Chapter 19– Surrender? Who?

Caius had spent years mastering control. On the battlefield, in the war rooms, even in the quiet moments before dawn—he was a knight, a commander, a shield for his people. But now, here, with her hands on him, that control was slipping.

Seraphina pressed herself against his bare chest, the heat between them crackling like embers waiting to be fanned into flame. Her fingers traced the firm ridges of his abdomen before trailing lower, lower—testing his restraint.

His breath was ragged, his golden eyes locked onto hers. "Seraphina…" He sounded like he was warning her. Begging her.

She only smiled, tilting her head as her lips brushed against his throat, her teeth grazing just enough to make him shudder. "Yes?"

He clenched his jaw, but he didn't push her away.

Good.

Her fingers worked at the buckle of his belt, slow, teasing, undoing him piece by piece. Every flick of her wrist, every featherlight touch, left him trembling with barely restrained need.

Caius was always the one in control. Always the one leading, protecting. But right now?

Seraphina wanted him to surrender.

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The heavy fabric of the command tent muffled the distant sounds of battle, creating a bubble of heat and tension where only they existed. The lanterns flickered, casting golden shadows over Caius 's sharp features as he loomed behind her, his breath hot against the nape of her neck.

Seraphina braced herself against the wooden table, her fingers curling into the rough grain as anticipation coiled tight in her stomach.

"You knew this would happen," Caius murmured, his voice a dangerous rasp.

She shivered but lifted her chin. "Did I?"

A sharp sound—a mix between a chuckle and a growl—escaped him. "Don't play coy with me, Seraphina. You knew exactly what you were doing, testing me like that."

His hands were on her in the next instant, firm and unrelenting. He yanked her back against his chest, his grip possessive as one hand spread over her stomach, keeping her flush against him. The other slid down, gathering the fabric of her gown, lifting it inch by agonizing inch.

Seraphina sucked in a breath, her body already burning, already unraveling beneath his touch.

"Look at you," Caius murmured against her ear. "Trembling."

Her thighs clenched together instinctively, but his knee nudged them apart, forcing her open for him.

"You don't get to hide from me."

She gasped as his hand slid between her thighs, fingers tracing over the heat of her skin. Every slow, teasing stroke sent jolts of pleasure up her spine, each touch more devastating than the last.

"Caius ," she breathed, her voice unsteady.

He exhaled sharply. "Say it again."

She moaned as he pressed deeper, his fingers slipping against her, knowing exactly how to unravel her. He teased, tormenting her with feather-light strokes before pulling back, forcing her to arch against him, to silently beg for more.

"You're always so composed," he murmured against her throat, teeth grazing her pulse. "So untouchable."

His fingers curled, and white-hot pleasure shot through her.

"But here?" His lips dragged down the side of her neck, his other hand coming up to cup her breast through the fabric. He kneaded, his thumb brushing over the peak, sending another rush of heat straight between her legs.

"Here, you fall apart for me."

Seraphina's breath hitched as her body responded instantly, her hips shifting, pressing into his hand, silently pleading for more.

Caius didn't deny her.

He turned her slightly, just enough to see her face, her flushed cheeks, her lips parted in breathless pleasure.

"Beautiful," he muttered before capturing her mouth in a fierce, claiming kiss.

It was desperate, messy—more teeth than lips, more hunger than restraint.

And gods, she kissed him back just as fiercely, just as needily.

He growled against her lips before breaking away, spinning her back around and pressing her against the table once more. She gasped as his hands gripped her hips, his breath heavy against her exposed skin.

Then his mouth was on her.

Seraphina cried out, her fingers digging into the table as his tongue traced hot, devastating circles against her most sensitive spot. Her knees nearly buckled, but Caius held her firmly in place, his hands gripping her thighs as he tasted her like he couldn't get enough.

She gasped, writhed, moaned his name like a prayer as he devoured her, his pace slow at first—torturous—before quickening, relentless in his hunger.

Her world narrowed down to the heat of his mouth, the grip of his hands, the fire coiling impossibly tight in her stomach.

"Caius —" She couldn't form words, couldn't think beyond the blinding pleasure surging through her.

He hummed against her, sending vibrations through her overstimulated nerves.

And then she shattered.

Her body tensed, her back arching as the pleasure exploded through her in waves, stealing the breath from her lungs. Caius didn't stop, didn't let up until she was shaking, until he had wrung every last drop of pleasure from her.

Only then did he pull back, pressing one last kiss to her inner thigh, his breath ragged, his voice thick with satisfaction.

"Perfect."

Seraphina collapsed against the table, her body trembling, her skin flushed and hypersensitive.

Caius straightened behind her, his hands tracing over her skin, grounding her even as he pressed his lips against her shoulder, lingering.

"You're mine," he murmured against her ear, the words sending another shiver down her spine.

And gods help her, she wanted to be.

Outside, the sounds of the battlefield loomed, but in here, in the safety of his hands, there was only heat, only them.

And Seraphina surrendered to it.