Page 17

THIRTEEN

CHRISSY

C hrissy woke up to the sensation of warm skin against her back.

Her naked body was deliciously tangled with Zev's beneath the silken sheets of his bed.

Sunlight filtered through the large windows of his villa's bedroom, casting golden patterns across their naked bodies.

She smiled, nestling deeper into the protective circle of his strong arms.

Never in her life had she felt so completely safe and so utterly cherished. The cocoon of his muscular arms around her was a fortress she never wanted to leave. His chest rose and fell with steady breaths behind her, his stubble tickling the sensitive skin of her shoulder.

"I could stay like this forever," she whispered to herself, running her fingers lightly over the corded muscle of his forearm.

Memories of yesterday flooded her mind—the moment on the beach when he'd told her she was his fated mate, and the instant recognition that had resonated in her soul.

She'd never believed in such things before, but her body and heart recognized what her mind couldn't explain.

He was her missing piece, the half that made her whole.

The way she'd kissed him after that revelation had surprised even herself—wild and uninhibited, claiming what she wanted. And he'd let her. The powerful Alpha wolf had surrendered to her completely on that secluded beach afterwards, his blue eyes dark with desire as she'd taken control.

"The way you looked at me," she murmured, twisting slightly to see his sleeping face over her shoulder. "Like I was everything."

After their passionate encounter in the cove, they'd returned to his stunning villa—a masterpiece of glass and natural wood perched on the highest point of the island.

The dinner they'd shared had been filled with laughter, feeding each other bites of food and telling stories as if they'd known each other forever.

But what happened after dinner... Chrissy felt heat flood her cheeks at the memories.

Every surface in his villa had been christened by their passion—the shower with its multiple heads creating a steamy paradise, the cool marble of the kitchen island against her back, the polished wood of the dining table, the plush softness of his couch, even the terrace chair under the stars.

She'd lost count of how many times she'd shattered in his arms, her body now bearing the delicious soreness of being thoroughly claimed.

She shifted slightly, feeling the pleasant ache between her thighs, and her arousal must have reached Zev's sensitive nose because his breathing changed. His arms tightened around her waist.

"Good morning," he growled against her ear, his morning voice rough with sleep and desire. His hand slid possessively over the curve of her hip.

"Morning," she replied, turning in his arms to face him. The hungry look in his blue eyes made her breath catch.

He dipped his head to capture her lips, his kiss demanding and thorough. When he finally pulled away from her, she was breathless.

"Maybe we should shower first," she suggested with a small laugh, even as her body betrayed her words by pressing closer to his.

Zev lifted an eyebrow, his lips curving into that predatory smile that made her insides melt. "If you insist," he rumbled, his voice pure alpha male. "Though I quite like how you smell right now—covered in me."

"Zev!" She playfully swatted his chest, though the possessive comment sent a thrill through her.

He laughed, the sound deep and rich as he reluctantly pulled away and slid from the bed. Chrissy took a moment to appreciate the magnificent sight of him standing naked in the sunlight—all tanned skin and defined muscle, moving with the confidence of a man fully comfortable in his power.

He extended his hand to her. "Come. Though I can't promise the shower will be just for cleaning up."

As he guided her into the massive bathroom and turned on the multiple shower heads, steam quickly filling the glass enclosure, Chrissy was transported back to the previous night. The way he'd pressed her against the cool tile, lifting her effortlessly as water cascaded over their joined bodies.

"What are you thinking about?" Zev asked knowingly, his eyes darkening as he pulled her under the warm spray.

"You already know. Last night. In here." She ran her hands up his chest, feeling the rumble of approval that vibrated through him. "I've never had anyone treat me the way you do."

"And how's that?" His hands slid to her waist, holding her steady against him.

"Like I'm precious, but also yours to cherish. Something worth protecting." She met his gaze directly.

His piercing eyes bore into hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch. "Chrissy, I will protect you until my last breath," he said with absolute conviction.

The water cascaded over them both, creating rivulets that traced the contours of his muscular chest before disappearing down the drain.

Chrissy felt her heart swell with an emotion so powerful it threatened to overwhelm her.

Looking at him—this powerful Alpha standing before her like some primal guardian—she realized with stunning clarity that this wasn't just pretty words or romantic promises. This man would literally die for her.

That thought should have terrified her. Instead, it ignited twin flames of excitement and security that burned through her veins.

"Turn around now," Zev commanded softly, his voice a velvet rumble that sent shivers across her skin despite the steam surrounding them.

She obeyed, presenting her back to him. The vulnerability of the position didn't frighten her. With anyone else—especially after a year of being controlled and manipulated—she might have tensed. But with Zev, surrender felt like freedom.

His large hands, slick with expensive soap, moved across her shoulders with reverent care. "You're simply beautiful," he murmured, working the lather down her spine.

Chrissy closed her eyes, savoring the sensation of his strong fingers massaging her muscles, tracing the curve where her waist flared into her hips. "This feels better than any spa treatment I've ever had."

"As it should." His thumbs pressed gently into the small of her back. "No one else should touch you like this."

The possessiveness in his tone made her smile. With Marty, such declarations had felt suffocating. With Zev, they felt like shelter.

He worked his way down her legs, dropping to his knees behind her to soap each calf, each ankle, between each toe with surprising tenderness. The sight of the powerful Alpha on his knees, devoted to her comfort, created an intimacy that transcended even their passionate night.

"My turn," she insisted when he finished, turning to face him.

He arched his eyebrow but handed her the soap without protest. She lathered her hands and started at his broad shoulders, marveling at how the muscles shifted beneath her touch.

"I still can't believe you're real," she whispered, working her way across his chest. "That I found you. That we found each other."

"Mate bonds are never wrong," he replied, his voice deepening when her fingers traced the ridges of his abdomen. "Though I admit, even I didn't expect it to feel this... complete."

She moved to his hair next, standing on tiptoes to work the shampoo into his thick brown waves. His eyes closed in pleasure, and she felt a surge of satisfaction at being able to provide him comfort.

"Four days," she said softly, her fingers massaging his scalp. "I've only known you four days. Logically, I should be terrified about falling this hard this fast."

His eyes opened, pinning her with that intense blue gaze. "And are you? Terrified?"

"No," she admitted, rinsing the soap from his hair. "That's what's crazy. This feels more right than anything in my life ever has."

Zev caught her wrists gently, pulling her hands down to rest against his chest. "Time doesn't matter with mates. What feels like days to humans has been a lifetime of waiting for my wolf."

Before she could respond, he dropped to his knees again, this time facing her. His hands curved around the backs of her thighs, and his intent was unmistakable in his darkened eyes.

"First," he growled, "I need to taste you again."

Her head fell back against the tile as his mouth found her center, thoughts of contracts and legal battles temporarily evaporating under the expert assault of his lips and tongue. She tangled her fingers in his wet hair, anchoring herself as pleasure built within her.

As she shattered under his ministrations, one delirious thought surfaced through the haze of ecstasy. She wouldn't mind waking up this way every morning for the rest of her life.

But even as bliss rippled through her body, a shadow of reality crept in. Before she could truly be his, before she could claim this paradise permanently, there was Marty to deal with. Her contract. The legal battle that would surely come.

Marty would not play nice, and she knew it. But looking down at Zev, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction and devotion as water streamed over them both, she knew she finally had something worth fighting for.

After stepping out of the steamy shower, Chrissy wrapped a plush towel around her curves, watching as Zev's eyes followed her every movement with undisguised appreciation.

"I was thinking we could explore more of the island today," Zev suggested, securing his own towel around his narrow hips. "There are some places I'd like to show you that not even all the pack members know about."

Chrissy's face lit up at the prospect. "I'd love that. Mind if I swing by my villa first to grab a change of clothes? And my phone? I want to take some pictures—just for us," she added quickly. "Nothing for social media or anything. Just memories for myself."

A slight frown creased Zev's face, his protective instincts clearly warring with his desire not to control her. Chrissy recognized that internal battle and reached out to touch his arm.

"I know you're worried about security," she said softly. "But I promise I'll be careful."

His jaw tightened, but then he nodded. "Of course. I don't want to dictate what you can and can't do, especially something as innocent as taking pictures." He ran his large hands through his damp hair. "That would make me no better than?—"

"Marty," she finished for him. The comparison made her heart swell with gratitude for Zev's understanding. "Thank you."

An hour later, dressed in denim cutoffs that showcased her toned legs and a light blue tank top, Chrissy trekked alongside Zev through a dense section of jungle. The humidity wrapped around them, but the canopy provided merciful shade from the tropical sun.

"How have I been here almost a week and not seen this part of the island?" she marveled, watching a colorful bird dart between the trees.

Zev's hand found her back, steadying her as they navigated a particularly steep section of the path. "Because I was saving the best for when you were ready," he answered with a wolfish grin that made her stomach flip.

When they finally emerged from the trees, Chrissy gasped. Before them stood ancient stone ruins partially reclaimed by nature—crumbling pillars wrapped in vines, weathered steps leading to platforms that might once have been temples or gathering places.

"What is this place?" she whispered, almost afraid to speak too loudly.

"The locals believe it was built by the first shifters who came to this island centuries ago," Zev explained, guiding her forward with his hand still protectively at her back. "They built it to align with the full moon, when their transformations would be strongest."

As they explored the sunken courtyard at the center of the ruins, something stirred within Chrissy. A melody began to form in her mind, insistent and clear. Without thinking, she began to hum, the notes rising and falling with the gentle breeze that swept through the ancient stones.

Words followed naturally, falling into place as if they'd been waiting for this moment, this place, and this man.

"When the moon finds the stones, and your eyes find mine... Time stands still in this sanctuary we've defined..."

She was aware of Zev watching her, his blue eyes intense with admiration and something deeper. Far from making her self-conscious, his presence seemed to anchor her, giving her the freedom to fully inhabit the creative fugue that enveloped her.

"The world outside fades away, just you and me remain... In this paradise where wild hearts can run untamed..."

As the melody grew stronger and more defined, Chrissy pulled out her phone and captured several pictures of the ruins, the sunlight filtering through the ancient stones, creating patterns on the moss-covered ground.

She turned the camera toward Zev, who stood framed between two columns, powerful and proud, his eyes never leaving her face.

"That's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard," he said, his voice filled with emotion.

She lowered her phone, suddenly shy. "It's still forming. But I'm excited that I'm finally feeling music flow through me like this again."

Zev nodded toward another section of the ruins. "There's more I want to show you over this way."

He moved ahead, picking his way carefully through a section where the stones had collapsed into a natural archway. Chrissy lingered a moment, taking a final look at the courtyard, the melody still vibrating through her.

With Zev a little distance ahead, she pulled out her phone again and hit record, singing the full verse that had come to her plus a new chorus that emerged spontaneously:

"Found myself when I found you, under skies so endless blue

Never knew what freedom meant until your arms surrounded me..."

She saved the recording to her songwriting app, a mixture of excitement and contentment washing through her. This was why she'd fallen in love with music in the first place—this organic connection between emotion and expression.

Tucking her phone away, she hurried to catch up with Zev, taking his outstretched hand when she reached him.

"That song is really great," he said, squeezing her hand. "You're incredibly talented, you know that? And I'm glad to hear something so happy coming from you. Makes me think my island's doing its job."

"It's not just the island," Chrissy admitted, looking up into his face. "It's you."

Zev's eyes darkened with possessive pride. "Good," he growled, pulling her closer. "Because you're mine now, and I intend to keep that smile on your face for a very long time."

The raw declaration sent a delicious shiver through Chrissy's body. With anyone else, such possessiveness would have set off alarm bells. With Zev, it felt like coming home. A home she always longed for and believed she would never find.