CHAPTER FIVE

Flora’s POV

The tension between us snapped as I pressed my lips against his.

For a moment, his body went completely still, and I could feel the way his muscles tensed beneath my touch. It was as if he was frozen in place, caught between shock and hesitation.

The silence between us stretched, making my heart pound harder. A flicker of doubt crossed my mind—had I made a mistake? 

But just as I was about to pull away, thinking this might be moving too fast, I felt it.

His grip on me tightened slightly. His breath, uneven for a split second, fanned against my skin. And then, after what felt like forever, he kissed me back.

His lips were warm—no, scorching. His tongue moved against mine, and the sensation sent a shiver down my spine.

It was something more, something intense that made my heart pound in my chest. And then, his warmth, his entire presence, wrapped around me like a fire I couldn’t escape from.

The way his body pressed against mine made it impossible to ignore the pull between us. I didn’t even think as my hands instinctively reached for his shirt, desperate to remove the fabric that was in my way. But just as my fingers found the hem of his shirt, ready to pull it off, he suddenly stopped me.

His hand caught mine gently but firmly, halting my movements. My heart dropped. I swallowed hard, my breath coming out in uneven gasps.

“Why are you stopping me?” I breathed out.

“It’s going too fast,” he whispered, his voice low and sexy.

I wasn’t going to let this moment slip away.

Instead of backing down, I leaned in again, my lips fondling over his, teasing him. My fingers flexed against his chest, testing his firmness.

“I know you’ve been looking at me,” I murmured, my voice dripping with amusement. “Ever since we were on the dance floor. The whole night, actually.”

His eyes darkened. “How are you sure about that?” he whispered.

A chuckle escaped me. “You think I don’t know why you’re here?” I continued, my voice low and taunting. “You came here for fun, just like every other werewolf at Howling Den.”

Silence fell between us.

I could hear nothing but the rapid beating of my own heart.

His eyes were dangerous, magnetic. I felt myself being drawn in, even as I pushed him further.

Then, he finally spoke.

“You’re not the first woman I’ve met here.”

Something sharp coiled in my chest at his words, but I kept my expression neutral.

“Is that so?” I mused, lifting an eyebrow. “Then tell me—who were they?”

I could see the way his eyes traveled, moving down to my lips before flicking back up to meet mine again. There was something unreadable in his expression, something dark and restrained.

"I was introduced to three beautiful women in a VIP room," he finally said. 

A slow smirk played on my lips as I tilted my head. “But you’re here, right now, with me. So I guess they didn’t interest you?” I asked, watching him closely.

He nodded, then this time he stared at me with his mesmerizing eyes.

They were hungry. Filled with something unspoken. A pull. A need. It was as if he wanted to continue what had started between us, but something inside him was holding him back.

I reached out, my fingers tracing over his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin through the fabric of his shirt. Then, without thinking, I pressed my palm flat against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my touch.

"I'm not like them, you know," I murmured, my voice soft yet laced with confidence. 

"You remember what I told you earlier, don’t you?" I continued, my voice unwavering. "My boyfriend cheated on me. He shattered something inside me. And because of that… I just want to feel like myself again."

I swallowed hard, willing him to buy my story. "I just want to forget, even for a little while."

He didn't respond right away.

“Think this through,” he said at last, his voice firm, yet there was something almost thoughtful about it. “Because I know you’ll regret this in the morning.”

His words should have made me stop. Should have made me think twice. But instead, I bend closer, wrapping my arms around his waist, pressing myself against him.

“I won’t regret anything,” I whispered, my lips barely inches from his. “I want to live in the moment.”

I studied his face, searching for a reaction.

"If you don’t want me, then make a choice," I said, shrugging as I let my hands drop. "I’ll find someone else. But tonight, I want to get laid."

There it was. The blunt truth. No sugarcoating.

"So what do you say?"

“You’re too young for this,” he said instead. I stared at him, disbelief spreading across my face. Screw this!

I huffed in annoyance and pushed him away. “Ugh! If you don’t want to, then forget it,” I snapped, irritation boiling over me.

I turned on my heel and strode toward the door, grabbing the handle, ready to walk out. I opened it and before I could even get out, a strong hand slammed down over mine, stopping me.

The warmth of his palm against my skin sent a jolt through my body. My breath caught in my throat as I turned to look at him.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he murmured, his tone a quiet warning.