My fingers tighten around the phone 67

Aria’s POV
I brushed Lucas’s dark hair from his forehead and pressed a soft kiss there, lingering longer than necessary. When I finally
turned around, Ethan stood in the doorway, shoulders nearly touching both sides of the frame. The dim nightlight cast
shadows across his face, accentuating the sharp angles of his jawline. His forest-green eyes seemed to glow in the
darkness as they followed my every movement.
“Thank you,” I whispered, carefully stepping around him to exit the room, keeping my eyes averted. “For calming him
down. He’s always been terrified of thunderstorms.”
My socked feet made no sound on the hardwood floor as I walked back to the living room. The storm outside continued
its assault, rain lashing against the windows while lightning occasionally illuminated the room in stark flashes. I busied
myself gathering the scattered cushions from Lucas’s “wolf den” construction project, needing something to do with my
hands.
Ethan stalked into the living room moments after me, his movements fluid and predatory—the silence of his footfalls
made the hairs on my neck stand up. He positioned himself by the window, his broad shoulders blocking part of the view
as rain pounded against the glass. Lightning flashed, briefly illuminating his powerful silhouette against the darkness
outside, the muscles of his back clearly defined beneath his shirt.
“How do you plan to thank me?” His voice rumbled through the space between us, deep and rich like thunder, but with a
hint of something that made my skin tingle.
My fingers froze on the cushion I’d been straightening. The way he asked the question made my mouth go dry. There was nothing innocent about his tone—it dripped with suggestion, his eyes glinting with hunger in the dim light.
“I just did,” I managed to reply, working to keep my voice steady despite the sudden flutter in my stomach. “I said thank
you. And I’ve agreed to meet your mother, haven’t I?”
The sudden ringing of my phone cut through the tension. I glanced at the screen, relief washing over me when I saw
Leo’s name flashing there. I quickly swiped to answer.
“Aria? You okay?” Leo’s familiar voice came through, warm with concern. “This storm’s brutal. Need anything? I could
swing by with some of those hot chocolates he likes.”
I felt Ethan’s gaze shift to me, the weight of his attention almost tangible. His jaw tightened slightly as he clearly heard
every word through the phone’s speaker.
“We’re fine, Leo,” I answered, perhaps too quickly. “Lucas is already asleep. No need to come over.”
“You sure? It’s no trouble—”
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you’re on 𝗻𝚘𝑣𝘦𝕃5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a
click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!
“Positive,” I interrupted, watching Ethan’s expression darken. “Thanks for checking in. Talk tomorrow?”
After hanging up, I set the phone down carefully on the coffee table. When I looked up, Ethan had moved closer, his
alpha energy suddenly intense and pressing down on me like a physical weight. The air between us felt electric, charged
with something dangerous.
“Have you slept with him?” The question came without preamble, his voice low and deceptively calm.
I jerked back as if he’d struck me, my eyes widening in shock. Heat exploded across my face, burning all the way to my
ears. “What?!” My voice came out higher than intended, something between a gasp and a shriek. “No! Absolutely not!”
“What about kissing?” he pressed, his voice dropping to a dangerous purr as he advanced toward me. The predatory look
in his eyes made my stomach flip. Another step brought him close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his
body, smell the intoxicating blend of pine and wilderness that clung to his skin. “Has he kissed you?”
“N-no,” I stammered, taking an instinctive step backward, only to feel my thighs bump against the edge of the couch. I
was trapped. “We’re just friends.” My pulse skittered wildly, like a rabbit sensing a wolf’s approach. “I think you should
leave. Now.”
I turned to move toward the door, intending to show him out, but never made it. With startling speed, I felt Ethan’s arms
snake around my waist from behind, pulling me back against his chest. Before I could process what was happening, he
spun me around and maneuvered me onto the couch, his body following mine down until he hovered above me,
effectively caging me with his arms.
“Let me go!” I demanded, shoving against his chest with both hands. My heart hammered wildly, partly from anger, partly
from something else I refused to acknowledge. Despite my years as a combat instructor, the raw strength in his arms was
unlike anything I’d faced before.
“You know what I want,” he growled, his voice dropping to a rough whisper that resonated through my entire body. His
pupils had expanded until only a thin ring of green remained, like a predator locked onto its prey.
Then his mouth claimed mine, hot and demanding. There was nothing gentle about this kiss—it was pure possession,
hungry and fierce. His alpha scent surrounded me completely, overwhelming my senses like a physical force. I should
have been furious. I should have kneed him and thrown him off.
Instead, my body betrayed me completely. My hands, which had been pushing against his solid chest in resistance,
somehow twisted in the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer instead of shoving him away. My lips parted without
permission, responding to his intensity with a hunger that shocked me to my core.
The kiss intensified, his tongue sweeping dominantly into my mouth. One strong hand tangled in my hair, firmly tilting
my head back to give him better access. The other hand traced down my side, fingers pressing into the curve of my waist,
leaving a trail of fire through the thin fabric of my shirt. A sound escaped me—something embarrassingly needy between
a gasp and a moan.
That small noise seemed to snap the last thread of Ethan’s restraint. His kiss turned urgent, almost desperate, his body
pressing mine deeper into the cushions. The solid weight of him pinning me down, the heat radiating between us, the
overwhelming presence of pure alpha male clouded my thoughts until I couldn’t remember why I should resist.