Page 10

TEN

SOL

S ol carried Helena through the grand halls of his castle, his pulse thrumming with a rhythm that matched the certainty in his steps. Her body pressed against his chest, her warmth seeping into him, and the scent of her—cinnamon and something uniquely her—filled his senses. His wolf prowled under his skin, restless and eager, but he kept it in check. For now. She was his, and he’d waited centuries for this exact moment. He wasn’t about to rush it.

She opened her mouth, likely to argue, but the look in her hazel eyes softened as she studied his face. He knew what she saw—the alpha in him, the man who’d waited lifetimes for her. She didn’t fight him, didn’t squirm or protest. Instead, she let her head rest against his shoulder, her breath warm against his skin.

The castle’s stone walls blurred past as he moved with purpose, his feet carrying him toward the one place he’d envisioned her in since the moment he’d laid eyes on her. His chambers. The heart of his world. The door loomed ahead, and he kicked it open gently, the latch clicking shut behind them as he stepped inside.

He set her on her feet, her bare toes brushing against the plush carpet. The room was bathed in the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the tall windows, and the air was thick with anticipation. Sol locked the door, the sound of the bolt sliding into place echoing in the quiet.

Helena turned to face him, her long red hair tumbling over her shoulders and her cheeks flushed. “This is…” she trailed off, her voice trembling just enough to betray her nerves. But there was something else in her eyes—desire, curiosity, and a spark that mirrored the fire he’d seen in her when she’d kissed him.

“Exactly what it’s supposed to be,” he finished for her, closing the gap between them. “You and me.”

Her breath hitched as he cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing over the delicate curve of her cheekbones.

“Sol, I still don’t?—“

He kissed her, cutting off her words with a kiss that was all fire and need. Her lips were soft and yielding, and then suddenly they weren’t—she kissed him back with a fervor that sent heat coursing through him. Her hands slid up his chest, fingers tangling in the fabric of his shirt, and he groaned against her mouth.

“You’re overthinking this,” he breathed against her lips. “Stop thinking. Just feel.”

She let out a shaky laugh, her hands moving to the hem of his shirt. “You’re not exactly giving me a lot of room to think.”

“Good.” He tugged her closer, his hands sliding down to her waist. “You don’t need to think at all. You just need to trust me.”

Her fingers worked at the buttons of his shirt, and he let her strip it off, the fabric pooling on the floor. Her hands splayed across his chest, her touch sending sparks skittering across his skin. He could feel the intense heat radiating from her, the same heat that had ignited the flames in the dining room, and it only fueled the fire burning inside him.

“That’s really beautiful,” she whispered, her gaze tracing the intricate tattoo on his right arm that marked him as the Sunflare prince. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It’s a part of me,” he said, his voice rough. “Just like you are now.”

Her breath caught, and he took advantage of the moment, slipping the straps of her sundress off her shoulders. The fabric slid down her body, pooling at her feet, and she stood before him in nothing but lace and moonlight. His wolf growled low in his throat, and he let his gaze roam over her—every curve, every inch of pale skin, and every freckle that dotted her shoulders like stars.

“Sol,” she breathed, her voice trembling.

“Mine,” he said, the word a possessive growl. He pulled her flush against his body, his hands sliding up her sides and removing her lace bra as he kissed her again. This time, it was slow and deliberate, a promise sealed with his lips. She melted against him, her hands tangling in his hair, and he guided her backward until the edge of the bed pressed against her thighs.

He laid her down gently, her red hair fanning out across the dark sheets, and stared down at her. “You’re everything,” he said, his voice low. “Everything I’ve waited for.”

Her eyes searched his, and for a moment, he thought she might pull away, and might retreat back into the uncertainty that had plagued her since the fire in the dining room. But then she reached for him, her hands sliding up his arms, and pulled him down to her. “Show me,” she whispered against his lips. “Show me what it means to be yours.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. The world outside his chambers ceased to exist, and all that mattered was the woman beneath him, the fire that burned between them, and the bond that was already weaving them together.

Sol’s wolf was restless, coiled tightly beneath his skin, but he ignored its growling hunger. Helena’s body was a masterpiece he intended to worship—every curve and every inch of her pale, freckled skin. He couldn’t rush this. She deserved to be savored and to feel everything he could give her.

He kissed her mouth first, slow and deep, his tongue sweeping against hers in a rhythm that made her moan. Her hands tugged at his hair, pulling him closer, and he smiled against her lips. “You taste so sweet,” he murmured, his voice low and rough.

She gasped as he soon kissed her neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin there before trailing lower. Her full breasts heaved with each breath, her nipples already hard and begging for his attention. He took one into his mouth, laving it with his tongue, and her back arched against the bed as she cried out.

“Sol!” Her voice was a mix of surprise and pleasure, and it sent a surge of pride through him. He switched to her other breast, sucking and teasing until she was gasping, her fingers digging into his shoulders. Her body was so responsive, so eager, and it drove him wild. He could feel her heat through the bond, a fiery warmth that matched the flames she could summon, and it only made him want her more.

He trailed his mouth down her stomach, kissing and nipping at her skin, and she squirmed beneath him. Her hands moved to his hair again, tugging lightly, and he chuckled against her hip. “Impatient?” he teased, his breath hot against her skin.

“You’re… you’re driving me crazy,” she gasped, her hazel eyes dark with desire.

“Good.” He kissed the inside of her thigh, and she shivered as he pulled off her lace panties. “That’s the point.”

He soon settled between her thighs, her arousal already slick on her folds, and he groaned at the scent. She was intoxicating, and he was barely holding on to his control. He licked her slowly, savoring her taste, and she let out a broken moan.

“Oh, God,” she whispered, her thighs trembling. “Sol, that’s…”

He didn’t let her finish. He focused on her most sensitive spot, licking and sucking with a hunger that caused her to cry out. Her hips bucked against his mouth, and he held her down with one hand, his other teasing her entrance with his fingers. When he slid two fingers inside her, she came apart with a scream, her body convulsing with pleasure.

He didn’t stop. He kept licking her, kept thrusting his fingers inside her, and she whined, her hands clutching at the sheets. “Too much,” she gasped, but her body said otherwise, her hips grinding against his mouth as she came again.

He finally pulled back, breathing hard, and looked up at her. Her face was flushed, her hair a wild, fiery halo around her head, and she looked at him with a mix of awe and disbelief. “You’re… are all wolf shifters like that?” she asked, her voice trembling.

He smirked, crawling back up her body. “No,” he said, his voice low. “Just me. And only for you.” He cupped her face in his hand, his thumb brushing her bottom lip. “You are all mine, Helena. And I’m going to make sure you never forget it.”

He didn’t give her a chance to recover. Rising to his feet, Sol stripped off his slacks and boxers in one swift motion. His large cock sprang free, already eager for her. The air was cool against his heated skin, but nothing compared to the fire in her gaze as her eyes widened, her breath hitching audibly. Her reaction sent a surge of pride through him, his inner wolf preening at her awe.

“You’re… so big,” she whispered, her voice shaky but laced with excitement.

His lips curved up into a wolfish grin. “Only for you.”

He climbed back onto the bed, caging her body beneath his, his weight pressing her into the mattress. Her hands slid up his chest, and he shuddered at her touch as he captured her lips in another searing kiss.

She moaned into his mouth, and he felt her body arch against his. Slowly, he positioned himself at her entrance, the head of his cock brushing against her slick folds.

“Ready?” he murmured against her lips.

“Yes,” she breathed.

He entered her slowly, inch by inch, savoring the way her tight warmth enveloped him. She was perfect, so impossibly perfect, and her breath hitched as he stretched her, filling her completely. The sensation was intense, almost overwhelming, and Sol had to grit his teeth to maintain control. His wolf howled inside him, demanding that he claim her, but he forced himself to hold back. This was about her—about making her feel every ounce of pleasure she deserved.

“Oh my God,” she gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders. “Sol, you’re?—“

“Shh,” he murmured, kissing her again. “Just feel me.” He began to move, slow and deliberate, each thrust drawing a soft moan from her lips. Her body responded to his rhythm, her hips meeting his, and he could feel the intense heat radiating from her—fire and desire intertwined. It was intoxicating, and he wanted more. Needed more.

Her hands slid down his back, her fingers gripping his hips as she urged him on. “Faster,” she begged, her voice broken and pleading. “Please, Sol.”

He chuckled darkly, nipping at her neck. “Patience,” he teased, keeping his pace steady. Her frustration was palpable, and he loved the way she squirmed beneath him desperate for more. But he wasn’t done savoring her yet.

After a few moments of tormenting her, Sol finally gave in. He thrust harder and deeper, his grip on her hips tightening as he drove into her with a ferocity that made her cry out. Her body was on fire, her skin flushed with heat, and he could feel the flames of her power licking at the edges of their bond. She was his, in every way.

Her climax soon hit her hard, her body convulsing around him as she screamed out her pleasure. The sound was music to his ears, and the fire in her veins ignited his own release. With one final, deep thrust, Sol let out a guttural groan, spilling himself inside her with a shudder. The heat between them was overwhelming, a blaze that consumed them both, and for a moment, the world stopped.

When he finally came down from the high, Sol collapsed beside her, pulling her into his arms. Her body was still trembling, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

He nuzzled her neck, breathing in her scent. “You’re mine now,” he murmured, his voice rough with satisfaction. “And I’m never letting you go.”

She laughed softly, her fingers tracing the hard planes of his chest. “You’re impossible,” she said, but there was no bite to her words. Just the warmth of her smile and the fire in her eyes.

Sol grinned, brushing her hair away from her face. “You love it.”

Surprisingly, she didn’t argue, and that was all the confirmation he needed.