The knot in my chest loosens, just a little, at his words.
The thought of facing my mother, of demanding answers, is terrifying, but it's also a lifeline. Something to hold on to in the midst of all this uncertainty.
And he’s right. We don’t know for sure if the princes were telling the truth. For all I know, their sole purpose is to create discord between my mother and me.
But…
Fear skitters down my spine, and my heart gallops into my throat.
“Breathe,” Luka murmurs, his thumb stroking the skin beneath my eye. “Just breathe with me.”
I try. I really do, but the air gets stuck in my lungs, sharp and painful, like trying to suck honey through a straw. Luka doesn't push, doesn't rush me. He just waits, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of my thoughts. Slowly, agonizingly, the tightness in my chest begins to ease, and I draw in a ragged breath, then another.
“Good,” he says, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Everything will be okay, Brylee. I promise.”
And then he's leaning in, his mouth finding mine in a kiss that's soft and searching.
The world outside our tent ceases to exist the moment Luka's lips meet mine. His kiss is a balm, a slow, deliberate press that speaks of comfort and understanding, not the frantic urgency I've come to expect from my other mates.
His scent, a complex blend of old parchment and cool rain, wraps around me, a soothing counterpoint to the chaos still raging in my mind. It's the scent of knowledge and quiet strength, and my omega instincts respond with a deep, yearning hum.
I lean into him, my body seeking the solace only he can provide. His hands frame my face, and his thumbs stroke my cheeks with a tenderness that makes my heart ache.
When we finally break apart, I'm breathless, but not from panic. This is different. This is life, and safety, and home.
“Let me take care of you,” he whispers, and the promise in those words is a low murmur that strangles the breath from my lungs. “Let me help you forget, just for a little while.”
I nod, unable to form words, my throat tight with emotion.
He takes my hand and leads me to the bedroll in the center of the tent. The canvas walls filter the afternoon light into a golden glow that casts everything in a warm, intimate haze.
Luka kneels before me, his dark eyes searching mine.
“I want to play a game,” he says. One of his hands lifts to cup my cheek, his knuckles grazing my skin in a tantalizing pathway of molten fire, before he drops it back to his side. “I'm going to kiss you, and all you have to do is say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Can you do that for me?”
My omega instincts flare to life at the command in his voice, soft as it is. A shiver runs down my spine, and I can feel the first stirrings of slick between my thighs, a damp heat that's just for him.
“Yes,” I breathe, the word barely audible.
His eyes darken with desire, but his movements remain unhurried. He reaches for the hem of my shirt, his knuckles brushing against my stomach. The simple touch sends a jolt of electricity through me.
“Let's start here,” he murmurs, his gaze never leaving mine as he slowly lifts the fabric over my head.
I raise my arms, allowing him to undress me, the cool air raising goose bumps on my skin. He tosses the shirt aside, and his eyes roam over the simple lace of the bra I changed into. My favorite, actually, with pink polka dots and a tiny bow in the center.
He leans in, his lips hovering just above the swell of my breast. His warm breath ghosts over my skin, and my nipples pebble into tight points, straining against the lace.
“Yes or no?” he asks, his voice a low vibration that I feel in my core.
“Yes.” I gasp, my hands coming up to tangle in his hair. “God, yes.”
His lips close over the fabric-covered peak, and the dual sensation of his hot mouth through the cool lace is exquisite.
He suckles gently, his tongue flicking against the sensitive nub, and I arch my back, a silent plea for more.
He chuckles, a low, throaty sound that sends another wave of desire through me.
“Patience, little omega,” he murmurs, his hands moving to my back to unclasp my bra. “We have all the time in the world.”
