Seraphina’s POV
My hands moved automatically as I folded Julian’s crisp white dress shirt, placing it with care into the open suitcase spread across our bed. My body was here, going through the motions, but my thoughts kept drifting. This last-minute trip felt rushed, even though I understood why he wanted to move fast. We both wanted our daughter back, but the knot in my stomach wouldn’t ease.
I reached for another shirt when warmth pressed against my back. That familiar scent wrapped around like a blanket. Julian. He didn’t speak, just leaned into , his chin settling on my shoulder. His nose traced along my hair, then found the sensitive spot where my neck curved. The touch sent electricity racing down my spine.
His voice rumbled low against my ear. "I’ve missed this. Having you take care of these things for ."
I turned my head slightly, catching his eye with a teasing smile. "So you’re saying you missed having a personal servant?"
He pulled back enough to look at properly, his lips quirking up. "Not a servant, Seraphina. There’s sothing about you doing this that’s different. Sothing that makes it feel right. Intimate."
My pulse quickened. The warmth in his words lted away the last traces of old doubts that sotis still crept in. I dropped the forgotten shirt and turned fully, sliding my arms around his neck. His hands found my waist imdiately, drawing against him until no space remained between us.
When his mouth found mine, the kiss started gentle but quickly turned hungry. It was a kiss filled with longing, with emotions we were still learning to express, with a bond that grew stronger each ti we touched. A quiet thought whispered through my mind: This is getting easier. Beautifully, dangerously easy.
His fingers found the hem of my dress, tugging upward. I let him undress until I stood bare before him, feeling the heat in his gaze as it traveled over my skin. Our first ti together had been frantic, rushed. Special for , but I suspected barely morable for him.
He lifted easily, carrying to the bed and laying back against the soft sheets. When he settled over , his kisses beca more demanding, more desperate. His mouth trailed down my body, and when he settled between my thighs, pleasure shot through so intensely I cried out.
Everything else disappeared. The half-packed suitcase, the upcoming trip, the world beyond this room. There was only us, lost in each other, finding both comfort and passion in equal asure.
Later, we stood in the steamy bathroom wrapped in thick towels, our reflections blurred in the fogged mirror. Julian’s hair was still damp from the shower, and when he looked at , his expression had turned serious but gentle.
"I trust you completely," he said, his voice steady. "You can make whatever decisions you need to make about the house, our life, the pack. Just be careful around Roxanne. She’s manipulative. Dangerous when she wants sothing."
I nodded, feeling the full weight of his trust settling on my shoulders. "I’ll be careful," I promised, though my voice shook slightly. "But I’m not making any guarantees. The only reason I’m letting her stay is because she’s your daughter’s mother. That’s the only reason."
He gave an approving nod, then his eyes softened. "One of the things I really appreciate about you is your good heart."
A small pang hit . He appreciated my heart. He didn’t say he loved it. Didn’t say he loved . But I pushed the feeling aside. We were building sothing here, piece by piece. Maybe we weren’t ready for those words yet, but what we had was real.
"I’m worried about Dorian," I admitted, my voice dropping. "You’re leaving today. What if he realizes I already told you everything?"
Julian pulled closer, resting his chin on top of my head. "Dorian knows you well enough to expect you to handle your problems alone. He knows how independent you are. He won’t assu you ca to for help." He paused, and when he spoke again, his tone carried genuine warmth. "But I’m proud that you did co to . It ans everything, Seraphina."
His simple words filled with warmth, making that earlier sting about appreciation fade completely. This was real progress between us.
I pulled back to et his eyes, my voice firm with determination. "Go. Bring our daughter ho."
His smile was one of those rare, genuine ones that still made my breath catch.
"I don’t know how I’ll handle being away from you," I confessed. "Last ti you left, I got really sick." I wasn’t used to having a wolf yet, and sohow my wolf reacted strangely when he wasn’t nearby.
"It’ll be different this ti," he explained. "You’re ho now, surrounded by my scent everywhere. Plus we just got closer today, so my scent will linger on you longer." His explanation made sense, but when he returned, I thought I might be ready for the next step. Ready to mark him too.
"Don’t forget," he said, his voice turning serious again. "The second Dorian calls you, you call . We make decisions together on what to do next."
I nodded firmly. "We’re in this together."
The promise hung between us, solid and reassuring. Whatever ca next, we would face it as partners.
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