Chapter 45

Selene

I wake up in the middle of the night and see Phoenix lying beside me. The moonlight filtering through the curtains casts a soft glow on him, highlighting the perfect lines of his face and the steady rise and fall of his chest. I softly call his name, and he mumbles something incoherent in response. I slowly move closer to him, and as soon as I do, his arm comes down, pulling me closer.

My wolf purrs as my entire body seems to melt in his embrace, the scent of him filling my senses. Within seconds, my eyelids begin to droop, and I fall back into a blissful sleep.

*Dream

I'm naked, standing in the middle of the forest. The air is cool against my skin, the ground damp beneath my feet. My heart pounds, a feeling of helplessness washing over me as I realize I don't know where the hell I am. Tall trees stand around me, their shadows creeping over me like creepy fingers.

How did I get here? And why am I all alone?

I try to shift, but I can't even feel my wolf. It's like it's not inside my head at all. Panic sets in, my movements become frantic as I begin searching for someone, anyone, to help me.

"Selene."

My head snaps in the direction of the voice and I see a huge, black wolf with silver eyes staring back at me. His eyes are piercing, but they hold a softness that instantly calms me.

"Phoenix?" I ask in a small voice.

He approaches me slowly, as if he's afraid he'll scare me off. Then, he kneels, his body lowering to the ground, his gaze never leaving mine. I can tell he wants me to pet him.

Why would a majestic beast like him ever bow to someone like me?

I run my hand through his soft fur, and a soft purr comes out of him, making me giggle. "You like that?" I ask, smiling down at him.

He chirps in response, the sound almost playful.

Even in his wolf form, and me without mine, I can feel the connection between us. The way our souls are drawn to each other, a bond that transcends the physical.

"I'm lost. Can you help me?" I whisper, continuing to stroke his coat. I somehow find comfort in the repetitive motion, like it grounds me.

"I'm right here, little wolf. As long as you're mine, I'll always keep you safe." Phoenix's calm, deep voice resounds in my head as the wolf just watches me with intense eyes.

He swiftly rises to his feet, his wolf towering over me. His nose presses against my palm, and that's when I feel my wolf stir inside of me.

Shifting, I land on my paws, and with a satisfied sound, Phoenix's wolf rubs his face against mine, a gesture of affection and protection.

"See, little wolf? We're meant to be. You just need to realize it."

End of dream*

When I wake up from my strange but somewhat nice dream, I'm wrapped around Phoenix's warm, solid body. I feel his hand moving up and down my back, and he turns his head slightly to look at me. I look up and see his eyes the color of the focused on me. I also feel something hard pressing against my leg.

I smile up at him, my dream still replaying in my head.

"I guess the pillow didn't work," I say sleepily.

I was so worried about Phoenix crossing my childish little pillow boundary, but it was me who succumbed to temptation first.

I shudder as his fingers brush over the sweet spot on my neck.

Goddess, how good would it feel for him to mark me? I know it's crazy to even think about it, we're not together, but I want his mark more than I ever wanted Zack's. If he's one-hundred percent serious about us, I want him to prove it.

Phoenix doesn't do anything for a few minutes, and I wonder what's going through his mind. He's still watching me, his eyes soft and emotion swirling in them.

I decide to make the next move, pressing myself closer to him and rubbing my most sensitive part against his hip bone.

His hand travels from my hair to my back, where he pauses at my hip.

When I don't react, he slips his hand into my panties to find that I'm soaked for him.

Like that's even a surprise.

"Phoenix," I whisper. I don't care how needy I sound right now, my body is begging for more of his touch, more of his scent that surrounds me like a comforting blanket.

He looks deeply into my eyes, lifting his head, and kissing me with so much passion, it makes my head spin. Moaning, I straddle his waist, and grab handfuls of his silky, black hair. I can't help but hump him like a horny teenager touching a boy for the first time.

He slips a finger inside of me, the sound of my wetness embarrassingly loud in the otherwise quiet room. I can feel myself turning feral as I grind against his hand, the need to come growing with each hard thrust of his finger.

When he finally removes my panties, our lips lock again in a bruising kiss. When his tongue demands entrance, I open up to him without hesitation, allowing him to explore my mouth with his tongue. I can't help but moan, making him delve deeper into me.

After he removes my shirt, he lies me down on the mattress. He looks at me, and despite my insecurities about my body, the look in his eyes makes me feel like a goddamn model.

He only pauses for a moment before greedily sucking my breasts, the sensation more amazing than it has any right to be.

"I want all of you, Selene, everything," he says, gazing up at me intently. "But it's entirely up to you. If you want me to stop, I will."

"Please," I plead, not being able to handle it anymore. If I don't come soon, I might just die right here on the spot. "I want you too."