Page 32 of Sun's Roar

“Mine.” Sol’s voice carried a possessive pride. “For centuries, this has been my retreat. No pack member has ever been here.” He turned to face her, his green eyes reflecting the dancing water. “Until you.”

Helena felt the weight of that admission. This wasn’t just any secret spot—this was something deeply personal to him, a sacred space he’d kept to himself through countless years.

“Why show me?” she asked, trailing her fingers through a cascade of ferns.

Sol’s expression softened. “Because you’re my Luna. My true mate. What’s mine is yours.”

He began unbuttoning his shirt, revealing inch by inch the tanned skin and defined muscles beneath. The tattoo on his upper right arm seemed to shimmer in the dappled light.

“What are you doing?” Helena asked, though the heat in her cheeks betrayed that she knew exactly what he was doing.

“Swimming.” His grin was pure mischief as he stripped down completely, his movements confident and without a hint of self-consciousness. “Join me.”

Helena hesitated. She’d never been one for skinny-dipping, but something about this moment—this magical, hidden place and this magnetic man—made her bold. With trembling fingers, she reached for the hem of her sundress and pulled it over her head.

Sol’s eyes darkened as they roamed over her curves. “Simply beautiful,” he murmured.

Before self-consciousness could creep in, Helena slipped off her remaining undergarments. The forest air kissed her skin, unexpectedly warm and inviting.

Sol extended his hand. “Together?”

Helena nodded, placing her palm in his. They approached the edge of the pool, toes curling around smooth stone.

“Cold?” she asked, eyeing the water with mild apprehension.

“The perfect temperature,” he promised, then added with a wink, “but I’ll keep you warm regardless.”

With a squeeze of her hand, they jumped. The water enveloped Helena in a surprisingly pleasant embrace—cool but not cold, refreshing after their forest trek. She surfaced with a laugh that echoed off the stone walls surrounding them.

“You were right,” she admitted, pushing wet hair from her face. “It’s perfect.”

Sol swam closer, water droplets clinging to his eyelashes. “I’ve imagined bringing someone here for centuries. No one ever felt right until you.”

He splashed her playfully, breaking the intensity of the moment. Helena gasped in mock outrage and retaliated, sending a spray of water toward his face. Their laughter mingled with the sound of the waterfall as they chased each other through the crystal pool, their bodies slicing through the water with playful grace.

Minutes later, breathless and still grinning, Sol caught her by the waist. His hands, strong and sure, pulled her against him. The feel of their naked bodies pressed together underwater sent waves of desire through Helena that rivaled the ripples they’d created in the pool.

“I’ve waited lifetimes for you,” he murmured, his lips a breath away from hers. Water droplets traced paths down his beard as his eyes, dark with wanting, held hers.

Helena wound her arms around his neck, feeling the power in his shoulders. “I’m here now.”

The kiss was different from their others—deeper and more primal. It tasted of ancient promises and wild magic. Helena felt her fire stir within respond to his touch. Small wisps of steam rose around them from where her heated skin met his under the water.

Helena’s breath hitched as Sol’s lips soon trailed down her neck, his beard brushing against her skin in a way that made her shiver despite the heat radiating between them. Her thoughts swirled, a mix of disbelief and exhilaration.This is real. He’s real. He’s... mine.

The intimacy of the moment, the wild beauty of the grotto, and the sheer magnetism of the man holding her made her head spin. She tightened her arms around his neck, her fingers tangling in his damp hair as her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist beneath the water. His body pressed against hers, solid and warm, and she could feel the evidence of his desire against her thigh.

“You’re perfect,” Sol murmured against her skin, his voice rough with desire. His hands slid down her back, leaving trails of heat in their wake, before gripping her hips and pulling her tighter against him. “Every inch of you, Helena.”

She gasped as his lips found her collarbone, his teeth nipping gently before he soothed the spot with his tongue. “Sol,” she breathed, her voice trembling with both desire and wonder. “I’ve never... I mean...”

“I know,” he said, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. His eyes were filled with a primal hunger that made her heart thud. “You’ve never felt this much desire and heat before. Neither have I, not like this. Not with anyone but you.”

His words seeped into her, warming her from the inside out. She brushed her hand along his jawline, feeling the stubble beneath her fingertips. “You’re not just saying that, are you?”

He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated through her. “I’ve lived centuries, Helena. Trust me, I’ve had plenty of time to know what I want. And it’s you. Only you.”

Her cheeks flushed, but before she could respond, his lips captured hers in a kiss that was equal parts possession and worship. His tongue slid against hers, and she moaned, her fingers tightening in his hair. The water around them seemed to heat further, steam rising in curls as her inner fire responded to his touch.

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