CHAPTER 45: INTIMATE ESCAPE

The night was still young, with moonlight draping itself into the room. Restless shadows spread across the walls, moving in time with the muffled sound of their tangled breaths.

Their kiss deepened as Rowan climbed over her, trapping both her hands until they were breathless and he pull away.

Rowan began to slow down, but his heartbeat was still rising. He brushed soft kisses across her forehead and then her eyes before he gently bit her earlobe.

His warm breath trail from her ear to the jawline, and the sensation spread through her, sending a shiver down to her bones.

"You drive me crazy..." he breathed, then slowly stopped in his tracks.

Rowan’s gaze examined Lyra, who was immersed in pleasure. Her eyes were hazed with desire, but her body went rigid as she struggled to contain the sensation.

Rowan lowered his head and asked, "Are you sure you can endure this?"

"Yes..." she answered in a trembling whisper.

Lyra lifted her eyes to the man pinning her beneath him. Only small parts of his features were visible in soft silver spots lit by the moonlight.

One hand lifted to cradle his face. "Don’t stop..." she pleaded.

Her fingers trailed down to his neck and over the sculpted plane of his chest.

Lyra’s touch made him groan, and he slowly pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before dragging his tongue along her neck, drawing a sharp arch from her body.

"I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to control myself once I started," the confession slipped out.

His desire strained at the edge of something dangerous and he didn’t know what he’d become once he stopped holding himself back.

"Then... let it ruin me," she urged, her voice shaking with need, asking him to let the hunger in him break loose for her.

"You have no idea what you do to me," he said with low and shaking with desire.

Rowan claimed her lips, then let the kiss fall lower, down to her neck again.

His finger ran down the curve of her spine before he slowly pinned her wrists above her head, holding her captive as he leaned down toward her softly rising chest.

He drew in her scent, his breath warm against her skin, as his lips wandered in slow, teasing trails along her curves.

Every arch of her body and every broken moan only fueled him, driving Rowan to push her closer to the edge.

Rowan lifted his gaze to her face, reading her every response before lowering himself again.

He toyed with the delicate fabric before dragging it slip aside, exposing every soft curve of her form.

Her legs strained against the mattress when Rowan began to savor the soft point of her chest, his other hand fumbling with the second.

She couldn’t calm herself, clutching his shoulder, braced herself against her husband’s impassioned advances.

Rowan’s hand traced down her side, coaxing her legs open before he dipped his face between them.

A desperate gasp broke from her the moment he began to favor the spot below.

"More... Rowan... don’t stop," she cried, her voice breaking. Her thighs quivered around him, her legs shifting helplessly.

His hand moved up to her chest, his touch working twice as hard to draw even more pleasure from her.

"Ah—Rowan... please... ahh..." His name spilling from her in broken breaths. Every repetition pushed him closer to losing control.

He kept savoring her until her moisture flooding the spot beneath his mouth.

Rowan slowly climbed back over her. Lyra was already lost in the abyss of pleasure before he even began his next move.

"Lyra... do you want me to continue?" he murmured, offering her a chance to stop him.

"Yes... I want you," she confessed, her body reaching for him before her mind could catch up.

Rowan took his time, positioned himself between her legs, ready to begin.

But Lyra gasped and stopped him.

The size startling her.

"Rowan... w-wait." Her eyes widened as she looked at it, trying to process what she was seeing.

"I’ve never done this before... um... don’t rush. Please... j-just be gentle with me."

Rowan cupped the back of her head, guiding her into a steadying kiss, trying to ease her fear.

"Trust me," he whispered against her lips. "I’ll be gentle..."

Rowan’s hand explored the length of Lyra’s thigh, while his other hand fumbled over her chest and his lips brushed against her skin, teasing the sensitive peak.

The touch melted her until she willingly parted her legs for him. He positioned himself, lining up with her, but Lyra was already arching toward him before he even began to lean in.

He started slow and gentle, careful not to startle her. Lyra’s breath uneven, nerves catching in her throat.

"Breathe, Lyra... don’t hold your breath," Rowan reminded her softly.

Rowan leaned in, and Lyra met him with her arms circling his neck and she arched the moment he began to move in.

Even though Rowan took cautious steps, Lyra let out a sharp cry when the initial pain tore through her.

Slowly, the sharpness melted away, swallowed by the heat building inside her... until the pain disappeared entirely, leaving only the pleasure that curled through every part of her.

The traces of blood mix with moisture stained the bedsheet, but neither of them realized it in the heat moment.

The room fill with their gasps and the soft shaking cries slipping from her lips until the last surge of pleasure broke over him.

A trail of dried tears clung to the corners of Lyra’s eyes, proof of how overwhelming the moment had been for her.

Rowan pulled her close, their skin still warm as they lay tangled beneath the blanket.

"Lyra, do you still want more?" he asked.

Her only reply was a soft, unconscious snooze.

She had already fallen into deep sleep. Rowan chuckled quietly and swept her hair back, watching her for a moment.

He left the bed and returned moments later with warm water and a towel. Rowan grabbed the small light nearby and set it beside him.

He cleaned Lyra gently, wiping her carefully so she wouldn’t wake.

He carefully parted her legs, checking the spot where he had entered her. There was a slight tear.

"Tsk..." He thought he had been gentle enough. Poor Lyra.

When he pressed the warm towel to clean the spot, Lyra flinched in her sleep.

Once it was clean, Rowan applied a soothing ointment to ease the sting.

Rowan went to wash up, and slipped back into bed, wrapped his arms around her, pressing a tender good night kiss to her temple.

He fell asleep with a satisfied smile, already hungry for the next moment with her.