Page 23 of Shattered and Saved

“Seems I might be spending too much time with you…” he murmured, his voice low and thick with intent. I noticed his eyes darkening as his gaze roamed down my naked body, making my heart race. “And I don’t regret it one bit.”

My breath hitched. The predatory look in his eyes sent a rush of heat through me, and our roles during the chase were reversed. Suddenly, I found myself stilling, like a rabbit who was about to be eaten. I wanted him to eat me.

“Easy now,” I warned him, raising my chin as he closed the distance between us, his bare chest brushing against mine. “Are you sure you want to be like me?”

“What I want, Avril,” he whispered against my lips, his mouth barely touching mine. “Is to be with you, whatever it takes.”

It was insane how Koen had changed me. How he bent my morals and shifted my focus, making me believe in a concept I had deemed absurd for too long. In a way, I seemed to have done the same to him, considering his declaration implied he didn’t want to leave anymore.

And to be honest, I wanted him to stay, too, regardless of the consequences.

“Prove it,” I dared, my pulse roaring louder than the water crashing behind us.

With one powerful movement, he lifted me, my legs wrapping around his waist instinctively. I gasped, but he was already catching my lips in a fierce kiss that stole the air from my lungs. In a blink, the world faded to only the feel of him -the heat of his mouth, the strength in his arms as they wrapped around me, his warmth shielding me from the cold water. I felt his heartbeat in sync with mine, each thud drawing me deeper into the haze of desire.

As Koen carried me away from the riverbank toward the waterfall, his mouth left mine to nip at my neck instead. I arched my back in response, exposing my throat to him. My fingers threaded through his wet hair, clinging to him as he held me with only one arm, using his other hand to knead my breasts. The first moan escaped me as he pinched my nipple. Every nerve in my body came alive under his touch.

“Koen,” I cried out in desperation, my core aching in need. Why did he always want to take it slow?

He pressed me against the rock, the sensation of it cool against my back a stark contrast to the heat of his body. It only made me crave him more. As if he had understood my plea, the head of his cock found my entrance. Yet, to my demise, he didn’t push himself in, staying still.

“Say it,” he commanded. His lips touched mine as he held me there, suspended in the water.

“Fuck, I want you!” I confessed, and it was all he needed.

With a single, powerful thrust, he entered me, the sudden fullness sending a shock of pleasure through me so intense it bordered on pain. My gasp turned into a moan as he stilled, letting me adjust, his forehead pressed against mine.

A groan broke through him. “Avril…”

“Don’t stop,” I ordered him, pausing to suck in a breath as my walls pulsed around him, begging him to move. “Don’t you dare stop this time,” I warned him with a growl. “Not until I’m satisfied.”

Even with my eyes closed, lost in him, I could feel him smile against my mouth before he captured my lips again, hungrier this time. My words seemed to snap his restraint. Although hemoved in a controlled rhythm at first, each thrust was precise, hitting deep, as if savoring every inch of me. I relished the way he filled me completely, perfectly, like two pieces of a puzzle meant to be connected.

Unlike the first time, we were unrestrained. There was no rush, only our desire setting the pace, because neither of us was going anywhere. Koen didn’t fear I might slip right through his fingers if he moved too fast. I didn’t feel the urgency to make the most of the moment, knowing our relationship was doomed to end. In the world we were trying to build, our time was infinite.

Little by little, need urged us both to pick up the speed. The water crashed around us, cool and relentless, but it did nothing to temper the fire that raged between us. As he rammed into me, waves hit the rock, his hands gripping my hips as he took me harder, deeper. Pleasure built, spiraling higher and higher until I was drowning in it, caught in the tide of him.

I let out a cry as raw pleasure crashed through me, fierce and all-consuming, making me arch and tremble in his arms. But Koen didn’t stop. A low growl reverberated in his chest as he continued to fuck me through my orgasm, making me see stars as he searched for his own high.

“Shit, Avril!” His voice was a rough rasp against my ear as he buried himself to the hilt, ripping the last wave of pleasure from me, more intense than ever, as he released spurt after spurt inside of me.

With the water roaring around us, Koen held me tightly, as if never wanting to let me go. We stayed like that for a moment, our bodies entwined, hearts racing, as we patiently waited to come back to our senses. Minutes later, Koen pulled out of me with a final groan, and I bit my lip, feeling his absence. Offering me his hand, he guided me back to the riverbank, helping me out of the water.

The cool night breeze kissed my skin, sending shivers through my sensitive body. To stay warm, we shifted back into our wolf forms and curled up by the water’s edge, listening to the gentle roar of the falls until we drifted off.

Spending the night outside with Koen was yet another first for me. Wrapped in his embrace, I slept better than I ever had. When the sun rose, we woke slowly, and I let it sink in that the previous night had been real. It felt almost too sweet, but I was starting to realize that maybe life wasn’t as bitter as I’d always believed.

Still in wolf form, I led him to one of the hidden spots in the forest where we kept spare robes. After shifting back, we dressed and made our way to the town square. We walked in easy silence, exchanging soft smiles each time our fingers brushed, and I savored the nurturing warmth of the new embers sparking between Koen and me.

Yet, the moment we reached the heart of the territory, I sensed tension, stealing away my peace.

“Calm down, Oliver!” My ears caught the sound of Rhea’s voice in the distance.

An instant later, my eyes found her. She was holding a distressed Oliver by the shoulders while he tried to thrash out of her grasp. A few wary wolves surrounded them, witnessing the scene.

“No! It’s not fair!” the young boy yelled, his breath labored, eyes darkening. What I misjudged as uneasiness soon proved to be anger as he threw a punch at my delta, who quickly deflectedit. “She said no one could know about us. She killed my only friend!” he roared.

My heart stopped as I began to make sense of the situation.

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