I lowered my gaze to Winter’s shoulder, which was nearly touching mine, our skin brushing ever so slightly. His milky complexion stood out against the dark stones lining the edge of the stream.

My hungry eyes traced the slope of his shoulder, following its curve down to his scent glands. With Winter’s fair skin, they were practically invisible. Maybe, if I focused hard enough, I’d notice a faintly rosier hue in that spot.

Beneath his skin, I could see his veins, delicate blue lines pulsing with each beat of his heart, faster than usual. But was that because of the warm water… or because of what was coming next?

"Are you staring at my scent glands?"

He asked the question in a very distinctive tone.

"I'm just observing how they look against your skin."

"Watching someone’s scent glands so intently… that’s a very alpha thing to do." Winter hesitated, as if unsure whether he should call me that. "How should I treat you? Do you see yourself as an alpha, or something else?"

I lifted a hand and gently placed it on his shoulder, letting my fingertips brush against his gland. They say betas don't have much sensitivity there, but the reaction I got was anything but minimal. His eyes fluttered shut as he exhaled softly.

"I look like an alpha, but I never really think of myself in a specific way," I murmured. "And both alphas and omegas are drawn to scent glands… so," I whispered the last part in a lower, more intimate tone, my fingers continuing their slow exploration.

"And yours, in particular, fascinates me a lot."

Leaning in closer, I let my lips ghost over his gland in the faintest of touches.

"I can smell you, Winter. Subtly. Like a lavender meadow… with a lime tree growing in the middle."

"Betas don't have a scent," he mumbled, his eyes still closed.

"And yet, I smell something. It's barely on the edge of perception, but it's there, light and delicate…"

"It's just a phantom scent," Winter muttered, his breathing growing heavier. "Or residue from my lavender shower gel. And you're on suppressants."

Meanwhile, my lips brushed ever so gently against his skin. My hand glided down his arm, moving with intention, until it finally reached its destination—his nipple.

"Your nipples are such a unique color. Like pearls. I've never seen any this light before."

His eyes were closed, long white eyelashes almost touching his cheeks.

"So you're going to fuck me, Winter? My tight virgin ass?"

I could see exactly how my directness affected Winter, it seemed to throw him off balance, chipping away at his usual demeanor, bringing out a hint of shyness from deep within him.

"That’s the plan."

We were now looking at each other up close. I was facing him, sitting with my right leg bent beneath me, while my left was stretched out—fortunately, the water kept it from aching too much. He was still slightly turned away, but that didn’t bother me.

I murmured, a bit absently, "Do you know that your lips just demand to be kissed?" and this time, I leaned in and kissed him with much more certainty. Winter opened his mouth eagerly, and I dived into the heat of him, our tongues almost wrestling with each other.

And then it came—the wave. As if the kiss triggered it.

My body coiled, and a series of shivers ran along my back. My fingers clutched desperately at his shoulders. I broke away for a second to murmur breathlessly,

"It just started, Winter! We should probably start scrubbing, because I’m not going to last much longer!" I groaned out, letting out a loud gasp. "Can I wash you first?"

I could tell he was caught off guard again. He blinked, clearly unsure of what exactly I meant, so I made a suggestive gesture.

"Please, stand up, and you’ll be at the perfect height for me to… wash everything that’s right in front of my face."

Reaching for the small soap, I forced my body to wait just a bit longer. My dick was painfully hard, and my hole felt far too empty. But I also had to give Winter a chance to process what I was suggesting. He didn’t look entirely convinced, his expression hesitant, but after a moment, he slowly got to his feet.

And that was when I saw it. He was almost fully hard. So he was feeling it too? Were we in some kind of sync?

Lathering the soap between my hands, I glanced up at him, my eyes asking for permission. "Can I touch you there, Winter?"

Looking down at me, his face slightly flushed, he nodded.

To start slow, I gently placed my hands on his hips first, noting the faint tremor that ran through him. Then, even more unhurriedly, I let them slide downward toward his length. The instant I made contact, he reacted, within seconds, he was fully hard.

Yup. No chemistry issues here.

Keeping my eyes on him the whole time, I began slow, circular motions around the base, then moved up, spreading the lather along his shaft. But after only a moment, Winter pressed his lips together slightly and murmured, "I think you should just wash me properly… or this might end sooner than expected. And keep in mind, I can’t go into rut, I’d rather conserve as much energy as possible."

Ah, that practical tone.

I smirked, but did as he asked, my hands shifting to a more methodical rhythm. As I lathered him, I made sure to be thorough, even cleaning the sensitive skin of his balls, noticing the way his expression changed a bit at the sensation.

I had a strong feeling no one had ever washed him like this before.

Once the front was taken care of, I let my soapy hand slide between his legs, seeking access to a more hidden place.

Winter shifted his stance just a fraction, his feet now slightly apart.

I glanced up at his face. "May I?"

Another nod.

As my fingers brushed against his entrance, I noticed the subtle tightening of his lips, as if he were holding something back. I kept my movements soft, circling the sensitive area with measured strokes.

This was the first time I’d ever touched someone else there. But instead of embarrassment, all I felt was excitement. I wanted to see this part of him too, but in this position, with Winter standing, I couldn’t get a good look.

"Can I also…?"

Again—a brief nod.

Slowly, carefully, I eased a finger inside. Winter averted his gaze, his eyes shifting toward the cave wall, and his expression changed, becoming… dazed?

I finished the process gently, mindful that even though he was a beta, he was still sensitive there. The whole time, his hard dick kept pressing against my cheek. But just as I was about to touch it with my lips, Winter put his hand on my head and fixed me with his eyes.

"Not the best idea, it might end too quickly."

Once I was satisfied that he was thoroughly washed, I gestured toward the water’s surface. "Maybe you should rinse off now?"

Winter lowered himself back into a crouch, dipping under. In this position, he was directly facing me. Taking the opportunity, I reached out, my fingers tracing over his toned chest, teasing the pale pearl of his nipple, and his well-defined abs.

"I can't wait," I murmured, almost breathless, my body gearing up, the heat raising my temperature.

Winter's eyes met mine, his pupils dark and wide. My wave was in full swing now, and I could barely sit up, almost painful contractions in my abdomen making it hard to concentrate.

"I really badly want you to touch me, Winter," I murmured.

He bit his full lip, his gaze flicking to my mouth. Then, without warning, he leaned in and, for the first time, kissed me of his own accord.

I was taken aback, not by the kiss itself, but by the way he did it. It was firm, dominant. One of his hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him, while the other gripped the back of my head. We were both still in these half-kneeling positions, me with one leg stretched out, but that didn’t stop him from taking control.

His strong arms held me tightly, and his kiss was relentless, possessive. His tongue invaded my mouth, claiming it.

So finally, I felt it. The side of him I hadn’t seen before—unfiltered desire, hunger, the need to be in charge.

Then, just as suddenly, he pulled back an inch, his gaze locking onto mine.

"You know," he murmured, "there were times in my office when I wanted to bend you over my desk and take you right there. To fuck you while knowing your father was just one floor above us… and that he’d disapprove so much."

"Ooh, that sounds exciting. We should definitely do that sometime."

That edge of tension in Winter I’d sensed before finally eased. He made a small gesture upward.

"And now, let me return the favor, Sariel. Stand up. If standing is hard on one leg, lean on my shoulder. I’ll wash you."

Ah, finally! The best part of this whole endeavor. Excitement rushed through me as I pushed myself up. It wasn’t easy with my injured leg, and the pain nagged at me, but I forced that part of my brain to shut down. The heat definitely helped.

Now, Winter was at eye level with my groin.

If I had expected him to hesitate at this part of our little foreplay, I was completely wrong.

Without even a hint of shyness, he took hold of my dick, and it responded instantly, hardening even more. His movements were skilled, efficient as he washed me, and when he was done, he rinsed me off by cupping water in an empty peanut can and pouring it over me.

Our eyes locked, and a spark of intensity flashed there as he leaned in, his mouth closing around my cock…

It caught me off guard; immediately, a powerful rush of electrifying sensation surged through my body, leaving me breathless, teetering on the edge of losing my balance.

"Oh fuck, Winter!" I choked out.

Obviously, he wanted me to come, even if he planned on taking his time getting there himself. With my heat powers in active mode, I was more than willing to go along with it.

His lips were impossibly soft and warm, and the sensations he coaxed out of me were nothing short of miraculous. But he didn't just stop at my head, he took me deeper, and the feeling was just sublime.

The sounds I was making were so embarrassing and outright lewd, but I couldn't control them, the stimuli were simply divine.

His technique turned out to be quite masterful, his mouth sealed tight around my glans, his tongue massaging me with firmness. It was almost too much to bear.

"Winter, I won't last long…" I groaned, my eyes scrunched shut in a futile attempt to stave off the impending explosion. The pleasure was centered at the tip of my cock, building to a fever pitch as his lips and tongue worked their magic—the same lips I'd fantasized about for what felt like forever.

"Yes, Winter, yesss…" I panted, blown away by his enthusiasm. He was fully immersed in the moment, taking my cock deep into his throat. At the same time, his finger slid between my thighs, easily gliding into my already slick hole. I was so ready, and when he found my sweet spot, I shuddered, letting out a long, obscene moan.

My hand came to rest on his head, in a half-hearted attempt to slow him down, but frankly, I didn't want him to stop. My blood was racing; the image of the haughty director on his knees, sucking me off, was almost just delicious. Could it possibly get any better?

Apparently not, because I let out a loud, ragged groan as the pressure in my lower abdomen reached a boiling point. My hips bucked of their own accord, driving deeper into his throat, and then… I was beyond restraint. I came, my cock erupting in a torrent of cum that shot down his esophagus. Damn, it was a huge load! But Winter swallowed every last drop without hesitation, no gagging!

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," I rasped, the last traces of my orgasm fading away as I released the final droplets between his warm, now quite puffy lips.

As the aftershocks eased, I swayed, leaning heavily on his arm for support.

"That was… damn! You weren’t kidding back in the cafeteria when you ate that mint ice cream like a pro!"

"And it was just as delicious," he muttered, still licking his swollen lips.

"What?" I didn’t follow.

Winter lifted his head, and our eyes met.

His cheeks were flushed, and his lips—God, his lips—looked even more gorgeous than earlier: swollen, red, sensual.

There was a short pause as we stared.

"Well, it tasted like sweet cream. I’ve never had anything like it before."

Another meaningful moment of silence fell between us.

Of course, we all knew what that could potentially mean. True Mates’ cum was supposed to taste sweet!

"Do you think there could be something to it, Winter?" I finally asked.

"I don’t know." Doubt flashed across his face again, his brows drawing together. "And I don’t want to get my hopes up about something like this. I’m a beta, my chances are slim as it is."

"But they’re not zero."

Winter shook his head. "Sariel, for our own good, we shouldn’t count on it. If we let ourselves believe, and it turns out not to be true, it’ll hurt like hell. Can you do that for me?"

In a way, he was right. It was safer to be cautious. The worst thing was riding on hope… only to be disappointed.

"I guess you’ve got a point," I admitted. "Better to assume it’s just a coincidence. And if it’s not, well… at least we’ll have a nice surprise."

Despite what I said, deep down, in a quiet corner of my soul, a small part of me had already started to believe. Hope raised its head and just refused to go away.

But one thing refused to go away even more stubbornly: my heat. My body, tired of waiting, stirred, impatient.

"Can we move to the mattresses now?"

Winter gave me a small smile and nodded.

I crouched down again, just to rinse off one last time, then Winter helped me climb out of the stream. I was basically hopping on one leg, which sent painful jolts through the injured ankle. It was a terrible feeling as it mixed with the heat, probably affecting it, maybe weakening it? I had no idea.

By the time we made it back to the mattresses, I was clenching my jaw again. I hated the pain, such a sharp contrast to what I’d just experienced.

Winter helped me dry off with the blanket we’d picked as our makeshift towel. It wasn’t great for the job—barely absorbed anything—but with enough rubbing, we managed.

The entire time, Winter’s cock stood proudly at attention, which honestly delighted me. Mine, despite just having come and dealing with the leg issue, showed no signs of giving up either. The power of heat!

And speaking of which, the arousal was building again, steadily, relentlessly. The blowjob had been amazing, but now a different kind of need was taking over. Something deeper. Heavier. Hungrier.

Still, I had to hold on for a few more minutes. Winter was busy stabilizing my leg again, making sure it wouldn’t move during what was coming. Every touch there made me shiver with agony, but once he adjusted it, the pain eased significantly. I figured the heat endorphins were also doing their job.

We each took a few sips of mineral water, and I popped a painkiller just to be safe.

Then we lay down on the mattresses; me on my back, Winter beside me, propped up on his elbow. It was warm enough in the cave that we could lie there naked without too much discomfort.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. We just looked at each other, waiting. But my hunger wasn’t fading. I knew it would only get worse.

"One orgasm wasn’t enough, Winter," I murmured. "The wave is getting stronger. Will you help me even more?"

"As much as I can," Winter replied, a mischievous glint in his eye.

He leaned in to kiss my neck, but I stopped him.

"Wait. I have a request. There’s something I want to see first."

Almost like having telepathy, Winter seemed to know exactly what I meant.

"Why are you so curious about that?"

"I have a suspicion about the color."

Winter stifled a laugh, what came out was youthful, almost boyish. "Seriously? That’s what you’re most interested in right now?"

"That… and a lot of other things. But yeah, I really want to see it."

Winter gave me a knowing smile, then slowly rolled onto his stomach. The move itself—oddly sexual, and his gaze, as he did it, was nothing short of seductive. Yup, I so enjoyed this another side of him!

Fascinated, I sat up, carefully sliding lower, doing my best not to strain the injured leg, though it wasn’t easy.

I glanced at Winter's perfectly round, yet firm ass cheeks and placed my hands there, fingers splayed. I gradually spread the white mounds apart, revealing his hole.

Wow, I couldn't help but marvel. Just as I'd suspected, the surrounding tissue had the same pearly color, tinged with a light pink, like his nipples. It resembled a small, closed jasmine bud.

"Beautiful. And looks so tight," I murmured, feeling an intense urge to dive into it—an urge that almost took my breath away. My blood pressure soared as my eyes fixed on that pearly little ring.

"It hasn't been used in years."

"I thought you said you and Finn—"

"We… since we became fuckbuddies, we hadn’t done anal. Neither of us wanted to give in. Our encounters were all about blowjobs," he muttered. "So, the last time was about eleven years ago."

That, I didn’t expect, and I simply couldn’t resist the temptation. It was just too strong. I leaned in and gingerly kissed the spot, causing Winter to gasp quietly.

"Wh—what are you doing?"

"You know what I'm doing," I whispered in a low voice.

With each passing second, I became more turned on. My lips were now practically mouthing his hole, caressing the delicate, pearly tissue.

"Damn, this is beautiful, like the silky bud of a jasmine flower," I breathed out, hardly pausing as I showered it with open-mouthed kisses.

Winter remained silent, letting me massage his rim, but his breathing significantly deepened. Finally, I pressed my pointed tongue against his sphincter and slid it in.

Winter moaned quietly again, but he didn’t stop me. I could sense his desire—so shockingly palpable—like I’d never sensed anyone’s before, as if I were in his mind.

Winter wanted me, he… wanted me inside him!

My tongue fucked him unhurriedly; I took my time kneading his rim with it. The tissue swelled slightly, almost like an omega’s, relaxing and opening up.

I did watch enough porn to know!

"Winter, fuck, can I…?"

"Yes!"

That sounded like an invitation to heaven, and I just had to follow it. I reached for one of the four precious lube packets I had, but one glance at my cock, glistening with pre-cum, told me they wouldn't be necessary. I positioned myself between his spread legs, my pulse pounding in my ears, anticipation brewing. My cock throbbed impatiently, veins bulging, and my face likely flushed.

"My prince, I want to be inside you so badly…"

"I allow it," he whispered, almost in character.

I gathered my pre-cum and slid two fingers into him. Winter whimpered softly. He was really tight, and I knew I needed to spend a bit more time there.

As I fingered him, I searched for his prostate, or what I assumed was his prostate, by observing his reaction. Pressing and massaging it, evoked his small, breathy sounds.

Winter hadn't climaxed yet, but I could sense the building tension in his body, a yearning for release. I wanted to give him all the pleasure, so I stretched the prep out, being patient, careful not to cause any discomfort. Eventually, I withdrew my fingers, unwilling to wait any longer. I lined up my cock, gleaming intensely with pre-cum, against his hole.

That moment was beautiful, kind of magnificent, and so very… first. I rose above him, even the pain in my foot couldn't stop me. I pressed against his tight entrance.

"Going in, Winter."

"Yes."

Taking a deep breath, I thrust forward.

And…

My entire body shuddered as I sank into Winter.

A long moan escaped my lungs, as my loins were pierced by a powerful wave of pleasure, my cry mingling with Winter's.

His hole clenched and rippled around me; I realized we'd both climaxed instantly!

There were no electric shocks proving our fated status, which I’d secretly hoped for, but I knew that while on strong suppressants, I couldn’t expect such a miracle, they would dull it considerably.

Yet, the intense and immediate pleasure couldn't be denied. My cock literally exploded, filling Winter with load after load of my cum, wave upon wave, as if I had a gallon of it inside me, despite it being my second orgasm. I trembled and shook as ecstasy flooded my nervous system, creating tiny electric vibrations along my nerves, small spasms, and chills that made breathing difficult.

The upper half of my body collapsed onto Winter's back. His skin was incredibly hot, as if he were feverish, and he panted rapidly. Instinctively, my hands entwined with his, which were spread on either side of his head, and my mouth found its way to his neck, seeking his gland without thinking. I latched onto it, feeling how smooth and unmarked it was.

I knew that even if a bite mark faded, you could still feel a slight bump under the skin where it had been. But in Winter's case, there was nothing. No one had ever claimed him.

My hips kept making small movements, pumping out the last of my cum.

Then… something strange started happening to me, something I’d never experienced before.

"Winter, I—" I mumbled, unsure of what was going on. My cock felt weird, like something was expanding inside it, as if a pressure was building, and I realized I was about to burst.

"Oh, fuck!" I gasped, and then I understood. It came. The immense release, the relaxation, smoothly following what had just happened, and Winter groaned.

"Damn. I just knotted you," I breathed out.

It simply blew my mind, I had no idea that was even possible for me. I wasn’t an alpha in the strictest sense, so my body had absolutely surprised me.

"That's… unexpected," Winter muttered, sounding out of breath too, though not bothered. In fact, his voice carried a certain satisfaction. "I’ve never been knotted before."

"Sorry, it's crazy, I just—" I kept licking and mouthing at his neck as I spoke, having a hard time stopping, my gums tingling.

Winter made an amused snort. "What are you apologizing for? It's sex, things sometimes take their own course."

"You… came too?"

"Yeah. It was quite surprising, especially since it has never happened to me before."

"What?"

"An orgasm, during anal sex."

"Are you serious? You've never climaxed that way?"

Winter responded in a somewhat embarrassed tone. "Not from penetration alone. I always had to jerk off to help it."

I chuckled softly, pressing one more kiss to the back of his neck.

"So I did get to be your ‘first’ for something," I murmured breathlessly.

Winter turned his head slightly, his pale strands tickling my cheek.

"A few things, actually. I’ve only been with betas and omegas. Then… the anal orgasm and… no one’s ever knotted me before."

"One more! Were you ever… marked?"

"Nope."

My mouth went still just over his gland, now vividly pink from my constant sucking on it.

"Would you be open to it?"

Winter's answer came much quicker than I anticipated, and sounded almost amped up: "Yes!"

That was a welcome reaction, and my mouth left yet another lewd and loud kiss on his nape.

Silence fell between us. I could see him hesitate before continuing.

"Just… since I came, I might not be able to go again as fast as you, Sariel. No rut for me."

I gave his hand a gentle squeeze, since we kept holding them entwined.

"That’s fine. Those two orgasms I just had… they were really satisfying. Funny enough, knotting actually helps, it kind of keeps the heat in check. I feel calmer."

Winter was quiet for a moment. My lips remained pressed against the back of his neck, planting soft kisses every now and then, and from what I could sense, he enjoyed them.

I was surprised by how much more I could perceive what Winter was feeling now, being inside him. It was like I was submerged in his mind, foreign emotions rolling through my own nervous system, his doubts, fears.

One stood out the most: What if no one comes to the island?

Since we had time, my knot still held firm, I decided to touch on that.

"You’re worried," I whispered.

"Worried?" he repeated.

"Yes. I can feel your anxiety. You’re afraid we’ll be stuck here forever."

I sensed his confusion. "How do you know that?"

For a second, I debated whether to tell him the truth, that with my dick buried in him to the hilt, I could also pick up on his thoughts. But I figured that might be too much of a revelation all at once.

"It’s not hard to guess. I’ve been thinking about it too. My heat isn’t clouding everything."

He sighed quietly. "Well. Once the knot goes down, I need to go out and take a look around. These first few days are crucial. If there are any drones or helicopters passing by, now’s the time."

I suddenly felt stupid. "You’re right. My heat is an inconvenience here. We should try to keep it to a minimum, only give in during the worst waves…"

Winter let out a sharp breath. "Don’t think of it that way. This isn’t your fault. We don’t control our bodies. We’ll figure it out."

Still, guilt gnawed at me. And maybe that had something to do with why my knot loosened faster than expected. I had no frame of reference, having never knotted anyone before, but from what I’d heard, it could last anywhere from fifteen minutes to hours . This one barely held for thirty minutes.

As soon as I felt it go away, I slowly pulled out of Winter and sat up beside him, only then the pain in my leg was back. Ugh! Winter turned toward me, and that’s when I noticed the sizable wet patch on the blanket beneath him. I stared at it.

"The bad news is, we don’t have any spare sheets," I said, trying to make it sound like a joke.

"Well, actually, I’ve got an idea for that," Winter said, sitting up with determination on his face. He yanked the blanket off the mattress, got to his feet, and carried it over to the stream, where he started rinsing it under the warm water.

I watched, baffled. It seemed like overkill to soak an entire blanket over just one stain. And drying things out here would be a challenge, for sure.

After all, we had a pack of sanitizing wipes.

Winter caught my doubtful expression and smirked slightly.

"When I climbed up the volcano slope earlier, I noticed that in some of the crevices, where lava had recently flowed, it was still warm. The higher I went, the more the temperature rose. Some of the rocks are hot . If I lay the blanket over them, it should dry quickly."

That sounded disturbing, and I frowned. "Wait. The volcano is that active? The rocks outside are hot ? That means the lava flow is pretty recent!"

We stared at each other for a moment. Winter gave a small shrug. "Not necessarily that recent. Lava flows or volcanic deposits can stay hot for weeks, even months after an eruption."

"In this cold climate?"

Winter looked away. "I’m not a geologist, so I have no idea. But I hope you’re not suggesting the volcano’s about to blow. That’d be too many disasters for one lifetime, first a plane crash, then a deserted island, and now an erupting volcano? That would be a sick cosmic joke."

"You're right, it’s silly," I muttered, keeping my voice casual, as if it was just really nothing important. But I saw it in his eyes, I had planted a seed of worry in him too.

Winter rinsed himself off again, then dried with the damp blanket we’d been using earlier. Once he was done, he dressed and wrapped himself in the two remaining dry blankets. The two wet ones, he rolled up and tucked under his arm.

Then he glanced at me. I was still sitting there, completely naked. The heat in this part of the cave was intense, just another thing that made me uneasy about the volcano’s activity.

"I think we should only drink water from melted snow," I said suddenly, eyeing the stream. "If the volcano is this active, who knows what heavy metals might be in the water?"

Winter nodded seriously. "Good point."

Then he added, "Alright. I’m heading out."

"Eat some more peanuts first. We need to keep our energy up, especially you, since you’re going outside."

Winter sighed, but agreed. He took a small handful of nuts, tossed them into his mouth.

Then he hesitated, looking at me again, for some reason I wanted him to say something, before he would go out, but he only raised a hand in a brief farewell while already heading toward the entrance. A second later, he was gone, leaving me feeling a bit weird. But I had no idea why.