CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43 I WANT TO TASTE YOU

Victoria

Once I understood everything that had gone down today, I nodded slowly, though my breath hitched when Leo slid closer on the couch, his thigh pressing firmly against mine. The heat radiating from him seeped into my skin, dangerously distracting me from the storm of conspiracies we had just uncovered.

"We need proof. And we need to find Enzo—alive, if possible," Leo stated, "he may know more than he’s revealed."

My heart ached looking at him—this powerful Alpha who had barely slept since taking me under his protection. The dark circles beneath his eyes couldn’t diminish his devastating attractiveness, but I hated seeing him push himself to the brink. I reached up, my fingers tracing the tense line of his jaw, feeling the slight stubble beneath my fingertips.

"You’re exhausted," I murmured, genuine concern washing through me. In the short time we’d been mated, I’d grown to recognize when he was running on pure willpower. "When was the last time you rested properly?"

His eyes darkened as he caught my hand, turning his face to press a hot kiss against my palm. "I’ll rest when you’re safe," he growled, the vibration of his voice sending shivers racing up my arm and straight to my core.

The simple contact of his lips against my skin awakened something primal within me. Ava stirred restlessly, urging me closer to our mate.

"I am safe," I insisted, shifting closer until our bodies were nearly flush against each other. "Here. With you."

The air between us changed instantly, charging with electricity. I watched Leo’s nostrils flare slightly, and knew he could smell my arousal. The thought that he could detect my desire so easily should have embarrassed me, but instead it sent a thrill of wicked excitement through my body. My nipples tightened beneath my sweater as dampness pooled between my thighs.

"Victoria," Leo warned, his voice dropping to that husky register that made everything inside me clench with want. His eyes had taken on that predatory gleam that meant Ronan, his wolf, was close to the surface. "I’m hanging by a thread here."

Rather than being intimidated, I felt emboldened. This powerful Alpha—feared throughout the Northern territories—was struggling for control because of me. The knowledge was intoxicating. I moved even closer, until I could feel the heat of his body calling to me like a beacon.

"Then let go," I whispered, sliding my fingers into his thick hair, something I’d learned drove him wild. "I need you too, Leo. After everything today... I need to feel you."

The growl that rumbled from deep in his chest sent liquid heat straight between my thighs. Before I could take another breath, his mouth captured mine in a kiss that was nothing short of devouring. All the tension and fear of the past days poured into that connection, his tongue demanding entrance which I eagerly granted.

I responded with equal fervor, my body melting against his hard chest as he effortlessly pulled me onto his lap. The evidence of his desire pressed insistently against my core, and I couldn’t resist grinding down against him, earning another growl that vibrated through both our bodies.

"I can’t be gentle right now," he warned against my lips, his large hands already sliding beneath my sweater to caress the bare skin of my back. His touch left trails of fire in its wake.

"I don’t want gentle," I breathed, rolling my hips deliberately against the impressive hardness straining beneath his slacks. "I want you. All of you."

Something changed in his expression—a final barrier breaking. With one fluid movement that showcased his supernatural strength, he stood, lifting me as though I weighed nothing before setting me carefully on my feet.

"Take off your clothes," he commanded, his voice harsh with need. "I want to see what’s mine."

Heat flooded my cheeks even as desire pooled low in my belly. The possessiveness in his tone should have offended me—I’d spent my life fighting against being treated as property—but coming from Leo, it felt different.

Maintaining eye contact with him, I reached for the hem of my sweater and slowly pulled it over my head. The cool air of the office kissed my exposed skin, making goosebumps rise along my arms. Leo’s eyes burned as they fixed on my simple black bra, which suddenly felt far too modest for the occasion.

"All of it," he growled, leaning back against his desk, his white-knuckled grip on the edge revealing just how much restraint he was exercising not to touch me. "Every piece."

My hands moved to the button of my jeans, my fingers trembling slightly—not from fear, but from the intensity of his gaze. I deliberately slowed my movements, enjoying the power I held over this dominant man. As I pushed the denim down my legs, stepping out of them gracefully, I watched his jaw clench tight enough to crack walnuts.

Standing before him in just my underwear, I felt more exposed than I ever had—and yet strangely empowered. The way Leo looked at me, like I was the most exquisite creature he’d ever seen, made me feel beautiful in a way no mirror ever had.

His eyes devoured every inch of my exposed skin, from my stomach to the curve of my hips. The hunger in his gaze was almost tangible, like a physical caress that left heat in its wake.

"Everything, sweetheart," he reminded me, his voice rough with restraint.

My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I reached behind my back to unhook my bra. I’d never been particularly confident about my body, but the way Leo looked at me—like he was starving and I was a feast—dissolved my insecurities. I let the garment fall to the floor, feeling my nipples harden instantly under his hungry stare.

Without waiting for another command, riding a wave of boldness I barely recognized in myself, I hooked my thumbs into my panties and slid them slowly down my legs. The cool air against my most intimate parts made me acutely aware of how wet I already was for him.

"Come here," he ordered, spreading his legs slightly as I approached.

I moved toward him as if pulled by an invisible thread, unable and unwilling to resist the magnetic draw between us. When I stood between his powerful thighs, his hands came to rest on my hips, his touch burning through me like a brand. I could feel the heat radiating from my core, and knew he could smell my arousal.

"You’re so beautiful it hurts to look at you," he murmured, pressing a kiss to my collarbone that sent shivers racing across my skin. "Do you have any idea what you do to me? How hard it was to leave you today?"

My hands moved to his shirt buttons, my fingers trembling with anticipation. "Show me," I whispered, undoing them one by one until I could push the fabric aside, revealing the sculpted perfection of his chest. My mouth watered at the sight. "Show me how much you missed me."

When my hands moved to his belt, eager to feel all of him, Leo caught my wrists in a gentle but unbreakable grip. "Not yet," he said, his voice thick with desire. "First, I want to taste you."