\u201cYou\u00a0had\u00a0trouble\u00a0breathing?\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0asked,\u00a0his\u00a0brows\u00a0dipping as he\u00a0stared\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0cheeks\u00a0flushed;\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0lying\u00a0to\u00a0Gavin\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0symptoms\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0having,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0also\u00a0didn\u2019t<\/p>\n
tell\u00a0him\u00a0the\u00a0entire\u00a0story.\u00a0I\u00a0just\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0worry\u00a0about\u00a0him\u00a0or\u00a0anyone,\u00a0for\u00a0that\u00a0matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0little.\u00a0I\u00a0think\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0panic\u00a0attack\u00a0because\u00a0my\u00a0body\u00a0knew\u00a0something\u00a0was wrong,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0tell\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0nothing\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0concerned\u00a0about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen\u00a0it\u00a0comes\u00a0to you,\u00a0I\u00a0am\u00a0concerned\u00a0about\u00a0everything,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0pressing his forehead against\u00a0mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll\u00a0draw\u00a0you\u00a0a\u00a0bath\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0get\u00a0you\u00a0into\u00a0bed.\u00a0Irene,\u00a0can\u00a0you\u00a0get\u00a0some water\u00a0sent\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0master<\/p>\n
suite?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf\u00a0course,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0hurrying\u00a0away\u00a0without\u00a0another\u00a0word.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0rested\u00a0my\u00a0head\u00a0against\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0shoulder\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0carried me\u00a0upstairs\u00a0and\u00a0into\u00a0our\u00a0bedroom.\u00a0He\u00a0walked<\/p>\n
into\u00a0the\u00a0bathroom,\u00a0kicking\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0shut\u00a0behind\u00a0him.\u00a0He\u00a0sat\u00a0me down\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0counter,\u00a0pressing\u00a0a\u00a0gentle<\/p>\n
kiss\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0lips\u00a0before\u00a0he\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0our\u00a0large\u00a0and\u00a0glorious\u00a0bathtub.\u00a0He sprinkled\u00a0some\u00a0lavender\u00a0bubbles\u00a0into<\/p>\n
the\u00a0tub\u00a0before\u00a0filling\u00a0it with\u00a0hot water.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0the bathroom\u00a0grew\u00a0steamy\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0scent\u00a0of\u00a0lavender\u00a0became\u00a0potent,\u00a0relaxing\u00a0my\u00a0body\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0soul,<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0walked\u00a0over\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0stripped\u00a0off\u00a0my\u00a0clothes,\u00a0layer\u00a0by layer,\u00a0until\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0bare\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0eyes were\u00a0dark\u00a0with\u00a0desire\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0scooping\u00a0me\u00a0into his\u00a0arms\u00a0and\u00a0placing\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0hot<\/p>\n
water.\u00a0I\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breathy\u00a0moan\u00a0as\u00a0my\u00a0body\u00a0relaxed\u00a0even more.\u00a0It\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0help\u00a0matters\u00a0any;\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0grew\u00a0even\u00a0darker,\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0low\u00a0growl\u00a0escaped\u00a0his\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
I opened\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0him\u00a0at\u00a0war\u00a0with\u00a0his\u00a0wolf,\u00a0nearly\u00a0losing\u00a0control.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoin\u00a0me,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0all but\u00a0pleaded\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0reached\u00a0my\u00a0hand\u00a0out\u00a0to\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0nostrils\u00a0flared\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0looked\u00a0into\u00a0my\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0sure?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore\u00a0sure\u00a0than\u00a0I\u00a0am\u00a0about\u00a0anything\u00a0else\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0life.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0ask\u00a0him\u00a0twice;\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0quickly\u00a0stripping\u00a0off\u00a0his\u00a0clothes\u00a0and\u00a0getting\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0tub\u00a0behind\u00a0me,\u00a0wrapping\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0arms\u00a0so\u00a0my\u00a0back\u00a0was\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0front,\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0legs\u00a0were\u00a0sprawled\u00a0out\u00a0beneath\u00a0mine.\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0his\u00a0erection\u00a0pressing\u00a0into\u00a0my\u00a0back,\u00a0but he\u00a0made\u00a0no\u00a0movements\u00a0to\u00a0stick\u00a0it\u00a0inside\u00a0of\u00a0me\u2026\u00a0not\u00a0like\u00a0I\u00a0<\/p>\n
wanted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0want\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0whispered,\u00a0resting\u00a0my\u00a0head\u00a0against\u00a0his\u00a0chest\u00a0as\u00a0he ran his\u00a0fingers\u00a0all\u00a0along\u00a0my\u00a0smooth<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0742<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
skin.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0nipped at my\u00a0ear,\u00a0sending\u00a0a\u00a0warm\u00a0wave\u00a0of\u00a0chills\u00a0coursing\u00a0through\u00a0my\u00a0body.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd\u00a0I\u00a0want\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0whispered,\u00a0his\u00a0tongue\u00a0licking\u00a0the\u00a0nape\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0neck\u00a0where\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0marked\u00a0me\u00a0repeatedly.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0almost\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0slight\u00a0pink\u00a0line,\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0his\u00a0wolf\u00a0would\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0mark\u00a0me\u00a0again\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0it\u00a0fresh.\u00a0My wolf\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0hate\u00a0the\u00a0idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen\u00a0take\u00a0me,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0whispered.\u00a0I\u00a0reached\u00a0my arms\u00a0up\u00a0to\u00a0wrap\u00a0them\u00a0around\u00a0his\u00a0neck,\u00a0but\u00a0his\u00a0hands\u00a0came\u00a0up<\/p>\n
to\u00a0stop\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0can barely\u00a0keep your\u00a0eyes\u00a0open\u2026\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0almost\u00a0hoarse.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0was\u00a0right;\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0closed\u00a0the\u00a0entire\u00a0time,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0practically\u00a0sleeping\u00a0on\u00a0him,\u00a0despite\u00a0how\u00a0badly\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0mean\u00a0I don\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0means\u00a0you\u00a0should\u00a0be resting,\u00a0not\u00a0fucking.\u00a0As\u00a0badly\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0want to\u00a0make\u00a0love\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0mate,\u00a0your\u00a0well\u2013being<\/p>\n
is\u00a0more\u00a0important.\u00a0Let\u00a0me\u00a0make\u00a0you\u00a0feel\u00a0good\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0while,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0take\u00a0you\u00a0to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0ran\u00a0his\u00a0fingers\u00a0all\u00a0along\u00a0my\u00a0body,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0trembled\u00a0against\u00a0his\u00a0touch.\u00a0He\u00a0washed me\u00a0and\u00a0massaged\u00a0me,<\/p>\n
but\u00a0that was\u00a0as far\u00a0as\u00a0it\u00a0went\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0drift\u00a0off\u00a0to\u00a0sleep,\u00a0relaxed\u00a0and\u00a0feeling\u00a0safer\u00a0than\u00a0I\u00a0ever\u00a0had<\/p>\n
in\u00a0my\u00a0life.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0stood\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0middle\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0forest.\u00a0A\u00a0woman\u00a0stood nearby\u00a0as\u00a0well;\u00a0her\u00a0back\u00a0was\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0tell\u00a0she<\/p>\n
was\u00a0older\u00a0from the\u00a0way\u00a0she\u00a0stood\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0way\u00a0her silver\u00a0hair\u00a0glistened\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0moonlight.\u00a0When\u00a0she<\/p>\n
turned,\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0eyes\u00a0that\u00a0almost\u00a0looked\u00a0like\u00a0mine,\u00a0staring\u00a0back\u00a0at\u00a0me.\u00a01<\/p>\n
She\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0warm\u00a0smile,\u00a0like\u00a0she\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0seen\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0so\u00a0long,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0happy\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0there.\u00a0I<\/p>\n
honestly\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0how\u00a0I\u00a0felt.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0seen\u00a0her\u00a0before.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0reached\u00a0her\u00a0hand\u00a0out\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t take\u00a0it;\u00a0I\u00a0just\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0it,\u00a0a\u00a0frown\u00a0marring\u00a0my\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u00a0are\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0My\u00a0voice\u00a0echoed\u00a0as\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0were\u00a0in\u00a0an\u00a0empty\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0woman\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0longer\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0parted\u00a0her\u00a0lips\u00a0and\u00a0said\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0raspy\u00a0tone,\u00a0\u201cBlood<\/p>\n
calls\u00a0to\u00a0blood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 742 \u201cYou\u00a0had\u00a0trouble\u00a0breathing?\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0asked,\u00a0his\u00a0brows\u00a0dipping as he\u00a0stared\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0me. My\u00a0cheeks\u00a0flushed;\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0lying\u00a0to\u00a0Gavin\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0symptoms\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0having,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0also\u00a0didn\u2019t tell\u00a0him\u00a0the\u00a0entire\u00a0story.\u00a0I\u00a0just\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0worry\u00a0about\u00a0him\u00a0or\u00a0anyone,\u00a0for\u00a0that\u00a0matter. \u201cIt\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0little.\u00a0I\u00a0think\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0panic\u00a0attack\u00a0because\u00a0my\u00a0body\u00a0knew\u00a0something\u00a0was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21811"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21811\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}