I try to push him away, but my resolve crumbles under the intensity of his kiss. His hand grips the back of my neck, holding me in place as his lips devour mine. There’s nothing gentle about this—nothing soft or sweet. It’s raw and primal, and it leaves me breathless.
When we finally break apart, both of us are panting, our foreheads pressed together. Irix’s eyes are dark with desire, his lips curling into a grin.
“Now that’s more like it.”
His words send a shiver down my spine, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through me. This is dangerous—this pull between us—but I can’t deny the way it makes me feel. Alive. Wanted.
Irix pulls back slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. His hand lingers on my waist for a moment longer before he steps away entirely, leaving me leaning against the tree, trying to catch my breath.
There’s a wildness in his eyes that mirrors the chaos inside me. And for the first time since I escaped Eryndor’s grasp, I wonder if maybe—just maybe—I can survive this new world after all.
Because here, with Irix’s touch still burning on my skin and the taste of his kiss lingering on my lips—I feel more alive than I ever have before.
But what does that mean for me? For us?
15
IRIX
Laia's chest heaves, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Her lips, swollen from our kiss, call to me like a siren's song. Every fiber of my being throbs with the need to claim her right here, right now. Yet, something gnaws at the edges of my mind—a hesitation I can’t quite name.
I don’t understand where it’s coming from, and I also don’t want to understand it deeper. What’s the point? She’s ours anyway.
She leans on the tree as if she’s about to collapse. My hand itches to touch her, and as I take a step closer to her, I can’t stop myself anymore.
A low growl escapes my throat as my hands grip her waist, pulling her closer. "Do you want this?" My voice comes out rough, almost feral with desire. "Because if we start, I won’t stop."
She looks up at me, eyes wide and lips parted. Hesitation flickers in her gaze, but beneath it lies something darker—more primal. Her chest rises and falls in a rhythm that matches the wild beating of my heart.
Without waiting for an answer, I crash my lips onto hers again. My hands slide down to grip her thighs, lifting her against the tree with a fluid motion. She gasps, her legs wrapping around my waist instinctively as I press her harder against the trunk.
Her body molds against mine, every inch of her igniting a fire that burns hotter than anything I've ever felt. Each kiss is a battle—tongues clashing, teeth grazing skin—both of us fighting for dominance and surrendering all at once.
Her fingers tangle in my fur, pulling me closer, deeper into the abyss of no return. The smell of treesand earth mixes with the heat radiating from us, creating an intoxicating blend that drowns out everything else.
Then, her mouth brushes against my horn, and I shiver in ecstasy.
Laia's nails dig into my shoulders as she clings to me, her breathless moans mingling with the rustling leaves around us. I can feel her heart pounding against my chest, mirroring the wild beat of my own.
Every touch, every brush of skin sends electric shocks through me, heightening the tension until it feels like we might both combust. And yet, that nagging hesitation still lingers in the back of my mind.
I brush it away. Right now, it doesn’t matter. All that exists is Laia and this unquenchable fire between us.
The world narrows to just the two of us; the heat between us builds until it’s unbearable. It's raw and primal—nothing like the careful touches of before. This is a need, pure and simple.
I grip Laia’s thighs tighter, feeling the shiver that runs through her. Our breaths mingle in the cold air, but inside, it’s an inferno. I can feel every inch of her against me, every rapid beat of her heart, every tremor that courses through her.
I rip her tunic apart without a care to everything else. She gasps as I suck her nipple, grazing it against my teeth. Her fingers grasped my fur, pulling out a few strands as she convulsed in my arms. I flick her left nipple with my tongue, and she whispers my name as if begging for something.
“Irix!” She arches in pleasure. I grab her hair, pulling it backwards as I lick her neck. She’s so soft, so tempting.
“Call my name,” I growl, sucking the area where her shoulder and neck meet. My other hand grips the globes of her ass as she rubs her cunt onto my body. My cock is as hard as brick, and I’m unsure if she can even take all of me.
I’m not a considerate lover. I take what I want, and I might just break her.
"Irix... Irix...” she repeats my name like a mantra, and it’s heavenly to my ears. I bury my face in her chest, breathing heavily. I can’t take it anymore.
I rip her pants and anything underneath them, then two of my fingers slip inside her. Her eyes widen as I thrust them inside her. She’s so wet, it’s practically dripping on my fingers.