Defying the Lycan King

Chapter 176: My Kira

Derek carried her as if she weighed nothing, his arms strong and sure beneath her thighs.

His mouth never left hers as he crossed the room, the kiss deep and unhurried now, filled with a quiet surrender that neither had allowed themselves before.

He lowered her onto the bed with surprising gentleness, following her down until his body covered hers. The mattress dipped under their combined weight. For a moment he simply looked at her, amber eyes soft, tracing every line of her face as if committing it to memory.

"Kira," he whispered, voice rough with emotion. "My Kira."

She reached up, threading her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer.

"Come here," she whispered.

He came.

Their lips met again, slower this time, a kiss that spoke of days of longing finally given permission to breathe.

Derek’s hands moved with reverence, as he reached behind her and unclasped her bra, drawing it away and setting it aside, sliding the rest of her dress down her body until it finally hit the floor.

He worshipped every inch he uncovered — the soft curve of her shoulders, the gentle swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist.

His lips followed the path of his hands, pressing open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone, down between her breasts, tasting the salt of her earlier tears and the warmth of her skin.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured against her stomach, voice thick. "You’re so very beautiful, Kira."

Kira’s breath hitched as his hands caressed her thighs, parting them gently. There was no rush now, only a deep, aching tenderness.

She arched into his touch, fingers tightening in his hair as he explored her with his mouth and hands, learning every sigh, every shiver.

He worshipped her like a man who had been starving for something sacred, his beast humming contentedly beneath his skin.

When she tugged at his shirt, he let her pull it off, then the rest of his clothes, until there was nothing between them. Skin against skin. Heart against heart. He settled between her thighs, bracing himself on his forearms so he could look into her eyes.

"I like you, Kira," he said quietly. "More than I ever planned to. More than I thought I was capable of."

Tears pricked her eyes again, but this time they were different — warm and healing. She cupped his face, thumbs brushing his cheekbones.

"Then show me," she whispered. "Let me feel it."

Derek entered her slowly, inch by inch, his forehead pressed to hers. A shared groan filled the room as they joined completely.

He stilled for a moment, savouring the tight, perfect heat of her, the way her body welcomed him home. Kira wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, and for the first time in their marriage, they both surrendered to each other.

They moved together in a rhythm that felt old and new all at once. Tender and desperate.

His thrusts were deep and measured, each one a silent vow. Kira met him stroke for stroke, her hands roaming over the strong planes of his back, feeling the flex of muscle beneath her palms. She kissed his neck, his jaw, anywhere she could reach, whispering his name like a prayer.

Derek buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in — jasmine and warmth and home.

"You feel like mine," he rasped. "You are mine."

"And you are mine," she answered, voice breaking on a moan as pleasure built between them, coiling tighter and tighter.

He savoured her with every movement, hands sliding over her breasts, thumbs circling sensitive peaks, mouth claiming hers again and again.

The desperation grew, their pace quickening as years of guarded hearts finally gave way. Kira’s fingers dug into his shoulders, her body trembling beneath him.

"Derek..." she gasped.

"Let go, little wolf," he murmured, voice strained with his own rising pleasure. "I’ve got you."

The wave crashed over her first. Kira cried out, back arching, inner walls clenching around him in powerful pulses of release.

The sight and feel of her coming undone pushed Derek over the edge moments later. He groaned deeply, burying himself to the hilt as his own climax tore through him, hot and endless. He held her close through every shudder, every aftershock, pouring himself into her with a surrender that shook them both.

They stayed locked together afterwards, breathing hard, hearts thundering against each other. Derek rolled them gently so she lay sprawled across his chest, his arms wrapped securely around her. He pressed a soft kiss to her temple, his fingers tracing lazy patterns along her spine.

Kira nestled closer, a small, contented sigh escaping her lips as exhaustion and peace finally settled over her. For the first time in a long while, the world outside their bedroom felt far away.

There were still secrets and storms waiting, but tonight, in this moment, they had chosen each other.

"So," Derek said after a long stretch of comfortable silence, his fingers tracing lazy circles along her arm. "I need you to be honest with me, Kira."

She let out a long sigh, shifting slightly so she could see his face. "Ask your question, then."

"I want you to tell me what’s going on between you and Brian." His hand paused. "I perceived him on you. That night I told you about the soulbonds."

Kira lifted her head and looked at him.

"There’s nothing going on between Brian and me," she said plainly. "He’s been trying to seduce me. That’s all it’s ever been."

Derek said nothing. His fingers resumed their slow path up and down her arm, but she felt the tension thread back into him.

She pushed up onto her elbow, reached out, and turned his face toward hers so he had nowhere to look but at her.

"I could never want a man like Brian," she said firmly. "Not in a thousand years. I held my tongue for so long only because I didn’t want to start something unnecessary, to throw more fuel on whatever already burns between the two of you. And I honestly thought, I could deal with it on my own."

For a moment he simply stared at her. Then he sighed, the sound heavy with something close to relief mixed with lingering frustration. freewёbnoνel.com

"And Braxton?"

Kira laughed softly. "Braxton feels more like a brother to me than anything," she said. "There’s nothing there, Derek. Nothing at all."

The corner of his mouth twitched. He pulled her close and kissed her deeply, pouring into it all the complicated emotions he still struggled to name. When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against hers.

"Rolf has fled his pack," he said quietly. "But my man has been tracking him. We have his location now. I plan to move on him tomorrow."

He hesitated, searching her face. "He might not make it alive after tomorrow, Kira."

She stared at him, stunned, as it struck her, with no small amount of shock, what this actually was.

The cold King of Dravengard, who answered to no one, was asking her permission. To kill the man who was, in name at least, her father.

"I don’t care about that man," she said, and her voice did not waver. "He’s been dead to me for a very long time. Do what you must."

A lopsided smile tugged at Derek’s mouth.

"Come here," he murmured.

He pulled her back into him and kissed her again, then kept going, pressing his lips to her forehead, her closed eyes, each of her cheeks, before finally lowering his head to rest in her lap with a long, contented breath.

"Let’s not talk about anything else tonight," he said, voice low and tired.

Kira stroked her fingers through his hair, smiling down at him, her chest warm and full.

For a moment, she wondered if now was the time. If she should tell him about Brian’s photographs, the blackmail, the part she herself had played in slipping away to meet Lydia.

But she looked down at his relaxed face, the way his eyes had closed in rare peace after everything they had shared.

Not tonight. Not after everything they had just shared. This moment was too precious to ruin.

Don’t worry, Derek, she thought, smoothing his hair back. I’ll tell you everything when I return.