CHAPTER 1

WILLOW

My body felt heavy and limp as I lay sprawled across the mattress, the stillness of the room pressing down on me. Darkness cloaked everything, leaving me both uneasy and intrigued by my unfamiliar surroundings.

Where am I? The room was unfamiliar,

I’m in a room, veiled in velvet and drenched in amber light. It’s unfamiliar, yet it stirs a sense of déjà vu as if I’ve been here before.

My eyes drifted to the moon, its pale glow casting an eerie light, and I frowned, almost irritated by its mocking brilliance. Suddenly, the silence shattered.

Then I feel him—a magnetic presence that pulls me in, impossible to resist.

His face is hidden in the darkness, but the rest of him is vividly clear, almost as if he’s made of light.

He’s tall and broad-shouldered, his bare chest toned and sculpted in a way that radiates strength.

My gaze follows the lean muscles of his torso, down to the way his powerful arms flex as he approaches, the dark hair brushing his shoulders adding a wild, untamed edge.

I can’t look away.

"Damn, you’re sexy," a deep, masculine voice rumbled, cutting through the quiet like a blade.

I froze, my breath catching as I caught the faint rhythm of someone else's breathing nearby. Strangely, fear didn’t take hold—instead, curiosity swelled within me, pulling me deeper into the mystery of the moment.

My breath catches as he reaches for me, his fingers grazing lightly over my collarbone.

They’re rough, slightly calloused, and the touch sends a shiver through me like he’s drawing something out from deep within. His warmth seeps into me, awakening something that feels ancient, primal, and utterly unfamiliar.

I felt myself growing weaker under the presence of this enigmatic stranger, allowing his touch despite not knowing who he was. My breath hitched as I closed my eyes, torn between resisting and surrendering to the electric sensations stirring deep within me.

A rush of heat coursed through my body, igniting a desire I couldn’t suppress, no matter how hard I tried.

"Tell me, beautiful," his deep voice rumbled, low and teasing, "are you wet for me?"

I remained silent, my mind spinning, unsure of how to respond. The weight of his question lingered in the air, heightening the tension between us.

I take a slow, shaky breath, inhaling his scent—a mix of leather and earth—and it’s dizzying, making my head swim.

He leans closer, his face just inches from mine. I can’t see his eyes, but I feel his gaze on me, searing like he’s memorizing every reaction, every hitch in my breath.

His lips brush against the sensitive skin below my ear, his breath hot as he traces a slow, deliberate path down to my neck. I close my eyes, surrendering to the sensation.

His hand slips to the curve of my waist, pulling me closer, and the strength of his grip makes me feel both vulnerable and safe, a confusing mix of emotions I can’t ignore.

His other arm wraps around my back, pressing me flush against his chest. The heat from his skin burns through the thin fabric separating us, making me feel bare, exposed, and wanting more.

I find my hands moving almost without my permission, gliding over the hard lines of his chest, feeling the solidity of him under my fingers. I can’t stop myself; I want to pull him closer, to sink into him. A quiet need grows inside me, desperate, aching.

I feel his breath against my neck again as his lips trail down, sending shivers through me.

“Willow,” he whispers, his voice deep and rough, laced with something raw and possessive.

The sound of my name on his lips sends a tremor through me, making my pulse race and my skin tingle with anticipation.

I lean into him, tilting my head back as he continues, his mouth brushing against my collarbone with a mix of tenderness and hunger that makes me feel like I’m his, claimed in some way I can’t understand.

I move my hands down his chest, tracing every warm, solid line. I pause at his waistband, feeling a boldness rise in me that I barely recognize. I tug him closer, the words leaving my mouth before I can think.

“Kiss me,” I whisper, my voice shaky and filled with need.

He growls a low, primal sound that echoes through me, and in an instant, his mouth is on mine.

The moment his lips meet mine, everything around us fades into a blur. His lips, soft and sweet, catch me off guard, contrasting with his commanding presence. He brushes against me tenderly, and without thinking, my lips part, craving more.

A groan escapes me before I can contain it.

His hands weave through my hair, gripping it tightly. He tastes me, gently spreading my lips with his, and plunges his tongue inside.

I respond without hesitation, my body overtaking my thoughts, pushing them aside as a wave of arousal washes over me. His touch intensifies; his mouth grows more demanding as he guides me backwards, my heels slipping over the tile until the edge of the bed presses against me. With a firm grip on my ass, he lifts me effortlessly and sets me down on the cool surface.

“So fucking beautiful,” he murmurs against my lips.

“Lay down,” he commands, his voice low as he takes one last teasing sweep of my lips before pulling away, stepping back to watch me.

I inch back onto the king-sized bed, my eyes glued to him as he slowly starts to unbutton his shirt, his breath coming thick and heavy.

His piercing blue gaze never wavers from mine as he moves closer, stopping just a tantalizing step away.

Each flick of his fingers reveals more of his chest, inch by inch until I’m practically aching with anticipation.

When the shirt slips from his shoulders, I drink in the sight of him—strong, perfectly sculpted, with every muscle defined and begging to be touched.

My eyes trace the crowned wolf tattoo on his shoulder, adding an untamed edge that sends a thrill down my spine.

Then, I hear the unmistakable sound of a zipper, and my eyes drop once more.

He is breathtaking, his body perfectly sculpted, framing a package that makes my mouth water. I swallow hard as he strides over and stands before me, studying me with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine.

He reaches out, gently pressing me back until I lie flat against the bed. His hands glide down my legs, and I feel a rush of anticipation.

Then, I feel the gentle scrape of his teeth against my nipples, first one, then the other. He takes one into his mouth, sucking it in, his tongue dancing over my sensitive skin while his teeth graze gently. My hand instinctively reaches up to grip his hair, pulling him closer as I guide his mouth harder against my breasts, the sensation overwhelming and too delicious to resist.

My legs wrap around his waist instinctively, holding him to me as his mouth swallows mine, each movement making me feel like he’s breathing life into me like I’m the air he needs.

His hand slides up under my shirt, his fingers splaying across my warm skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. With a slow, careful roll of his hips, he presses himself against me, igniting a fierce, pulsing heat that spreads through my entire body.

His lips move from mine to my jaw, then lower to my neck, where he breathes, “You make me so hot.” The words are rough,  making my heart pound faster.

Suddenly, I could feel his dick jerk to attention beneath my undulating hips, and he places his hands on either side of my head as he began to groan loudly.

His hands slide to my waist, his hard length pressing heavily against my thighs. My legs instinctively part, inviting him to settle between them. His lips find my throat, soft kisses blending with playful bites, his tongue tracing the sensitive hollows of my neck, igniting every nerve.

"I'm a virgin," I manage to whisper, my voice barely audible.

He freezes, his gaze locking onto mine, a flicker of something dark and possessive flashing in his eyes, almost as though he’s savouring my words. His breathing deepens, and he lets the statement settle between us, his lips curling into the hint of a smile as his fingers trace a slow, reverent line down my cheek, his touch light but intense. For a moment, he just holds me in his gaze, as if seeing me for the first time, the tension between us thickening with each passing second.

Then, as if breaking free from his restraint, he presses his hips forward, his breath hitching as he shifts his weight between my legs. His hand moves down, guiding himself upward, the solid, thick length of him gliding between us, pressing firmly against me, sending a rush of heat through my body. He grinds slowly and purposefully, and the weight of him rests hot and heavy against my centre, his movement creating exquisite friction that makes my breath catch.

Every movement is deliberate, almost teasing, his hardness pressing and sliding, each grind making me hyper-aware of the ache building inside me. His eyes remain fixed on mine, watching my reaction intently as he moves, the heat between us rising with every inch he shifts, every shiver his touch draws from me. The tension builds unbearably, the friction sending waves of anticipation through me, my body arching instinctively to meet his rhythm, craving more with each pulse, each heavy press of him against my skin.

Each thrust brings a delicious friction, heightening my arousal. He lifts his mouth from my neck, pausing above my lips, then kisses me with a slow, deep intensity as he glides himself over me, the heat of him driving me wild. I gasp into his kiss, the ache between my legs building, every teasing thrust hinting at what I crave, until I’m on edge, hoping he’ll take me fully and end the ache that’s consuming me.

His hands move to my thighs, caressing me with a mix of tenderness and intensity, teasing me in ways that make me gasp and make my breath hitch. I can feel his body responding to mine, and every movement feels like he’s marking me, imprinting me with each touch.

“Mine,”

.......

I shot up from the bed, my breath ragged and heavy.

My eyes fly open, and I find myself alone, tangled in my sheets, my heart pounding. I’m flushed, my skin damp with sweat, my breath coming in short gasps. I sat up slowly, my hand pressed to my chest as I tried to calm my racing heart. But I can still feel him—the heat of his touch, the way his voice filled my ears, the way he made me feel claimed, cherished.