Annabella was pinned beneath Rea, her body caged in, her senses overwhelmed. Every breath she took was laced with Rea's scent, smoky and wild, something that made her dizzy with want. She lay still, her chest rising and falling rapidly, terrified that any movement might shatter the fragile restraint still holding Rea back.
But her body betrayed her.
Her nipples were stiff beneath the delicate fabric of her dress, aching for contact, her thighs pressed tight together, desperate for friction. The weight of Rea above her, so warm, so strong, only made it worse.
Rea exhaled slowly, watching her with a smug, predatory smile.
"You look so damn vulnerable right now," Rea murmured, her lips a breath away from Annabella's ear. "I could do whatever I wanted to you. Right here. Right now."
Annabella swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I told you… you're not getting anything from me tonight."
A wicked chuckle rumbled from Rea's throat. "That's cute," she mused before lifting her thigh and pressing her swollen groin between Annabella's legs.
Annabella gasped, her entire body jerking at the contact. A sharp moan spilled from her lips, raw, unwilling, her fingers flying to the back of Rea's neck, gripping, scratching, holding on for dear life.
Rea groaned at the sensation, her breath hot against Annabella's skin.
"You don't get to decide this alone," she murmured, her lips brushing along Annabella's throat, her collarbone, lower.
Annabella turned her face away, trying to will herself into control, but it was useless. The heat, the hunger, the scent of Rea flooding her senses—it was intoxicating. She pushed weakly at Rea's shoulders, but the friction only made it worse, the delicious grinding where she needed it most pushing her further into madness.
"Before I lose my cool," Rea rasped, her lips grazing, teasing, torturing, "tell me. What's the deal with the pheromones?"
Annabella whimpered, her hands trembling as she pressed against Rea's chest.
"We can do it first," Rea offered darkly, "and talk later."
Annabella gasped, clinging to the last shreds of her willpower. "Gnh… gnh… Fine—just let me on top."
Something flickered in Rea's gaze—control, barely there—but she obeyed. She leaned back, hands settling behind her head, watching.
Her expression spoke volumes—a silent promise of what she'd do once Annabella was done talking.
"This is even more dangerous for you," Rea teased, letting her eyes roam hungrily. "I get to just… watch. Your hard nipples, your delicious lips, those dilated eyes that can't even hide how bad you want me to ravage you."
Annabella blushed furiously, suddenly hyper-aware of just how lewd her position was. She was straddling Rea, so close to her arousal, every small movement sending unbearable friction through her body.
"Do you want to know or what…?" she asked, breathless, desperate for a distraction.
Rea smirked. "Fine. Now tell me."
Annabella swallowed hard, trying to collect her thoughts, but it was impossible with Rea lying beneath her—watching her like prey.
She took a shaky breath. "Do you know what pheromones are?"
Rea's smirk didn't fade. "They're hormones that influence behavior. Desire. Hunger. Instinct."
"Yes and no," Annabella murmured, trying to focus on the explanation and not the slow, deliberate way Rea's fingers were tracing lazy circles on her thighs. "Pheromones are more than just biological signals. They're… a form of communication. The purest link between mind and body."
Rea hummed, half-listening, half-mesmerized. She placed her hands on Annabella's hips, thumbs pressing lightly, not holding her still, but not letting her go either. "Go on."
Annabella shivered but continued. "Normal humans don't notice them. But we—mages—we feel them. Your clan, for example, uses its enhanced perception of pheromones in combat. That's why your instincts are so sharp. You don't think. You just… know."
Rea's expression shifted, something clicking in her mind. Her grip on Annabella's hips tightened just slightly, and Annabella gasped.
"So," Rea murmured, "what does this have to do with us?"
Annabella hesitated
But then Rea's hands slid up her sides, over the curve of her ribs, hovering just below her breasts.
"Ever since I laid with you," Annabella continued, her voice barely above a whisper, "I've had a hard time controlling my powers. That's why people are noticing me more. I used to suppress them, but now…" Her breath hitched as Rea's thumbs brushed along the undersides of her breasts. "Now it's harder."
Rea exhaled sharply. Understanding dawned—and so did frustration.
"So you think," Rea said, her voice low and laced with something dangerous, "that I'm only this… desperate for you because of the pheromones?"
Annabella smirked, teasing despite herself. "I don't think. I know."
Rea's hands tightened on her hips.
Annabella leaned in, lips barely grazing Rea's ear. "Remember the day we met in the temple? I wanted you there—and you appeared."
Rea growled, her back arching at the memory, a mix of denial and realization flickering in her expression. "It was just a coincidence. I wanted some peace."
Annabella chuckled darkly. "Did you? Or did I will you there?"
Rea's breath hitched.
Annabella smirked and continued. "And what about your seat in the cafeteria?"
Rea frowned, thinking.
"You don't sit at your usual spot anymore," Annabella whispered, trailing a delicate finger down Rea's chest, feeling her muscles tense under her touch. "I willed that too."
Rea's eyes widened as the pieces clicked together.
Her crew had joked about her new seat, but she never questioned why she moved. She hadn't even noticed.
Annabella pinned Rea's wrists above her head, her expression shifting from playful to sensual.
"Starting to believe me now?" Annabella teased, but her voice was shaking slightly.
Rea was silent, her breath coming faster, her gaze locked onto Annabella like she was something dangerous and intoxicating all at once.
Annabella leaned in, barely brushing their lips together, whispering, "I can do more than that, you know. I could make you never look at another woman again. Make you mine in ways you can't even begin to—"
Rea snapped.
In an instant, she flipped them, Annabella gasping as she was pinned beneath Rea's weight, wrists trapped, thighs caged.
Annabella gasped, her nails digging into Rea's arms.
Annabella's breath caught in her throat as Rea's lips crashed onto her neck, her collarbone, her shoulder—each kiss rough, desperate, almost pleading.
"You don't think I want you for real?" Rea growled against her skin. "That this hunger—this fire—isn't mine?"
Annabella trembled, lost between fear and want.
"Reagan," she gasped, " This not reassuring at all."
Rea froze.
Her breath was ragged. Her body trembled with restraint.
Annabella cupped her face, forcing her to look her in the eyes.
"Promise me," she whispered, voice unsteady. "Promise me you won't lose yourself."
Rea's jaw clenched.
Then she kissed Annabella gently like she was trying to prove something—to Annabella, to herself.
Annabella melted, her body betraying her, her arms wrapping around Rea's shoulders, pulling her closer instead of pushing her away.
Rea broke the kiss just enough to murmur against Annabella's lips, her voice a promise and a curse all at once— "I will never hurt you. My feelings for you are true."
Rea traced soft circles around Annabella's hardened nipple with her tongue, reveling in the way Annabella arched into her touch, her body a beautiful contradiction of resistance and surrender.
"You're so damn perfect," Rea murmured against her skin, her voice thick with desire. She bit down gently and sucking passionately, eliciting a sharp gasp from Annabella, who tangled her fingers into Rea's hair, pulling slightly as if unsure whether she wanted to push her away or keep her exactly where she was.
"Rea slow down" Annabella's voice was breathy, almost pleading.
"Shhh," Rea whispered, trailing kisses down Annabella's stomach, tasting the heat of her flushed skin. "Just let me take care of you."
Annabella whimpered, her resolve slipping as Rea continued her slow, intoxicating worship. Every brush of lips and tongue sent jolts of pleasure through her, making her innerthigh wet.
Rea smiled against her skin. "You're melting for me, Anna."
Annabella turned her head away, her cheeks burning. "Don't say things like that…"
Rea chuckled darkly, her breath hot against Annabella's ear. "Why not?" she teased, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to the side of her neck. "Am I lying"
Annabella's lips parted, but no words came.
Rea didn't wait. She removed the last piece of fabric between them, her fingers trailing down Annabella's trembling thighs.
Then—slowly—she pushed one finger inside.
Annabella's body jerked against her touch, her fingers clenching the sheets, a sharp, helpless gasp escaping her lips.
Rea smirked, curling her finger inside, moving deliberately, teasingly. "almost there," she murmured, watching the way Annabella's body reacted, betrayed itself.
Then she added a second finger.
Her pace quickened, the wet sounds filling the room, and Annabella's hips buckled, her body chasing more, despite the war raging in her mind.
Rea pressed her lips to Annabella's shoulder, inhaling deeply, savoring her. "That's it, Anna! You are ready for me" she whispered against her skin.
Rea withdrew her fingers slowly, teasingly, dragging out every second of the loss, before bringing them to her lips, tasting her. "You're so sweet, Anna," she murmured, her voice molten, her gaze locked onto Annabella's with something dangerous, something wild.
The heat between them was unbearable, and when Rea finally thrust into her, a deep, shuddering moan tore from Annabella's lips.
Rea stilled, letting her adjust, her forehead resting against Annabella's as their breaths mingled.
Rea growled deep in her throat, the sound primal, raw. "Fuck, Anna… you were starting to forget me. You are so much tighter"
Annabella's fingers curled around Rea's arms, holding onto her as if she were the only thing keeping her grounded. "please...be gentle" she pleaded, voice trembling.
Rea smiled against her skin, rolling her hips in a slow, devastating motion. Every slow, deep thrust had her body trembling, her mind clouded with nothing but Rea.
Rea's lips traced along her jaw, down her throat, claiming every inch of her as she moved. " You are ghn so big" Annabella whispered.
"Look at me," Rea repeated, thrusting deep, pulling a cry from Annabella's lips.
Annabella's eyes fluttered open, locking onto Rea's, and she felt it. "That's it," Rea groaned, voice thick with hunger. She kissed her lips passionately, dipped her head, sucking and biting at Annabella's throat, leaving marks she knew would last. "I want all of you"
Rea moaned low, her voice vibrating against Annabella's skin as she buried herself deeper. "Gods, Anna… you're taking me so perfectly."
Annabella's mind was spinning, her body reacting before she could think. "It wasn't supposed to feel this good" she thought
"Feel that?—" Rea hissed, her body trembling. She pressed her forehead against Annabella's, her breath ragged. " That's how much I want you. I can't—fuck—I can't get enough of you."
Annabella's legs wrapped tighter around Rea's back, pulling her closer, their breaths mingling, their moans blending together.
Then Rea flipped her over onto her stomach, lifting her hips, her body pressed firm against Annabella's back.
That's when everything changed
As soon as Rea flipped Annabella onto her stomach, lifting her hips effortlessly, a deep growl rumbled from her throat. The sound sent a shiver down Annabella's spine, a warning—one she should have heeded
"Rea, We have never done it like this bef—" Annabella gasped, her voice still pleasured, still wanting—but laced with uncertainty now.
Rea started thrusting deep.
Rea didn't answer.
She couldn't.
Because her mind was gone.
All she could think about was claiming her, marking her, making sure everyone knew Annabella was hers.
The force of each thrust stole the air from Annabella's lungs. Her fingers clawed at the sheets. "Rea, slow—ahhh—wait—"
"I— I can't—Anna, I don't know how to stop. You feel too fucking good." Rea's voice, a mix of guilt and raw need, cracked.
Rea's grip on her hips was bruising now, her movements driven by something beyond reason, beyond control.
Annabella hated this.
Hated how easily Rea had lost herself.
Hated how her own body betrayed her, shivering under Rea's rough, desperate touch.
I know I should stop—I know—but, Anna…" She groaned, her hands sliding up Annabella's wrists, grounding her. Every thrust sent sparks of pleasure rippling through her, making her kisses all over Annabella's shoulder and neck more possessive.
Rea moaned in pure bliss, her fingers intertwined with Annabella's were gripping tighter. "Say it," she begged, her voice raw. "Say you want this as much as I do."
Annabella's fingers dug into the sheets, her arms trembling. "I hate you," she whispered, voice strained with anger, with need, with shame.
She was supposed to hate this.
But the way Rea was moaning her name, the way she trembled like Annabella was the only thing keeping her from madness,
It was breaking her.
Rea's thrusts grew sloppier, more desperate, her breath ragged as she moaned Annabella's name over and over like a prayer. Annabella bit her lip hard, trying to hold back the tremors wracking her body, but it was useless. The pleasure was relentless, merciless, dragging her deeper and deeper into the abyss.
A sharp, choked cry tore from Annabella's lips as the orgasm crashed into her, violent and unforgiving. Her back arched, and her entire body quivering beneath Rea's.
Rea let out a deep, and loud moan, gripping Annabella's waist as her hips stuttered. "Fuck—Anna—" she gasped, her body tensing as she buried herself deep, her own release ripping through her like a storm. She shook above Annabella, breathless, lost in the intensity of it.
She barely had time to collapse before sleep claimed her, her arms instinctively wrapping around Annabella's waist, pulling her in close. Her face nuzzled against Annabella's back, her breath warm and steady against her skin.
Annabella stared at the wall, her chest rising and falling unevenly.
Her eyes burned.
She should be furious, she should push Rea away, she should fight the warmth spreading in her chest from the way Rea was clutching her, holding her like she was the only thing that mattered.
But instead, she just lay there, silent, still.
A single tear slipped down her cheek.