Chapter 24 – From Substitute to Queen (Sable & Caelan) Novel Free Online by Hannah Moore

The urge to touch her was almost unbearable. Storm kept pushing at my control, demanding I mark her immediately.

Without thinking, I reached out and gently brushed a few damp pieces away from her face.

Her skin was warm and impossibly soft. The simple contact sent shockwaves up my arm.

My hand lingered on her cheek. Even unconscious, her face seemed to relax at my touch, some of the tension leaving her features.

That tiny response broke something inside me.

Her lips parted slightly as she breathed, and I found myself leaning closer.

The strawberry scent was stronger here.

Just a taste.

I couldn’t stop myself.

My control, legendary among my pack for its iron strength, crumbled like tissue paper.

I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. Her lips were soft and warm, tasting faintly of vanilla chapstick.

The contact sent fire exploding through my veins, but I wanted more.

My tongue slipped out, tracing along her lower lip before pushing gently between them.

I found her tongue and sucked on it, savoring the taste of my mate.

The mate bond surged to life between us. Even in her unconscious state, I felt something deep within her responding—her wolf recognizing mine through the haze of sleep.

Heat pooled low in my belly.

My cock hardened against my jeans as I continued to taste her, my tongue exploring her mouth with growing hunger.

Then reality crashed back. I was seconds away from losing all control, from taking advantage of my unconscious mate.

I pulled back abruptly, my breathing ragged. My forehead rested against hers as I fought to regain my composure.

She remained completely still, lost in whatever dreams claimed her. But color had returned to her cheeks.

“Good night, Sabi,” I whispered against her lips, my voice hoarse with barely controlled desire. “I’ll watch over you.”

I pressed two fingers against the delicate skin of Sable’s wrist, feeling for her pulse.

The beat was steady and strong beneath my touch—no irregularities, no signs of distress.

I brushed the back of my hand against her forehead; her temperature felt normal.

The mate bond shock had overwhelmed her system, combined with whatever emotional trauma she’d endured tonight.

But her body was handling it well. A good night’s rest should restore her completely.

I tucked the blanket more securely around her shoulders and forced myself to step back from the bed.

Storm whined in my consciousness. “Stay with our mate. Protect her.”

“She’s safe. She needs space to recover.”

“We should be touching her. Holding her.”

“And terrify her when she wakes up?”

The logical part of my mind knew I was right, but every instinct screamed at me to crawl into that bed and wrap myself around her like a shield.

Instead, I walked toward the bathroom. My legs felt unsteady, like I was drunk on her scent.

I leaned back against the solid wood as I closed the bathroom door.

Deep breaths. Focus.

But all I could think about was the taste of her lips. The way her tongue had felt against mine, soft and sweet and perfect.

Heat pooled low in my belly, spreading outward until my entire body felt like it was on fire.

I stripped off my shirt and tossed it aside, then reached for the shower controls. Cold water would help. It had to help.

I stepped under the cold spray. But I couldn’t control my wild mind.

She tasted so fucking sweet.

Her soft lips parting under mine, the little sigh she’d made even in sleep when I’d deepened the kiss.

My cock hardened again. I fumbled with the button and zipper, shoving the denim down my legs.

Water cascaded over my shoulders and down my chest, but it did nothing to cool the fire burning inside me.

I braced one hand against the tiled wall, my breathing already ragged.

I couldn’t stop myself.

My free hand traveled down my torso, fingers trailing through the water running over my abs.

When I wrapped my fingers around my cock, I groaned at the contact.

I was already fully hard, the head flushed dark with need.

I closed my eyes and let the fantasy take over.

Sable lying beneath me on that bed, her amber eyes heavy with desire instead of fear.

Her hands reaching for me, pulling me down for another kiss.

“Please,” she would whisper against my lips. “I want you.”

My grip tightened as I stroked myself slowly, imagining her voice heavy with want.

In my mind, she arched beneath me, her soft breasts pressing against my chest as I settled between her thighs. Her nipples would be hard peaks, begging for my mouth.

“Caelan,” she would moan as I bit down on her throat.

My hand moved faster, the rhythm building as the fantasy grew more vivid.

I could picture her so clearly, legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me deeper as I pushed inside her tight, wet heat. She’d be so warm, so perfectly slick.

“More,” she’d gasp, her nails digging into my shoulders. “Harder.”

My hips thrust forward involuntarily, fucking into my fist as I imagined burying myself completely inside her. She’d take every inch, her body stretching to accommodate me.

The water beat down on my back as I lost myself in the vision. Sable’s face flushed with pleasure, her lips parted as she cried out my name.

“Yes, just like that,” I could hear her saying. “Don’t stop.”

My strokes became more urgent, more desperate. I was so close, right on the edge, but something held me back.

Minutes passed. My hand worked frantically, but release remained just out of reach. My cock ached with need, harder than I’d ever been in my life.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I leaned harder against the wall, my breathing harsh and labored. Sweat mixed with the shower spray, making my skin slick.

Then I heard it.

A cry from the bedroom, soft but distressed. Sable’s voice, caught in the grip of some nightmare.

The sound of my mate in distress shattered the last of my control.

“Sabi…” I groaned, her name torn from my throat as my orgasm finally crashed over me.

My cock pulsed in my hand, cum shooting in thick ropes against the tile wall.

The release was so intense it left me shaking, my knees nearly buckling as wave after wave of pleasure tore through me.

I pressed my forehead against the cool tiles, gasping for air as the last tremors subsided.

I stayed there for several minutes, letting the water wash away the evidence of my desperation.

When I finally straightened up, I couldn’t help but shake my head at myself.

The Lycan King, reduced to jerking off in a shower.

The first time in my adult life I’d needed my own hand to find release.

But even as I mocked myself, I knew it wouldn’t be the last time.

*** Sable’s POV ***

My eyes snapped open to unfamiliar surroundings. Cream-colored walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Egyptian cotton sheets that definitely weren’t mine.

Where on earth?

I sat upright, heart hammering against my ribs. My hands flew to my clothes, checking frantically.

My shirt was still buttoned, jeans still zipped. Underwear…

Thank God, I breathed. Nothing happened.

Fragments of last night crashed back in waves. The mate bond. That overwhelming shock of recognition when I’d seen Caelan across the hotel lobby. The way his eyes had blazed gold before shifting back to blue. Then darkness.

I’d fainted. Right there in the middle of the Moonridge Grand marble lobby like some Victorian maiden. Fucking embarrassing.

Esme stirred lazily in my consciousness. “Good morning, sunshine. How are we feeling about our mate today?”

Don’t start.

“You can’t avoid this forever, Sable. The bond is real. He’s real.”

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