Chapter 47: Caught In The Devils Web

Chapter 47: Caught In The Devils WebAriana’s body shifted slightly as her eyes fluttered open, moving with the rhythm of her breath. A strong arm wrapped around her waist, holding her securely, while warm breath fanned softly against her neck. Her body remained unmoving. The weight behind her, the feeling of his face nestled against the crook of her neck—it was unmistakable. Zavren. His presence was overwhelming and hard to ignore. Her heart fluttered as realization dawned. Was he asleep? she wondered, biting back a gasp. Her hand slowly moved to the arm that held her, careful not to stir him. Gently, she traced her fingers along the veins on the back of his large hand. Wait, wasn’t she supposed to pull away and stand? But if she did, where would she go? She had already planned on staying here, given the gown she was wearing. At some point in her sleep, her gown must have ridden up—too much movement, perhaps—because now it rested awkwardly on her upper lap. Embarrassment bloomed in her chest, and just as she moved to tug the fabric down, Zavren pulled her closer. Tightly. Her breath hitched as her hands stilled, placing but not moving so as not to wake him. She would not want him seeing her in such a state. Her shoulder brushed his bare chest—bare?—and her back now pressed against the hard lines of his body. Her face flushed with heat as she realized the gown had shifted further up, her panties now exposed. Oh no... She stilled, heart pounding, when his hand slipped lower... and landed on her thigh. A soft gasp escaped her lips. She tried to calm herself, to steady her breath, but how could she? His touch sent shivers dancing down her spine—warm, slow, and unrelenting. "Oh, Snowflake," his voice came, low and rough, vibrating against her ear. "I was enjoying the trails your fingers drew across my veins." He was awake... all this time. Her heart stuttered at his words, the way his voice wrapped around her like velvet. She swallowed hard, trying to suppress the heat that flushed her skin. His chest shifted slightly against her back, the movement slow and deliberate. She dared not turn to look at his face, yet her curiosity burned. His hand didn’t move away. And then—it did. Not away, but along her. Slowly. Deliberately. Her lips parted as his touch began to caress her thigh, the movement featherlight but intense. "You’re so soft," Zavren murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He began to move his hands upwards slowly. Ariana’s lips moved up, her eyes following his hands, and then swiftly he moved his hands, now resting atop her inner thigh and panties. Ariana’s face burned as she moved her hands to pull his away. Just as her hands rested atop his, he pressed slowly to her clit, making her waist jolt upward slightly, her eyes flying wide. "I know you want me to touch you here," Zavren murmured, his finger pressing lightly against the inside of her thigh, this time with his thumb against her clit through her panties. Ariana’s body reacted instantly—her back arched slightly as her breath caught in her throat. "You want this, don’t you?" he asked, but to his surprise, she shook her head. Zavren chuckled, his finger circling gently over her clit as he pinched it lightly, still through her panties. Another gasp escaped her lips. Her body betrayed her—her lips parted, and her breathing grew quick and shallow. "Still in denial? Your body’s willing, yet you’re pretending you don’t want it," he whispered huskily. His hand slid up, resting flat on her stomach. The moment his touch left that sensitive spot, a strange emptiness lingered inside her. She didn’t understand it, but something in her craved more—needed more. Her face was flushed as she bit her lip, her chest beating. Zavren knew exactly what he was doing. She was trying to deny herself pleasure, and that only made him more patient—because once she gave in, she wouldn’t be able to stop. His hand glided slowly across her stomach. Ariana’s eyes narrowed. She hadn’t expected him to move like that. A tingling warmth rushed over her skin, her heartbeat pounding faster. As his hand traveled upward, Ariana instinctively placed her hand over his, stopping him. She suddenly realized—she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her lips pressed into a thin line, cheeks flushing red with heat. Zavren glanced at her ear—it was slightly pink. He pulled her closer, his breath brushing against her skin as he murmured against her neck, "Oh, darling... you want this. Your nipples are hard already—I can see them through your gown." Ariana’s face flamed with embarrassment. Was he toying with her? Her eyes dropped—and to her horror, he was right. Her nipples had visibly hardened through the thin silk. It was giving. ’Touch me, I need you to touch me now’ Her hand flew to her mouth in shock. Before she could react, Zavren’s hand slid up, resting gently over one of her breasts. Her body jerked slightly at the sudden contact. Her nipple, stiff and sensitive, pressed against the middle of his palm. Her hands moved to cover his through the silk nightgown as she turned her face to look at him. But the moment their eyes met, his hand gently squeezed her breast. Another gasp escaped her lips as her head snapped back to her breast he was touching. His thumb grazed over her nipple, slow and deliberate, then pinched it softly—sending a tremor of desire through her. "I’ve taken care of one... it’s only fair to give the other equal treatment," he whispered, his husky voice wrapping around her like velvet temptation. Before she could respond, his other hand moved to her second breast. Ariana had always had full breasts—but now, under his touch, they felt even more sensitive, more swollen with warmth. "They’ve gotten fuller," Zavren muttered, almost to himself, as he caressed and squeezed them gently. Did this man have no shame? No filter? He just said things as they were—raw, bold, unfiltered. Her mind swirled in pleasure and confusion. Before she could process it all, Zavren turned her body to face him. No longer spooning her, he now held her directly in front of him. Her eyes landed on his chest—flawless, toned, and dangerously close. Then she looked up. Oh, Lord. Those eyes—stormy, intense, unrelenting—locked onto hers. And those lips... "I want to touch you, my wife," Zavren spoke in a low tone as Ariana just watched him with wide eyes. The only word that rang through her head was the "wife" part. Just as she moved, Zavren pulled her closer. She felt the atmosphere shift—the air itself growing heavier—as he reached for the duvet and covered them both. Ariana’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, curious as to why he was doing that. Just as she tried to shift away, his deep voice rang out, firm and commanding, his arms holding her in place. "Aria, be still." She stilled immediately. She knew he was serious, but why did the way her name rolled off his tongue sound so seductively soothing? Her toes curled softly. Before she could move again, there was a soft knock on the door. To her surprise, Zavren’s deep voice responded coldly, just like always. "In." That was all he said. The large door creaked open as Leah entered. No wonder... he must have sensed the presence approaching from far away. Was this truly how his powers worked? So if she ever tried to escape, would he sense her instantly? Calm down, Ariana, she whispered inwardly, trying to steady her racing heart. She noticed that not once did the woman who entered lift her gaze. Her eyes stayed lowered as she pushed in a rolling cart stacked with food, the meals neatly covered with royal plates. Leah wheeled it quietly toward the table, just as she was about to open it to arrange things. "Leave." Zavren’s voice struck the room like ice. Ariana’s body shivered lightly from the emotionless intensity in his tone. Even though it wasn’t directed at her, she still felt its weight. Leah bowed quickly and left, closing the door gently behind her. As soon as the door clicked shut, Zavren stood. Ariana sat up and watched him. His back—sculpted and firm—was as perfect as the rest of him. Gracefully, he walked toward the door. Click. He locked it. The sky outside had darkened. Ariana’s eyes moved in surprise at him. She had thought he was about to wear his shirt and leave. Why was he still here? She had planned to eat and go to bed right after. And if she didn’t feel sleepy, she would’ve gone to the window to stargaze—something that always brought her a quiet kind of comfort. Or maybe read a book. But now... why did she assume he’d leave? This was their room, after all. "You look quite disappointed, wife," Zavren said, his voice cool. "Did you really think I’d leave... just like that?" he trailed off, heading toward the bathroom. Just as the door closed, Ariana inhaled and exhaled as she stood and walked to the cart. When she lifted the cover, her mouth watered at the sight of the meal. Everything looked delicious—too much for one person. Even if Zavren joined her, she doubted they’d finish it all. He hardly ever ate much anyway. Was it because he was an Alpha? She began organizing the dishes neatly on the table. Once done, she admired her work, then sat down and started eating silently. Her thoughts drifted back to Zavren. He hadn’t returned. Was he having a bath? She continued her meal, lost in her thoughts, until the bathroom door opened. Zavren stepped out. His smoldering gaze immediately found her. Ariana stiffened in her seat. She had noticed him—and he had noticed her noticing. Without saying a word, he moved to the bed and lay down. The back of one arm covered his forehead and eyes, one leg bent lazily, his bare chest rising and falling in deep thought. Ariana grew curious. Why wasn’t he eating? She shifted slightly in her chair, stealing another glance at him. Her heartbeat steadied as her eyes traced the contours of his face—his hands shielding it just enough so he wouldn’t catch her staring. Her gaze flickered down to his perfectly defined chest. Her body stiffened when it landed on his abs, and she instinctively counted them with her eyes. E...eight? She’d expected six. Who had eight? Her lips pressed together as her eyes slid back up—only to freeze in shock when she realized his eyes were watching her... through the gap between his fingers. Startled, she quickly turned away and stood, pretending she had already finished. Zavren’s lips twitched in a faint, knowing smile as he watched her rise. Just as Ariana faced him, she froze—he was already standing, his towering frame looming. H...how did he move so fast? Her heart jolted, panic rising like a wave. The air thickened, heavy with an unsettling silence that sent chills down her spine. His eyes—sharp steel-grey, half-hidden beneath the fall of midnight-black hair—locked onto hers. "Snowflake," his voice was low, rough, almost dangerous. "Do you want to see my wolf?" Ariana’s eyes widened. His wolf? Could he transform right here? Fear tangled with curiosity. She’d always wanted to see a real wolf—but what if his was terrifying? Still, her hunger to know won over hesitation. Slowly, she nodded, holding her breath. A ghost of a smile curved his lips. "Good girl." Before she could even register the words, Zavren’s gaze darkened—and without warning, his fingers moved to unbuckle his belt as he began to strip. Her eyes flew wide. Was that the wolf he meant—his pe...