Chapter 24: Chapter 24

**Warning: This chapter contains scenes that are sexual in nature, which are suitable for readers 18 years old and above.**

DAHLIA:

“Don’t you dare move an inch away from me, Dahlly…”

It was Tristan’s voice, and it was hoarser than ever, making my heart shiver. Goddess, I didn’t even hear him come into the room since I was so focused on the silhouette!

I almost jumped out when he rested his hand on my shoulder and gently rubbed them. I shuddered even further as one of his palms touched my bare back once more. It was not an uncomfortable feeling, but it was rather exciting; it was as if something was being stirred inside of me…

Tristan moved rather quickly. His other hand came across my waist. He pulled me sideways into an embrace, and I found myself being cradled into his sturdy chest.

“Ahh, Tristan,” I said, trying to regain some sort of reason into myself. “T-There’s something there…”

“Where?”

“There, by the trees…”

“I’m sure there’s nothing…”

“No, there really was something… Or someone. I think it’s a woman.”

He moved closer to the window, still hugging me. He stood there for quite some time. I couldn’t point to him where exactly the shadow was nor can I tell if he was looking at the right direction for he was keeping me tightly half-buried against his chest.

“I don’t see anything… Maybe it was gone…”

“Ah, but why do you think someone would stand there and keep watch?”

“Don’t worry. I placed a lot of knights on patrol. If there really was an intruder, they will handle it.” Tristan tilted my head towards his. “Now, let’s get on with our business, shall we?”

I was about to ask him what kind of business he had meant, but he was too abrupt. His mouth had already collided with mine, making it impossible for me to speak and even breathe for a while.

“You are truly mesmerizing, did you know that,” he said after that extremely passionate kiss.

“You’re only saying that because we’re mates,” I said, blushing hard.

“No… Even if we aren’t mates, I don’t think I could help myself to be enthralled by you,” he whispered back. Suddenly, he bit the upper part of my ear in a playful manner. I gasped, feeling surprised and ticklish.

He didn’t say anything as he gazed at my reddened face. How can I blush so easily just with that action?

“Dahlly, be mine tonight… Be mine forever,” he said again after which he stuck out his tongue and licked around my earlobe.

It was more ticklish than before. I involuntarily flinched as he continued with this playful gesture. Tristan folded his arms around my chest, preventing me to shrink farther away from him.

“Where are you going, hmm, little wolf? Why are you trying to run away from me again?”

I laughed nervously. “It tickles a lot…” Before I had even finished my sentence, Tristan’s mouth had moved from my ears into my neck, kissing me lightly.

I closed my eyes. I can feel his warm scent enveloping my body, drowning my senses. He smelled like the very essence of summer, my favorite season. I wondered what could have happened had I refused his proposal earlier. Surely, I wouldn’t be in this kind of heaven…

Perhaps sensing my thoughts exactly, Tristan’s kisses started to become deeper. He planted his lips at the left side of my neck, almost near my collar bone. It was the place where he had marked me before on the night of my engagement.

His mouth vibrated against my skin. “W-What are you doing,” I said.

“I’m re-establishing my mark… I see it has faded away…”

What was he saying? Can mate marks really fade away, I wonder?

Tristan continued to rain kisses on me. I felt my body turn hotter and hotter by the minute.

Suddenly, he swooped his arm against my back and my legs and carried me into the bed.

I clung to his neck, afraid at his sudden boldness. Tristan though was very gentle. He laid me down gently like I was the most delicate thing in the world.

For the first time, I was able to fully see that he had nothing on but his bath robe. My heart raced a million times more.

He began to remove his robe, and once again his well-built body came into view, but unlike what had happened back then in the cave, this time, he welcomed my gaze at it.

“Dahlly, why are you giving me such a straightforward look? Are you enjoying what you see?”

I gulped. Rather than enjoyment, I felt a tremendous amount of embarrassment, fear, and excitement pass through me as I looked at his most private part. I wondered: will I survive this night? I heard many women get hurt on their first night. If their mates are like Tristan, then that’s probably true. I hope he’ll be gentler than he looks…

Reading my thoughts, he said, “Of course I will… This is your first time, right?...”

“I-Is it not for you,” I asked meekly. I was just babbling actually. I didn’t expect to get any answers from him. I just wanted to take my mind elsewhere for a moment.

“I’d be lying if I say it is… But it’s the first time I’m doing it with someone I had wanted so badly to have for a very long time…”

I understood Tristan perfectly in this part. I too had waited so long to find my mate, and now, just being close to him feels more than a blessing.

“Please be gentle… You really are my first in everything,” I whispered as I received his kiss. It was a long and languid kiss.

Almost instinctively, his hands begin to wander around my body, slipping through my clothes and anchoring themselves in my chest.

I didn’t know that being touched like this could be very stimulating. I began to crave his touches like a possessed wolf.

“You like this, Dahlly?… Should I touch you more here?” He began to rub his fingers against the tip of my bosom. His actions unleashed something uncontrollable inside me. I gasped. He did the same on the other one, and I started to moan even louder despite myself.

He groped my body passionately with his palms, and all I could do was make strange noises as he explored me more and more. I was deathly embarrassed and shocked by how I behaved, but I can’t help it. It was as if I was under a spell.