Page 16 of Falling for My Shifter Guardian

His hands clench into fists, his whole body taut with tension. The air between us feels charged, like lightning about to strike.

“You don’t need to know everything right now,” he says, his tone firm. “Just trust me, Olivia.”

I shake my head, tears stinging my eyes. “You keep saying that, but how can I trust you when you won’t let me in? You’re always pushing me away, Derek, and I don’t understand why.”

The space between us shrinks as he steps closer, his presence overwhelming. I can feel the heat radiating off him, the intensity in his gaze pinning me in place.

“Olivia,” he says, his voice rough and low, like it’s barely keeping something primal at bay.

When he doesn’t say anything else, just stands there, staring at me like he’s fighting a battle I can’t see, I let out an exasperated huff. “You know what? Forget it,” I say, throwing my hands up. I turn sharply, intending to walk away, but before I can take two steps, his hand shoots out, firm and unyielding, wrapping gently around my wrist.

“Don’t,” he says, his voice a low growl that stops me in my tracks.

There’s a tension in the air that feels dangerous, electric. I glance back over my shoulder, and the look in his eyes is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s raw, unrestrained, as if something he’s kept buried for too long is clawing its way to the surface.

Before I can say a word, he pulls me toward him, his hold on me firm but careful, like he’s afraid I’ll break. His nose brushes just below my ear as he inhales deeply, and the low, guttural growl that escapes him sends a shiver down my spine. It’s not the sound of a man—it’s something primal, something wild.

“Derek,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “What are you—”

He doesn’t let me finish. Instead, he grabs my hand again, his grip still gentle but leaving no room for argument, and starts walking. I don’t even realize where we’re going until we stop in front of the elevator. My heart is racing, and I’m not sure if it’s from anger, confusion, or the way his touch makes my skin burn.

When the elevator doors close behind us, he releases my hand only to press the stop button, halting us between floors. The sudden stillness is deafening, the hum of the elevator the only sound besides my pounding heartbeat.

“What are you doing?” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the tension thickening the air around us. I take a step back, but there’s nowhere to go. The small space amplifies everything—his presence, his scent, the heat radiating off him.

Derek turns to face me fully, his steel-gray eyes burning with an intensity that makes it hard to breathe. For a moment, he just looks at me, his jaw clenching and unclenching like he’s trying to hold something back.

“Making sure you understand,” he says finally, his voice low and dangerous, each word dripping with restrained emotion.

“Understand what?” I manage to say, though my voice shakes. I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, and one wrong step will send me plummeting.

He steps closer, and I instinctively press my back against the elevator wall. There’s nowhere to run, no escape from the electricity crackling between us. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin, and I can feel the calluses on his palm—rough, like the man himself.

“Understand this,” he murmurs, his voice a rough whisper.

And then his lips crash into mine.

It’s not gentle or tentative—it’s fire and desperation, a collision of everything we’ve both been holding back. His hand slides to the back of my neck, holding me in place as his lips move against mine with a hunger that leaves me breathless. The other hand rests on my hip, his grip possessive, as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go.

I don’t know how to process what’s happening—all I know is that it feels like everything in me has been waiting for this moment. My hands find his chest, the heat of him searing through his shirt, and I clutch at the fabric like it’s the only thing keeping me tethered to reality.

The kiss deepens, and I feel like I’m drowning in him—in his heat, his strength, the way he consumes every inch of my being. It’s overwhelming, and yet I don’t want it to stop.

His lips leave mine, trailing a path of fiery kisses along my jawline, down the sensitive skin of my neck. I gasp as his teeth graze my pulse point, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure mixed with a hint of pain straight to my core. His grip on my hip tightens, and a low growl rumbles in his chest—a sound that feels like it's vibrating through every cell in my body.

Derek's hand slides up my side, his fingers deftly finding the hem of my sweater. He pulls it up, breaking our kiss just long enough to tug it over my head. His eyes lock onto mine, a storm of desire raging in their steel-gray depths. I'm half-naked in an elevator with him, and yet, I've never felt more powerful—or more wanted.

His lips find mine again, hungry and demanding, as his fingers trace the lace edge of my bra. He doesn't hesitate, pulling the cup down to expose my breast. The cool air of the elevator hits my skin, making my nipple harden instantly. He groans in approval, his hand cupping my breast before his mouth descends, capturing my nipple between his lips.

The sensation is overwhelming. His tongue flicks and teases, and when he sucks hard, a moan escapes my lips. My hands tangle in his hair, holding him to me, as if he might stop. I can feel the vibration of his growl against my skin, a primal sound that sends shivers down my spine.

He releases my nipple with a wet pop, his eyes dark with need as he looks up at me. "Do you understand now?" he murmurs, his voice raw with desire.

I nod, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. "Yes," I whisper, though I'm not entirely sure what I'm agreeing to. All I know is that I want more—more of his touch, more of his kiss, more of him.

As if reading my mind, Derek takes my hand and guides it down his chest, over the hard planes of his stomach, until it rests on the bulge in his pants. His erection strains against the fabric, huge and hot beneath my palm. I can't help but squeeze, eliciting a groan from deep within his chest.

"This is what you do to me," he growls, his voice barely human.

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