Page 28 of Condemned to Love

This encounter has forced me to confront emotions I’ve been trying to bury, emotions that are now bubbling to the surface, demanding to be acknowledged.

And I don't know what to do with them.

14

ELOWEN

Ican't stop thinking about what happened with Aldric. My body still tingles from his touch, the memory of his lips making me ache for him. The way he pinned me against that wall, his strength overwhelming yet exhilarating... I've never felt anything like it.

But what does it mean? We were sparring one minute, and the next... Gods, I can still taste him. I never knew it could feel like that.

It was supposed to get him out of my system… But now I am dying for another taste. It's like I'm an addict, ready to go back and beg for more.

Fuck. I wanted to get rid of the attraction. Not make it worse.

But I can't deny the attraction I feel. It's been building for weeks, simmering beneath the surface of our tense training sessions. I just never expected it to explode like this.

And I can't help but wonder if Aldric feels the same. Was this a one time thing for him? Or is he itching to drag me beneath him, to bury himself deep in me until I can't claw him out.

It shouldn't turn me on. But fuck, it does.

And what's worse is I want him to take more. To make my body bend to his. I want to be stretched around him, to be sore for days…

I want his bite.

I've heard the other women talk. The vrakken bite can be euphoric — if they so choose — heightening every pleasure until you are floating in it. It's supposed to be intense, and gods help me, I want that.

I want to know that Aldric's venom is filling my veins just like his cock is filling my tight pussy. I want to know that he's drunk on my blood the way I am drunk on his godsdamned body.

But we're in the middle of preparing for war. Is this really the time to be exploring... whatever this is between us? And what about the others? How would they react if they knew?

I pace my small room, unable to settle. I skipped training this morning, which I never have before. Not that Aldric came to seek me out.

But I know his scent is clinging to me. And I wouldn't be able to look at him without every vrakken there smelling the desire on me.

I can't keep this bottled up anymore. My heart's racing as I approach Selene's quarters, my palms sweaty. I need to talk to someone about what happened with Aldric, and she's the only one I trust completely.

I knock softly, and Selene opens the door, her amber eyes warm and welcoming. "Elowen? What's wrong?"

"I... Can we talk?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

She ushers me inside, concern etched on her face. We sit on her bed, and I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words.

"It's about Aldric," I start, my cheeks flushing. "We... something happened between us."

Selene's eyebrows raise, but she doesn't interrupt. I spill everything - the intense sparring session, the kiss, the passionate encounter that followed.

"I don't know what to do, Selene. It was incredible, but now I'm so confused. I guess I thought I would just get him out of my system…"

Selene takes my hand, her touch comforting. "And now it feels like more."

I nod. "I'm not looking for more. Not now. Not during…" I wave my hand in the air as I trial off. She knows what I mean.

"I get it," she says softly. "There was attraction there and you acted on it. It's war, and no one is wanting to take a mate then. It's dangerous." The word mate sent a jolt through my system, but I said nothing.

"You want my advice?"

I nod, even though we both know she'd give it either way.

---