Page 69 of Knotted By the Triad

Daemin didn't slow down until we reached his bedroom. He carried me through the doorway as though I weighed nothing, his arms firm around me while my heart raced. My dragon had gone from content little purrs to practically clawing at me from the inside, demanding our alpha.

Mate. Ours. Want him. Now.

Daemin lowered me onto the bed carefully. For all the hunger I'd seen in his eyes, he didn't immediately climb on top of me. He stood beside the bed and stared down at me. There was something almost reverent in his expression.

“What?” I asked, suddenly feeling shy again.

“I imagined this last night as I watched you sleep.”

“You did?”

“I did.” He climbed onto the bed and settled over me, supporting his weight on his elbows so he wouldn't hurt my bruised ribs. “I never knew I could yearn for something so badly until I laid eyes on you, Zuri Bane.”

This man had a way with words. I reached up and touched his face.

“I think I understand what you mean, Wu Daemin. I find myself yearning for you also.”

“Mate,” he whispered, turning his head to kiss my palm. “I feared I’d never find you. But my dragon held out hope, telling me you were out there. I’m sorry for not believing him. I’m sorry for thinking my heart would always be lonely. In doing so, I left you out there alone. I left your heart lonely.”

“Our hearts aren’t lonely anymore,” I whispered, tears glistening in my eyes. “We’ve found each other. We’ve recognized each other. And now, it’s time for us to claim each other.”

A low growl rumbled through his chest. My dragon joined in, her soft growl mingling with his. The sounds vibrated between us, against us, through us.

I could feel them all over my body like a caress. Daemin lowered his head and kissed me. I'd expected something rough after the way he'd talked to me in the shower, but his first kiss was surprisingly gentle.

His lips moved against mine slowly, almost cautiously, as though he was giving me every opportunity to change my mind. I didn't. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. That was all the encouragement my alpha needed.

His restraint loosened. His mouth became more demanding against mine as one hand slid carefully around my waist, pulling me closer without pressing against my injuries that were healing fast.

I moaned into his mouth, and the sound earned me another deep growl from his chest. My strawberry-and-chocolate scent flooded the room, mingling with his leather and cloves. The scent was intoxicating. I rolled my body against his, unable to be still. Daemin broke our kiss and inhaled.

“Zuri,” he rasped.

“Yes?” I panted.

“You're making it very difficult for me to remember that I promised to take care of you. I’m supposed to be gentle with you.”

I smiled and ran my fingers through his damp hair. “This is taking care of me, alpha. And you are being gentle. But I’m not fragile. I won’t break.”

His eyes flashed. He kissed me again, deeper this time, his tongue sweeping against mine, leaving me breathless. Then he trailed heated kisses down my jaw and neck. His mouth explored me without rushing, peppering kisses over my collarbone before traveling lower.

My back arched, and my breathing grew heavier when his tongue twirled around my nipple. His teeth grazed my nipple gently, sending tendrils of pleasure straight to my clit. When another moan escaped me, Daemin paused simply to listen.

“Don't stop,” I whispered.

“I wasn't planning to. I just love the sounds you make, my beautiful omega.”

Those words earned him another little moan. He continued kissing his way over my body, worshipping me exactly as he'd promised. Nothing about his attention felt careless. Even consumed by desire, he remembered every bruise he'd seen while bathing me and avoided them.

The tenderness nearly undid me more than the desire did. For a moment, my mind was blown away by the fact that I was being kissed all over by Daemin. This wasn't supposed to happen. I'd planned to survive this world by avoiding becoming attached to these men.

I was supposed to eventually get divorced and live my life somewhere far away from the tower where the original Zuri Bane had died. Instead, I was lying naked in Daemin's bed, wanting him so badly that my entire body seemed to ache for him.

More importantly, I trusted him. That realization scared me. But damn it, I trusted this alpha with my life, my heart, and my body. I knew he would never hurt or betray me. Likewise, I’d never hurt or betray him.

And he was mine. All mine. I would never share him. Daemin kissed his way down my stomach, his damp hair brushing my skin as he moved lower. His hands slid beneath my thighs and drew them apart before he settled between them.

Seeing him in that position sent heat rushing through me. He kissed the inside of one thigh, then the other, slowly kissing his way higher. My pussy was embarrassingly wet. He leaned in close and breathed in my scent.