Rise of the Dark Alpha

~ ZEV ~

Zev wasn't sure how long they sat there, wrapped in each other, thrumming with love and the effects of their orgasms. But eventually they stopped kissing and Sasha rested her head in the hollow where his jaw met his neck. Neither of them spoke.

Zev felt sated, and happy, and utterly exhausted.

But eventually the cold began to seep through his skin. And even though he felt like he was fine, he worried Sasha would become chilled. So he pulled her head up and kissed her gently. "I think we should go back to the cave and take a nap, or something."

She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "Already?"

He snorted. "I meant an actual nap. That's the post-nap festivities. You're getting ahead of yourself."

Sasha sighed but sat back, pulling the jacket back around her legs, then blinking. "Omigosh, you're half naked, you must be freezing!"

She worried, and scrambled off of him, dressing herself and urging him to his feet and to put the jacket back on.

"I'm fine, really, Sash. I can deal with the cold a lot better than you." And their activities had left him flushed and heated. If she hadn't been worried, he wouldn't even have put the jacket back on, but he could see the concern in the lines on her forehead, so after kissing her again, he dutifully put the jacket back on, but left it open and loose, because the cool air felt good on his skin.

As they walked, hand in hand, back up the ravine, he realized he was still sweating a little, which was unusual for him. But that bond… he was going to have to ask around and see if any of the older males had ever spoken with an ardent pair. He hadn't expected his entire body to… reflect hers.

That was going to be fun. And possibly inconvenient at times. He looked at Sasha, who walked, hugging his arm, a small smile on her face.

Her cheeks were pink, but she didn't seem to be feeling the cold either.

Were they somehow heating each other?

Sasha had left her jacket unbuttoned as well, and when they reached the switchback on the trail that would lead them back atop the ravine and into the cave, he stopped, blocking her way.

She looked up, about to ask what he was doing, but he only pushed the fur aside on one side, baring one breast to his eyes, and stroking the side of it with gentle fingers.

Her nipple, already hard, peaked immediately and Zev growled.

"This is… incredible," she breathed.

Tearing his eyes off her beautiful body, he met her gaze and locked in.

Silver lines of tears lined her lids, but she was smiling.

"What—"

"I'm fine," she rasped. "Better than fine. I never thought… I never imagined there'd be a day when I'd feel like I could just let you look at me like that. Naked. In broad daylight!" she marveled. "But I do. I just feel… safe."

A tiny whine broke in his throat at the love and gratitude blazing in her eyes.

"Thank you, Zev," she whispered.

"For what?"

"For making me safe," she said, holding his arms and beaming up at him. "That's a gift. Knowing that you'll never mock me or… I don't know. I can just feel the love inside you and it… it makes me want to cry, it's so beautiful."

Zev swallowed. "You've always been safe with me, Sash."

"I know. And I believed that before you left. I believed it a long time after you left, too. I really did. But… these last couple years were really hard, Zev. Everyone told me I was a fool. I questioned everything."

He looked down at her, eyes locked, willing her to see—to feel his honesty. He was so angry with himself that he fell for such deception at the hands of Nick and the others, that he'd hurt her so badly.

"I can't control what's coming for us in the future, Sash," he said, his voice gruff with emotion. "I can't control what others will do—though I'll try like hell. I'll do anything to keep you safe. But no matter what… no matter what our lives look like, or sounds like… you have to know that I love you. Feel me."

He took her hand and put it to his chest, over his heart, so she could feel it, beating in time with hers.

"We're one. You're literally the other part of me, Sash. I don't care if I get mad, or sad, or busy… I will never stop loving you. They can kill me, but they can't stop my heart beating for you."

She's got tears in her eyes, but she's smiling. "Me too. It's all true, Zev. I feel exactly the same way. Even if I'm wrong. Even if I'm mad, or gone or… it doesn't matter. I'll still love you. I'll only love you."

For a moment he flashed, remembering that they would have to leave the next day. That this cherished alone time, this space to be just with each other and to say these precious things, was about to end. But even as his stomach sank, he shook it off. He still had her for today, all to himself. And he wouldn't let anything steal this time from them.

Dropping his lips to hers, he took her in another kiss—featherlight and slow, a long, gentle trace of his lips on hers, their tongues barely flickering.

Emotion welled in his chest when she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him there. He could feel her emotions swelling too, that reflection spiraling—this time with soft love, rather than demanding heat.

She gave him everything he gave her. And more.

Zev was awed.

With one more gentle kiss, he straightened, combed his fingers through her hair, then said, "Come on." And without another word, he took her hand and led her back to the cave.

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