Chapter 194: Always meant to be mine

Alyssa waited impatiently for Dorian to emerge from the bathroom. She knew she shouldn’t be thinking of the worst-case scenarios, but the ominous edge in his voice had her imagination spiraling into the dark.

She quickly pulled on her night wear and sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers knotting together as she waited. Several long minutes passed before the door finally opened and he stepped out. A white towel was wrapped low around his hips, glistening droplets of water trailing down the taut contours of his chest and abdomen.

Her heart kicked against her ribs, hard and fast, as he ran a hand through his damp hair and shook it free.

Goddess, he was breathtaking. They had been married for nearly a year, yet the sight of him still made her pulse race. She still flushed like a breathless schoolgirl whenever he flashed her one of those charming devastating smiles.

"You’re staring," he teased softly, his deep voice slicing through her thoughts.

Alyssa snapped her mouth shut, realizing her jaw had dropped slightly, and let out a nervous laugh as a wave of heat rushed to her cheeks.

"I’m just... wondering," she murmured, her voice dipping lower.

Dorian discarded the towel without a second thought, his lips curving into a smug grin as her eyes instinctively darted south to the thick, hardened length between his thighs.

He casually pulled on a pair of black trousers resting over the armchair, stepping toward the bed until he stood towering right in front of her.

"Wondering about what?" he asked, leaning down to bring his face close to hers, his mouth hovering mere inches away.

Alyssa swallowed hard, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. Her breath hitched in her throat as his eyes tracked the movement, darkening with heat and desire.

"Wondering how I got so lucky to end up with such a charming, devastatingly handsome man."

Dorian’s smile widened into something dangerously wicked. He brushed his lips against hers in a sweet kiss, his warm breath mingling with her own.

"You want me to tell you how?" he whispered against her mouth, his hands sliding down to gently peel her nightshirt up and over her head.

Alyssa bit her bottom lip, her back arching deeply as he cupped one full breast. His thumb stroked over the peak, teasing the hardened nipple before rolling it expertly between his fingers.

"Mhhhm," she moaned, his name breaking from her throat in a ragged whisper. "Dorian... tell me..."

Dorian dropped to his knees, positioning his body between her spread thighs. He took off her shorts, gently pressed her down onto her back, then lifted her legs and hooked them securely over his broad shoulders.

"Because," he growled low, lowering his head until his lips brushed over the wet, sensitive nub of her core. "You were always meant to be mine."

He swirled his tongue fiercely over her clit, gripping her thighs tightly as her hips bucked helplessly off the bed. His mouth was relentless, merciless, and completely torturous.

Every stroke, every deep swirl of his tongue sent her spiraling out of control into a haze of raw, unhinged desire, her inner muscles clenching helplessly as she rubbed against his mouth.

"D-Dorian..." she cried out, her chest heaving for air, her legs trembling violently against his shoulders.

Dorian sucked hard on her sensitive peak, and just as he felt her begin to grind frantically against his lips, he pulled away and rose smoothly to his feet.

"You were made for me," he continued, his voice a husky rasp as he grabbed her waist and flipped her onto her stomach in one fluid motion. He brought his open palm down with a sharp stroke against one soft ass cheek.

A sharp gasp escaped her, intense pleasure coursing through her veins. Her toes curled tightly as he pulled her up to her hands and knees, his hand pressing firmly into her lower spine until her hips were arched high into the air.

He unzipped his trousers, freeing his rock-hard length, and lined himself up before driving swiftly into her slick heat.

Alyssa screamed into the mattress, her fingers tangling desperately in the sheets. Every deep thrust stretched her full, sending electrifying shockwaves straight through her system.

"I was meant to find you," Dorian groaned thickly, his eyes rolling back as his pace quickened into a hard, punishing rhythm, his hips grinding erotically against her ass. "In every universe. Every eternity."

He reached out, gathered a fistful of her hair and gently pulled her head back, while his other hand delivered another hard spank to her ass.

"Dorian..." Alyssa whimpered, breathless, undone. "I’m gonna cum..."

Dorian locked his grip on her hips, driving in deep and hard–once, twice–until her inner walls clamped around him in a tight, pulsing sequence.

"Fuck! You’re milking me," he growled against her skin, his own intense climax slamming into him the exact moment her orgasm took hold. He rolled his hips through the intense waves, riding the release until it drained him and he finally collapsed over her.

For several long minutes, neither of them moved. Outside, the storm had finally begun to ease, though thunder still rolled across the sky.

Alyssa lay flushed and fulfilled, the lingering dread that had gripped her earlier temporarily washed away by the intensity of his touch.

"Dorian," she whispered softly, her voice muffled against the sheets. "You’re squishing me."

Dorian chuckled, pressing a kiss to her nape. He pulled out slowly, hissing at the overstimulation, before rolling onto his side and pulling her against his broad chest.

"Was that answer enough for you?" he teased.

Alyssa grinned, resting her chin on his chest. "More than enough."

"I love you, baby."

"And I love you," she murmured, her fingers drifting up to trace the sharp line of his jaw. Slowly, the laughter faded from her eyes as reality settled back into the room. "You said there was something you wanted to discuss with me."

Dorian’s relaxed expression instantly shifted, growing dark and serious once more. He met her gaze, his eyes searching hers as he calculated the best way to break it to her.

Alyssa misread the silence, and a sudden wave of panic tightened her chest. "You’re scaring me," she whispered. "Did something bad happen?"

"No, not at all," he assured her quickly, his hand moving to soothe her back. "I didn’t mean to alarm you. I’m just trying to find the right words."

"Then just tell me," she pleaded. "You’re making me nervous."

"Okay," Dorian nodded, grounding her with his firm gaze. "It’s about your powers. And the approaching Winter Solstice."

She held her breath, her gaze locked on his. "What about it?"

"Pandora has filled you in on the significance of the Solstice, right?"

"She has."

"Then you know it’s the one night of the year when the full moon is at its highest, and when every Lycan and werewolf reaches the highest peak of their power."

She nodded again. "I know that."

"Well," Dorian continued, the words coming heavier now. "Every creature created by the Moon Goddess will feel the violent pull of that moon. Including the rogues, and the Onyx."

Alyssa blinked, the blood draining from her face as the realization hit her. "So you’re saying... there’s a chance I might... lose control completely?"

Dorian exhaled a deep breath. "I don’t know for certain. But you are my priority, Alyssa. Keeping you safe is all that matters to me. I want us to be prepared."

Alyssa stared at him, processing the weight of his words before slowly nodding. "Okay. I understand. What do we do?"

"I’ve already spoken with Nina," Dorian said. "She’s making a specialized talisman for you. It’s similar to Elvira’s, but far more potent."

"What exactly will the talisman do?"

"It will act as a suppressant," Dorian explained. "If your... other half attempts to awaken or push through during the Solstice, the talisman will bind it until the moon sets."

"My other half," Alyssa repeated, her eyes staring into the dim room as reality settled in. "You really believe my other half is an Onyx, don’t you?"

"It doesn’t matter what I believe," Dorian replied, his voice firm and unwavering. He pulled her tighter against his side, one hand stroking reassuringly along the smooth length of her thigh. "I don’t care if you’re half Onyx, half demon, or something else entirely. You are my wife. My Luna. And I will protect you no matter what."

Alyssa searched his eyes in silence for a long moment, the tightness in her chest finally easing as she let out a slow exhale.

"Alright. When will the talisman be ready?"

"By tomorrow night. If anyone asks, tell them it’s a gift from Nina. Until your powers fully awaken, that talisman will keep it tethered.

"Okay," Alyssa whispered with a smile. "Oh, before I forget. There’s something I was thinking about earlier today."

Dorian lazily traced slow circles against the skin of her hip, watching her closely. "What is it?"

"It’s about your uncle. Conri."

Dorian’s gaze instantly hardened, the warmth in his eyes replaced by brutal coldness. "What about him? Did he give you any trouble today?"

"No, nothing like that. But..." she licked her lips, choosing her words carefully. "He knows what I am, Dorian. And after what you did to Joffrey, he’s going to want blood. He’s going to want revenge."

"Conri wouldn’t dare strike openly," Dorian said confidently. "I know my uncle. He’s still after the crown, but he wouldn’t dare reveal what he knows."

He rolled onto his back, his icy eyes staring up into the shadows of the ceiling, his jaw clenched tightly. "I have eyes on every move he makes. The moment he makes any move, I’ll destroy him."