Page 63 of Silent Noise

CHAPTER 42

LILY

A slither of light shining in through an opening in the curtains woke me. At first, I’d been confused, frightened even, but when I heard birds chirping somewhere close by and felt Raiden’s breath in my neck, I relaxed.

His body was pressed against mine, a large, calloused hand draped over me, with the warmth of it seeping through my shirt. Tingles danced wherever he touched, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sensation.

I slowly turned to study Raiden’s sleeping form, his face. His dark messy hair was pressed flat against the pillow at an odd angle and his lips were slightly parted. He was truly handsome, even when he slept. Gently, I brushed my thumb over his thick brow, watching as he began to stir. It was like he had a spell on me, and I couldn't stop staring. I wanted to look a little longer, try to memorise every inch of his face so I would be able to see him even in my dreams.

“I can feel your eyes boring into me,” his deep, husky voice murmured. He opened one eye and sent me a gorgeously lopsided smirk. A single dimple popping out.

Not knowing what to say, I smiled back and shook my head, heat creeping over my neck and cheeks. Insufferable flirt. Without warning, he pulled me up and over him, my legs landing on either side of his body, straddling him. I yelped in surprise.

“Sleep well, my Lily-Flower?” he asked, beaming up at me. His fingers dug into my hips, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me that he had me exactly where he wanted.

“Like a baby,” I answered and leaned in to give him a quick peck on the lips. My cheeks were on fire, molten lava gathering in my lower belly as I felt him beneath me.

I began pulling away, straightening to get off, but he stopped me with a frown and pulled me back down for a longer, more satisfying kiss.

“Looks like we might as well move in together,” he murmured against my mouth.

Straightening, I cocked a disbelieving brow and scrambled off. “I would have done that already if you didn’t have a girlfriend,” I said, aiming for the bathroom.

He snorted behind me. “She was never my girlfriend.”

Throwing the covers off, he moved to sit on the edge of the bed, rubbing the back of his neck. His hair was ridiculous, falling over to one side, standing up in a haggard mess. I leaned against the bathroom door, staring at him, wondering what he was thinking. When he looked up and saw me, I smiled. He smiled back.

“Mind if I take a shower?” I asked, tilting my head slightly.

“Go ahead, I’ll go and get dressed and then we could go down for breakfast with the pack.” He eyed me wearily, “that’s if you are up for it?”

“Sounds great.”

Ray flashed me a genuine smile and finished it off with a wink. Then, he fell back onto the bed, and I turned, closing the bathroom door behind me with a silly grin. Yes. He definitely had some sort of spell on me.

A knock on the door drew my attention as I stepped out of the shower with water still trailing down my spine and dripping from my hair.

“Just a second!” I called out, quickly wrapping a fluffy white towel around myself and tucking its end under my arm.

Securing the towel to make sure all the essentials were covered, I hurried over to the door and opened it just enough to peer through. Raiden stood on the other side, smiling and holding out a pile of neatly folded linen in his arms. He gave me a wink, instantly bringing a smile to my face, and a swarm of angry butterflies barrelling into my stomach. They fluttered and fussed around, stirring wild emotions within me and I opened the door fully, granting Ray access and gratefully accepting his offer.

“Thank you very much,” I tried to use the sweetest tone I could possibly muster and playfully batted my eyelashes at him. I saw him rake his eyes over me as he stepped inside, his beautiful grey orbs lingering on my towel attire.

RAIDEN

Lily wore nothing but a towel and my wolf wasted no time bombarding my mind with images of us ripping it off her and taking what was rightfully ours. I blinked. Her flawless, smooth skin was covered with tiny glistening drops of water still clinging to her. I felt parched, aching for a taste of the liquid goodness sticking to her perfect curves. Steam still rose from her body as she moved closer and took the linen from my outstretched arms. My mind had left me. I stood there, staring, I think. My legs didn't want to move. My feet disobeyed me, and I found myself standing there like a fool.

Wet, matted blonde hair was sticking to her in golden strands, one of which had gone rogue and was now clinging to her jawline, making my eyes travel from her neck, down to her jaw, ending on those beautiful full lips of hers. I couldn't seem to look away. This woman would be the end of me; I was damn well sure of it.

Turning, she placed the pile of linen on the counter and started combing through her wet hair. I followed her into the room, mesmerised by her movements, trying to act normal by leaning against the doorframe and tucking my hands into my pockets.

“So, breakfast with the gang, huh?” she asked, tilting her head towards me. I smirked and cleared my throat. My mind started working again.

“Uh-yeah, they’re all dying to see you. Sala has been bugging Gunnar about it ever since he accidentally let it slip that you arrived.”

She gazed at my reflection in the mirror while listening and pulling the comb through her wet hair.

“Sala's here?”

---