Page 69 of Chained By the Alpha (Claimed Duet #1)

“Please don’t stop,” I tell him, trying to tug him back to me.

“I’m not taking you on the dirt,” he grumbles. I couldn’t care less where we are. I just want him, and he must feel that through the bond because he sighs.

The sound of Zayn’s sigh sends a shiver down my spine, and I can feel his desire growing through our mate bond.

He leans down to nuzzle my neck once more before pulling away and stands.

My heart sinks at the loss of his touch.

Still, I know he has a point. We can’t continue like this out in the open.

Without a word, he holds out his hand for me to take. I grab it eagerly and let him pull me up, my body buzzing with anticipation for what is coming next.

He dusts off the back of me. My knees feel weak, but I manage to stay standing under his strong gaze.

He brushes a piece of hair behind my ear before staring down at me with those silver eyes that hold so much intensity.

They seem to see straight through me, breaking down every wall I’ve ever built up in my heart.

“Cleo,” he whispers, his voice low and husky with need.

I realize this man has set me aflame, igniting a desire within me I never knew existed.

And now that he has, there’s no going back.

We stare at each other for what feels like an eternity, both of us lost in our thoughts and feelings as we lean closer to each other again.

Our lips meet once more, his hands moving around my waist as if he’s trying to mold me into himself.

He presses his thick length against me again, making me whimper softly against his mouth.

Zayn walks us backward until we’re pressed against the rough bark of a tree trunk behind us, our bodies swaying gently with each breath we take together.

His hands roam over my curves, tracing circles on my hips before sliding upward along my sides and finally cupping my breasts, sending shockwaves of pleasure through every nerve ending in my body.

His thumbs circle around the hard nubs of my nipples, teasing them mercilessly as I moan into the kiss while arching into him, wanting more than anything else for him to touch me deeper still while also needing this moment to last forever because it feels so good.

“We shouldn’t, at least not here,” Zayn breathes out against my lips, his hands still roaming over my body.

I know he’s right. Anyone could stumble upon us, and we wouldn’t be able to explain ourselves. But at this moment, I can barely think straight as the heat between us continues to build.

“Come on,” he says, pulling away from me and taking a step back. “I’ll take you home; my car isn’t far from here.”

I nod, my heart still pounding with desire as I try to gather myself and follow him. He leads me into the tree line before stopping and tugging me closer, a wicked smile on his lips as he addresses my wolf.

“Try to keep up, Luna,” he purrs, letting me go and shifting.

His huge black wolf takes his place and I feel Luna’s giddiness at wanting to race as she presses forward, wanting control.

I give it to her, letting her forward and preparing for the agony, yet barely any comes when I give her control.

It’s almost too easy as I surrender to the shift, letting my body contort and twist, giving her the reins.

Zarek takes off into the trees, and Luna yaps excitedly, darting after him.

The forest becomes a blur as we run, adrenaline pumping through our veins as we dodge tree after tree effortlessly.

The cool night air feels refreshing against our fur, and the scents of the forest invigorate us.

I can sense Zarek’s powerful presence just ahead of us, and Luna’s instincts urge her to catch up to him, to run with him side by side.

The full moon above us casts an ethereal glow over the forest floor, illuminating the path before us while hiding secrets in its shadows.

We race through the trees for what feels like hours, our bodies moving with grace and fluidity as one.

Luna revels in the feeling of freedom and power that comes with running in her wolf form, her senses heightened and sharpened.

In this form, she is wild and fierce, unencumbered by human thoughts or worries.

As we near Zayn’s car, I feel Luna’s excitement turn into hesitation.

She knows this is where we must shift back into human form and face reality once more.

And a part of me dreads it too, because once we’re back in our human forms, everything will become too real again, yet at the same time, I am excited because I get Zayn.

As if sensing my unease, Zarek slows and allows me to catch up to him. He shifts back into his human form first. Zayn smiles encouragingly, and Luna reluctantly shifts back.

I can feel Luna’s presence fading as we return to our human form, fur replaced by the familiar sensation of my own skin.

I open my eyes and find myself standing in front of Zayn, his warm eyes gazing down at me with a mixture of desire and concern.

I can see the moonlight reflecting off his dark hair, giving it a silver sheen.

“Hey,” he whispers, his voice husky with emotion.

“Hey,” I reply, unable to hide the smile that spreads across my face.

Zayn glances over my shoulder and nods toward the car. “Let’s get dressed before we freeze out here.”

The car is parked just where Zayn said it would be—a clearing near an old iron bridge stretching over a babbling creek that reflects the silver light from above onto its surface like shimmering mirrors underfoot.

Zayn grabs his keys off the back wheel, unlocks the car, walks toward the trunk, and opens it, pulling out a shirt for me to take. Before I can reach for it, his hands are on me again; this time tracing up and down my arms in a comforting gesture.

“You okay?” he asks softly.

I nod, grateful for his understanding. “Yeah, just feeling a little exposed.”

He smiles sympathetically and steps closer to me, draping the shirt over my shoulders and helping me put it on.

His touch is gentle yet possessive at the same time – like he wants to make sure I’m okay, but also wants to re-mark me as his.

And in this moment, surrounded by moonlight and the sounds of nature all around us, I feel completely content.

Zayn grabs himself a pair of jeans and pulls them on.

Once we’re both dressed, Zayn closes the trunk and leads me to the passenger side of the car. He opens the door and gestures for me to get in while he goes around to the driver’s side. As soon as we’re both inside, he starts up the engine, and we start driving back toward the city.

“Let’s get you home,” he growls, his wolf still close to the surface.

I lean against the door, the coolness of the leather soothing my heated skin but also preventing me from trying to climb into his lap while he drives.

Zayn’s eyes flicker over to me, his silver orbs smoldering in the dim light of the dashboard.

It’s as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking, and my heart rate has yet to return to normal after our earlier run.