Chapter 34 Her breast was full and pale white. The pink nipple stood erect in the cool air. Look away. Instead, I found myself memorizing every detail. The delicate blue veins beneath her skin. The way her breast rose and fell with each breath. I stared for several seconds, heat flooding through my body. The ache was too much, so I slipped my hand down and stroked myself a few times. Then I clenched my jaw and reached for the edge of her pajama top. I pulled the fabric back into place, covering her properly. But the damage was done. The image was burned into my retinas forever. Sable made a soft sound in her sleep and pressed closer. Her hand moved restlessly across my chest, unconsciously exploring. Then her palm slid lower. Her fingers found the rigid length of my erection through my jeans. I bit back a groan, my hips jerking involuntarily at the contact. This has to stop. But Sable's hand didn't move away. She seemed to press closer. She mumbled something incoherent and nuzzled against my neck. Her breath was warm against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. Storm was going insane in my consciousness. "Take her! She wants us! Can't you feel it?" Her hand moved again, fingers tracing the outline of my cock through the denim. The innocent touch was driving me out of my mind. I was seconds away from losing all control. From turning her onto her back and claiming what my body insisted was mine. Instead, I carefully extracted myself from her embrace. The moment I moved away, Sable whimpered in protest. Her arms reached out, searching for the warmth I'd taken away. "Stay, she whispered, still lost in dreams. "Please stay." I can't. If I stayed, I would do something we'd both regret. Something that would destroy any chance we had of building something real. I pulled the comforter up around her shoulders, pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and forced myself to step back from the bed. Then I rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door behind me. My hands shook as I reached for the shower controls, cranking the cold water to maximum. Ice-cold spray hit my overheated skin like a shock. I gasped, pressing my palms against the tile wall. Think about anything else. Pack reports. Border disputes. Anything. But my mind refused to cooperate. My cock throbbed painfully, demanding attention. 1/3 Chapter 34 Storm's mocking laughter echoed in my consciousness. "The mighty Lycan King. How many times now have you jerked off thinking about her?" Sable's POV My eyes opened slowly, consciousness drifting back like warm honey. Something felt different this morning. My body was relaxed in a way it hadn't been for… months? Years? "That's weird…" I stretched beneath the covers. "I haven't slept this well in forever." The stress knots in my shoulders had vanished overnight. Even my perpetual headache was gone. I felt… rested. But there was something else. A lingering warmth spread across my skin, like phantom traces of being held. Protected. just a dream. Except the sensation felt too real. Too specific. I could swear I remembered strong arms around me, the steady rhythm of another heartbeat against my ear. My hand moved across the sheets where the feeling was strongest. The fabric felt cool, but underneath- My face went nuclear red. "Oh god." I pressed both palms against my burning cheeks. "Tell me I didn't-" Fragments crashed back. Searching hands in the darkness. My fingers finding something hard and warm. Something unmistakably… male. "No way. That did not happen." But heat pooled low in my belly at the memory. "It was just a dream." But what if it wasn't? The possibility made my stomach flip. Had I actually… touched him? While he was sleeping next to me? Why would he be in my bed? Think, Sable. Think." I sat up, running my hands through tangled hair. 'What exactly do you remember?" Nightmare fragments surfaced first. Mom's voice calling my name. The moment when she died. Then… safety. Warmth. Someone whispering that everything would be okay. "Don't worry, sweetheart. You're safe! Carlan's voice. Low and gentle and absolutely real. "Fuck." I buried my face in my hands. "He was here." Which meant my wandering hands weren't part of any dream What must he think of me? Heat crawled up my neck as I imagined waking up pressed against him Had I thrown myself at him in my sleep? Chung to him like some needy A soft knock interrupted my spiral of mortification 'Sabi? You awake? Caelan's voice carried through the door. Can I come in?" 2/3 7:18 pm S Chapter 34 1 yanked the comforter up to my chin. "No." The word came out sharper than I intended. Silence stretched on the other side of the door. 'I… okay. His voice carried obvious hurt. Ill be in the living room when you're ready." I forced myself out of bed and into the bathroom. The shower was quick and efficient - I didn't have time for long, contemplative soaks. Gabriel's surgery was today, and I needed to be at the hospital early for prep. When I finally emerged from the bedroom twenty minutes later, fully dressed and emotionally armored, Caelan was sitting at the dining table. Dark circles shadowed his eyes like bruises. He looked exhausted. I didn't ask if he'd slept. "Morning," I said, grabbing my car keys from the counter. "I made breakfast." He gestured toward the table where a plate of toast and eggs sat waiting. Steam still rose from a fresh cup of coffee. "Your favorite blueberry scones from-" "I'm not hungry." The lie sat heavy on my tongue. I was starving, actually. But I wasn't ready to face him after his confession. Caelan's face fell slightly, but he recovered quickly. "Right. You probably want to get to the hospital early." "Yeah. I headed toward the door without looking back. "Gabriel's surgery is today." "Sabi, 1- "I should get going. I didn't let him finish. Whatever he wanted to say, I wasn't ready to hear it. "You can… do whatever you want today."