Chapter 8

• Karin
• Wait, is Killian actually flirting with me right now?
• I’m so confused. Killian must have been joking, but it doesn’t feel like a joke. Not with the way he said it—that playful lilt to his voice, the way his eyes don’t waver from mine.
• “Only if I ask you to?” I repeat, my voice more of a squeak than anything else. I’m sure any other werewolf would be laughing at me right now. But not Killian. He merely nods in confirmation and gives me a small, encouraging smile.
• “Exactly.”
• I chew on the inside of my cheek, mulling over his words as I hug my legs to my body.
• “It’s much warmer in here,” Killian says and opens his sleeping bag further.
• Since I’m too chicken-shit to get close and dirty with him, I avert my eyes. “No, I’m fine…”
• “Are you sure?”
• Killian moves, and I look at him again. He is lying outside of his sleeping bag right now, and my jaw slacks to the ground. When Killian first opened the zipper, I only saw his pectoral muscles and some of his abs. But now…
• I can’t take my eyes off him.
• My Lord.
• Killian isn’t sleeping in his boxers. I can see his V-lines that lead down to an area I shouldn’t be looking at. But it isn’t his dick that got me frothing in my mouth.
• I know from the fact that Killian is an Alpha that he exercises, so yeah, I expected him to be in good shape. But he is so much more now that we aren’t in a dark room. He is…gorgeous. Beautiful smooth, tanned skin, carved pecs, and an eight-pack of rippling muscles. I’ve never been a horny girl—I’m the bookish type—but right now, I’m wondering if it would taste salty to lick his glorious abs.
• “Anna? Are you okay?”
• Hearing the concern in Killian’s voice, I blink a few times.
• “Y-yeah, I’m fine…” Just close to passing out from staring at your hot body is all.
• “You spaced out, so I got worried.”
• “Sorry.” I force a smile. “I was just…thinking about stuff.”
• “About what? The fact that you’re freezing?”
• “No…or yes…I don’t know. I’m cold, but suddenly feeling warmer now that… never mind!”
• Killian squints at me like I’m crazy. I don’t blame him, not when I’m babbling like an idiot.
• “Don’t get too excited, Anna,” Killian jokes, his hand patting the empty space next to him again. “It’s just body heat.”
• It’s too late not to get excited. My body is already on fire, and it’s not from the chilly air. I can’t believe I’m actually contemplating getting into a sleeping bag with a naked Killian.
• I mean…I should get cozy with Killian. After all, my mission is to get pregnant, but shit. Why am I so nervous to get close to him? A fleeting image of us snuggled together under the stars flashes across my mind, and I suppress a shiver.
• It doesn’t go unnoticed by Killian, who frowns. “Those shivers are why we need to sleep together,” he says with a smile, trying to contain his amusement when I gasp. “Not like that,” he clarifies, enjoying the blush on my cheeks. “Unless you want to?”
• Do I want to? Yes. Do I dare to take the initiative? No.
• “Killian...” My voice comes out a little ragged, and I’m fairly certain my face must be the color of a ripe tomato.
• Killian eyes soften when he realizes how nervous I am, and his teasing smile fades. “Anna,” he says, his voice coaxing and gentle, “it’s okay. Really. Look, if it makes you feel any better, I can turn my back.”
• I take a shaky breath. Is that what I want? For him to turn away from me? Would it really ease the tension prickling between us?
• “No,” I whisper.
• His eyebrows raise in surprise. “No?”
• I swallow hard before continuing. “No, don’t… don’t turn your back on me.”
• A slow smile spreads across Killian’s face, and with a chuckle, he extends his hand towards me. “I’m glad.”
• I stare at his outstretched hand for several long seconds, my heart pounding like a jackhammer before I finally take it.
• Killian’s hand is warm, enveloping mine in a secure and comforting grasp. He gently tugs me toward him until I’m half falling into his arms, catching myself awkwardly against the firm plane of his chest.
• “Sorry,” I breathe out, my face feeling as if it’s on fire.
• “Don’t be sorry,” he says. “I think it’s cute that you’re so small and delicate.”
• Okay, if I weren’t close to passing out earlier, I for sure am seconds from doing it now! Every compliment from this guy is enough to make my heart go thump-thump-thump, and it only gets worse when we get inside the same custom-made sleeping bag. It’s big enough to fit us both, even though Killian has got to be the biggest guy I’ve ever met.
• “I can’t believe I let you convince me to do this,” I mumble somewhat sheepishly to him, attempting to ignore how close we are.
• “Well, I can be very persuasive,” he chuckles softly, his arm slipping around me to tug me towards him.
• “Wh-what are you doing?!”
• Suddenly, I’m lifted up on his chest and resting on top of it, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my ear. I can feel his breath tickle the top of my head and realize just how intimate our position is.
• My hand rests on Killian’s chest, fingers tracing over the grooves of his muscles as I try to keep my breath steady. My eyes flicker up to his and he smirks.
• “Feeling any warmer?”
• My whole face is flaming. “I-um…yeah...much warmer,” I stammer, my voice barely audible. I can feel the rise and fall of his chest as he breathes, every exhale a warm gust against the top of my head.
• “I’m glad,” he murmurs, the words vibrating against me. His arm tightens around me, bringing my body flush against his. I have to suppress another shiver—this one from arousal.
• The smell of him is intoxicating, so darn addicting I’m having trouble not sniffing him. But in the end, I can’t. I press my nose against him and an unfamiliar sensation fills up my heart as I inhale deeply, taking in his scent.
• Killian goes stiff as I do so, and then he sighs, “Anna, are you about to enter your heat?”
• “Huh?” I blink. “No, why?”
• I can’t be entering my heat. I don’t have a wolf, but there’s no denying the fact that I’m rapidly growing more aroused. Then again, who wouldn’t be in my position? Killian is right underneath me, and he is hard…and big. Very big, actually.
• His throbbing member presses against me, the tip dripping with arousal... Goodness me, is it taboo to grind against him and pleasure myself? He thinks I’m his future wife. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind, but… it’s wrong, right? To use him?
• A groan leaves my lips, and Killian chuckles underneath me, clearly amused. “You’re definitely entering heat.”
• I shoot him a glare. “That’s impossible.”
• “Impossible?” he snorts. “Anna, your juices are practically trickling down my thigh.”
• The comment sends a rush of heat to my cheeks. How is this even possible? I shouldn’t be able to go into heat without a freaking wolf…right?
• I’m at a loss for words, feeling a jolt of embarrassment and surprise. Killian is unfazed, almost seeming amused by my discomfort.
• “You know...” He trails off, seemingly unsure of how to continue. I glance up at him in surprise as he breaks the silence. “There’s... there’s nothing wrong with it, you know,” he says carefully. “I mean, you’re going to be my future Luna, so you might as well fuck me.”