Chapter 184
The ether pulses faintly around us, shimmering in soft hues of indigo and violet, a muted reflection of the bond Wake and I share. My breath catches as I take in his form, his powerful tail coiling with restless energy, his dark eyes locked onto mine.
Even here, surrounded by this fragile, tainted space, his presence is grounding and commanding. He looks like a force of nature, restrained only by the confines of this moment.
“Phoebe,” he says softly, his voice like a tether pulling me closer even though I can’t move toward him. The air between us hums with tension, the bond straining under the weight of our separation. It’s almost unbearable, this distance, this need.
I swallow hard, my voice is shaky as I reply, “We can’t touch, Wake. The Darklite… the poisoning… I can’t let you risk it again.”
His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he’s going to argue. But then he nods, his expression softening into something I rarely see from him: vulnerability. His strength isn’t diminished by it—if anything, it’s amplified. “Then we won’t,” he says simply. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t have you. That we can’t have each other.”
A shiver runs down my spine at his words. The depth of his voice, the raw desire laced within it, sends a flush of heat coursing through me. “How?” I whisper, my voice barely audible. My chest tightens with the weight of the question, and yet there’s a flicker of something deeper—hope.
“Do as I say,” he replies, his tone firm but full of promise. “Let me guide you. Let me see you.”
I hesitate for a moment, my hands trembling at my sides. The vulnerability of what he’s asking makes my chest tighten, but the bond between us hums with reassurance. Wake’s gaze holds mine, steady and unwavering, and I feel my resolve solidify. He doesn’t just want me; he needs this connection as much as I do.
“Okay,” I say, my voice barely a breath.
“Good,” he says, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint, almost predatory smile. “Start with your hair. Let it down for me.”
My hands move instinctively to the pins holding my hair in place. One by one, I remove them, the soft waves cascading down around my shoulders. Wake’s eyes follow every movement, his focus on me so intense it makes my skin tingle. I’ve never felt so seen, so exposed, and yet… so safe.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice thick with admiration. The weight of his words sends a thrill through me. “Now you top. Let me see you.”
Heat rises to my cheeks, but I don’t look away. My fingers fumble slightly as I untie the strings of my bikini top, the fabric slipping away to reveal bare skin. Wake’s sharp inhale sends a ripple of heat through me, his dark eyes drinking in every inch of me with an intensity that makes my breath hitch.
“Touch yourself,” he says, his voice dropping to a low, gravelly tone that vibrates through me. “Show me what’s mine.”
I hesitate, my cheeks burning, but the bond between us urges me forward. Slowly, I let my hands trail over my body, the tips of my fingers brushing against sensitive skin. The act feels foreign at first, but Wake’s unwavering gaze grounds me, his expression a mixture of reverence and desire.
“That’s it,” he says, his voice filled with approval. “Keep going. Let yourself feel.”
I close my eyes briefly, letting the sensation of my own touch and the weight of his gaze consume me. My hands move with more confidence now, exploring every curve and plane. When I open my eyes again, I see that Wake has moved one of his hands to his chest, his claws grazing his skin lightly as he watches me. My breath catches as I watch him, the intimacy of the moment overwhelming.
“Your turn,” I manage to say, my voice trembling slightly. “Let me see you too.”
Wake’s lips curl into a faint smile, and he nods. His hand trails lower, over the hard lines of his torso, the movement slow and deliberate. My gaze is locked onto him, my pulse quickening with every inch of skin he touches. The bond between us thrums with energy, the tension so thick it feels like it could snap at any moment. He’s mesmerizing, a force of nature confined within this fragile space.
“I’m yours, Phoebe,” he says, his voice rough and full of conviction. “Every part of me. Just as you are mine.”
I swallow hard, the weight of his words settling over me like a warm blanket. My own hands move more boldly now, mirroring his movements. The connection between us is palpable, even without physical contact. It’s as though the ether itself is bending to our will, weaving our energies together despite the barriers between us.
Wake’s breathing grows heavier, his muscles tense as he continues to touch himself under my gaze. The sight of him, so strong and yet so vulnerable in this moment, sends a surge of heat through me. My own movements become more urgent, my body responding to the unspoken rhythm we’ve created. It’s a dance, intimate and raw, and it’s ours alone.
“Look at me,” he commands softly, and my eyes snap to his. “Don’t look away. I want to see everything.”
I nod, unable to find my voice. My hands continue their exploration, every brush of my fingers sending shivers through me. Wake’s gaze never wavers, his eyes dark and full of longing. It’s as though the distance between us doesn’t exist, our bond pulling us closer together with every passing moment.
“Tell me what you want,” he says, his voice low and intimate. “Say it.”
“You,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “I want you.”
Wake’s lips curl into a faint smile, his hand moving more deliberately now. “And you have me,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “Always.”
The tension between us builds to a crescendo, the bond vibrating with an intensity that leaves me breathless. Every movement, every word, feels charged with meaning, as though the ether itself is alive with our connection. It’s more than physical; it’s spiritual, a merging of souls that transcends everything holding us apart.
When the moment finally breaks, it’s like a wave crashing over me, leaving me trembling and spent. Wake’s expression softens, his breathing steadying as he watches me with an intensity that feels almost protective. His dark eyes hold a tenderness that sends warmth flooding through me, soothing the ache of our separation.
“You’re incredible,” he murmurs, his voice full of awe.
I manage a weak smile, my body still humming with the aftershocks of our shared intimacy. “So are you.”
Wake nods, his eyes softening as he takes me in. “We’ll get through this, Phoebe. Together.”
I nod, the bond between us pulsing faintly with reassurance. Despite the challenges ahead, despite the dangers that surround us, I know one thing for certain: we are stronger together than apart. His presence reminds me of my strength, of the unyielding connection that binds us.
Wake lingers for a moment longer, his eyes tracing every line of my face as though committing me to memory. “I’ll be with you,” he says softly. “No matter what comes next.”
“And I am with you,” I whisper back, my voice steady now.
He steps back slightly, his presence still larger than life even as the space between us grows. The ether around us shimmers faintly, the bond humming with unspoken promises. I watch him, memorizing the curve of his lips, the fire in his eyes, the way he holds himself with such strength and grace.
Wake gives me one last lingering look before he fades into the ether, leaving me to return to my body.
When I finally open my eyes, the world around me feels dimmer without him.
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