Alethea
Do you know what it feels like to see someone from your past and recognize them, even when you’ve lost hope of ever piecing your memories back together? That’s exactly what’s happening to me now.
He was my secret crush when I was fifteen-the boy I silently prayed would be my mate when I turned eighteen. But fate had other plans. My wolf never came, not then and not now.
And now, here he is. Xavier. The man who had haunted my thoughts for years, sitting before me like some ghost from another life.
“Look at you, Ally,” his voice is rich and smooth, the same as I remember. His blue eyes rake over me, taking in every detail.
“You’ve grown into a sophisticated, beautiful woman.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I know my face is red from blushing. His words threw me completely off balance.
“Oh, stop it, Xavier,” I manage to say, though my voice is smaller than I’d like.
“You look as handsome as always.” My brain isn’t giving me anything better to say.
He tilts his head, with a smirk on his face. “Handsome as always?” he repeats, with a teasing tone.
“Does that mean you’ve always thought I was handsome?”
I roll my eyes, trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation.
“Oh, please, Xavier. Get off your high horse. It’s not a crime to state the obvious.”
“Oh, Ally, I never thought I’d live to see this witty side of you. You’ve always been the-”
“The timid, bullied little girl,” I cut him off, with a sharp tone than I intended. I meet his gaze head-on, daring him to deny it.
His smirk falters, and for a moment, he looks caught off guard. “Oh, I didn’t mean it that way, Ally.”
“Then how did you mean it?” I counter with a smile. “Let me guess-you’re trying to spare my ego, right?”
Xavier hesitates, his eyes searching for a way out. I can see the gears turning in his head, wondering what he can say that won’t put me further on the defensive.
The silence stretches between us. I glance around the club, needing a moment to collect myself. My eyes land on Amelia, swaying on the dance floor with a stranger. She’s holding a drink.
When she sees me watching, she raises her glass in the air, blowing me a kiss before spinning back to her partner. I shake my head, a small smile tugging at my lips; Amelia is always living in the moment.
When I turn back to Xavier, his gaze is intense, focused solely on me, as if the rest of the room has disappeared. The way he looks at me-like I’m the only person who matters.
For a moment, I forget to breathe. The music fades into the background, It’s just us, locked in this bubble of unspoken words.
My heart pounds in my chest, wild, like it’s trying to claw its way out. I’ve been drawn to Xavier for as long as I can remember, but seeing him now-staring at me with raw admiration-makes every thought of caution dissolve into thin air.
I want to close the distance between us. I want to crash my lips against his and finally give in to the pull I’ve felt for years.
And those lips… how many times have I thought about them? Too many to count.
Xavier steps closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper that sends shivers racing down my spine.
“You know,” his breath brushing my cheek, “I’ve been meaning to do this since the moment you walked into the club.”
His eyes roam over me, making my skin tingle.
“That black dress, those smoky eyes, and that red lipstick-damn it, Ally. You’re stealing every ounce of my control.”
Heat floods through me, and I clench my thighs tightly desperate to stop the aching throb building between them. But I know it’s futile. He’s a werewolf, after all. He can sense my arousal and feel the way I’m coming undone in his presence.
“What?” I whisper, with a shaky voice. I’m caught in his gaze, drowning in those piercing blue eyes that seem to strip me bare. My hormones are betraying me, screaming for me to close the gap between us and give in.
Xavier’s lips curl into a smirk, his hands moving as if he’s about to reach for me, but then he stops.
“I’ve wanted you for so long, Ally,” his voice is like velvet. “And seeing you now… I don’t think I can hold back anymore.”
My breath hitches, and I feel like I’m on the edge. Every nerve in my body screams for him, but there’s a small voice in the back of my mind reminding me of everything I’ve been through.
Do I give in to the temptation that is Xavier, or do I hold on to the control I’ve worked so hard to regain?
He doesn’t wait for me to respond-his lips crash against mine, and for a moment, my mind goes blank. My eyes widen in surprise as I struggle to process the warmth, the sheer electricity of the kiss.
His hand moves to my face, pulling me closer. His lips press deeper into mine, slow and sensual as if he’s trying to tell me all the emotions he’s bottled up over the years.
At first, I froze, unsure of how to react. But then I let myself go, parting my lips as I kissed him back, It’s intoxicating, better than I ever imagined. I lean into the kiss, my hands finding their way to his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath his shirt.
The world around us blurs and fades into the background. The only thing that matters is Xavier. His lips. His touch. Him.
I deepen the kiss, tilting my head to allow him closer, feeling a fire ignite deep inside me. His hands begin to explore, sliding over my back and sides before finding their way to my breast. and before I can stop myself, I moan softly into his mouth.
A part of me knows I should stop this. My rational mind screams at me, telling me that I haven’t seen Xavier in years and that I barely know the man he’s become.
I’m not thinking clearly. I know this. But right now, with Xavier’s lips on mine and his hands igniting a fire I can’t contain, it’s hard to care.
His mouth closes around my nipple through the fabric of my dress, and I lose all sense of restraint. I gasp as my body arches into his touch pleasure courses through me.
“Fucking beautiful,” he murmurs against my skin, his voice is with desire. But then, just as quickly as he started, he pulled away, leaving me breathless and aching for more.
I feel disappointed, but the way he looks at me-his darkened eyes, filled with raw hunger tells me It isn’t over. He wants me, and the intensity in his gaze makes it clear he’s barely holding himself back.
Do I want him to? Yes. The answer is so clear it terrifies me. This is the man I’ve crushed on since I was a teenager, the man who seemed unattainable for so long. And now, he’s here, noticing me, touching me, wanting me.
“Let’s get out of here,” his voice low and commanding. His lips curl into a smirk, but his eyes are dark and heated like he’s ready to tear this dress off the moment we’re alone.
Am I ready for this? My heart races and my body trembles with anticipation. A part of me wants to say yes, to give in to every fantasy I’ve ever had about him. But another part, whispers caution.
But right now it’s hard to choose.