Derek licked slowly up her soaked folds, savouring every drop of her release like a man dying of thirst. Kira’s thighs trembled around his shoulders, her fingers still tangled tight in his hair as aftershocks rippled through her.

She could barely breathe. The pleasure had been so sharp it bordered on pain, and yet she already wanted more. When Derek lifted his head, his chin and lips glistening with her essence, the raw hunger in his amber eyes made her stomach flip.

He crawled up her body, kissing a wet trail over her stomach, between her breasts, until his mouth claimed hers again. She tasted herself on his tongue and moaned into the kiss, wrapping her legs around his hips.

"Derek..." she whispered against his lips, aching and empty.

"I’ve got you," he rasped.

He reached between them, freeing his aching cock. He was so hard it was almost painful, the head already slick. He rubbed the thick length along her soaked slit, coating himself in her wetness, teasing her clit with every slow stroke.

Kira whimpered, hips rolling up to meet him. The sound snapped the last thread of his control.

With a roar, he pushed his cock inside hers in one smooth thrust, burying himself to the hilt. Her tight heat gripped him like velvet fire, and a guttural groan tore from his chest.

The stretch was perfect. She felt every thick inch of him, filling her so completely her eyes fluttered shut. Derek stilled for a moment, forehead pressed to hers, breathing hard.

Then he began to move with deep, rolling thrusts that dragged against that sensitive spot inside her with every stroke. Kira cried out, nails digging into his back.

"Fuck, Kira," he growled, hips snapping harder. She was so wet, so tight, clenching around him like she never wanted to let go.

He rutted her like a dying man. Kira was aware of his strength before, but it was so obvious now when he wasn’t holding a single ounce of it back.

Leo surged forward suddenly, fangs pricking at the edges of his control, amber eyes flashing brighter. The beast wanted to bite, to mark, to claim her completely.

Not yet, Derek snarled inwardly, shoving Leo back with everything he had. His rhythm faltered for half a second before he steadied it again, fucking her deeper, grinding against her clit with every thrust.

Pleasure built fast and brutal. She wrapped her legs tighter around him, heels digging into his back as he drove into her again and again. His mouth found hers in a messy, desperate kiss, all tongue and teeth and need.

"Derek— oh goddess, I’m—"

"Come for me," he commanded against her lips, voice wrecked. "Let me feel you."

The orgasm slammed into her. She came with a sharp cry, pulsing hard around his cock, vision whiting out. Derek groaned loudly, hips stuttering as her walls milked him.

He thrust through her climax, chasing his own, until with a deep, guttural growl, he buried himself to the hilt and spilt inside her, hot and endless. His heat overflowed her channel and slid down the cheeks of her backside.

They stayed locked together, panting, hearts thundering against each other. Derek collapsed half on top of her, careful not to crush her, face buried in the crook of her neck. He pressed soft, lazy kisses to her damp skin, murmuring her name like a prayer.

Kira threaded her fingers through his hair, holding him close. The strange glowing thread inside her hummed warmly, content. For the first time in a long while, she felt safe. Wanted. Cherished.

Derek rolled them gently so she lay sprawled across his chest. He pulled the duvet over their cooling bodies and wrapped both arms around her, one hand stroking slow circles down her spine.

"Sleep, little wolf," he whispered, pressing one last kiss to her forehead.

Kira’s arms tightened around him.

Derek chuckled. "Are you going to hold me hostage now, even in sleep?"

Kira sighed. "I don’t want you gone when next I open my eyes."

Derek remained quiet for a moment. She had never asked that of him before. Not that he was planning to leave, but hearing her say them made him weak.

"I’m not going anywhere, little wolf. You can sleep now."

Kira lay there in the quiet, listening to Derek’s heartbeat. For the first time in their marriage, she wondered what it would feel like to be in a real marriage with him. She wondered if he felt what she was feeling. What happens when their contract expires?

What if they had met in normal circumstances? Where there was no feud, wars, hatred or suspicion? Would things have been different then?

She sighed, deciding not to bother herself with such things for now. Soon, she started drifting, safe in the steady beat of his heart beneath her cheek. For tonight, the contract, the secrets, the pain — everything could wait.

Derek lay awake long after Kira’s breath had evened out. For the first time, he wondered if his beast had recognised Kira as their mate?

He no longer had the capability of holding back when it came to her, and it scared him so much. What if she betrays him to her father someday? He didn’t know if he would be able to recover from that.

He drew in a long breath, inhaling her jasmine scent and placed a soft kiss on Kira’s temple.

"Don’t ever betray me, Kira," he muttered. "Don’t ever do that to me." He closed his eyes.

They fell asleep tangled together, breaths slowing into the same rhythm, the rest of the world forgotten beyond the bedroom door.

***

Meanwhile, somewhere in the estate, Brian leaned back in the leather chair of his dimly lit study, staring at a tablet, while stroking himself with his other hand in his trousers. His breathing grew heavier and heavier as his movement increased.

"Yes, yes, oh, Kira..."

His phone buzzed abruptly, making him jump. He glanced at the screen. On seeing the number, he immediately picked it up and pressed it to his ear.

"I’ve got everything," the voice at the other end said. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Send it now," he said, voice low. "I want everything."

Brian ended the call and tossed the phone onto the desk. Seconds later, it buzzed with an incoming message. He picked it up, unlocked it, and opened the message. It was some video files. He pressed play on the first one.

Then he set the phone down slowly and leaned back in his chair, turning the glass of whisky in his hand, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"Soon," he murmured to the empty room, eyes still on the darkened screen. "Very soon, Kira. You’ll be mine."