Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
Lyra
Iwake wrapped in a pair of strong arms, the sound of birds breaking through the morning fog as my eyelids flutter atop my cheeks.
I’m still trapped in that blissful realm between sleep and wakefulness, reality not fully sinking in quite yet as I just remain there for a while.
All I know in that split second is that I’m safe, warm, and thoroughly satisfied. Every tense muscle in my body has long gone, replaced by something sugary and sweet.
The arm beneath my head is firm but soft, serving as my pillow as I slowly come to. When I turn, it’s to find the stubbled face of an Alpha.
A smile curves my mouth.
Wren.
He sleeps so soundly, his eyes closed as he breathes gently, and I just lie there, studying his face.
He’s not smiling now, but there’s no missing the phantom dimple in his cheek. The one that always makes my heart shudder and skip a beat.
Wren looks so blissful. I shouldn’t dare wake him, but I’m tempted to touch him. I’ve never seen an Alpha sleep so peacefully before.
So, I want to make the most of it.
Who knows when I may get another chance?
So, I reach across, running the pad of my finger over the smooth bridge of his nose. He wrinkles it next, groaning deeply, and my heart stops.
Yet he still doesn’t wake.
So, I continue, brushing my finger over the stubble of his cheek. Then I find the spot where his dimple usually appears.
As I circle my finger there, the dimple appears. Alarmed, I turn, finding those warm, sage green eyes.
A purr thunders in his chest, and then his smile widens. His white fangs peek from his upper lip, but they don’t frighten me as they should.
Nothing about this Alpha could frighten me. How could he? He’s one of the kindest, gentlest souls I have met.
The only other person I knew with a soul like his was Ava’s. Funny, she loved animals, too, and was always tending to them whenever she found them sick at the orphanage.
“Morning, little sparrow,” he whispers, his voice raspy with sleep.
It makes my heart flutter as I swallow. “M-morning.”
His grin deepens, and that dimple grows even more prominent. “What were you doing?”
I hang my head in shame, and I hope he doesn’t see the color my cheeks have turned. How embarrassing, but Wren’s face is a true work of art; I couldn’t not touch and admire it.
His low chuckle makes the mattress vibrate. “What, were you admiring my handsome visage?”
I hide my face, nodding silently.
A purr explodes in his chest, then he wraps his arms around me, pressing me flush to his neck. Now I get a mouthful of his sage as I close my eyes.
“It’s all right, Lyra. In fact, I’m kinda jealous.”
I lift my head, meeting his eyes. “Why?”
His lips stretch, fangs protruding. “Because I never got to be the first to wake so I could admire your morning visage. One day, I may even sketch it.”
My eyes widen as they search his. Once again, I blush. Who knew I could be so coy, but there’s just something about this Alpha.
He makes me feel like a sweet little princess. When I’m with him, I can forget that I’m a killer. A wanted fugitive.
Someone with blood on their hands.
My heart thumps, and he must sense my apprehension as he purrs, leaning forward to kiss me on the lips. “Shh, it’s okay. You’re safe with us, Lyra. The king won’t find you.”
My body shudders, and then I make a small whimpering sound. I think I’m approaching the second wave of my heat.
I can sense it, just clawing at my awareness, begging for release.
Like an itch I can never quite reach.
As soon as the thought comes to mind, my body twists and bends. Now, that itch lingers beneath the surface of my skin, making me burn red hot. If I could peel my skin off, I would.
Sweat breaks out across my flesh.
Wren rises, lifting me in his arms as if I’m as light as a feather. “Come on. Let’s get you all nice and cleaned up. How does that sound, little sparrow?”
Now, that does sound wonderful. So long as he is the one cleaning me, then I don’t care what happens.
All he has to do is touch me, and the pain is gone.
Wren carries me across to my bathroom and gently sits me down on the vanity just before the mirror.
That’s when I get a look at my reflection.
Holy shit. I look like a big bruise. I’m still covered in purple paint, and there’s no missing the blood that stains my body.
It appears Wren’s priority when he returned to the cabin was to give me his knot. He didn’t care that I was filthy and covered in blood.
He just wanted to take my pain away, and I’ve never felt so appreciated, so seen. It must show in my expression because Wren’s eyebrows crumple. A tear drips down my cheek, leaving a streak in the blood and paint on my face.
“Hey, it’s okay, Lyra. You’re still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” Wren whispers, taking my cheek in his hand.
His thumb caresses my dirtied cheek, and I sigh, closing my eyes.
That’s when he catches sight of his own reflection, a snort escaping his nose. “I could do with a bath myself.” He wags his brows then, tipping my chin up as he says dangerously close to my lips. “Think we could both fit in the tub?”
My heart misfires. I don’t care if we don’t. I’ll happily die trying.
The idea of his naked, wet body pressed up beside me in such a tight space has my mind spinning.
Wren wraps his hands over my cheeks, pressing his forehead against mine. “You just wait here. I will pour us a bath.”
Now I study the muscles of Wren’s back as he leaves me perched on the vanity in nothing but his old shirt. He turns the faucet, ensuring the water is nice and hot. He even adds some bubbles.
Then he faces me again, eyeing up his old shirt in anticipation. “Well, the bath is ready.”
I nod, biting my lip. And then I grab the hemline, tugging the shirt over my head until my breasts are exposed.
Gooseflesh encircles each breast as I feel his eyes all over me, and then my nipples harden when he gasps. “Fuck… you’re magnificent, Lyra.”
I get so distracted by his compliment that I get stuck inside the shirt. He comes forward, helping me out of the sleeves. Once he removes the offending garment, he just stares at me for a while.
Now I am completely and utterly naked, chest heaving as his sage eyes take in every inch of me.
Sweat drips down my spine as it’s getting hot in the bathroom. Steam gathers, and I don’t think I can take it much longer.
Wren’s pupils have dilated. I’m not sure what comes over me next, but I brush my fingers down my body, sweeping them over my breasts until I reach between my thighs.
Shit. I’m so filthy, so hot, but I don’t stop. Even when I circle my finger over my throbbing clitoris, I don’t take my gaze off him.
Wren’s eyes never leave me as he fails to blink.
He’s just content to watch me touch myself. So, when I push my finger in deeper and massage myself further, a restrained growl escapes his throat.
And then I come around my finger.
Before I know it, he’s upon me, bringing my hand to his mouth as he licks and sucks on the finger that I touched myself with. The moment he gets his taste of me, his pupils take over his green eyes.
He becomes possessed.
Without warning, he scoops me up off the vanity, wrapping my legs around his waist as he carries me to the tub.
He dips us both beneath the hot, steaming water, washing away the blood and paint that covers our bodies.
Even in his delirium, he’s gentle as he rests my head against the lip of the tub, keeping his hand cushioned around my skull to ensure I don’t drown.
Then he enters me, making me see stars yet again.
My legs don’t leave him as they remain locked around his waist, and soon I’m drowning in him.
I can’t wait to feel his knot inside me for a second time.