Page 35 of Moon's Call

He stood with her still intimately wrapped around him, her legs instinctively tightening around his waist. But as he turned to lay her down on the bed, his member slipped out of her, and she let out a small, breathless laugh. He grinned, lowering her gently onto the bed before crawling over her.

“Let’s try this again,” he breathed. His wolf was practically pacing inside him, impatient, demanding.

He aligned himself with her entrance and pushed in slowly, savoring the way her body welcomed him. She gasped, and her hands flew to his shoulders, her nails digging in slightly.

“Draken,” she gasped, her voice trembling.

He smirked, his hands gripping her waist as he began to move. The pace was primal this time, aggressive. His wolf clawed at the surface, urging him to claim her, mark her, and make her his in every way possible. Her moans filled the room, her back arching as she tried to match his rhythm.

“That’s my Luna,” he breathed, thrusting deeper, harder. “Let go for me.”

Her body obeyed instantly, her climax hitting her like a tidal wave. The room trembled slightly, a soft rumble that had him grinning even wider. But he wasn’t done yet. His own release was building, his control slipping.

He leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. “Can I mark you?” he asked, his voice low, almost a growl. “Make you mine officially?”

She froze beneath him, her breathing still ragged. The pause was enough to make his chest tighten, his wolf snarling in frustration.

“Did Marybeth explain what that means?” he pressed, his voice softer now, but still laced with urgency.

“Yeah,” she whispered, her voice small. “She... kind of did. But I don’t—I don’t think I’m ready for that.”

Draken tensed, his movements stopping abruptly. His wolf howled in protest, but he forced it down, pulling away from her and sitting up. The rejection stung more than he cared to admit.

“You can go back to your room now,” he said, his voice clipped. He couldn’t look at her, not right now. His wolf was agitated, and he needed space to calm it down before he said something he’d regret.

SIXTEEN

LORELEI

The sudden loss of Draken’s warmth left Lorelei cold and bereft. Her skin still tingled where his hands had been moments before. The abrupt shift from passionate lovemaking to dismissal hit her like a physical blow to the chest. She pulled his silk sheet around her bare body, the fabric a poor substitute for his touch.

Her throat constricted. The dismissal hurt more than she’d expected. But as she watched his broad shoulders tense, noticed how he wouldn’t even look at her, that hurt crystallized into something harder. The crystal vase on his bedside table rattled - her powers responding to her emotions. She gripped the sheet tighter, forcing herself to breathe deeply and maintain control.

“No,” she said as she sat up and stayed firmly planted on his massive four-poster bed. The carved wooden posts cast long shadows in the dim light of his master suite.

The single word seemed to vibrate through the room. A low growl rumbled from Draken’s chest, and she could see the way his muscles coiled beneath his skin. The wolf was there, just beneath the surface, its presence making the air thick with tension. But she refused to back down.

“A relationship isn’t just about following orders,” she said, keeping her voice steady and lifting her chin. “It’s about communication. Both ways.”

He turned then, his eyes flickering with that otherworldly amber glow that meant his wolf was close. “What more is there to say? You’ve made yourself quite clear - you don’t want to be my mate because you don’t want my mark.”

Lorelei’s fingers clenched in the silk, her mind racing with all the things she wanted to say, but the words stuck in her throat momentarily as she met his intense gaze. His accusation made her chest ache. The hurt in his eyes made it worse. Her powers stirred again, making the heavy drapes flutter despite the closed windows.

Draken stood in one fluid motion, his muscles rippling as he strode across the room. He yanked on his black athletic pants, the fabric settling low on his hips, leaving his sculpted chest bare. The moonlight streaming through the window highlighted every defined muscle, reminding her of just how powerful he was.

Lorelei adjusted the silk sheet around her body, sitting up straighter against the ornate headboard. Her heart thundered in her chest, but she refused to let his imposing presence intimidate her. “That’s not what I said or what I was implying when I told you I didn’t want to be marked.” She took a steadying breath. “This is exactly why we need to talk about this.”

When he remained silent, his jaw clenched and shoulders rigid, she seized the opportunity to explain herself. “I didn’t mean I never wanted to be marked.” The crystal water glass on the nightstand vibrated slightly with her rising emotions. She forced herself to remain calm, remembering her practice sessions with controlling her powers. “I’m just not ready right now. How can I be? I barely understand what being marked would mean for my life.”

She watched his back muscles tense further, but he didn’t turn around. The moonlight cast his shadow across the plush carpet, making him seem even larger and more imposing. She clutched the sheet even tighter, wishing she had more than silk between them for this conversation.

“I’m an architect, Draken. I plan things. I analyze. I need to understand the structural integrity before I build.” She paused, wondering if he’d appreciate the metaphor. “I need to think through all the implications before I make a choice this big.”

Draken finally turned to face her, the moonlight playing across the defined muscles of his chest. His eyes held such raw vulnerability that Lorelei’s breath caught in her throat. The sheet wrapped around her suddenly felt inadequate protection against the intensity of his gaze.

“This feels like rejection,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m in love with you, Lorelei. But it seems like you don’t feel the same way.” He raked his hand through his hair, mussing the short brown strands. “What more am I supposed to do to convince you?”

The hurt in his voice broke her heart. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, but she needed him to understand first. Her fingers traced the intricate pattern woven into his silk sheets as she gathered her thoughts.

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