Page 22 of Knotting else Matters

And I tried—gods, I tried—not to stare at her. Not to let my gaze trace the curve of her neck, the delicate slope of her collarbone, the smooth, perfect line of her thighs barely covered by that black satin nightie. But my wolf had other plans. My wolf had been pacing since the moment she opened the door, and now he was watching—hungry, possessive, a primal need burning just beneath my skin.

I took another slow sip of the champagne, but it didn’t cool the heat twisting in my gut. It didn’t stop the flood of images that crashed against my control—her body beneath mine, that nightie sliding off, her bare skin warm and soft against me, her lips parting in a gasp—

Fuck.

I gripped the glass a little too tightly, forcing the rising heat down, dragging my mind away from the edge. Control. Order. I was in control. I always was.

“So… why did you invite me for that drink in the lobby?” I asked, trying to force the conversation back to something safer. Anything to keep from dragging her against me, pressing her against the wall, and—

Her lips curved into a slow, teasing smile, and those sharp green eyes danced with mischief. “Oh, that’s what you think I meant?”

“What?”

She leaned forward, just enough that the faint scent of vanilla wrapped around me, her voice dropping to a low, playful whisper. “Do alpha-holes not know that’s code for sex?”

Something snapped.

One second, I was standing there, trying to keep my composure, and the next, my glass was on the table, and I was on her.

Her back hit the wall with a soft thud, and my mouth crashed against hers, fierce, desperate, a growl rumbling in my chest. Her gasp melted into a hungry, breathless kiss, her hands threading into my hair, pulling me closer, her body pressing against mine, warm, soft, perfect.

My hand found her waist, the silk of her nightie a whisper beneath my palm, and I pulled her closer, the heat of her body searing against me. Her leg slid against mine, bare skin brushing against my thigh, and my wolf roared, the need clawing at me, demanding more.

Her lips parted beneath mine, a soft, breathless moan escaping, and I dragged my mouth down, tasting the warm, delicate skin of her neck, her pulse a rapid flutter beneath my lips.

“Adrian,” she breathed, her voice a heady mix of surprise and desire, her fingers tightening in my hair.

“You’re trouble,” I growled against her skin, my teeth grazing the curve of her shoulder. “You’re a fucking storm.”

Her lips curved into a wicked, breathless smirk. “That explains why I’m so wet.”

The words slammed into me, a hot, electric shock that shot straight to my core. My wolf roared, my pulse a relentless, pounding rhythm beneath my skin.

“You’re crazy,” I muttered, but even as I said it, my hand was already moving, sliding beneath the hem of her nightie, fingertips tracing the smooth, warm skin of her thigh, climbing higher—

And then I felt it. Heat. Soft, wet warmth against my touch. Not just teasing. Not just words. Fuck, she was soaked.

Her breath caught, her lips parting as I traced slow, torturous circles against her, my fingers slick with her arousal.

“See?” Her voice was a breathless whisper, her head falling back against the wall, those wild green eyes half-lidded with need. “So maybe you should loosen up for one night. Can you do that, Alpha?”

I bit her lip, a low, rough growl rumbling in my chest. “Only if you can be submissive in return.”

Her laughter was a husky, shameless sound, her nails raking against my scalp, sending a rush of heat down my spine. “Then we have a deal. A one night only deal.”

“Right,” I murmured, my voice a low, dangerous whisper. “One night.”

And then I moved faster. My fingers pressed against her, slipping through the slick, heated warmth, finding that sensitive spot that made her gasp, her body arching against me. Her hips rocked against my touch, desperate, instinctive, her breath coming in sharp, ragged pants.

Her nails dug into my shoulders, her head tipping back, exposing the long, elegant curve of her throat, and I couldn’t resist. My mouth crashed against her skin, kissing, biting, tasting the soft, trembling pulse beneath her jaw.

“Adrian,” she whimpered, her voice a heady mix of surprise and desperation, her thighs squeezing around my hand.

“Shh,” I whispered, my voice a low, commanding growl. “Be good. Remember our deal.”

Her laugh was a breathless, broken sound, but she nodded, her lips finding mine, fierce and hungry. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Good girl,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them, a possessive heat curling in my chest.

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