Page 21 of Alien Charming

Seren hadn’t planned to kiss Elli again. The thought had crossed his mind countless times since their previous kiss, but he’d pushed it away each time. Too dangerous. Too selfish. Too much like giving in to his beast.

But with Elli looking up at him, vulnerable yet somehow stronger than anyone he’d ever known, he’d been unable to resist. Even then he’d lowered his head slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. Instead, her eyes fluttered closed, her face tilting up to meet his. When his lips finally brushed gently against hers, the contact sent a jolt through him, electric and primal.

He’d meant to keep the kiss chaste, respectful, but when her lips parted on a sigh, the temptation was too great. His tongue swept into her mouth, exploring, claiming. The taste of her, sweet and pure, made his blood sing. She was innocence and strength combined, and he wanted her like he’d never wanted anything before. Not just her body, but her trust, her heart. He wanted to protect her, possess her, earn her love. The intensity of his feelings shocked him.

He’d never experienced such a fierce, overwhelming desire for anyone. His beast demanded more—demanded he claim her, mark her as his own. With iron control, he fought down the urge.

When they finally separated, her eyes remained closed for a long moment, her lashes casting delicate shadows on her cheeks in the moonlight. Then she looked up at him and the expression on her face stole his breath. Her eyes shone with a mix of wonder and shy pleasure, her lips curved in a small, secret smile. He could see the flush on her cheeks even in the dimness of the clearing. She looked like a female who had just discovered the power of her own desire, and the knowledge that he’d helped reveal that to her filled him with a fierce sense of satisfaction.

He couldn’t resist the urge to kiss her again. He managed to keep the kiss gentle—until her hands slid up his chest to his shoulders, pulling him closer. Something snapped inside him. The careful control he’d maintained for decades wavered, then broke. His arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her slightly as he deepened the kiss. Her lips parted beneath his, inviting him in, and he growled low in his throat.

She matched his intensity with surprising eagerness, her fingers digging into his shoulders, her body arching against his, and his beast roared in triumph and desire. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t fighting against his nature but surrendering to it completely. And it wasn’t violence that consumed him—it was need, tenderness, and a possessiveness so powerful it shook him to his core.

Mine.

His beast urged him to take her here, now—claim her in the way of his kind and make her his own. His claws extended, catching in the soft fabric of her dress, the urge to rend the garmentfrom her body almost overpowering. He wanted to feel her skin against his, to breathe in the scent of her arousal, to hear her cries of pleasure as he brought her to ecstasy. The primal, instinctual drive to make her irrevocably his throbbed in his veins, and only the trust in her eyes stopped him from giving in to that demand.

With a supreme effort of will, he pulled away, breaking the kiss, his breathing harsh in the silence of the forest. He took a step back, putting some space between them before he lost what remained of his self-control. The sudden separation felt like tearing his own flesh, and his beast howled in protest, clawing at his insides, demanding he return to her.

“I can’t,” he rasped, not sure if he was speaking to her or to the creature inside him. “This is—I shouldn’t have?—”

She stared at him, her eyes wide with confusion and hurt. Her hair had come loose from its severe knot, cascading around her shoulders in soft waves. She’d never looked more beautiful—or more vulnerable.

The beast snarled at him.Go back to her. Claim her.

“Seren?” Her voice was small, uncertain. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” he said quickly, reaching for her hand but stopping short of actually touching her. “You did nothing wrong. Nothing at all.”

His voice sounded strange to his own ears—rougher, deeper, closer to the growl of his beast form than he’d allow under normal circumstances. He forced himself to take a deep breath, fighting for control.

“It’s me,” he managed. “I shouldn’t have… taken advantage.”

She immediately shook her head. “You didn’t take advantage of me. I… I wanted you to kiss me.”

The scent of her confusion and lingering desire nearly undid him again. He clenched his fists at his sides, his claws threatening to emerge.

“I should get you back to the house,” he said, deliberately changing the subject. “It’s late, and if your aunt discovers you’re gone?—”

“She’ll be furious,” she finished for him, a shadow crossing her face.

He nodded, grateful for the shift in focus. “May I walk you back?”

She hesitated, then gave him a small, shy smile as she nodded. He gestured for her to lead the way, following close behind her but careful not to touch her. The beast inside him protested violently at the distance, but he refused to give in again.

He should have left her at the edge of the woods, but instead he followed her silently through her moonlit garden. His chest ached with the effort of restraining himself.

When they reached the back door of the house, she turned to face him. The soft light from inside illuminated her profile, making her look almost ethereal.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “For coming to find me tonight. For listening.”

Before he could respond, she rose on her tiptoes and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. The simple, innocent gesture sent ashock through his entire body, like lightning striking a tree. His beast surged forward again, desperate to claim her.

He stepped back quickly, nodding once. “Good night, Elli.”

She smiled—a small, hesitant thing that somehow contained more warmth than he deserved—then slipped inside the house, closing the door quietly behind her.

He stood frozen, staring at the closed door. His entire body vibrated with the effort of restraint, his muscles locked in place to prevent himself from following her.

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