Chapter Eleven

Mature Content

Astrid POV

Kaden's deep voice rumbled through the silence, pulling me from the haze of the library. His strong arms reached for me, his touch gentle but commanding. "Come, Astrid," he murmured, his gaze locking with mine, filled with a mixture of tenderness and an intensity that made my pulse race. "I'm bringing you back to bed."

The way he said it—so soft, yet so sure—sent a shiver down my spine. I nodded wordlessly, unable to deny the effect he had on me. My body responded to his presence without question, the lingering heat between us impossible to ignore. Kaden gently took my hand, guiding me out of the library and down the shadowed corridors, his warmth surrounding me like a protective cloak.

When we reached his room, he led me inside, his touch never leaving mine. The moment we stepped past the threshold, I felt the air between us shift. The tension that had been simmering all night flared to life, electric and undeniable.

Kaden pulled me close, his hands firm on my waist as he brought me toward the bed. His touch was reverent, like he was holding something precious, and the way his fingers lingered on my skin made me tremble with anticipation.

"Lie down, Astrid," he whispered, his voice husky, promising things to come.

I obeyed, slipping beneath the covers, the soft fabric cool against my overheated skin. Kaden's eyes never left me as he followed, his large frame moving with predatory grace as he settled beside me. His hand moved to my cheek, his thumb brushing against my lips, sending jolts of desire through me.

"I want to take care of you," he murmured, his voice a low growl that reverberated through my entire body. His lips hovered above mine, teasingly close but not quite touching, and I could feel the heat radiating from him, pulling me in.

His words were a promise, and the way he looked at me—with such intensity, such raw desire—left no doubt that he intended to fulfill it.

Kaden's hand slid from my cheek down the curve of my neck, trailing heat as it went. His fingers brushed the edge of my collarbone, slow and deliberate, as though savoring every inch of my skin. I bit my lip, my heart racing, the anticipation building as his hand traveled lower, grazing the sensitive skin just above my chest.

"Kaden..." I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of need and uncertainty.

"Let me take care of you," he silenced me with a kiss—soft at first, almost tender, but quickly deepening as the tension between us ignited. His lips moved over mine with a hunger that matched my own, his tongue teasing, exploring, as his hand continued its journey down my body. His fingers slid beneath the fabric of my nightgown, finding the heated skin beneath, and I gasped into his mouth, my body arching into his touch.

His hand skimmed over my stomach, moving lower, his fingers tracing a path that left a fire in its wake. My breath hitched as he reached the edge of my thighs, his fingers brushing the sensitive skin there, teasing but not quite touching where I wanted him most.

"Kaden," I breathed, my voice barely more than a whisper, but the need in it was undeniable.

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his gaze dark and filled with raw desire. "I told you," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "tonight is about you. Let me pleasure you."

Without waiting for my response, his hand slipped between my thighs, his fingers parting me with a slow, deliberate motion. I gasped, my body arching against him as he found the slick heat waiting for him, the ache that had been building for so long now impossible to ignore.

His touch was gentle but firm, his fingers moving in slow, teasing circles that made my head spin. My breath came in ragged gasps, the pleasure overwhelming as Kaden's touch drove me higher, closer to the edge with every stroke.

I writhed beneath him, my hands fisting in the sheets as the pleasure built, my body trembling with the intensity of it. Kaden's mouth found my neck, his lips pressing soft, heated kisses to my skin as his fingers continued their relentless assault, pushing me further, harder until I was teetering on the edge of release.

"Let go, Astrid," he whispered against my skin, his voice rough and filled with need. "I want to feel you fall apart for me."

His words were my undoing. With a soft cry, I shattered beneath him, pleasure crashing over me in waves so intense I couldn't breathe. My body tensed, my breath catching as I rode the high, every nerve alight with sensation as Kaden held me through it, his touch steady and unrelenting.

But he didn't stop. As the final tremors subsided, Kaden pulled away slightly, his gaze locked onto mine, dark and filled with desire. I barely had time to catch my breath before he shifted, his head lowering between my thighs.

"Kaden..." I gasped, the sound half plea, half moan, as his lips pressed against the soft, sensitive skin of my inner thigh. His touch was slow and deliberate, his mouth moving higher and closer to where I needed him most, but never quite touching. The anticipation was maddening, the heat between us unbearable.

His breath ghosted over my center, sending a shiver down my spine, and then, finally, his mouth made contact. The sensation was overwhelming, a shock of pleasure that had me arching off the bed, my fingers tangling in the sheets as I gasped his name.

Kaden's tongue moved in slow, languid circles, teasing and tasting, as his hands gripped my thighs, holding me firmly in place. His touch was relentless, driving me higher, closer to the edge with every flick of his tongue, every soft growl that vibrated against my skin.

I couldn't stop the moans that spilled from my lips, my body trembling beneath him as the pleasure built higher and higher until I was teetering on the brink of release once more. Kaden's pace quickened, his tongue moving with more intensity now, and I was powerless to stop the waves of pleasure that crashed over me.

His hand moved to my breast, fingers expertly finding my hardened nipple, gently rolling and teasing it with a tenderness that sent shivers down my spine. My breath came in ragged gasps, my body arching into his touch as I shattered beneath him for the second time, the orgasm ripping through me with a force that left me breathless, trembling in his arms.

Kaden didn't stop, didn't pull away, his mouth working me with a skill and intensity that left me utterly undone, wringing every last bit of pleasure from my body until I was trembling, my entire world narrowed down to the feel of him between my thighs.

When the final tremors subsided, Kaden kissed his way back up my body, his soft and reverent lips brushing against my skin as he settled beside me, pulling me into his arms.

"Your taste is intoxicating," he whispered against my ear, his voice thick with desire.

I was still trembling, my body alight with the aftershocks of pleasure, but I managed to give a soft smile, my heart racing as I looked up at him. He kissed me again, slow and tender, his lips lingering on mine as if savoring the moment.

He lay beside me, his arms wrapped around me, as his lips traced a slow, tender path of kisses along my shoulder, each one leaving a lingering warmth in its wake. "Sleep, baby, get some rest." My stomach turned into knots hearing him call that; I closed my eyes, relaxing in his embrace.

Hours later...

The soft light of dawn streamed through the curtains, casting a golden hue over the room. I stirred beneath the covers, still wrapped in the warmth of Kaden's embrace. His arms were draped protectively around me, his body pressed close against mine, radiating a heat that made me feel safe and cherished.

I blinked my eyes open, momentarily disoriented by the peaceful quiet that surrounded us. The memories of last night, the way his touch had set me on fire, the way his lips had worshipped every inch of me, flooded back in a rush, and a soft smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

Before I could fully gather my thoughts, Kaden shifted beside me. His hand gently brushed my hair back from my face, his lips trailing soft kisses along the curve of my neck, his touch slow and unhurried.

"Good morning, love," he murmured against my skin, his deep voice like a soothing balm.

I hummed in response, not quite ready to break the spell of the morning. His kisses continued, each one sending a gentle wave of warmth through me. When his lips reached the corner of my mouth, I turned toward him, our eyes meeting. The tenderness in his gaze made my heart skip a beat, and I couldn't help but smile at the way he was looking at me.

"How did you sleep?" he asked, his voice low, filled with a mixture of affection and something deeper—something that made my pulse quicken all over again.

"Better than I have in a long time," I whispered, my voice still thick with sleep.

Kaden smiled, his eyes never leaving mine. "Good. You deserve to feel rested." He pressed another kiss to my forehead before shifting, propping himself up on one elbow as he glanced toward the bedside table. "I brought you breakfast."

I blinked, realizing for the first time that a tray sat beside the bed, laden with food: fresh fruit, warm pastries, and a pot of tea that still steamed lightly.

"You made breakfast?" I asked, surprised.

Kaden chuckled softly, the sound warm and intimate. "I figured after last night, you'd need some nourishment." His hand reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "Besides, I like taking care of you."

My heart swelled at his words, and I found myself momentarily lost for a response. There was something so simple yet so profound in the way he cared for me, as if every touch, every gesture, held a deeper meaning.

He picked up a piece of fruit from the tray, a slice of ripe peach, and held it to my lips. "Here," he murmured, his eyes darkening as he watched me. "Let me feed you."

I parted my lips, taking a bite of the sweet, juicy fruit, and Kaden's gaze never left mine. There was something intensely intimate in the way he watched me, as though every movement, every taste, connected us in a way that went beyond words.

"Delicious," I whispered, licking my lips.

"Not as delicious as you," he murmured back, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine.

I blushed, but before I could respond, Kaden leaned in, capturing my lips in a soft, lingering kiss. The taste of the peach still lingered between us, sweet and intoxicating, and I melted into him, feeling the warmth of his body against mine.

When he pulled back, his eyes held a quiet intensity that made my breath catch. "I want to spend every moment like this," he whispered, his voice rough with desire. I want to make you feel like a queen."

The promise in his words made my heart race, and I nodded, unable to find the words to respond. Because at this moment, with Kaden beside me, everything felt right. The weight of the prophecy, the dangers of Rathguard...they all faded into the background. All that mattered was us.