A soft hum of contentment slipped from Elena's lips as she savored the addictive scent of chocolate musk and fresh pine—it was comforting, serene, and strangely felt good. She nuzzled deeper into the warmth, inhaling the scent further.
But then, something solid pressed against her cheek—a firm, strong surface. Her lashes immediately fluttered open, and her breath hitched.
A bare chest. A hard, sculpted chest came into view.
Elena's eyes widened in shock as the realization dawned on her like a slap of cold water. She was wrapped securely in strong arms—his arms. Her husband.
Panic sparked in her chest and she immediately tried to pull out, but before she could curl out, King Killian's hold tightened around her waist, the other curling protectively around her shoulder as he dragged her closer, his breath tickling the shell of her ear.
"Stay." King Killian murmured, his voice low and rough.
He was awake?
Elena's heart pounded. Her throat ran dry. She was trapped. He said to stay, she couldn't disobey, even though she didn't quite understand why he wasn't scolding her for invading his space.
Elena thought she had rolled over to King Killian's side last night, and was ready to move away the moment she realized it. She felt anxious to know that he was already awake and didn't even bother pushing her out or trying to end her. Instead, he asked her to stay. Was this some kind of manipulative tactic?
Elena's nerves twisted into knots. She didn't trust this silence. Not from him.
After what felt like an eternity, King Killian finally spoke.
"I can smell how nervous you feel Elena."
Elena gulped.
"Stay calm."
"Your heart is racing so fast and I do not want my precious wife to die from her heart exploding." King Killian stated coolly, his eyes still closed.
Elena didn't say a word. She didn't know what to say. However, she tried taking deep breaths, to calm her racing heart, but it did nothing to help. Her heart was still drumming so loudly; in fact, it increased its pace.
At this point, If King Killian doesn't kill Elena soon from irritation, she was definitely going to die from the proximity.
Although the closeness wasn't sickening, it was way too overwhelming for her. Everything was new and strange.
Elena was in the arms of a man for the first time in years. She didn't know how to act or what to do. Should she be okay with this?
Definitely not. But somehow, she was okay with it.
What's worse, she felt tiny little things running around in her stomach. The same things she felt whenever she was around him. She couldn't understand them. But the feelings were great?
And then, as if charged, King Killian suddenly rolled and wrapped Elena under him, caging her in with his arms on both sides of her head.
Elena shrieked. Her heart fluttered. The heat of King Killian's body pressed down on hers, his scent clouding every thought in her mind and stealing breath from her lungs.
His eyes locked on hers, void as usual, but felt magical to Elena and for a second, it felt like the entire world narrowed to just the two of them.
"Come on, little wolf, I don't bite." He murmured, voice low and teasing, as he played with the strands of hair resting on her cheek.
Elena's lips parted, trembling slightly, chest rising and falling rapidly as her back pressed into the bed. One hand instinctively clutched the sheets beneath her, knuckles turning white. Her body tensed under his weight, stiff and solid.
"P-please move away from me," Elena murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"And if I don't?" King Killian voiced, leaning even closer towards Elena who pressed herself deeper into the bed.
"Please." Was all Elena could say. She was already feeling suffocated and was afraid that she might pass out. This closeness, his chest slightly pressing against her, his warm breath fanning her face, it was doing something strange to her.
How long would all these last?
Wait…thinking about it now, Elena never spoke to King Killian about the content of the contract, when it would be over, and when she'd be free.
Summoning enough courage, Elena finally asked. "W-when will this be over? When will our contract expire?" Her voice was shaky, evident to how much he made her nervous.
King Killian raised a brow, eyes pinned on her face for a while as if scanning the inside of her skull. He leaned deeper again, slowly, as if purposely trying to get a certain reaction from Elena before he finally said, "There's no end to the contract love."
He sniffed her again, a low growl escaping his lips before he added. "You were sold to me before the contract was signed. So I own you. And I can decide to keep you till eternity. And most importantly, I can do whatever I want to do with you. You belong to me and there's no going out of this."
Elena pressed herself deeper into the bed… if that was even possible. Her heart spiked, not from the usual overwhelming feeling, but because she sensed that there was something deeper in King Killian's words. Something darker. Cruel.
Elena couldn't tell what all of these meant and the voidness in his eyes made it impossible to read his emotions. He was literally like a statue. A handsome one.
"Precious little wolf," King Killian whispered into Elena's ear, the softness of his breath triggering a wave of goosebumps on her skin.
Elena released a small moan, her fingers wrapping tighter around the sheets and her toe curled up the moment King Killian slid his tongue against her ear, licking it seductively. "I can do this," he whispered, then traced his lips down to Elena's chest and kissed the middle. "And I can do this as well."
Elena gasped, her eyes almost rolling out of their sockets. But she didn't say a word. Didn't push him off. It was as if she wanted more and for that reason, she instinctively pushed her chest up.
This wasn't right. Maybe it was? Why was her body reacting this way?!
King Killian couldn't help but smirk at Elena's reaction. Without warning, he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her up, making her sit very next to him. "I can also do you, my pretty little wolf." He added, and with a swift motion, he pulled her into his lap, grabbed her thigh, and gave it a little squeeze.
"I can do whatever I want with you, when I want and how I want to." He whispered again, his lips brushing against her neck.
Elena released another moan, her eyes rolling to the back as King Killian sucked on her neck, teasing her with his tongue. She closed her eyes, relishing this new heavenly moment.
Then, all of a sudden, King Killian stopped, and Elena's eyelids fluttered open. They landed on the same pair of beautiful void eyes.
"But of course, I would not want to overwhelm my pretty price, so I'm not going to force you." He voiced and Elena almost sighed in disappointment.
Disappointment? What was wrong with her?! She shouldn't want this!
As Elena's mind raced with so many thoughts, King Killian used the opportunity to push her back to the bed, trapping her under him once more. "However, dearest little wolf, I'm going to make you beg for it. I'm going to make you want me. Your fears….I'll turn them into desires!"