders, her fingers tangling in my hair as I slipped past the seams of her lips, testing and exploring.

She answered with little moans that set my blood on fire. Now I understood why Hawke was crazy about women.

When we pulled apart for air, she smiled, panting slightly.

"You're a good kisser, hubby," she grinned.

I cocked my head slightly, my gaze zeroing in on her soft lips. "Will this be our first lesson?" I asked, and her green eyes sparkled.

She leaned in to kiss me on the lips.

"Yes," she uttered breathlessly, her hands roaming over my chest.

When she kissed me again, it was so sensual, it sent blood rushing southward.

She rocked slightly on my lap, and sparks travelled up my spine, my cock twitching.

“Do you want to know how an orgasm feels?” She asked softly, kissing and nipping at my neck.

I gasped, my grip tightening on her waist.

“Show me,” I breathed. Her lips curled against my skin. Then she pulled back slightly to look into my eyes.

“I have two rules,” she said.

She was growing bolder. For some reason, hearing her reclaim her agency made my cock strain against my pants.

“What are they?”

“For this session, I’m only going to teach you how an orgasm feels. We can’t do anything else until our next class,” she said, and my lips curved into a small smile.

Smart woman.

She was trying to draw this out as long as possible for some reason.

Honestly, I didn’t mind. Still, I needed an heir soon.

She cupped my face with both hands, smiling as if she’d just read my mind.

“You don’t have to worry about getting me pregnant. We will have the classes very often,” she said and kissed me deeply.

“Rule one: you can’t touch me—”

I cut her off, frowning. “Why not?”

She looked away, her cheeks turning pink.

“I’ll tell you why later, deal?”

I sighed. “Fine.”

She moved my hands to the sheets on either side of me, biting her lower lip.

“Rule two: you have to let me know you like what I do,” she rasped.

Oh…

She wanted to hear me moan, didn’t she?

My wife was indeed wilder than I thought.

I arched a brow to tease her. “Is that a kink or something?”

Her eyes widened. “You know what a kink is.”

“Obviously. I don’t study halfway, flower. Now, don’t keep me waiting.”

She kissed me again, and then she rocked her hips so hard, I saw stars.

Fuck.

My grip on the sheets tightened as she latched onto my neck, biting and sucking.

My head dropped to the side, heat simmering inside of me.

“Do you like that?” She asked, her voice unsteady.

“I do,” I panted.

Her dress rode up, and when she moved again, a strained sound tore from my lips.

“Just like that,” I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut as she set a rhythm. “Such a good girl.”

My cock was swelling at an impossible pace, rubbing against her heat. She was wet in no time, stimulating me until I couldn’t tell where I was.

She whimpered when my hips jerked against hers, pleasure ricocheting through me.

Soon, we were both grinding against each other, seeking relief, and when it came, my vision went white, my abdomen constricting as I trembled against her.

“Solana,” I moaned, the smell of our arousal intoxicating me.

When it was over, I met her gaze again, my heart performing cartwheels in my chest.

“So? How was it?” Solana panted, her eyes dazed.

“That was…maddening,” I whispered, trying to catch my breath. “But I definitely do need a shower now. What are you going to do, Solana? I think you’ve just turned me into your personal whore.”

Her eyes widened as I gripped her by the waist.

“What are you going to do if I become addicted to this? To you? What if it’s too much for you?”

She giggled, burying her face in my chest.

“I won’t mind. As long as it’s you.”

I snorted in disbelief, finally releasing her.

“Aren’t you curious why I haven’t been with a woman before now?” I asked as I rose to my feet.

“I am,” she said, rolling over in bed to face me.

“I’m not supposed to be able to get aroused, Solana. I don’t know how that happened, but you changed it,” I told her, and just as I was heading for the bathroom, she spoke.

“The first rule I made…was because I wanted to make sure you don’t lose your control and hurt me or something,” she mumbled, and I froze.

Did I hear that right?

“What do you mean? Did someone—”

She shook her head, turning away.

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.

I stormed into the bathroom, replaying her words in my head. She had been hurt before. The thought burned through me, leaving a violet surge of bloodthirst in its wake. Who was it?

Who the fuck was it?

Just then, Nigel’s voice reached me through the mind link.

‘Alpha, you have a visitor.’

Taking off my clothes, I straightened up.

‘Who is it?’

‘Alpha Elric.’

I narrowed my eyes, a bitter taste spreading in my mouth.