Amelie lay nestled against Gabriel’s chest, both of them comfortably sharing the same poolside lounger. The faint sound of water lapping nearby blended with the quiet rustle of the breeze. Her fingers interlaced with his, and she softly murmured, "You have such big fingers."
Her touch trailed to the ring he wore, the one engraved with the initial of her name.
Gabriel gave a small smirk. "You just noticed that today?"
She nodded slightly. "Mm-hmm."
A brief silence followed before she asked, "When are we going back?"
Gabriel’s fingers gently combed through her damp hair in a soothing touch. "We still have time. Why? Don’t you like it here?"
"I do," Amelie replied with a faint wistfulness. "I love it here. We’ve made memories I’ll hold on to forever."
He tilted his head, brushing his lips lightly against the curve of her neck, his voice quieter now. "Then what’s wrong? You sound... off."
"I’ve never been cared for like this before," Amelie murmured, a soft smile curving her lips. Her eyes glimmered. "I didn’t know love could feel like this. It’s not just about being close physically, it’s every heartbeat, every silent thought, every piece of me. Just thinking of you makes my heart race. You’ve shown me what real love is. And I never want to be apart from you, no matter what life throws at us. Because if that ever happens... I don’t know how I’d survive."
Gabriel leaned closer. One hand rested gently over the slight swell of her belly while other held her hand. "You think too much sometimes," he whispered with a tender smile. "No power in this world can tear us apart. I’d fight fate itself, for you, and for Noa."
He snuggled her close to him, pressing a kiss on her cheek. "I know things have been difficult for you in the past, and it’s not easy to move on from them completely, but you must remember you deserve to be happy, Amelie. The others thoughts about you don’t define you," Gabriel murmured, his fingers trailing up her belly to her chest.
Amelie shut her eyes, surrendering to his touch. "Yes, I understood that part," she replied, biting her bottom lip. She felt his fingers just teasing by touching the curve under her breasts while his nose nuzzled the crane of her neck.
Amelie straddled him as she turned to face him. Her chest rose and fell in anticipation as she looked into her eyes.
"You are turned on," Gabriel grinned, "just with a few touches."
"And you?" Amelie slowly traced her fingers down from his chest to the taut muscles of his chest. Her hand inched closer to his v-line, inching near the bulge that restraineg against the swimming sweatpants he had on.
She noticed the way his Adam’s apple bobbed with a swallow. Leaning in, she pressed a gentle kiss to it, then let her hand explore further.
A groan escaped his throat. His hand moved to the back of her head and his lips crashed onto hers. She turned breathless in just one kiss and slightly parted her lips, but his entire mouth shut her, kissing her with an intense hunger.
His hands found her hips soon pulling her closer to him before standing up.
Amelie broke the kiss, gasping for air. "Put me down. I can walk inside," she murmured.
"Why? It’s better to carry you to the room," Gabriel said. "No one is here accept us. And even if anyone is around, they must turn their face away," he asserted.
"You become shameless sometimes," Amelie nudged his shoulder and he began walking. Amelie hugged him, her face burying in his neck. The musk scent wrapped her, further turning on her. Her teeth grazed his skin, leaving a hickey behind and his feet stopped just as they reached the door.
His eyes widened for a brief moment. Without wasting another second, he walked into the room and carefully put her down.
Gabriel’s both hands cupped her face, kissing her more hungrily this time. She was on her toes to reach his height when felt the cool wall pressed against her back.
Walking slowly, they reached the couch and Amelie landed on it first while Gabriel remained on her top. His lips detached from her mouth and lowered to her collarbone, leaving wet, open-mouthed kisses on it.
Amelie’s breath hitched, a soft moan slipping past her lips when his mouth found its next destination.
He moved lower, gently parting the fabric that separated him from her skin. One hand cupped her breast, thumb brushing over the sensitive peak, while his lips explored the other with reverence.
As he blew air over her sensitive peak, he immediately took it in his mouth, making her cry his name in pleasure. His gentle ministrations brought Amelie closer to the edge of her climax.
"Hngh."
Her fingers wove tightly into his hair as her body arched into his, reacting instinctively to the warmth and worship of his touch. Every part of her seemed to crave him, not just physically, but soulfully.
Then, with a swift movement, Gabriel flipped their positions. Now his back was on the couch, and Amelie was astride him, her legs on either side of his hips. The shift startled a breath from her, but his grin grounded her again.
"Now it’s your turn," he murmured. He guided her hips gently, making her grind against him. The contact drew a soft gasp from her lips, and he watched every flicker of emotion on her face: desire, love, and shyness.
"I’m wolf-less," Amelie whispered, her voice trembling slightly with vulnerability, "but I want to mark you. I don’t know if it’ll even work..."
Gabriel’s eyes softened, and his hands moved to her waist. "Do it," he encouraged her. "We’re fated, Amelie. That bond runs deeper than blood or power. If your heart chooses me, then it will work."
Her chest pressed against his as she leaned forward, feeling his heartbeat sync with hers. She brushed her lips over his neck, the same place she’d grazed earlier, but this time slower.
Then, with closed eyes, she bit the spot with reverence, claiming Gabriel forever in the most sacred way she knew. She heard him groan, calling her name and his fingers threading into her hair once again.
Amelie licked that spot before pulling away slowly only to find the mark didn’t appear there. It saddened her, which caught Gabriel’s eyes.