Unlawful Shadows | +18

Chapter 24

Elowen's POV

The darkness of the night enveloped me, a comforting cocoon that felt both safe and stifling. As I lay there, cocooned in the warmth of Lysander's arms, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. His grip on me was firm, almost as if he feared I might vanish if he let go. I could hear the steady rhythm of his breathing, feel the rise and fall of his chest against my back. It was grounding, yet it stirred something within me, a burgeoning awareness of how close we were, how intimately we were entangled.

I shifted slightly, trying to get more comfortable, to feel his warmth even more. But as I moved, I heard a low, deep groan escape his lips. I froze, my breath hitching in my throat. That sound—it sent a shiver down my spine, a mix of fear and something else I couldn't quite name. I felt something hard near my hips, a realization that made my cheeks flush with heat.

"Lysander?" I whispered, my voice barely audible in the stillness of the night.

He stirred behind me, his grip tightening for a moment before loosening slightly. "Elowen," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep, yet there was a dangerous edge to it that made my pulse quicken.

I tried to pull away, embarrassed by the situation, but his arms caged me in. "Don't," he said, his voice a growl that was both a command and a plea. "Don't move."

My heart pounded in my chest, the proximity to him making it difficult to think clearly. "I... I didn't mean to..." I stammered, my face burning with shame and a burgeoning desire I didn't want to acknowledge.

He shifted slightly, pressing closer to me, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body. "You have no idea what you do to me, do you?" he whispered, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear, sending another shiver down my spine.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. "Lysander, I..."

"Shh," he murmured, his hand moving to gently cup my chin, tilting my head back so he could look at me. His eyes were dark, filled with an intensity that made my stomach flip. "You're safe with me, Elowen. Always."

His words were meant to reassure me, but the way he looked at me, the way his body pressed against mine, made it hard to focus on anything other than the heat pooling in my core. I felt a tremor run through me as his lips brushed against my neck, leaving a trail of gentle kisses that made me squirm.

"Lysander, please," I whispered, though I wasn't sure what I was asking for. I was torn between the safety I felt in his arms and the fear of the intensity of my own feelings.

He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through me. "Please what, Elowen?" he asked, his lips grazing the sensitive skin just below my ear. "Tell me what you want."

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing, but it was impossible with the way he was touching me, with the way his voice sent shivers down my spine. "I... I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

He shifted, his body pressing even closer to mine, his breath hot against my skin. "I think you do," he murmured, his hand moving to trace the curve of my hip. "Tell me, Elowen. Tell me what you need."

The need in his voice mirrored my own, a desperate longing that I couldn't ignore. "I need..." I began, but the words caught in my throat. I didn't know how to put into words the tumult of emotions swirling within me.

He groaned softly, his lips trailing down my neck to my shoulder, his hand moving to cup my breast, his touch gentle yet possessive. "Tell me," he insisted, his voice a low growl that sent a jolt of desire through me.

I gasped, my body arching into his touch, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. "I need you," I finally whispered, the admission both terrifying and freeing.