Heart Of A Lycan King
Chapter 61

NATASHA.

I raced outside the courtyard the moment I heard the screech of Aiden’s car. Adrenaline pumping at the prospect of what I wanted to do. But I want to do it. I had to do it. I will be doing it.

So, instead of stopping after I had gotten outside, I ran straight into Aiden who was locking the car door and threw myself at him, catching him completely off guard.

“Welcome home, my big boy,” I whispered, burying my face in his chest so I could inhale his scent. So I could have every inch of him pressed against me. Imprinted. Captured.

He made a gruff sound, as his body shook from a quiet laughter, before he wrapped his arms securely around me, pulling me deeper into the hug. One of his hands snaked into my thoroughly washed and styled hair, painfully massaging my scalp. My eyes rolled back at the tension easing. At the feel of his fingers. At some point, I felt him lifting me off the ground, and I was certain it was because I was trembling. Why, I really just can’t say.

“No, Nala. No shaking.” He planted k****s in my hair.

Wave after wave of flutters coursed through my midsection at the sound of his voice. My face pressed more into the crook of his neck. I had gotten bolder after yesterday, and while it may have already happened, I still can’t believe I grinded against Aiden and even got an o.rgasm. It felt too real. Too pure to be real, and I didn’t know if that made me bolder today, or if the time spent with the girls did.

Either way though, today, I am going all in. And I can’t help but imagine Aiden’s reaction when he finally realizes what I’m doing.

“How was your day?” I whispered against his neck.

“Exhausting,” he replied, rubbing small circles on my back. “I hate emotional damages.”

I nodded, wrapped my arms tighter around his neck. I didn’t like the sound of his voice. The way his body slacked, and the tension I saw around his eyes before I hugged him. The stiffness around him. My man wasn’t this way. And I didn’t like the cold change I got from him now.

“I love it when you hug me this way. So tight, so protective. Here I am once again In my recharging corner,” I said in a sing-song voice, trying to change the topic.

Aiden laughed. “Your what?”

“My recharging corner,” I murmured, kissing his fully clothed chest. “It’s so warm. You’re a big, hard teddy bear from the forest. A big, soft cuddly wolf. Hmn, I wonder how it’ll feel to cuddle with Leo one of this days.”

He stiffened a bit, then kissed the tip of my head. “You do wild, crazy things to my heart, Nala. So much so that it felt as though it would rip from the cages shielding it one of these days,” he g*****d, kissing my temple. “Leo said you’re making his situation worse,” he added.

I laughed. “Tell him I miss him too, and can’t wait to see him again,” I replied, recalling the way Erin had played with him yesterday.

He sighed, the sad demeanor returning as his body stiffened even more. “Talking to Mav was exhausting. I can’t seem to find a balance with all he’s told me today.”

“How does it make you feel? I mean, the conversation you had.”

“I’m still angry at him, Nala. But at the same time, I am desperately hoping he won’t vanish again without a word. I’m sad, angry, and confused at the same time.” His hold around me tightened.

I pressed my face further into his chest, sucking in his scent, the sweaty scent he carried after a long day. But it never felt out of place, if anything, I wanted to strip him of the shirt and then lick him clean. “You’re allowed to feel all of that only for a certain time. I can’t have my man this sad in my arms.” I pouted, trying to stir the conversation around.

He sucked in a ragged breath. “I missed you, Nala.”

“It doesn’t look like you missed me,” I mumbled.

With an exhaled laugh, he angled his head back to meet my eyes. “Says who?”

“Because you didn’t notice my dress,” I mumbled, burying my face farther into his neck. “Or my new hairstyle. I thought you’d instantly want to k**s my red painted lips since it seemed to work yesterday. But I guess it won’t work today.” I sighed, pouting again. He looked so down, so worried, and I was trying to see if my silly games would lighten up his mood.

He fisted my hair gently, tugging until we were nose to nose. “There isn’t much difference with your hair, Nala. You just plaited the front. But I love it. And I especially want to k**s you till those lips lose the red taint of the lipstick and carry the redness and puffiness from my ravishing.”

Then he carefully placed his mouth over mine. The moment our mouths collided, I knew I made a mistake. I should’ve waited till we were inside so I could k**s him without thinking of the guard watching us.

I m****d, opening my mouth for him, my breath coming in short pants almost immediately, just like his. He’d barely slipped his tongue between my lips when I gripped his shoulders, drew myself high against his chest, and slung my legs around his waist. I could feel the protruding bulge in his pants.

The k**s deepened, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Out in the cold night, the stars and moon shining down on us, in my knee length red silk sleeping dress without sleeves. Aiden kissed me like his life depended on it. Roughly, hungrily, using his hold on my hair to guide me left, right, meeting my lips with wide slants of his own, swallowing my quiet m***s and whimpers like they were his last meal.

“Nala,” he growled, taking two steps and flattening my back against the car, his mouth raking down my neck, his left hand sliding up to cup my breast. “I…this…I need to stop.”

I cupped his cheeks and brought his lips back to mine, devouring every single word he wanted to say. After a while, I tore my mouth away and stared at his beautiful dark eyes. “Now, that is one way to welcome a king home, and one way to appreciate your woman, My King,” I mumbled, kissing his neck.

He sucked in a deep breath, his fingers grazing my bare thighs as he continued upwards. This time, I was the one kissing his neck, the one trying to give the hickeys. From all the things I planned to explore today, this was on my to do list.

His hands continued upwards, before I felt his palm against my core. My body shuddered, before I quickly pulled away. That was…fast. I was not ready for that. At least, not now, and not outside.

“I’m sorry,” Aiden murmured against my lips, kissing me softly. “I got carried away.”

I kissed him back, making sure I poured in all the strong emotions I felt for this man here. Making sure he felt the love before I finally said it. “I told you to stop apologizing.” I kissed his eyes, then his nose, and his lips again.

“Hmn, this sleeping dress is dangerous, Nala. What game are you playing?”

“Seduction, handsome. It is called a game of seducing my man.” I grinned, squirming a bit when his fingers slipped under the dress to pinch my left n****e. “Let’s go inside so you can have a bath, have dinner and listen to my stories with the ladies today,” I added, wrapping my hands around his neck.

He simply smiled down at me before he picked me up and we walked into the house.

---

Two hours after Aiden had managed to bathe, and eat, we were seated in the living room. I was seated on the three settee sofa with Aiden’s head on my lap as we watched the television, although, I’m not certain either of us was paying attention to the kdrama being aired.

I was playing with Aiden’s beard, while his fingers drew small circles on my bare thighs. He was clad in long trousers, his chest bare as his muscles flex beneath the tips of my fingers every time I touched them.

“Will Mav be leaving again?” I asked quietly.

“He didn’t say,” Aiden mumbled. “But if he leaves again without a word, I’ll forget I’ve ever had a brother,” he growled.

“Did you guys at least get to talk?” I asked again.

“Kind of,” he murmured absentmindedly. “It was awkward as f**k. And I do not want to revisit it. I guess it’ll take some time before we finally get back to being the brothers we once were.”

“It is okay. I’m sure you two can be better after all this. Every relationship has trials, Aiden.” I said.

He simply growled, and I decided to clamp my mouth shut, making a mental note to let the matter with Mav be for now.

“Tiffany said she’d be sleeping with Ivayne and Sherneil today. I don’t know why.” I broke the silence.

“Maybe she wanted to give us some space,” Aiden laughed. “But I don’t see you seducing me anymore when you’ve said that was your goal today,” he added.

“Does that mean my playing with your beard isn’t sending your heart in flip mode?” I asked, furrowing my brows.

Aiden laughed again, before he turned his head and looked up at me, his jaw now pressed to my thighs. So dangerously close to my…sensitive area.

Okay, maybe I’m treading on a dangerous path.

“Want to see what that does to me, Nala?” he asked, his voice dangerously low.

I watched the way he swallowed, the way his eyes roamed my body, focusing more on my chest where my buds were unconsciously hardening with each passing second.

‘Told you this was a bad idea! Instead of us seducing, we may end up being seduced,’ Erin grumbled.

‘Maybe you want to do this yourself?’ I asked bitingly.

‘No. You wanted to ride it first, so be a woman and demand for it. Ride it till you are satisfied, Nat. Just be yourself, I’m certain our mate wouldn’t mind. In fact, with all the talks about the sack, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.’

‘I didn’t stop you from riding it if you wanted!’ I snapped.

‘You didn’t,’ Erin replied calmly. ‘But I want you to take the first step, Nat. You deserve it, and this is more about you than me. Intimacy was ruined terribly for you, not me, so you should take the first step.’

I swallowed, knowing that she was right.

‘Go ride it, Nat!’ she sang before cutting off the connection.

I chose to ignore the fluttering her words had caused me and decided to focus on the yummy man on my lap. “Hmn, not sure if you can. But before we start arguing about that, I want to talk to you,” I said, sounding all too serious. It is now or never.

Aiden sat up, pulled his legs up like I did and tucked them underneath. I stretched my open palm towards him, and Aiden smiled before he placed his in my, interlocking our fingers.

“You’re scaring me shitless, Nala,” he murmured.

With the little space between us, it was easier to lean and k**s his lips before pulling back. “Better?” I asked.

“Absolutely,” he grinned.

I stared at our interlocked fingers, working the tension in my throat so I could speak. Now that it was time to do this, I was losing the little confidence I once had.

“Nala?” He squeezed my fingers, tipped my head with his other hand and stared at me. “You do know you can talk to me, right?”

I nodded.

“And whatever it is you want to say, I’ll listen, without judging you. Whatever decision you make, it’s all yours to make and I’m right here for you. Okay?”

I swallowed, nodding again.

‘Don’t be a chicken now, Nat. You’ve mentally prepared for this even if you didn’t want to admit it. Don’t let that fear hold you back. Speak, this is your fight, and I’m here for you,’ Erin whispered.

I shut my eyes for the briefest moment before I opened them and settled them on Aiden.

“First, I want you to listen to me without saying anything, deal?”

“Deal.”

“Aiden, thank you. Thank you so much for all that you’ve been through for my sake, for all that you’ve endured, for fighting beside me.” I began, not wanting to waste more time and give in to my fear. “I know I still have a long way to go. Truthfully, I may not have even started on that journey. But you and therapy made it easier to get through. It keeps me in check, and reminds me that I’m not on this journey alone. I know that there are thousands of me out there, of women better than me that can make you happier than I ever could. I’m just a crappy baggage with lots of things to worry about, and in the end, it all comes down to how much you are sacrificing for my sake.

“You are the best man any woman could ever wish for, and I wouldn’t want this any other way. I wouldn’t want to be mated to any man beside you. I wouldn’t want to be held this way by any man if not you. And I would rather have you twirl with my heart and set it ablaze than be without you,” I paused, sucked in a breath and refused to bat my eyes. I needed him to see the rawness of my confession. The intensity of it all. I needed him to feel it. To embrace it.

“These past few months, you’ve been the definition of a perfect mate. The bond didn’t make me fall for you, it certainly didn’t make me comfortable around you. You did that all alone. You built the bond that we share, because the bond didn’t build us. Aiden, you are all I’ve ever wanted, and all I want right now.”

“Nalaaaa…” he dragged my name, so much so that I couldn’t help the rumble in my stomach. His eyes had grown darker, and so did his hold on my fingers tighten.

“As much baggage as I am, you never got tired of me. You slowly weaved yourself into my heart, making it impossible to be away from you. Remember when you went to your football game? I needed that break, but that moment was one of those eye opening moments between us. The text messages, the phone calls, the distance, all began to create a desperate pattern of wanting to see you.

“I don’t know what is happening to me, but ever since I came to terms with my feelings for you, I’m not as scared as I was before.” I paused a bit, giving him time to absorb what I was saying. “I mean, I’m not scared to touch you, or willingly initiate intimacy; just like I did yesterday. I…I didn’t know I had it in me, Aiden, but you brought it all out. Now it seems like I’ve unlocked something so raw within me, and I want to experience all of it only with you. Amidst all of that, you’ve been patient and understanding, even on days I let my stupid fears and trauma get in…”

“No, no, Nala,” he cut me off harshly, his brows pulling into a tight frown. “I have to stop you right there, and I won’t be apologizing for that,” he said, his tone a bit harsher. “Your fears are justified, so are your traumas. They aren’t stupid, and they certainly don’t make you any less of the woman you are. The woman I love.” He breathed, dropping his legs and pulling me into his chest. “You are allowed to have your fears, and you are allowed to be wary of things you don’t understand or like. I am fine waiting. I’d rather have you willingly, just the way you did yesterday than force or rush anything between us. So, don’t you ever call your fears and traumas stupid, because they are a part of you. And I want you and all the baggage you carry, Nala.”

There was no doubt that Aiden believed everything he was saying. And it was hard not to believe him. Not when he was holding me this way, and certainly not when his voice sounded so thick and hard as he spoke.

“Thank you for saying that.”

“I’m not even close to being done, Nala,” he said gruffly. “You said a few things that bothered me,” he leaned down, kissed my forehead, my nose, and my mouth. “Don’t you ever tell me again there are a thousand others like you, because that is the biggest pile of bull.shit I’ve ever heard. You are your own self, Nala. A version of you that no one else can be,” he kissed my temple again. “These past few months, I’ve watched you evolve, learn to accept yourself and grow into the woman you are. I’ve watched you fight those demons, fight the beliefs those sorry excuses of humans have made you believe over time. Everyone you came across ever since you arrived here loves you, Nala. There’s just an aura around you that screams ‘I am your safest bet, you can come to me.’ You have that.”

“You are a fighter. You have perseverance, character, and a huge heart. I think you may still be finding your way, but so am I. But that is what makes this beautiful journey between us even more special, because we are there for each other in every situation. Because we take one step at a time together , exploring the possibility of what could work for us and what wouldn’t. I never knew what it was like to be patient, to fight for something and to really earn the trust of another human till you came along. I thought I had myself all figured out till you came around and showed me the different layers of life, and I want to keep uncovering all of that with you by my side, Nala.”

As he was speaking, I had turned into a limp noodle in his arms. The tip of my nose was itchy, and I had to constantly blink into his chest to keep from tearing up. Warmth and a sense of belonging reached all the way down to my toes, curling them into the sofa. “This is a lot to process,” I whispered.

“I understand…”

“I mean, we’re mates and you have my heart in a tight grip so much so that I just want to hold onto you and never let go.”

A rush of his breath passed over the crown of my head. His arms were crushing me to that burly chest. “Damn right I don’t want you to ever let go.”

I shut my eyes, searched for the remaining confidence I had left before I pushed back from the hug. I needed to stare into his eyes and say the words. I needed to see his reaction. Above all, I want him to see just how much I meant every word I’ll say now.

“I love you, Aiden,” I said softly. Too softly. “I didn’t know when it started, but I’ll be damned if I say I didn’t like it.” I brought my hands and cupped his face, drawing him closer. “I love you so much that my heart beats quicker at the sound of your name. I love you, way more than any woman has ever loved you, well, maybe, not Mama,” I laughed a bit, trying to ease the tension and the intensity of his dark eyes. “I love you, Aiden. I love you,” I said in a resigned voice, placing my lips over his but unable to move them.

My heart was beating too loud, so fast that I could hear the banging in my ears. But when he placed his hands over mine, moved his lips against mine, I didn’t know what to think.

Oh, Nyala! I thought dizzily as he picked up the pace, devouring my mouth as though he was going to suck it off completely. The contrast of this k**s and the ones we’ve shared in the past was loud and clear. It fired off flamethrowers in my b***d. I felt loved, wanted, vulnerable and coveted and lusted after, and it was everything. Everything.

We kissed fast and hard, each fighting for dominance of the k**s. But when his tongue slipped in, I lost the fight and simply basked in the wake of passion his touches and k**s were evoking.

After a while though, he tore his mouth from mine and stared down at me. I had no idea when I laid on my back on the sofa, with Aiden hovering over me. But it didn’t matter. I didn’t care.

“I love you,” he breathed, a pained look on his face. There was something entirely different with the way he looked at me now. And the intensity of his gaze had deepened more, causing the turns in my stomach to double over again and again. “I’ve always said it casually, afraid you weren’t ready, but at the same time, desperate to let you know how wild my heart beats for you. I have, and will always love you, Nala.” He finished, leaning down for another k**s.

I accepted, my throat tight with unsaid words, closed emotions. The rhythm was perfect, and I loved the way he dragged my bottom l*p into his mouth, sucked on it hard and fast before he slipped his tongue into my mouth, twirling and tasting every angle within its reach. My fingers danced on his back, tracing the outlines of his burn scar, while his hands roamed around my body as well, slowly slipping his right hand underneath my gown and letting his fingers lightly graze my core. Again. This time, I didn’t move away, heck, I found myself pressing myself more into his touch as he palmed and kneaded the area softly before pulling his hand away. I was a moaning mess, and I was eager for more, so much so that the dampness in my cotton panties was increasing at an alarming rate. This time around though, I pulled away from the k**s first. Because I needed to speak. I have a lot to say and his hands were distracting me.

“I’ve never thought I’d be able to say those words to anyone,” I confessed, dropping my eyes to his bare chest, as I unconsciously brought the tip of my index finger and rubbed his bud lightly. Then meeting his gaze, I leapt a little, and kissed it before I fell back, making sure to let my other hand trail downwards in a slow motion.

“Na…this is very dangerous, Nala,” he said gruffly, a gold tint flashing quickly in his eyes before it vanished.

“I want to play dangerous, My King,” I whispered, meeting his gaze. “When I told you I love you, it didn’t feel the way I always thought it would.”

He ran his hand through my hair. “How did you think it would feel?”

I thought about it for a moment. “Like something that just…gets over with in seconds.”

“And how did it feel instead?”

“The reverse. Like something that would never end.” I studied his chin for a moment, then put my eyes up to his. “It felt like being wrapped tightly in a grip that would never break. I think it felt this way because I trust you. I completely trust you, handsome. That’s a huge part of love, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I guess it has to be,” I watched him swallow a lump in his throat. “But I’m not an expert, Nala. I’ve never loved like this.”

It took a moment for me to speak. “I won’t be hard on you again. I don’t want either you or Leo to carry full sacks for months without getting attention. I don’t want to be nervous, or scared around you. I won’t make you fight to get into my head, to understand me. I don’t want to be a constant baggage of mess for you, Aiden. Not when you make it so easy to love you.”

He crushed me against him, hard and tight. “Constant work? Goddammit, no, Nala. You aren’t.” He tipped my chin up and kissed my mouth. “You and I are a perfect blend to each other. And if I need to work my head, heart, and mind off to get to you, I’ll do it over and over again. With no regrets whatsoever.” He rubbed our foreheads and we stayed that way for some minutes before he raised his head up.

“When did you notice?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“I’ll admit that it was the bond speaking to me at first. Just like you, however, I can’t say when it began. I just found myself thoroughly and overly in love with you,” his eyes watered for the briefest moment. “Feel the way my heart beats,” he dragged my right hand and settled it to his heart. “It has become even wilder after your confession, Nala,” he added. “Thank you for loving me. Thank you for fighting and not giving up on us, and above all, thank you for giving us a chance to make this work.”

I didn’t know what to say. But at that moment, I was certain of one thing. I was ready.

“I wore this sleeping gown to seduce you,” I batted my lashes. “And it doesn’t even feel wrong to say that. But right now, I don’t know who is seducing who,” I moved a bit from underneath him, making sure my buds lightly grazed his chest.

“You want to…seduce me?” He asked quietly.

“Is it working?” I blinked up at him rapidly.

He m****d, a deep, throaty m**n that made my heart swell. I reached up, tugging his beard until he met me halfway, and kissed him. Lightly at first, then we surged together and sank into a long, wet sampling of lips and tongues, our breaths shuddering out between us.

We broke apart with reluctant sighs. “Mmmm.” I blinked up at him, wiggling more underneath him. Time to put those YouTube videos and seduction tips into use.

“I love you,” I felt the need to say that again. “And I want you to mark me tonight, Aiden. I want us to mate.”