Sandy Embrace

Sandy Embrace
Paige’s unease had lingered since Chase’s departure, a gnawing suspicion mirrored by Nyte’s own agitation. Despite Chase’s charm—his endless questions about her witchcraft and the card reading she’d done for him—doubt festered. The cards she drew for him—seven of swords, the chariot, the lovers—wove a tale of deceit and relentless ambition. They suggested he’d stop at nothing to get what he wanted, fueling her fear that he might be the stalker who’d pursued her across the beach. But the cards were maddeningly vague, offering no clear answers, even as she sought clarity on Chase’s true nature.
“What are you hiding from me?” Paige muttered aloud, forgetting Nyte’s presence.
“What’s wrong?” Nyte asked, mid-change into a swimsuit for the pack’s full-moon run. Her eyes traced the lines of his muscles, a flush creeping up her cheeks as her pulse quickened.
“If you keep looking at me like that,” he teased, “I won’t be able to stop myself.”
Her gaze snapped to his, heat sparking at his words. “What are the cards not telling you?” he pressed, nodding at her hand-painted deck.
She sighed, shaking her head. “It’s silly. I can’t shake the feeling that the psycho from that night is nearby. But the cards are vague.” She flipped over the high priestess, her frown deepening. “This says I already know more than I think, that I need to look inward. But I can’t clear my mind enough to see the face from my vision.”
Shuffling again, she drew the fool and groaned, rubbing her eyes. “This isn’t helping either.”
Nyte chuckled, eyeing the card. “Did your cards just call you an idiot?”
“No,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips. “It’s saying my mate’s a psycho, and I should just give in to him.”
His face fell, a trace of hurt in his voice. “The cards called your mate a psycho?”
“Not exactly,” she clarified, softening. “It says despite the dangers, I need to have faith and embrace what comes.”
“I see.” His fingers threaded gently through her hair as she stared at the deck. “Draw another.”
She sighed, drawing the tower. Her face paled, and she quickly tucked the cards into the bedside drawer.
“Paige, are you okay?” Nyte’s voice was sharp with concern.
“I’m fine,” she lied, her body trembling.
“No, you’re not. What did that card mean?”
Swallowing hard, she met his gaze, tears welling. “Danger. Unavoidable, life-altering change.”
His eyes flicked to the drawer, then back to her, his grip on her chin softening as his thumb brushed her cheek. “Come to the beach with me,” he said finally. “There’s a cave nearby, dry during the full moon. You’ll be safe.”
Her mood lifted instantly. She leapt up, grabbing a bikini and worn shorts, changing without hesitation—Nyte had seen every inch of her already. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they left the quiet packhouse, joining a few others heading to the beach. The other wolves cast curious glances her way but said nothing. Paige didn’t care; the promise of warm sand and crashing waves consumed her.
The beach’s scent and the rhythm of the ocean enveloped her as they parted from the group. The pack’s howls faded into the distance, mistaken by humans for coyotes. Paige danced ahead, twirling under the full moon’s glow, her laughter mingling with the sea’s song.
“The cave’s over here,” Nyte said, guiding her to a shadowed crevice in the rocks. He steadied her as they stepped inside, the air thick with the sea’s briny perfume. The cave opened to a breathtaking view of the moon, and Paige gasped, spinning in delight.
“This is beautiful!” she exclaimed.
“Yeah, I agree,” Nyte said, his eyes fixed on her, not the sky.
Blushing, she closed the distance between them, his gaze hungry. He’d been distant since the full moon’s pull began, his wolf straining for control. Witches felt the moon’s influence too, though less intensely, guiding their spells and rituals. Her coven would be gathered now, breaking old habits as the moon waned. But she was here, with Nyte.
Cupping his cheek, she whispered, “Why are you holding back? Did you bring me here just to look pretty?”
His restraint shattered. His arms crushed her to him, his lips claiming hers in a feral kiss. She moaned, arching into him, sand pressing against her skin as he lowered her to the ground. His teeth grazed her lip, rougher than usual, his wolf ascendant. Part of her wondered if she could handle him like this, but a deeper part craved it.
He tore her shorts off, untying her bikini bottoms with ease. She wrapped her legs around him, shivering as the cool breeze met her heat. His lips found her breasts, teasing her hardened nipples as she rocked against him, desperate for friction. With a growl, he pinned her hips, flipping her onto her stomach and spreading her legs. Her wrists trapped in his grip, she squirmed, thrilling at his dominance.
She heard the rustle of his shorts, felt him position himself. Anticipation tightened her thighs as he entered her slowly, inch by agonizing inch. She pushed back, craving more, but he held her still, drawing out her torment.
“More, Nyte,” she gasped. “I need more.”
“Shhh,” he growled, his voice barely human. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Fuck that,” she shot back, tightening around him. “I want the pain.”
His control snapped. He thrust into her, hard and deep, pressing her into the sand. Her fingers clawed at the ground, sand in her mouth as she moaned, matching his rhythm. The pressure built, her body unraveling as she cried out, her climax crashing through her. Nyte’s release followed, his body collapsing onto hers as they rolled to their sides, his lips tracing the mark he’d left on her neck.
Instinctively, she tilted her head, craving his bite. He obliged, sinking his teeth into her flesh, marking her again. “Did I hurt you?” he murmured, licking the wound.
“No,” she moaned. “That was amazing.”
“Good enough to do again?” he teased, his tongue flicking her ear piercings.
“Yes,” she breathed, her body already responding to his touch.
“How many times can you handle?” he asked, his fingers slipping between her legs.
“As many as it takes,” she replied, then froze as unintended words spilled out: “To get you out of my system.”
He stilled, then chuckled. “What if that never happens?”
“Then we’ll never be done,” she said, meeting his gaze over her shoulder.
His fingers resumed their dance, his lips capturing hers. “We’re gonna be here forever, then. You run too deep.”
She moaned into his kiss, rolling to face him, wrapping herself around him. Doubt lingered—her cards warned of danger, of a mate she couldn’t fully trust. But in this moment, she believed Nyte’s words, even if forever felt impossible.
“I love you,” she whispered, the words slipping free as she straddled him.
He didn’t echo her words, only deepened their kiss, pulling her close. The night was young, and as they rolled in the sand, the ocean’s call promising a skinny dip before they’d cover themselves in sand again, she whispered, “I want this to last forever,” her body chasing the edge of pleasure and pain once more.