Chapter 149: Peaceful Days

Beatrice POV

I woke to sunlight streaming through the windows and Darius's arm heavy across my waist. For a moment I just lay there, breathing in the peace of it. No urgent summons. No Council meetings. No enemies plotting in the shadows.Just a quiet morning with the man I loved.

“You're thinking too loud," Darius mumbled against my shoulder. "I can feel it through the bond."

"Sorry," I said. "I'm just enjoying the calm."

"Then stop analyzing it and actually enjoy it," Darius said. He pulled me closer, nuzzling into my neck. "We have at least two hours before anyone will come looking for you."

"Two whole hours," I said. "What should we do with all that time?"

"I have some ideas," Darius said as his hand slid down my side suggestively.

I laughed and turned to face him. "We did that twice last night, you can't possibly"

"I'm a wolf," Darius interrupted. "I have excellent stamina. Want me to prove it?"

He kissed me again, deeper this time, tongue sliding against mine in slow strokes. His hand cupped the back of my neck, holding me exactly where he wanted me. I sighed into his mouth, already aching for more even though we’d barely caught our breath.

He pulled back just enough to look at me. His green eyes were dark, pupils blown wide. “You’re so beautiful like this,” he murmured. “All flushed and open for me.”

His mouth moved to my throat, kissing and sucking lightly, then lower. He nudged the sheet down with his chin until my breasts were bare. The cool morning air made my nipples tighten instantly. Darius groaned low in his chest.

He lowered his head and took one nipple into his mouth. Hot, wet suction pulled a sharp gasp from me. His tongue flicked over the hard peak—quick little circles, then slow flat licks. He sucked harder, teeth grazing just enough to make my back arch. Pleasure shot straight between my legs.

He switched to the other breast, giving it the same attention. One hand kneaded the first one, thumb rolling the wet nipple while his mouth worked the second. I threaded my fingers through his hair, holding him against me. Every pull of his mouth sent heat pooling lower.

After long minutes he lifted his head, lips shiny and red. “I want to feel how wet you are,” he said, voice rough.

His hand slid down my stomach, over my hip, between my thighs. I parted my legs without thinking. His fingers found me slick and swollen. He dragged two fingers along my slit, spreading the wetness, then circled my clit with slow, firm pressure.

I moaned, hips lifting into his touch. He watched my face the whole time, eyes locked on mine. “You like that?” he asked quietly.

“Yes—please”

He pushed one finger inside me, then two. I was so wet they slid in easily. He curled them upward, stroking that spot that made my toes curl. His thumb kept working my clit in tight circles. The rhythm was steady, relentless as my thighs started to shake.

“Darius”

He kissed me again, swallowing my whimpers while his fingers pumped faster. I clenched around him, so close, so ready.

But he pulled his hand away right before I tipped over the edge. I whined in protest. He smiled against my lips. “Turn over, love.”

I rolled onto my stomach. He tugged my hips up until I was on my knees, chest pressed to the mattress, ass in the air. The position made me feel exposed, needy. I gripped the sheets tight.

Darius settled behind me. His hands smoothed over my hips, my back, then gripped my waist. I felt the blunt head of his cock nudge my entrance. He rubbed himself along my slit, coating himself in my wetness.

Then he pushed in—slow, inch by inch.

I moaned into the pillow. He stretched me perfectly, filling me until his hips pressed flush against my ass. We both stilled for a second, breathing hard.

He started moving. Long, deep thrusts that hit every sensitive place inside me. Each stroke dragged his cock along that spot, making sparks burst behind my eyes. I pushed back to meet him, wanting more.

His pace picked up. Harder now. The sound of skin slapping skin filled the room. One of his hands slid up my spine and pressed between my shoulder blades, keeping my chest down while he fucked me deeper.

I buried my face in the sheets, gripping the fabric so hard my knuckles whitened. Every thrust punched a muffled cry out of me. I tried to stay quiet—the walls weren’t that thick—but it was impossible when he felt this good.

Darius leaned over me, chest to my back. His mouth found my ear. “Let me hear you,” he growled softly. “No one else gets to hear how pretty you sound when I’m inside you.”

His hand slipped underneath me, fingers finding my clit again. He rubbed fast circles while he kept pounding into me from behind. The double sensation—his thick cock stretching me, his fingers on my clit—snapped something inside.

I came hard, walls pulsing around him, thighs trembling. A broken moan tore out of me even though I tried to muffle it in the sheets. Darius groaned low, thrusts turning erratic.

“Beatrice” His voice cracked as he buried himself deep one last time and spilled inside me, hot pulses that made me shiver. His arms wrapped around my waist, holding me tight against him as we both shook through the aftershocks.

He kissed the back of my neck, my shoulder, soft and slow now. We stayed locked together for long minutes, breathing together, hearts hammering in the same rhythm.

Finally he eased out and turned me gently onto my back. He pulled me into his arms, tucking my head under his chin.

“Still think I don’t have stamina?” he teased, voice warm and lazy.

I laughed weakly against his chest. “Shut up.”

He kissed my forehead. “Never.”

We lay there in the soft morning light, tangled and sated, the mate bond humming quietly between us like it was finally home.

"I love you," I said. "Have I mentioned that recently?"

"Not in the last few hours," Darius said. "I was starting to worry."

I smacked his chest lightly. "Impossible man."

"Your impossible man," Darius corrected. "Forever."

"Forever," I echoed. The word used to scare me. Now it just felt like a promise I wanted to keep.

Eventually we dragged ourselves out of bed. Darius pulled on clothes while I brushed my hair, watching him in the mirror.

"Run with me?" I asked. "Before the day gets crazy."

"Always," Darius said. "Let me just tell Brennan where I'll be."