Her lips pressed against his with sudden eagerness, and Kaden’s body locked in place. The urge to pull away hit him so hard it almost made his shoulders jerk, yet he stayed where he was. Eloise’s hands slid up his chest and curled into the front of his shirt as she deepened the kiss, tilting her head to fit their mouths together more closely.
Something in him snapped. He moved without thinking, turning them until her back met the cool stone wall of the Beta residence. The impact drew a soft sound from her throat. He kissed her harder, matching her intensity with a force that felt almost punishing, as though he were trying to prove something to himself. His hands settled on her waist, fingers pressing firmly into the fabric of her dress. Every point of contact sent a faint, unwanted tension through his arms.
Eloise melted against him with a quiet, familiar moan. The sound was one he had heard many times before, yet today it slid over his skin without the usual answering heat. She arched closer, grinding her hips against his in slow, deliberate circles. Each roll of her body pressed her firmly against him. Kaden returned the pressure of the kiss, but the rest of him remained strangely detached. No warmth rose in his blood. No answering pull stirred low in his stomach. He could feel the softness of her body, the way she moved against him, yet none of it reached the place it should have.
The sweet, familiar scent of her arousal drifted up between them, rich enough to draw any werewolf’s attention. He knew that scent, yet today it felt different, still sweet, still thick with want, but somehow distant, as though it belonged to someone else.
Eloise broke the kiss just enough to whisper against his lips, her voice low and breathy. "Kaden... I’ve missed this."
He answered by claiming her mouth again, harder this time. The urge to pull away sharpened with every second, rising like a cold wave beneath his skin, yet he refused to give in to it. Instead, he increased the intensity, kissing her until she melted completely against the wall. Soft, helpless sounds spilled from her throat as he deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding against hers. He nipped at her lower lip, then harder, drawing a thin bead of blood. Eloise gasped into his mouth, the sound half-surprised, half-pleased, and pressed closer still.
"Kaden..." she breathed against him, the name shaky and warm.
He dragged his mouth from hers and trailed it along her jaw. The soft skin beneath his lips trembled. A faint flinch passed through his shoulders before he forced himself to continue. He kissed the sensitive spot just below her ear, feeling the rapid flutter of her pulse against his tongue. Eloise’s head tipped back against the stone with a quiet, broken moan, her fingers tightening in his shirt.
"Yes... there," she whispered, the words barely formed.
He moved lower, pressing open-mouthed kisses down the side of her neck. Each touch made her body soften further against him. When he scraped his teeth lightly over the curve where her neck met her shoulder, her fingers clenched harder and a longer, sweeter sound escaped her, one he knew too well. She ground against him again, slower this time, seeking friction. Her breath came in short, uneven pulls. Kaden’s jaw tightened. The urge to step back surged stronger, yet he stayed, answering her movement with the pressure of his mouth alone.
"Touch me," she whispered, voice thick with need. "Please."
She caught his hand and guided it downward, sliding it along the outside of her thigh. Her skin was warm beneath the thin fabric. Kaden let her move his fingers higher, the muscle in his jaw working as she urged him closer to the heat between her legs. Soft, needy sounds escaped her each time his hand inched farther. Her hips shifted restlessly, pressing into his palm. A cold tightness spread through his chest, but he did not pull away until the last possible moment.
Just before his fingertips brushed the damp fabric of her underwear, the internal struggle rose sharply, and he suddenly stopped. A clear image flashed in his mind, the day by the river when he had that annoying little wolf grinding against him. Her blonde hair had spilled against his chest. A low growl escaped his lips.
Eloise made a soft sound of protest, her hips still shifting against him. The irritation doubled. Why was this happening?
"Not here," he said, his voice rough. He pulled his hand back and rested both palms against the wall on either side of her, creating a small space between their bodies. "It’s noon. We’re standing at the entrance of the Beta residence."
Her eyes fluttered open. For a second, she looked dazed, then awareness returned in a rush. Colour flooded her cheeks as she glanced around, noticing the discreet way the servants had turned their backs or found sudden tasks farther down the path. Her face burned. She lowered her gaze, still clutching the front of his shirt.
"We should... go to my room," she whispered, the words shy even as the lust in her eyes remained thick and unmistakable.
Kaden could still smell the heavy scent of her arousal curling around them. He knew she wanted him badly. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
"Eloise," he said, the name coming out hoarse.
She pressed closer again, the hard points of her nipples brushing against his chest through the layers of clothing. Her voice turned soft and sugary. "Yes?"
He looked restrained. The hold he kept on her waist was firm, almost rigid, as though he were holding himself in place rather than drawing her nearer. Eloise’s eyes brightened with quiet elation. She clearly thought the tension in his body meant he was just as worked up as she was. She had no idea it was the opposite. He was fighting an internal battle he could barely name.
Kaden drew a slow breath and stepped back half a pace, creating clearer distance between them.
"I’m exhausted," he said, the words quiet but steady. "Everything from the hospital... I need to rest."
Eloise stared at him, stunned. Her flushed face and rapid breathing made the rejection land even harder. Before she could find a reply, he leaned in and pressed a quick, brief kiss to her lips. It was soft, almost apologetic.
"I’ll make it up to you," he murmured. "Get some rest."
He stepped fully away. Eloise remained against the wall, too dumbfounded to argue. The genuine weariness in his expression left her without a ready protest. She watched in silence as he turned and walked back towards the car.
Kaden slid behind the driver’s seat and shut the door. His nerves still hummed, every muscle tight. He glanced down at his trousers. There was no reaction at all, not the slightest stir. His jaw clenched hard enough to ache. He started the engine and pulled away from the Beta residence, the road stretching ahead of him while his thoughts spun in restless circles.
Was there really something wrong with him?
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