Chapter 19

We drank a lot throughout the night, laughing and talking so much that I was sure I wouldn't have a voice the next day. Mary disappeared into Caleb's tent, and the fire slowly died down, leaving behind a warm glow.

"Come, my love. It's late. Let me show you where we'll sleep tonight."

Kaï rose and extended his hand toward me, palm open. I placed mine in his, letting him pull me to my feet. My legs wobbled slightly—traitorous elixir. It tasted divine, but it went straight to my head. He let out a quiet chuckle, clearly amused at how much it had affected me, then guided me toward the largest tent. Holding the flap open, he gestured for me to step inside.

A soft golden glow from an oil lamp bathed the space, the gold embroidery on the fabric shimmering like firelight. A low bed, piled with pillows and blankets, rested against the back wall, and a thick rug covered the forest floor. His travel bag lay in one corner, and a large, worn chest sat beside it.

Behind me, I heard Kaï's footsteps, slow and deliberate. His presence was a force—solid, warm, magnetic. The heat of his body sent a shiver down my spine, my skin prickling with awareness. His heartbeat, deep and steady, was a sound I already craved.

"You have the most intoxicating scent I've ever smelled," he murmured, his breath warm against my neck. "Lilies, cashmere… and the richest honey."

He slid my hair aside, exposing the bare skin of my throat. The soft drag of strands over my sensitive skin made my breath hitch. His fingers followed, tracing the line of my jaw before resting against my neck, his palm large enough to cover it completely. With a gentle yet insistent touch, he tilted my head back, guiding my face toward his. He was so much taller than me that it forced my body to arch into him, molding against the hard planes of his chest.

Then, he kissed me—light as a whisper, fleeting as a breath. And yet, the sensation sent a jolt through me, something electric snapping awake inside. The bond flared between us, strong and undeniable, and suddenly, I needed more. My body burned for him, every nerve attuned to his touch.

I leaned in, deepening the kiss. His hand slid into my hair, fingers threading through the strands, while his other gripped my waist, pulling me closer. The ridges of his muscles pressed against me, firm and unyielding. He was holding back—I could feel it. But the restraint in his touch only made the heat in my body coil tighter.

A quiet moan escaped me, muffled against his lips. He responded instantly, turning me in his arms, molding my front to his. His fingers dug into my hips, possessive yet careful, as if he wanted to devour me but was savoring the moment instead. Then, with a slow tug, he pulled my lower lip between his teeth.

I gasped, and he took the opportunity to push me back toward the bed, stopping just at the edge.

His hands moved to the back of my dress, unfastening it with deliberate slowness. The fabric slipped from my shoulders, gliding down my body like water before pooling at my feet. He took a step back, eyes sweeping over me, his expression darkening with something primal.

Still holding his gaze, I sat on the edge of the bed and shifted backward, the anticipation thrumming through me.

He reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head in one fluid motion. My breath caught. I had never seen a body like his before—sculpted, strong, with the kind of raw power that came from centuries of battle and survival. A dark tattoo sprawled across his ribs and chest, intricate and mesmerizing, though I was too dazed to make out the details.

My eyes dropped lower as his fingers went to the fastening of his pants, my gaze drawn to the sharp lines of his abdomen, the deep-cut V leading downward. He didn't hesitate—he stripped in a swift, practiced movement, and my breath faltered.

He was big.

Too big.

My stomach clenched, a mixture of nerves and anticipation swirling inside me. He must have seen it on my face because a slow smirk ghosted over his lips as he lowered himself to the bed, caging me in beneath him.

"Relax, my love," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "You're already so wet. I promise I'll fit just right."

His fingers trailed down my thigh, firm and possessive. My body responded instantly, heat pooling between my legs. Then, without breaking eye contact, he lowered his head, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to my inner thigh.

A sharp gasp escaped me, my body arching at the sensation of his lips, the scrape of his teeth. He chuckled, the vibrations sinking into my skin, and then, without hesitation, he slid my last scrap of clothing down my legs, spreading me open.

The hunger in his gaze made me tremble.

"You look so good like this," he murmured, voice thick with desire. "I want to hear you say my name until everyone at that party knows exactly who you belong to."

Then, he lowered his mouth to me.

Pleasure crashed over me so intensely that I cried out, my fingers fisting the blankets beneath me. His tongue moved with expert precision, alternating between soft strokes and deep, slow drags. My thighs trembled, my breaths turned ragged, and the coil of heat in my stomach tightened impossibly fast.

"Kaï," I moaned, arching off the bed, unable to hold back.

He didn't stop. If anything, my voice spurred him on, his grip tightening, keeping me exactly where he wanted me. His tongue teased, explored, drove me higher until the pleasure built to an unbearable peak.

When I finally shattered, I did so with a cry, my entire body tensing before unraveling completely. Stars burst behind my eyelids, my skin damp with sweat, my lungs struggling for air.

But Kaï wasn't finished.

Before I could recover, he pushed me back against the bed, his body settling between my legs. His lips ghosted over mine, stealing my breath as his hands explored, mapping every inch of me like I was something sacred.

And when he finally entered me, slow and deliberate, I knew—there was no turning back.

This was the beginning of something inevitable.

Of something unstoppable.

Of us.