Chapter 127
Althea’s eyes flew open in shock, and out of instinct, she quickly turned away and squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t believe he caught her stealing a kiss from him, especially when they’d already done far more than just kiss countless times. Still, her heart raced. It felt different… she had kissed him while he slept.
She bit her lip, trying to calm her breathing, but then froze when she felt Gavriel’s arm slide around her waist, pulling her back until her back pressed firmly against his chest.
“You he grunted low against her ear.
Her breath hitched as his lips began to trail down her neck, slow and deliberate. A shiver ran through her when his hand slid up to caress her breast, and she could feel the hard press of his desire against her lower back.
“You started this, Althea,” he murmured against her skin, his voice deep and rough as his lips moved lower to her shoulder, licking and suckling with growing hunger.
Althea bit her lower lip, trying to quiet the sound that threatened to escape her as Gavriel’s touch grew bolder. His voice brushed against her ear, low and rough. “So responsive… I see you wanted this,” he murmured. Her breath hitched when his fingers found her already moist flower between her thighs. “So wet and ready he hoarsely hummed against her skin.
His hand lifted her leg slightly and it was then that she felt his hardness slide inside her waiting entrance. Every movement made her shiver, her body reacting before she could stop it.
“Ah… so good,” he whispered again, his breath hot against her ear as his lips found her earlobe. The small, teasing bite made her tremble.
“Do you like this?” Gavriel asked, his tone both commanding and intimate. He was gently moving, slowly… as if savoring her insides. It felt so good that her body was trembling for more of him.
“Yes,” she breathed, the word barely more than a sigh. The confession drew a deep sound from him, something dark and satisfied. His hand trailed up, sending sparks over her skin until she instinctively turned her head to meet his gaze.
Gavriel seized the moment, his lips capturing hers in a hungry kiss that stole the air from her lungs. The world seemed to narrow to the rhythm of their breaths and the closeness between them. Her back pressed to his chest, every heartbeat syncing with his, the air thick with heat and tension that neither dared to break.
He was rubbing her clit, and she lifted her legs, clamping them against his to give him better access. Her body began to move on its own, matching Gavriel’s smooth rhythm behind her. His right arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, and she clung to him tightly as waves of pleasure surged through her from their union.
“Gavriel,” Althea didn’t know how many times she called his name when his movements became frantic and he thrust deeper and harder, hitting all the perfect spots inside her. Her inner walls clamped around him, and he growled.
“I’m close,” she rasped without realizing it, and he quickened his pace until her body jolted in orgasm while he stiffened and released his seed inside her.
Gavriel stayed still for a moment, his chest rising and falling against her back as their bodies trembled from the aftershocks. Althea could barely catch her breath, her mind hazy and her limbs weak. The room was filled with the sound of their heavy breathing, the air thick with heat and the scent of their union.
Slowly, Gavriel withdrew but kept his arm around her, holding her in place as if he didn’t want to let her go. His lips brushed against her ear, his breath warm as he whispered, “You drive me insane, Althea p>
Then he turned her body around to face him. With one hand, Gavriel brushed away the strands of hair that had fallen across her face, his touch uncharacteristically tender. He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
It was such a simple gesture, yet it made Althea’s breath hitch. Her lips parted slightly as she stared at him, speechless. There was something disarming about seeing the ruthless Alpha show this kind of gentleness.
Gavriel gave a faint smile before pulling her close, wrapping her securely in his arms. His warmth enveloped her completely, steady and protective.
“Sleep more,” he murmured against her hair, his nose buried in its scent. “Because if you don’t, I’ll end up keeping you awake until dawn p>
“You’ll sleep here with me?” she asked in disbelief. She was used to Gavriel leaving after their moments together, not staying beside her like this.
“Yes,” he replied, his voice low and teasing. “Unless, of course, you’d rather we do something else in this bed instead of sleeping. Because if you ask me He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. I’d prefer not to just literally sleep with you p>
Althea gulped, her pulse racing when she felt the unmistakable press of his hardness brushing against her skin once again.
Althea’s breath caught when she felt the heat of his skin against hers. His words were teasing, but his voice had softened, low and tender, almost a whisper. The way his fingers brushed along her arm made her shiver despite the warmth between them.
“You always do that,” Gavriel murmured. “You look at me like you’re trying to figure me out p>
Althea didn’t answer. She just looked up at him, her lips slightly parted, unsure what to say. But he was right… she had always wanted to figure him out, the only person she was dying to read, yet the only one she never could.
He tilted his head and studied her, his eyes no longer sharp with dominance but clouded with something gentler, something he rarely showed.
When his thumb grazed her cheek, she felt her chest tighten. Gavriel’s touch was no longer demanding. It was searching. Curious. His hand moved to the back of her neck, drawing her closer until their noses almost touched.
Her heart raced, and for a moment, the air between them stilled. Then his lips brushed hers—lightly, barely a kiss, but enough to send a tremor through her body. “Do you want to learn the mindlink?” he suddenly asked.