Chapter 26 Tessa
TESSA
Tessa stretched languidly in the four-poster bed of her former guest suite as the golden morning light shone bright through the tall windows.
Today was her wedding day. After three months of meticulous planning and Kaidan's increasingly possessive demands about security arrangements, the day had finally arrived.
A smile tugged at her lips as she thought about how dramatically her life had changed.
The past three months had been nothing short of magical—rebuilding the research station into something three times its original size, complete with state-of-the-art equipment that made her old university lab look primitive by comparison.
Even better, Melanie had shocked everyone by accepting the permanent position Tessa had offered, trading her comfortable Seattle apartment for a cozy cabin near the expanded research facility.
Their work had evolved beyond investigating mysterious environmental anomalies.
Now they partnered with the shifter clans to develop sustainable practices that would preserve Frosthaven's delicate ecosystem for centuries to come.
Watching Melanie adapt to shifter politics had been endlessly entertaining and rewarding—her best friend approached polar bear diplomacy with the same flair she used when networking in prestigious academic circles.
But the professional achievements paled compared to the personal transformations.
Kaidan had revealed layers of himself she'd never suspected during that first tense meeting three months ago.
The rigid king facade had completely melted away to reveal a man who left wildflowers on her pillow, who carried her to bed when she fell asleep over research data, and who made her laugh until her sides ached with his dry humor.
The mate bond had intensified everything between them.
His bear's hunger seemed insatiable—not just sexually, though their nights together left her breathless and thoroughly claimed—but emotionally.
He craved her presence, her touch, and her voice.
Sometimes she'd catch him watching her work with such naked adoration it made her stomach flip.
A sharp knock interrupted her reminiscing. Tessa grinned, sliding out of bed and padding barefoot across the plush rug. Melanie and Elora were probably armed with coffee, pastries, and the wedding dress that had required three fittings to satisfy Tessa's keen eye to detail.
She opened the door wearing nothing but the tiny silk slip she'd wear under her wedding gown, expecting to see her maid of honor and future sister-in-law laden with bridal accessories.
Instead, Kaidan filled the doorframe, his massive shoulders blocking out the corridor light.
His golden hair was perfectly styled and his formal wedding suit impeccable.
But it was the predatory gleam in his light blue eyes as his gaze traveled slowly down her silk-clad body that caught her attention.
"What are you doing here?" Tessa stepped back instinctively, heat flooding her body. "You're not supposed to see the bride before the ceremony. It's bad luck."
His mouth curved into that wickedly confident smile that never failed to make her knees weak. "I couldn't wait to see you." He stepped inside without invitation, his presence immediately overwhelming the spacious suite. "I need to be with you right now. I can't wait until tonight."
The raw need in his deep voice sent electricity coursing through their powerful bond. Three months of amazing sex had done nothing to diminish his alpha intensity—if anything it continuously unleashed something primal and possessive that left her breathless on a daily basis.
"Kaidan," she breathed, her body responding with arousal to his proximity. The silk slip suddenly felt thin as tissue paper under his heated stare.
She forced herself to focus, even as desire pooled between her thighs. "Melanie and Elora will be here any minute with my dress. We can't—"
"Lock the door," he commanded, his voice lowering to that authoritative rumble that made her inner muscles clench with want. "Now."
Despite her protests, her hand moved to turn the lock with automatic obedience. The soft click seemed to echo through the charged air between them.
"This is crazy," she whispered, even as she leaned back against the door, her pulse hammering. "We have a schedule. People are expecting—"
"Let them wait." He stalked toward her with predatory grace, his blue eyes blazing with possession. "My bear has been climbing the walls all morning without you. I need my mate now."
"Fine," she managed, her voice already breathless with anticipation. "But make it fast. And worth my while."
His answering grin was pure masculine satisfaction. "Oh, my queen," he purred, reaching for her. "I plan to make it very worth your while."
Kaidan's hands moved with swift precision, stripping off his suit jacket and tearing at his shirt buttons.
The sound of fabric rustling filled the room, and Tessa's breath hitched as she watched him.
His movements were deliberate, almost feral, and the intensity in his piercing blue eyes made her pulse race.
He kicked off his shoes, shed his pants and boxers in one fluid motion, and stood gloriously bare before her.
The sunlight shining in from the bedroom windows highlighted every sculpted inch of him—the broad shoulders, the taut muscles of his chest, and the golden trail of hair leading to his hard, throbbing cock. Tessa's mouth went dry.
"Kaidan," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "We literally only have ten minutes before someone comes looking for us."
He stepped closer. "Good. That makes it even more thrilling, doesn't it?" His voice was low, a growl that vibrated through her very core.
She laughed. "This is so wrong. We're supposed to be getting married in a few hours. This is the opposite of tradition."
He cupped her face, his thumb brushing her bottom lip. "Since when have we ever been traditional, my queen?" He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "A human queen and a polar bear king? Frosthaven’s never seen anything like us. Why start following the rules now?"
His words sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn't help but agree.
There was something wildly exciting about breaking the rules, especially when it came to him.
She nodded, her heart pounding as he turned her around, pressing her gently over the bed.
He didn't bother removing her delicate silk slip—instead, he lifted it up, exposing her bare bottom to the cool morning air.
She gasped as he traced a finger along her sensitive folds, teasing her.
"Kaidan," she moaned, her hands gripping the bed. "We don't have time for this."
"We have time," he murmured, his voice husky with desire. "I'll make it quick."
Before she could protest further, he positioned himself behind her and entered her in one swift, deep thrust. Tessa cried out, her voice muffled by the bedspread as she bit down on the fabric to stifle the sound.
The sensation of him filling her so completely, so urgently, was overwhelming.
Her body arched, her fingers clutching at the bedding as he began to move, his thrusts deep and relentless.
"God, you feel so good," he groaned, his hands gripping her hips tightly. "Every time, Tessa. Every single time."
She could only manage a whimper in response, her body already trembling with the sheer intensity of it. The thought of someone catching them in the act—sent a jolt of nervous excitement through her. It was wrong. It was scandalous. And it only heightened her arousal.
"This is so bad," she gasped. "What if someone hears us?"
He leaned over her, his chest pressing against her back, his lips brushing her ear. "Let them hear," he growled. "Let the entire kingdom know how much their king loves his queen."
His words, combined with the searing heat of his body against hers, pushed her closer to the edge. She could feel her climax building, a tight coil of pleasure ready to unravel. "Kaidan, I'm so close," she panted, her voice trembling.
"Come for me, Tessa," he commanded, his rhythm becoming faster and harder. "I want to feel you fall apart for me on our wedding day."
And she did. Her orgasm crashed over her like a tidal wave, her body convulsing as waves of pleasure radiated through her.
She pressed her face into the bed to smother her cries, but it was useless—the intensity was too much.
Kaidan followed soon after, his thrusts becoming erratic as he buried himself deep inside her one last time.
His low, guttural groan filled the room as he spilled his release, his body shuddering against hers.
For a moment, they stayed like that, both of them breathless and trembling. Then, with a regretful sigh, Kaidan pulled away, gently lowering her silk slip back into place. He pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder before stepping back.
"You're incredible," he murmured. "I'm the luckiest man in the world."
She turned to face him, her cheeks flushed. "You'd better get dressed before someone catches you," she teased, her voice still shaky.
He chuckled as he quickly pulled on his boxers and began reassembling his suit. "You're right. But it would've been worth it."
She watched him dress, her heart swelling with affection. Even now, with their bond so strong, he still managed to surprise her. His alpha presence, his unrelenting desire for her, and his unwavering love left her feeling cherished in a way she'd never hoped for.
Once he was fully dressed, he strode back to her, cupping her face in his hands. "I love you, Tessa. More than anything."
"I love you too," she whispered, her eyes shining with emotion.