Chapter 56
Xena’s POV
Ryder’s lips crashed into mine within seconds, a hungry edge to the Rise as he pushed me back against the wall. His body pinned me there, solid and unyielding, and I could feel the hard press of his dick against me, sending a rush of heat straight through my ears
My panties were soaked in an instant, the raw, electric tension between us sparking like wildfire. His hands were on ma rough, possessive, kneading my breasts with a mix of pain and pleasure that made my breath hitch.
Our tongues fought for control, a messy, desperate dance, and he grand himself against me, stoking the ache deep inside. I wanted this just as much as he did, maybe more.
Every touch chipped away at the walls I’d built, my body screaming for him even as my mind wrestled with the idea of him as my mate. A moan slipped from my lips, low and needy, and Ryder didn’t hesitate–he tore my shirt open, buttons scattering across the floor like tiny explosions. His mouth was on my nipple before I could process it, sucking hard, and I arched into him, overwhelmed.
I’d never gone this far before. Anxiety clawed at me, mixing with a sharp spike of self–consciousness, but Ryder didn’t slow down. He was relentless, claiming me like I was his battlefield. “You’re so fucking sexy,” he growled against my skin, his voice rough and
low.
Words failed me. All I could do was watch him–watch his lips tease and bite, his hands cupping my breasts like they were made for him, filling his palms perfectly.
My brain screamed at me to stop, to pull back, but my heart and body were traitors. They craved more–no, needed more.
Ryder lifted his head, his eyes locking onto mine, dark and intense. voice softer now, “but let me make you feel good.”
My body trembled beneath him, a shaky mess of nerves and want.
promise I won’t take you all the way tonight,” he said, his
“You’ve never done this before, have you?” he asked, his tone gentle but edged with something primal.
I shook my head, unable to speak, my throat tight.
A low growl rumbled from his chest, and in one fluid motion, he scopped me up into his arms and carried me to the bed. He laid me down, his body hovering over mine, and my breathing turned ragged as his lips found my neck. “You’re shaking,” he murmured against my skin, his breath hot.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, his hand cupping my face with a tenderness that caught me off guard. “Do you want me to stop?”
Yes… no… what do I even want? My mind was a warzone, torn between fear and longing.
He shifted slightly, and the hard length of him brushed against the sensitive spot between my thighs, sending a jolt through me.
“No,” I whispered, the word slipping out before I could stop it.
“If you want me to stop, I will,” he said, his voice steady despite the heat in his eyes. “Just say it. I’m not taking your first time tonight–I’ll wait until we mark each other.”
The promise sent a shiver racing down my spine, a mix of relief and something deeper, something wild. “Feel how your body reacts to me,” he continued, his gaze dropping to where goosebumps prickled across my skin. “That’s why I know we’re meant to be. You’re like a drug to me.”
1/3
Chapter 56
His mouth returned to my nipple, and my back arched off the bed, abelpless reaction to the heat of him. My hands found his shoulders, fingers digging into the taut muscles there.
There wasn’t an ounce of softness on this man–every inch of him wis carved, powerful, wolf–like in its strength. He kissed me again, deep and consuming, then pulled hack just enough to give me space.
My legs instinctively pressed together, but his hand slid between them, gently parting them again. He didn’t stop kissing me as his fingers brushed aside my shorts, his palm pressing against my soaked panties.
When he finally broke the kiss, his forehead rested against mine, his breath mingling with my own. “So wet for me,” he whispered,
his voice thick with awe.
He pulled back to meet my eyes, and then one finger slipped past the fabric, sliding inside me. My breath hitched, my pulse racing as he teased me, his fingertip brushing that sensitive spot that made my vision blur. It was too much, too new, and my eyes nearly rolled back.
“Look at me,” he said, his voice soft but commanding.
I obeyed, forcing my gaze to his, and what I saw there stole my breath–passion, yes, but also care, a fierce kind of want that went beyond the physical.
“Tell me to stop,” he said, pausing with his finger poised at my entrance. A beat passed, and then my hands were on his face, pulling him closer, my breasts pressing against his chest as his finger slid deeper.
My body clenched around him, tight and unyielding, and he moved slowly at first, testing me. Then a second finger joined the first, stretching me, and he cursed under his breath. “So fucking tight.”
I could tell he was holding back, his movements careful, deliberate–but I didn’t want careful. I needed more. “Oh, Ryder,” I moaned, the sound spilling out unbidden.
His eyes snapped to mine. “Faster,” I begged, my voice cracking.
He didn’t need to be told twice. His fingers moved like a machine, relentless and precise, driving me higher. My back bowed off the bed, pressure building inside me, a coiled spring ready to snap. “Oh, God,” I gasped, my voice trembling.
“Say my name,” he demanded, his mouth descending on my breast again, sucking hard,
“Ryder!” I screamed as the wave crashed over me, my body seizing around him. Pleasure ripped through me, sharp and blinding, and I felt him shudder against me, caught in the echo of my release.
When the aftershocks finally faded, Ryder eased his fingers out, his breathing as unsteady as mine. One arm slid beneath my neck, rolling me toward him, and he hooked my leg between his, pulling me close.
I felt the damp spot on his shorts where he’d pressed against me, and a flush crept up my neck. His hand stroked my hair, gentle now, and I buried my face in his chest, letting his heartbeat ground me.
We stayed like that, tangled together, the air thick with the scent of sweat.
My mind was still spinning, caught between the lingering high and the quiet questions creeping in.
