Chapter 56 Gentleness
Althea moaned when his hand slid between her thighs, teasing her slick folds before guiding his erectness back inside her in one rough thrust. Althea cried out, her forehead resting on the wall as he filled her completely from behind. The angle was deeper, sharper, making her legs quiver beneath him.
“Tell me you like it,” he demanded, his thrusts hard and unrelenting, his grip bruising her hips as he slammed into her.
“I—I do like it!” she moaned, her body jerking with every deep stroke. “I love it so much—”
“Say what you want,” he growled, driving into her faster, his chest pressing against her back. “Say how you want me to take you.”
“Deeper,” she begged breathlessly. “I want you deeper, harder. Don’t stop—”
A dark chuckle rumbled from his throat as he obeyed, pounding into her with brutal force that made her cry out again and again. The wet slap of their bodies echoed in the chamber, each thrust pushing her closer to the edge.
His hand tangled in her hair, yanking her head back so she was forced to arch for him. His mouth claimed her throat, biting and licking as he took her harder, the dominance in every movement undeniable.
Her body tightened, the pressure unbearable, and she screamed his name as she came again, convulsing around him in violent waves. Gavriel snarled, burying himself deep inside her, spilling into her once more with a guttural roar.
Pinned to the wall, taken from behind, Althea collapsed against the cold stone, her body wrecked, her mind hazy. Gavriel stayed pressed to her back, still inside her, his grip on her hips unyielding, as if to remind her she was his and his alone.
Althea’s body sagged against the wall, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. But Gavriel wasn’t finished. He stayed buried inside her, his weight pressing her down, his hand closing around her throat—not to choke her, but to hold her still.
His lips brushed her ear, his voice a dark growl that sent a shiver down her spine. “Do you understand now, breeder? Your body… your life… everything you are belongs to me.”
Her eyes fluttered shut, a whimper escaping her. She could feel him still hard inside her, pulsing, claiming every part of her.
He thrust once, sharp and deep, forcing another cry from her lips. “Say it,” he commanded. “Say whose you are.”
“I’m yours,” she gasped, the words spilling out without thought. “All yours, Gavriel.”
His grip tightened on her hips as he ground himself deep, his teeth scraping her neck. “Don’t ever forget. You breathe because I allow it. You live because I want you alive. And when the day comes that your life ends…” He thrust again, harder, making her body jolt against the wall. “…it will be by my hand. No one else’s.”
The brutal certainty in his tone both terrified and thrilled her, the dominance leaving her trembling. He nipped her ear, then whispered, “Remember that, Althea. You’re mine to use, mine to keep, and mine to destroy.”
His words sank into her, dark and firm, even as his body held her captive, still joined to her as if he had no intention of letting go.
Her eyes welled despite her resolve, hot tears spilling down her cheeks as Gavriel continued to pound into her, every thrust tearing through her body and breaking something deeper inside her.
Gavriel suddenly pulled out and turned her to face him. His brows drew together the moment he noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks. For a heartbeat, his gaze softened. Without a word, he gathered her into his arms.
He didn’t ask why she was crying, and Althea didn’t explain. She simply buried her face against the crook of his neck, clinging to him. The next thing she felt was the softness of the bed beneath her back, Gavriel still hovering above her with that same unreadable expression.
Then his lips met hers—gentle, careful—as if he wanted to ease whatever had broken inside her. The sudden tenderness startled her, stealing her breath.
‘Is he getting swayed?’ she wondered, her heart stuttering.
Althea closed her eyes and kissed him back, this time with passion. She parted her legs, letting him settle between them.
Her gasp slipped into his mouth as he brushed his hard length against her slick folds, teasing, their mingled desire coating every movement. Then, slowly, he slid inside her, filling her once more with deliberate gentleness.
Althea gasped at the slow stretch as Gavriel eased himself inside her, inch by inch, until he was buried to the hilt. His pace was unhurried, his gaze locked on hers, as if every movement carried meaning he couldn’t put into words.
Her tears still clung to her lashes, but his lips found them, kissing them away one by one before returning to her mouth. His kiss was tender, coaxing her to melt beneath him, and she responded without hesitation, her hands sliding up to frame his face.
“Gavriel…” she whispered against his lips, her voice trembling, caught between disbelief and need.
He hushed her with another kiss, his hips moving in a steady rhythm… deep, slow thrusts that made her whimper softly into his mouth. Each time he entered her, it felt less like possession and more like a promise.
Her body arched into his, chasing the warmth of his skin. His hands roamed her gently, cupping her breast, trailing down her side, grounding her in the closeness they shared. The harshness from before was gone, replaced by an aching tenderness that shook her more than his dominance ever had.
The friction built slowly, like fire catching on dry wood. Every thrust drew a gasp from her, every gentle grind of his hips stoked the flames higher. Her nails curled into his shoulders, but instead of clutching in desperation, she held him close—like she was afraid he’d disappear if she let go.
Their moans mingled, quiet but raw, filling the space between their mouths as they kissed deeply. The pleasure grew unbearable, curling hot and tight in her belly.
“I can’t… hold it—” she gasped, her body trembling beneath him.
“Then don’t,” Gavriel whispered against her lips, his thrusts quickening but still careful, as if he wanted to carry her there with him.
Her release came in a rush, tearing through her with blinding heat. She cried out his name, clinging to him as her walls fluttered around his length, milking him deeper.
The sensation dragged him over the edge. With a guttural groan, he thrust deep and held her tight, his release pouring into her as his body shuddered above hers. He buried his face against her neck, his breath ragged, his heart pounding as hard as hers.
But then Gavriel suddenly pulled out and got up from the bed. Althea lay still, confused, as she watched him dress in a hurry. He didn’t say anything, not even a glance her way.
Before she could ask, he was already gone, leaving her alone in the bedchamber with her body aching and her heart heavy.