Page 20 of Protected By Artemis

“Okay, of course,” she said, stepping closer to him.

He took a deep breath, his wolf instinctively recognizing the intimacy of what he was about to do. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles gently, then trailed his nose up her arm. He nuzzled her neck, his wolf instincts driving him closer, breathing in her scent and letting his own mingle with it.

Artemis’s scent was an intoxicating blend that lingered in the air, a mix of amaranth and cypress. The amaranth added a subtle sweetness, reminiscent of a wild meadow in full bloom, delicate yet enduring. The cypress brought a grounding, woody note, evoking the ancient forests, timeless and strong. Together, they created a refreshing and mysterious fragrance, perfectly embodying her essence—a combination of ethereal grace and unyielding strength.

He gave in to the moment, followed the plunging neckline of exposed skin, and knelt. He took another breath, pressed his forehead on her stomach, and ran his hands up her legs, feeling the smoothness of her skin.

He felt her thread her fingers through his hair, and he leaned into her touch, the sensation both grounding and electrifying. When he looked up at her, he saw her eyes clouded with lust, a reflection of his desire.

Holding her gaze, he took her hand from his hair and kissed her palm, then trailed his lips up her arm as he stood. The tension between them was palpable, charged with an intensity neither could deny. He nuzzled his face against her neck while Artemis stood still, and he could feel the warmth of her skin against his cheek.

“I think we can practice again,” she said, her voice husky as she looked at him. “Just in case we need to put on a show.”

“Yeah, good idea.”

Their lips met in a heated kiss, melding desire and need. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer as they lost themselves in each other. The mission, the alphas, and the impending investigation were all forgotten for a few precious moments.

It was overwhelming, the intensity of the moment threatening to consume him. Yet, it felt right. There was a primal connection between them, one that was getting harder to ignore. She stood there, her soft curves pressed against him, her lips moving perfectly with his. She seemed to enjoy it, but he couldn’t be entirely sure.

He pulled back slightly, searching her eyes for any sign of hesitation or discomfort.

She smiled at him, her eyes filled with amusement. “Do you think they’ll be able to smell you on me now?” she teased.

“Yeah, you definitely smell like me now,” he murmured, trying to keep his voice steady.

“Great. Let’s go make an impression,” she replied, holding his hand, and walking out of the room.

Together, they left the villa, stepping into the warm evening air. He tried to clear his head, but the way she had felt in his arms, the way her scent mixed with his—it stayed with him, haunting him in the best way possible. Even now, his skin still tingled from the memory of that kiss. There was an undeniable chemistry between them, and he couldn’t remember the last time he had felt such a strong connection with someone. He shook his head, trying to get his head in the game.

She looked at him as they approached the veranda set up for the welcome drinks and gave him a reassuring nod. “Ready?” she asked, her eyes steady and focused.

“Ready.”

He looked at the party unfolding in front of them. The bar was beside the beach, where the gentle waves provided a soothing backdrop. He saw a handful of alphas he was acquainted with, and they quickly approached them and exchanged greetings and introductions. He stood close to the alphas, discreetly scanning their phones while Artemis engaged them in small talk.

Once they had made their rounds, they headed to the bar for drinks. While waiting, he checked the app to make sure it was working. Since it was made with divine magic, it was supercharged and could scan for keywords quickly. But they would still have to double-check the data.

“I haven’t sensed anything with the alphas we’ve spoken to,” she said, leaning close to him.

“Yeah, it makes sense to me that they wouldn’t be involved,” he said. The alphas were from California, and he had little to no business with them.

He leaned against the counter while Artemis took a sip of her drink, scanning the crowd with an alert gaze. She turned to him, then added with a wry smile, “But some of the men weren’t shy about checking me out.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, if I hadn’t scented you, they’d be figuring out ways to hit on you.”

She smirked. “Well, if it keeps those guys away, I wouldn’t mind being scented again.”

He laughed with her, but he thought to himself that he wouldn’t mind either. “Well, we’ll see if it comes to that,” he said, sipping his drink. “Should I be more handsy so these fools will stop staring at you?”

“Yes, I’d like that,” she said, stepping closer to him.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered into her ear. “Happy to be of service.”

She turned toward him, her eyes soft but intense. He leaned down, closing the small space between them, and kissed her lightly. It was a tentative, almost teasing kiss at first, as though testing the waters, but neither of them pulled away. The kiss lingered, their lips brushing together just long enough for his heart to race.

When they finally broke apart, they stayed close, their foreheads nearly touching. She was smiling, a glint of something mischievous in her eyes, but there was also warmth, something unspoken between them. Artemis nudged him lightly with her elbow. “Let’s get back to work. We’ve got more alphas to charm and scan.”

“Right behind you,” he said, placing a hand on her back.

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