Chapter 102 To Be Cleaned
Althea was trembling everywhere, her body clenching around him, desperate for release yet helpless against the force of his rhythm.
“Althea…” he murmured, his voice rough and low, sending another shiver down her spine. “Tell me, are you close because I’m losing it and it’s maddening… It feels wonderful to be inside you like this. Warm and tight…”
She gasped, her body trembling with the intensity building inside her. Every movement, every press of his hands against her, pulled her closer to the edge again, leaving her breathless and overwhelmed.
By the time she cried out his name, she felt herself shudder with release, collapsing slightly into his arms, her heart racing from the overwhelming heat between them. Gavriel held her steady, as their shared tension slowly eased.
Still trembling, she straightened slightly, only to find herself leaning back against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. His hold was firm, almost possessive, and his lips brushed against the mark he had left between her neck and shoulder.
“I want you outside,” Gavriel murmured against her ear. “The people of Azath Town have been waiting for you to wake. They want to thank you. Some already saw you earlier, so the news is spreading fast. We should clean up and get dressed.”
Althea bit her lower lip, her voice soft yet daring as she whispered, “But… you’re the one keeping me here. You’re still inside me.”
His low chuckle rumbled against her back, dark and indulgent. “And you enjoy it too much to push me away.” His teeth grazed the shell of her ear, making her shiver all over again.
His laughter—rich and unguarded—made her heart skip. Althea couldn’t believe she had managed to draw a genuine chuckle from the Alpha King himself. The thought of teasing him tugged at her, but she bit it back, afraid that if she pushed too far, he would retreat behind his walls again and hide those rare glimpses of sincerity.
Instead, she smiled to herself, quietly treasuring it as a small victory. Perhaps, little by little, she was breaking through the cold exterior of the Alpha King.
Suddenly, Althea’s breath hitched as his hips pressed forward, reminding her just how deep he was. Her fingers tightened their hold on his arm around her, torn between the need to steady herself and the shameful thrill that sparked through her veins.
“You talk of going outside,” she whispered breathlessly, “yet you don’t seem ready to let me go.”
Gavriel’s hand slid down her stomach, teasing, circling—slow and deliberate. “I don’t release what’s mine so easily.” His tone carried a possessive edge that sent a rush of heat straight through her.
Her knees nearly buckled, but his arm around her waist held her firmly against his chest. His lips trailed down her damp skin, brushing over the mark he’d left earlier, each touch staking his claim deeper.
“The people will wait,” he said with a dangerous smirk in his voice. “But I will not.”
Althea gasped, her head tipping back against his shoulder as his movements deepened, deliberate and unyielding. Her voice broke into a moan before she could stop it, his name tumbling from her lips in a mix of plea and surrender.
In one swift motion, he pressed her back against the smooth wall, the cool surface a sharp contrast to the fire of his body.
Althea gasped, her hands instinctively bracing against his shoulders as he lifted her, spreading her thighs wide around his hips. His strength was overwhelming, his presence inescapable as he thrust into her, pinning her firmly against the wall.
“Gavriel—” her cry broke into a moan, her head tipping back as her body jolted from the force of each movement.
“Say it louder,” he growled, his mouth finding her neck, teeth grazing before biting down just enough to leave another mark. His hips drove into her with unrelenting precision, deeper and harder each time.
Her fingers tangled in his wet hair, tugging, but it only drew a groan from him, his pace growing more demanding. Her breasts brushed his chest, her body sliding slightly against the wall with every thrust until he caught her tighter, holding her exactly where he wanted her.
“You feel that?” he rasped, one hand gripping her hip while the other slid down between their bodies, fingers circling her clit in slow, deliberate strokes. “That’s me claiming you.”
Her legs trembled around his waist, her moans spilling freely as she clung to him, unable to hold back. “Gavriel…” she breathed, desperate and undone.
His forehead pressed against hers, his eyes burning into her as his pace grew ruthless.
“Open your eyes. I want you to look at me when you break.”
She obeyed, barely, her gaze locking with his as her climax tore through her, her voice shattering on his name. The intensity made her entire body quake against the wall, her nails digging into his skin.
With a final, deep thrust, Gavriel groaned, his body stiffening as he released inside her, the heat of it sealing his words. “You’re mine, Althea. All of you. Mine.”
Pinned against the wall, trembling from the aftermath, Althea could only cling to him, her body still quivering as he held her, his dominance carved into every breath she took.
Her body was still trembling when Gavriel finally eased his grip, lowering her gently until her feet touched the floor again. She leaned against the wall for balance, her breaths shallow and uneven. The cool air clung to her damp skin, making her shiver.
Before she could steady herself, Gavriel’s hand cupped her jaw, forcing her to meet his gaze. His eyes were sharp, cold as always, but there was something else flickering in them—something only she seemed to draw out of him.
With a quiet grunt, Gavriel stepped back. He reached for a fresh cloth and dipped it in the nearby basin, wringing it out. Then, without asking, he began to wipe her skin, slow and thorough, from the marks he’d left on her neck down to the places between her thighs.
His touch wasn’t gentle—he wasn’t built for gentleness—but it was careful, precise, claiming. Althea felt her cheeks flush hot. To be cleaned by the ruthless Alpha King himself was more intimate than the act they had just shared. Her throat tightened, but she stayed still, her eyes fixed on him as his strong hands worked over her.