Page 50 of Alien Charming

“Are you still sore?” he asked as he stroked her gently.

“A little,” she admitted. “But I like it.”

He chuckled. “Then I shall take care to be gentle.”

With that he lowered his head between her legs. She gasped at the first touch of his tongue, her fingers clutching the sheets. He explored every inch of her, recommitting her taste and scent to memory. When she cried out his name, he couldn’t resist a satisfied growl.

He straightened and placed the head of his cock at her entrance. She wiggled back towards him, eagerly seeking his shaft.

“Tell me what you want, little one,” he said, his voice rough with need.

“You,” she cried. “Please, Seren.”

“As you wish.”

He held her steady as he pushed into her. Despite the slickness of her arousal, he had to fight his way into her tight little channel, her body resisting the stretch. He rocked his hips back and forth, working his way deeper with each slow thrust until he was buried to the root. Only then did he give himself permission to move.

Their mating in the forest had been explosive, but this time he intended to take his time. He savored the way she moved beneath him, the way her body gripped his, as if she never wanted to let him go. Her arousal grew, and she arched back against him.

He pulled her upright, wrapping his arms around her small body and supporting her weight. He kissed the soft skin of her neck,teasing her with his fangs, but he kept the promise he had made to himself and didn’t bite down. Instead, he brought his hand up to cup her breasts, playing with the soft, delicate mounds.

“You fit perfectly in my hand,” he growled, and she shivered, her body clenching down on him.

“Did you like the way my hand feels on you, little one?” he whispered in her ear as his thumb found her nipple. “Do you like the way I feel inside you?”

She nodded frantically, and he felt a rush of primal satisfaction at her response. He kept one hand on her breast, teasing and tugging the stiff peak of her nipple while his other hand slid lower, finding the swollen pearl of her pleasure.

Her whole body shuddered and she cried out his name, her body going rigid in his arms as her release swept over her. Her channel clenched down on his aching cock in helpless spasms, and he roared as his own climax overtook him. Once again his knot swelled, locking them together, and he held her close as she shook in his arms.

Finally, she went limp, her body completely relaxed against him. He turned them carefully, stretching out on his side with his mate clasped safely in his arms, his shaft still buried deep inside her. He pressed a kiss to her temple and she gave him a sleepy, contented smile.

“I love you,” he said, and her smile widened.

“I love you too.”

The last rays of the setting sun sent streaks of fire across her hair, and he stroked it gently. Her eyelids fluttered and closed, and her breathing slowed. Holding his mate in his arms, Serenfinally allowed himself to relax. He had found his happiness, and he would do everything in his power to protect and nurture it.

CHAPTER 23

Sunlight poured through the windows, painting golden patterns across the bed as Elli woke. She stretched lazily, a languid contentment spreading through her limbs. The sheets still held Seren’s scent—woodsy and wild, with an underlying muskiness that made her heart race. She reached across the bed, but found only empty space where his warmth should have been.

She sat up, blinking away sleep, and spotted him by the window. His broad shoulders were silhouetted against the morning light, tension evident in every line of his powerful frame. He stood perfectly still, staring out at the forest beyond, his hands braced against the windowsill.

“Good morning,” she said softly.

He turned, golden eyes finding hers across the room. Something flickered in their depths—concern, perhaps even fear—before he schooled his expression.

“Did you sleep well?” His voice was low, controlled.

“Better than I ever have.” She smiled, pulling the sheet around her as she slipped from the bed. “Is everything all right?”

He nodded once, but the gesture lacked conviction. His gaze returned to the window, jaw tight.

She padded across the room, then hesitated before touching him, suddenly uncertain. Last night his passion had been overwhelming, his need for her matched only by her own desire. Now, in the harsh light of morning, doubt crept in. Did he regret claiming her?

“Seren?” She placed her hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”

His muscles tensed beneath her fingers. “Nothing you need to worry about.”

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