Page 72 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

He nodded, running a hand through his hair. "Right, of course. You take the bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

But as he turned to go, Wren caught his hand. "Art," she said softly. "Stay. Please."

His heart skipped a beat at her words. "Are you sure?"

She nodded, her eyes meeting his. "I am."

Chapter 23 - Wren

Wren felt a wave of relief wash over her as Articus slipped into bed beside her. The events of the past few days had been a blur of fear and uncertainty, but now, in the safety of his arms, she finally felt like she could breathe again.

She scooted closer to him, resting her head on his chest. The familiar scent of him enveloped her—pine, earth, and something uniquely Articus. It was comforting, grounding. This was where she belonged.

"I thought I'd lost you," Articus murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His arms tightened around her as if afraid she might disappear if he let go.

Wren tilted her head up to look at him, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "I thought I'd lost you too," she admitted. "When I heard you talking about marking me and breaking the bond... I thought you wanted to get rid of me."

Articus' eyes widened in surprise, then filled with remorse. "Oh, Wren," he breathed. "That's not what I meant at all. I thought... I thought you felt trapped with me because of the slave brand. I wanted to give you the choice to stay or go."

Wren felt a lump form in her throat—all this time, all this pain, because of a simple misunderstanding. "I don't want to go anywhere," she whispered fiercely. "I love you, Articus. You and our baby... you're my family now."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Articus' hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb gently wiping away a tear she hadn't realized had fallen.

"I love you too, Wren," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "More than I ever thought possible. I'm so sorry for everything you've been through because of me."

Wren shook her head, placing her hand over his. "We both made mistakes," she said softly. "But we're here now. Together. That's what matters."

All I want.

Articus leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that was both tender and passionate. Wren melted into it, all the fear and uncertainty of the past few days fading away in the warmth of his embrace.

As the kiss deepened, Wren felt a familiar heat building within her. Her body responded to Articus' touch as it always had, but there was something different this time: a deeper connection, a sense of coming home.

"Are you sure?" Articus murmured against her lips, ever the gentleman, even in moments like these. "You've been through so much..."

Wren answered by pulling him closer, her hands slipping under his shirt to feel the warm skin beneath. "I'm sure," she breathed. "I need you, Articus. I need to feel close to you."

That was all the encouragement Articus needed. With gentle hands, he helped her out of her clothes, his touch reverent as it skimmed over her body. Wren returned the favor, her fingers tracing the familiar planes of his muscled chest and abdomen.

Articus's lips trailed kisses down Wren's body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. His hands caressed her skin, igniting sparks of pleasure wherever they touched. When he reached theapex of her thighs, he paused, his warm breath sending shivers through her.

With a raging hunger in his eyes, Articus buried his face between her legs, his tongue expertly tracing circles around her throbbing clit. Wren's back arched off the bed as she gasped in pleasure, her fingers tangling in his hair, urging him closer.

"Oh yes, just like that," she moaned, her voice husky with need.

Articus's fingers slipped inside her, curling and stroking in all the right places, driving her to the brink of ecstasy. The wet sounds of their intimacy filled the room, a symphony of desire that echoed in her core.

Low feral growls rolled out of him as he breathed deep on her sweet musk. There was a greedy glint in his eyes as he firmly but gently lifted and spread Wren’s thigh to the side.

The sensation of his mouth on her, the flick of his tongue, and the press of his lips sent her spiraling toward an intense climax. Wren's cries of pleasure mingled with his growls of satisfaction, and the room filled with the heady scent of arousal.

As she came down from the high, Wren pulled Articus to her, needing the weight of him on top of her, the connection between them electric and undeniable. Their eyes locked, a silent promise of unbridled passion passing between them.

Articus’ cock glistened with her wetness as he teased her before plunging deep inside her. Wren's moans of pleasure filled the room as he filled her completely, stretching her with a delicious ache that bordered on pain.

The rhythm of their lovemaking was a flowing dance of desire; each thrust a symphony of need that resonated throughtheir bodies. Wren gasped, her nails digging into his back as she met his every movement with equal fervor.

The room was filled with the sounds of their passion—the wet slap of skin on skin, the rhythmic pounding of their bodies, and their shared cries of ecstasy that reverberated off the walls.

---