Chapter 135 135
Denzel’s POV
The black smoke seeping from Orville unsettled everyone in the room but not me. I’d seen it before. I was used to it.
What I didn’t understand was Rayon’s reaction. He let it rattle him far more than it should have. He’d witnessed what happened to Kimberly, and Venessa had already explained so much to him. The only unresolved matter between Venessa and me was the timeline she’d been given yet he behaved as though he was completely in the dark. It irritated me more than I liked to admit.
When Venessa asked me to help calm him, I was annoyed but I swallowed it.
Why are you acting like a baby, Rayon? I linked him sharply. You already know all this.
He muttered something and returned to his seat.
“I know,” he replied through the link, sounding defensive, “but did you see the light coming from Venessa? She looked like the sun itself.”
That made me pause. He hadn’t seen it before. Only King Jamar and I had witnessed her emit that light.
“Well, now you know,” I sent back, a smile tugging at my lips. Sit down and don’t embarrass me again.
He cleared his throat, shame radiating off him as he settled.
I turned my attention back to Venessa as she explained everything concerning Eshera. The sheer volume of information she revealed left me stunned. I couldn’t stop wondering when she had uncovered all of it and who had helped her piece it together. There was also an uncomfortable knot in my chest, a sense of being left out. She could have told me what the goddess revealed before dinner, instead of letting me learn alongside everyone else.
When the meeting finally ended, we returned to our room together.
We undressed in silence. I decided I wanted to sleep naked that night. Venessa, however, headed straight for the shower, which struck me as odd.
“We didn’t do anything strenuous enough to warrant a shower,” I teased lightly. “You didn’t even break a sweat, my love.”
She scrunched her nose. “I touched Orville.”
I laughed and got to my feet. I couldn’t blame her the vile black smoke alone was enough to make anyone feel filthy.
“In that case,” I said, following her into the bathroom, “I’m joining you.”
We washed each other slowly, laughter echoing off the tiled walls as we played with soap, touching without hurry. By the time we returned to the bedroom, the tension of the evening had softened.
“Let’s sleep naked,” I suggested as we dried off.
She smiled at me, eyes warm. “We are wolves, after all.”
We giggled like children before climbing into bed. I pulled her close, spooning her tightly against me. A soft moan escaped her lips as she relaxed into my arms, and I pressed a kiss to my mark on her neck.
“Venessa,” I murmured, “how did you find out all of that? You answered questions that have been haunting us for ages.”
She laughed quietly. “I was shocked too, darling. Nyla was speaking and I was learning the truth at the same time as everyone else.”
I snorted. “It’s wrong to withhold information, Nyla,” I muttered.
She smiled. “It all came together right there. I didn’t know until we started talking.”
We let the subject drop.
“So,” I asked after a moment, “what are we doing tomorrow?”
She sighed contentedly. “Taking a break. Enjoying nature. Sightseeing… maybe a romantic picnic. After that, we’ll go hunting in the woods.”
I turned her to face me. “I’m glad we’re slowing down, Venessa. I want time with you quiet moments, real memories I can tell our children about someday.” I hesitated. “Do you mind if I start recording you? From now on?”
She shook her head. “I wouldn’t mind at all. I would’ve done the same.”
There was sadness in her eyes deep, unspoken. I didn’t ask. She wouldn’t tell me anyway. And that was fine. I felt it without words.
I leaned in and kissed her deeply. She moaned softly and shifted, climbing over me. I took her in her long dark hair spilling over her breasts, her eyes filled with love and need and felt myself respond instantly.
I brushed her hair back so I could see her fully. I sat up, guiding her with me, my back against the headboard, one hand supporting her as I pulled her close. Our kisses turned hungry, desperate.
I guided myself into her, and she began to ride me, her hands gripping my shoulders as I held on to her. A quiet ache settled in my chest I wished we could have children together. But this… this was still everything. Better than nothing. Better than never knowing her at all.
Pleasure spread through me, deep and consuming. Nigel stirred, eager to take control. Her moans filled the room, music to my ears, as I guided her movements, feeling her tighten around me. When she climaxed, her body clenched, her walls milking me as she cried out.
I flipped us over, pinning her beneath me, and thrust into her again.
The night had only just begun.