Chapter 17 Tessa
SEVENTEEN
TESSA
Tessa's consciousness drifted back slowly the next morning.
The first thing she registered was warmth—not just the cocoon of furs around her but the solid heat of muscle and skin pressed against her back.
Then came the gentle sensation of fingertips tracing lazy patterns along her spine, sending delicious shivers through her entire body.
She opened her eyes and peered over her shoulder to find Kaidan propped on one elbow beside her, his blue eyes fixed on her with a burning intensity that made her heart skip a beat.
His thick blonde hair was tousled from sleep, and the morning light pouring in through the frost-covered windows cast a golden glow across his face.
He looked like a man who'd discovered lost treasure but also like he wanted to devour that treasure completely.
"Good morning," she murmured, her voice still husky with sleep.
"Morning, beautiful." His voice was a low rumble that vibrated through her body where they were pressed together.
She turned her body to face him fully. "How long have you been awake staring at me?"
"Awhile." No embarrassment, no apology—just that alpha confidence that seemed to define everything about him. "I could watch you sleep for hours."
Heat flushed through her cheeks, but she couldn't deny the thrill that shot through her at his admission. This powerful king, this man who commanded the Arctic, was enamored by her. The knowledge was intoxicating and worrisome in equal measure.
Through their newly formed mate bond, she could feel the depth of his emotions—the possessiveness that bordered on obsession, the fierce protectiveness that made him want to shield her from every possible threat, and underneath it all, a desire so intense it threatened to consume them both.
What scared her most was how clearly her own feelings must be broadcasting back to him—the love she was starting to feel despite every logical reason to guard her heart.
This is dangerous, she thought as his thumb traced her cheekbone. I'm falling for him when everything about this situation screams temporary.
If things weren't so complicated—if Magnus wasn't threatening them, if the environmental anomalies weren't demanding her attention, if the entire shifter community didn't view her as an unwelcome intruder—she might throw caution to the wind.
She might tell him yes, let's see where this goes, let's spend our days wrapped up in each other and figure out the rest later.
But that wasn't their reality. He was a king with duties and responsibilities that went far beyond personal desires.
She was a human in a territory where her very existence was seen as a threat.
The smart thing would be to protect herself, to keep some emotional distance until she could figure out how to navigate this impossible situation.
As if sensing her internal battle, Kaidan's expression shifted to something more intense and more determined. "Come take a shower with me."
The invitation hung between them, loaded with promise and temptation. She should say no. She should maintain some boundaries, protect what remained of her carefully constructed walls.
Instead, she found herself nodding. "Lead the way."
His smile was pure masculine satisfaction as he rose from the bed, completely unselfconscious in his nakedness.
Tessa allowed herself a moment to appreciate the view—broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, muscles that spoke of years of physical training, and an overall presence that commanded attention even when he wasn't trying.
His bathroom was a study in Arctic luxury—white marble shot through with veins of silver, a massive glass shower that could easily accommodate multiple people, and heated floors that felt like heaven against her bare feet.
Steam began to curl as he adjusted the temperature, testing the water with the same meticulous attention he applied to everything.
"Perfect," he murmured, then turned to her with eyes that had gone dark with want. "Come here."
The command in his deep voice sent tingles racing down her spine.
Her logical brain warned her to resist the pull and to maintain some semblance of control over the situation.
But the moment his hands settled on her waist, guiding her under the cascade of warm water, all her reservations scattered like mist.
"Let me take care of you," he said, reaching for an expensive-looking bottle of shampoo.
The simple words hit her harder than they should have.
When was the last time anyone had wanted to take care of her? When had she ever allowed it?
His hands in her hair were gentle but thorough, massaging her scalp until she practically melted against him. The scent of pine and something uniquely masculine surrounded her as he worked, and she found herself closing her eyes.
"You're thinking too hard this morning," he observed, his voice holding a note of amusement.
"I'm always thinking too hard."
"Well, you don't have to with me." His hands moved to her shoulders, kneading away tension she hadn't realized she'd been carrying for the past five days. "Just let yourself feel."
Just feel. When had she last allowed herself to simply exist in a moment without analyzing every angle and every potential outcome?
His touch moved lower, soaping her with reverent attention. Every stroke of his hands felt like worship, like he was memorizing every curve and hollow of her body. The mate bond sang between them, amplifying every sensation until she could barely think past the need building in her core.
When his fingers slipped between her thighs, she gasped and braced her hands against the marble wall.
"Kaidan..."
"Don't worry, I've got you," he murmured softly against her ear, his free arm wrapping around her waist to hold her steady. "Let me make you feel good."
His touch was electric and deliberate, and she could feel the heat building in her lower body as he began circling her sensitive folds with a maddening rhythm.
His free hand came up to massage her breasts, his thumb grazing her nipples until they hardened under his touch.
The dual sensations were overwhelming, and she let out a breathy moan, her head falling back against his chest.
"That's it, sweetheart," he murmured, his breath hot against her ear.
She could barely form a coherent thought as his fingers slid inside her, curling in just the right spot to make her knees buckle.
His other hand continued to tease her nipples, pinching and rolling them in time with the thrust of his fingers.
The pressure built quickly, her body trembling as he worked her closer and closer to the edge.
"Kaidan... I can't..." she gasped, her voice breaking.
"Let go for me," he said softly.
And then she was shattering, her body convulsing as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her.
He held her up, his strong arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her from collapsing under the intensity of her release.
When the tremors subsided, she leaned back against him, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"God, you're so beautiful when you fall apart for me," he said, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.
When she finally regained her composure, she turned in his arms, her hands sliding up his chest. "Your turn," she said, her voice still shaking slightly but laced with determination.
She reached for the shampoo, lathering it between her hands before working it into his thick hair.
He let out a low groan as her fingers massaged his scalp, his eyes closing in contentment.
She took her time, enjoying the way the water sluiced over his broad shoulders and down the defined muscles of his chest. She grabbed the bar of soap, her hands gliding over his skin, exploring every ridge and curve as if she were memorizing him.
When she got to his large cock, already fully erect and throbbing with need, she couldn't resist. She dropped to her knees, her hands sliding down his thighs as she took him into her mouth.
He moaned, his fingers tangling in her hair as she began to move.
She felt a thrill of power at the way he seemed to lose control, his hips jerking slightly as she sucked and stroked him.
"Tessa..." he growled, his voice strained. "If you keep that up, I'm not going to last."
She looked up at him, her lips curving up into a mischievous smile. "Good."
But before she could finish him off, he pulled her to her feet. "Not yet," he said, his voice firm despite the desire blazing in his eyes.
Kaidan's hands gripped Tessa's waist, lifting her effortlessly as steam swirled around them in the massive marble shower.
Her back pressed against the cool, wet wall, sending a delicious shiver through her body despite the heat of the water cascading over them.
His eyes, those piercing blue pools of intensity, locked onto hers, and she could see the raw hunger there, the primal need that mirrored her own.
"I need to be inside you," he growled, his voice low and commanding, leaving little room for argument. Not that she would've argued. Every nerve in her body was screaming for him, her own desire a wildfire that only he could quench.
"Yes," she breathed, her voice but a whisper yet filled with the same urgency.
Her hands gripped his broad shoulders, her fingers digging into the muscle as she wrapped her legs around his waist. She could feel the hard length of him pressing against her, hot and insistent, and her breath hitched in anticipation.
With one fluid motion, he entered her, filling her completely, and a cry tore from her lips at the sheer pleasure of it. His size was overwhelming, stretching her in the most delicious way, and she felt every inch of him as he began to move, setting a rhythm that was both primal and perfect.
"Kaidan," she gasped, her head falling back against the wall as he thrust into her with a controlled ferocity that left her breathless.
His hands held her firmly, keeping her steady as he drove into her again and again, each stroke sending shocks of pleasure rippling through her body.
"You feel incredible," he murmured against her neck. "So perfect for me." His words sent more heat through her, the possessive edge in his voice only heightening her arousal.
She clung to him, her nails digging into his shoulders as she matched his rhythm, her hips rocking against his with a desperation that surprised even her.
Her mind was a whirlwind of sensations and emotions—lust, desire, and something deeper, something she wasn't ready to name just yet.
All she knew was that she wanted this, wanted him, more than she'd ever wanted anything in her life.
"God, Kaidan, don't stop," she moaned, her voice shaky as pleasure built inside her like a storm about to break. She could feel her climax approaching, a pressure coiling tighter and tighter with every thrust.
"I'm not going to stop," he growled, his voice rough with need. "Not until you come undone, sweetheart."
His words were like a spark to tinder, and she felt herself shattering, her body convulsing as waves of pleasure washed over her. She cried out, the sound echoing off the marble walls, as her inner walls clenched around him, pulling him deeper with each spasm.
He groaned, his thrusts becoming more erratic and more desperate, as he chased his own release. "Tessa," he growled, his voice thick with desire. "You're all mine."
And then he was coming, his body shuddering as he spilled himself inside her, his grip on her waist tightening as if he never wanted to let her go. She felt every pulse of him, the heat of his release mingling with the heat of her own climax, and she closed her eyes savoring the moment.
For a long while, they stayed like that, their bodies pressed together, their breathing ragged and hearts pounding in unison. Kaidan rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed as he tried to regain his composure.
"You're amazing," he murmured, his voice husky with satisfaction. "Every time with you… it's like nothing I've ever felt before."
She smiled, her fingers brushing through his damp hair as she looked at him. "I couldn't agree more, Your Majesty."
He chuckled, the sound deep and warm, and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "I could get used to this—waking up with you, showering with you, loving you all day long."
Her heart skipped at his words, and she pushed the uncertainty aside. For now, she just wanted to enjoy the moment and to revel in the connection they'd found in each other, no matter how complicated the world outside might be.