HIRAM’S POV:
“Let me help you,” I say, closing the space between us without a second thought.
As my chest presses against her back, an instant pull grips me, one I try to shake off. Reaching for the book above her, our hands touch briefly, and I feel her breath hitch beneath me, fighting against the same pull that’s threatening to drown us both.
She spins around just as I grasp the book. Our eyes lock, lingering longer than they should.
My heart pounds as every nerve electrifies by her nearness. I want her—God, how I want her—but it’s too soon.
What is this curse?
“Thank you,” she murmurs, snapping me out of her spell.
But then she leans in, her breasts brushing my chest as she reaches for the book, sending my body into overdrive. My hand catches her wrist the moment the book leaves my grip.
In one swift motion, I pin her hands against the shelf. My gaze roams over her body like a predator stalking its prey. Her breathing quickens, and I watch the rise and fall of her chest, the V-cut of her shirt teasing me, as if her breasts are begging to be freed.
“Professor—”
“No need to be formal,” I whisper, watching her skin prickle in response.
She swallows hard, her lips trembling as my knuckles brush across her face, tracing her smooth skin. She closes her eyes as her lips part slightly.
She wants this. She wants me, and the pull is undeniable.
But I—
Before I can finish my thought, her lips crash against mine, and a jolt of lust surges through me. Instinctively, my arm snakes around her waist, pulling her small body against me as I claim her mouth, tasting her, and losing myself in her.
Her lips part, and our tongues meet, tangling in a brief, intoxicating dance before I pull away with the both of us gasping for breath. The book falls from her hands, hitting the floor with a thud, but I barely notice. My eyes are locked on hers, and the little man beneath me is responding positively, longing to be buried in the warmth of her walls.
I can still remember how it feels. How she tastes. Damn it, I need more!
Without thinking, I lift her with one hand, carrying her to the table. Her body brushes against the wood as I set her down, and she stares at me like she is innocent, but I know she is fully aware of what she’s doing to me.
I glide my hands on her thighs, then I pull her against me, feeling her warmth radiate into my chest. When my lips brush against her neck, a low growl of desire rumbles in my throat. The taste of her skin awakens more of the insatiable hunger deep within me. Each kiss I plant along her collarbone sends shock waves through my body, urging me to devour her completely.
“mmh,” a soft moan escapes her little lips.
She leans into me, surrendering to my touch, and I can feel the heat radiating from her core, making me grow faster in my pants. My lips reach the soft skin just below her navel, lingering there as I slide my hands underneath her skirt, pulling her panties down her legs. With my eyes still locked on hers, I let my hands wander into her skirts, meeting with her moist core, which sends my body spiraling into untold emotions.
I drop to my knees at once, kissing her feet as if they were sacred ground. One that needs to be worshiped.
Oral sex with women has never been my forte, and I have never knelt before a woman, but for her. For her—
My mouth is wired shut as I part her thighs to reveal the beauty in between her legs, which further darkens my heart with the need to have her. She’s perfect.
My body reacts instantly.
I start with teasing kisses along her inner thigh, my mouth barely grazing her skin while she shivers underneath my lips. As I inch closer, my tongue flicks against her folds, the taste from last night flooding my sense. She responds with a gasp, arching her body towards me.
This fuels me, and I swirl my tongue around her sensitive clit, pressing against her with just the right amount of pressure. Her body responds instinctively, her hands tangling in my hair, urging me on.
I dive deeper, my tongue pushing into her warmth, curling just right as I probe the depths of her desire.
The sounds she makes are music to my ears.
I suck her clit between my lips, flicking it with my tongue, and soon all I can hear are her desperate pleas, which tell me how close she is. Her hips buck against my mouth, and I can feel her thighs trembling as I work her closer to the edge. I want to feel her unravel beneath me, to see the moment she loses control. Every flick of my tongue, every thrust I make, brings her closer.
Her taste drives me wild, pushing me to the brink of insanity as my body yearns for release alongside hers.
“Fuck,” she breathes in a sultry tone, which does nothing to help my situation.
I double my efforts, licking and sucking with a fervor that matches the raging need inside me.
And then, like a dam breaking, she comes undone. Her body trembles violently, her climax crashing over me like a tidal wave. The sound of her moans fills the air, pulling me deeper into my own desire as I taste her release, drinking her in as she writhes beneath me.
As I stand up, my hands find their place at her sides, pinning her against the table. The weight of our actions crashes into me, and I bury my face in her shoulder, fighting the conflicting emotions swirling inside.
“No one has ever done that to me before,” she breathes on my shoulders.
The words send a jolt of hunger through me, and my dick twitches in my pants, straining against the fabric. Damn it, I shouldn’t want this, but the thought of being her first ignites a fire I can’t control.
She runs her hands down my pants, and I nearly lose it as my mind paints a mental picture of her wrapping her tiny hands around my dick. Fuck! That warmth!
As I feel every ounce of restraint slipping away, I muster the strength to grab her hands, pinning them on the table, then I pull away from her, looking her in the eyes.
“Get out,” I say…
JUNIPER’S POV:“Get out!” His voice rings cold in my mind, echoing the frigid demeanor he has this morning.I stay still for a moment, letting the command sink in, but all I feel is the burning ache from where his hand grips me. This man is twisted—complicated in every sense of the word.I can’t figure out what he wants, but damn, he’s hot. The pain from his hold seems to morph into something else—pleasure. And all I can think about is closing the space between us and pressing my lips against his. I lean in, but before I can act on the impulse, he grabs my other hand, pinning it against the table. The raw strength behind his touch sends a shiver down my spine. His grip tightens.“You don’t want to do that,” he says, but all I hear in his voice is a low, seductive growl that sends heat curling through me.His eyes meet mine.“You’ll never want to because there will be no going back.”“And what if I want it?” I challenge, my voice barely above a whisper as my lips tremble with the need
HIRAM’S POV:It takes brushing and waiting hours after Juniper leaves to realize her lingering taste isn’t physical but mental. Her jasmine scent still swirls around my entire house, and every time I close my eyes, I feel her hands on my body and her lips teasing my skin.“Fuck!” I groan, opening my eyes as a knock comes at the door. “Who is it?” I ask, my voice edged with irritation.“It’s Winston, sir. Your guest has arrived,” my butler informs me, and for a moment, relief washes over me.Finally, I can get June off my mind. I grab my shirt, throwing it over my body, leaving the top buttons undone, exposing my chest. I step out of my room, and Winston bows briefly, walking ahead of me as I follow him down the hallway until we reach the landing of the last flight of stairs.As I descend the stairs, my gaze falls on the woman sitting on the couch. She’s hard to miss—curvy, with big tits nearly spilling out of the low-cut neckline of her tight black satin dress. Her long dark hair casc
HIRAM’S POV: Quickly, I reach for my pants, pulling them up at once as Alex’s voice cuts through the room. I glance up to see her standing by the door, causing a flicker of shame to tighten my chest. “Ever heard of knocking?” I ask, getting up from the couch. I walk to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to wash off the remnants of my mess with soap. Alex scoffs, shutting the door behind her. “What is there that I haven’t seen? I’ve seen tons of dicks in my life, and—” “You haven’t had mine, and that is the difference,” I cut in, grabbing a towel to dry my hands. She raises a finger at me, but I glare at her. “Don’t test me, Alex.” Her finger drops. Alex is a witch, and she’s been my best friend since we were kids. Her parents are the official witch doctors of the Shadow Pelt pack, but they let Alex live among humans ever since she was a child. She walks further into the room while I focus on wiping off the mess that I make on the floor. “What’s this?” When she asks, I
JUNIPER’S POV:If I have a choice, I’d be at home, cocooned in blankets, reading a smut novel where someone else’s life falls apart instead of mine. Anything but dragging myself to the Smiths’ bakery, working long hours just to scrape by. But bills don’t pay themselves.Cillian used to handle that, back when I thought he wasn’t an ass. I was grateful to him then. He made me feel like I didn’t have to struggle. As though he cared about me, but now, I’d rather choke on broken glass than crawl back to him.How can I kiss those lying lips? Knowing they’ve touched Susan. Every time I shut my eyes, I see them together, and I still feel that betrayal burn under my skin like a fresh wound. Kissing him would be like kissing her, and she is a snake.“What the hell?” My pulse quickens as I glance in the rearview mirror, my grip tightening on the steering wheel as I see Hiram driving behind me.What does he want? I question myself, but then I let off a sigh as I try to keep my eyes on the road. H
JUNIPER’S POV:Seeing Larry walk into the store causes my heart to drop for a split second before irritation quickly replaces it as he smiles at me. My hands leave the saucer, which I have initially picked from a table, and I stand straight. Slowly, my brows wrinkle, and I cross my arms.“This is closing hours, Larry. Sally isn’t around,” I say to him, but he chuckles, walking up to me. The smell hits me hard—a rancid stench of smoke that seems to cling to his skin, and I involuntarily take a deep breath, trying to hold back my disgust.Larry is a creep in his early thirties who knows my mother, and ever since my dad died and we went broke, he has vowed that he would be the one to marry me. Cillian has beaten him up once or twice, but it never seems to deter him.He ignores my words and strides over to a seat, pulling it out with a scrape, before slumping down casually as if he owns the place.“I met Sally earlier today,” he says, crossing his legs and flashing me a mocking grin. “She
HIRAM’S POV:I miss being a man driven by nothing but lust—satisfying my urges and moving on. But this... this feels like responsibility. The very thing I ran from when I left the Shadow Pelt Pack. When Mother demanded I marry Vera, Beta Vincent’s daughter, I knew I couldn’t be chained down like that. And now? Now I chase after a woman I barely know, just because fate claims she’s my mate.Suddenly, Juniper’s car comes to a halt in front of a tall building, jolting me out of my thoughts. I step on my brakes; the tires screeching as I pull up behind her. My gaze follows her as she steps out of the car. Without hesitation, I reach for my phone and quickly dial Justin.“Did you get the order yet?” I mutter with my eyes still locked on Juniper as she moves toward the entrance.Before he can respond, another car glides up the street, its headlights flooding the area with harsh light. It stops a few feet ahead, and Justin steps out, holding two paper bags in his hands. I get out of my car a
HIRAM’S POV:Getting through this dinner is one of the most difficult tasks I’ve faced in a long time. Although we finished eating about ten minutes ago and Juniper cleared the table, the image of her slurping those noodles is still vivid in my memory.“I need to freshen up,” she says, rising to her feet and slinging her bag over her shoulder. I watch her turn right, disappearing behind a door I assume leads to her bedroom.A sigh escapes my lips as I finally break free from my seat. I can’t believe I sat here for almost an hour without realizing how uncomfortable it was. I walk to the couch in the living area and sink into it, staring at the empty wall.Part of me wants to know what happened with her roommate, but another part doesn’t want to pry into her business.I lean back, closing my eyes for a moment, but all I can think about is Juniper. I realize Alex is right, and I fear this woman will change my life.I fear she will control me. She already does. I should be in the comfort
HIRAM’S POV:The moment my lips find her skin, I forget every rational thought that has kept me distanced from her. Every caution I’ve told myself to heed vanishes in seconds. My lips trail down her neck, tasting the subtle salt of her flesh, while my hands explore, tracing every curve of her body as if she were made for me.She arches into me, and my hands slip beneath her black nightdress, gliding over her thighs until I find her underwear soaked. I slide my fingers inside, and she moans into my ear, igniting the beast within me. I pull back, my hands moving to grab her butt, pressing into it firmly. But it isn’t enough.Impatient and craving to see her raw, I pull my hands away from the dress. With ragged breaths, I tug the fabric from her shoulders, easing it down her body until the nightdress pools at her feet.Beneath it lies a set of black lace lingerie, clinging to her form like a second skin, hugging her breasts tightly as if it knows it should be me savoring her curves, mark
Hiram’s POVI shift into my human form the moment Cillian’s lifeless body hits the ground. I am in pain from the bullets that hit me, but I push it aside as my body heals slowly.My heart lurches at the sight of Juniper clutching her belly with her face twisted in pain.“June!” I rush to her side, dropping to my knees. My hands hover over her, unsure of where to touch first. She’s trembling, her breaths shallow and uneven.Her wide, tear-filled eyes meet mine.“Hiram,” she gasps. “The baby... the baby’s coming. He made me take pills. Too many...” Panic grips me, but I shove it down.This isn’t the time to lose contr
JUNIPER’S POV:I’m crammed between two burly men in the backseat of the SUV. The air inside the car reeks of cigarettes and sweat, making it hard to breathe. My heart pounds in my chest as I struggle hard against the man who has his hand covering my mouth, but he doesn’t let up. I bite his palm, causing him to yelp in pain and pull away from me.“You little—!” He grabs my hand, twisting it behind me, and the other man glares at me.“You’re going to regret this. My husband—he’s going to find you. And when he does, you’ll be sorry.” I try to sound confident, but the four of them let out a heart-draining chuckle.The man holding me snorts, his beady eyes narrowing as he glares at me.
HIRAM’S POV:My driver pulls up to the convention center in Boulder City, parking near a tree stripped bare by winter. The air bites a little—just cold enough to remind me it’s December. The streets are quiet except for a couple of locals strolling past. “Hang around, or you can come in with me,” I say to him as I look at the building in front of us.Above the entrance, a banner hangs: BOULDER CITY ART FESTIVAL 2024.I step out of my car, making my way towards the entrance. The moment I step inside, the chill fades, replaced by the hum of life and creativity. The place is packed with people, which makes it warm. There are conversations in the air, and the bright colors catch my attention.There are paintings, sculptures, and displays explodi
JUNIPER’S POV:“Will you at least drop me off at school before you go to your art, whatever?” I ask Hiram as I put on my jacket, staring at myself in the mirror.“Sure,” he says, leaning in to kiss my cheek.“I am so glad we’re in winter, and I get to wear these large jackets. I can slowly feel the baby fat creeping in.” He grabs my hand, pulling me away from the mirror.“That’s enough for today.” He wraps his arms around my waist. “You look more beautiful than ever, and there is no baby fat,” he says, then plants a brief kiss on my lips.I adjust his tie, patting his shoulder briefly.“You look so
HIRAM’S POV:“I have an art exhibition I would love to attend on Monday.” Juniper puts down her phone and glances up at me as I say this. “It’s just in Boulder City.”Her brows crease, and she focuses on her phone without saying a thing.“You won’t make a comment?” I ask, and she glares at me.“Yeah, my husband is going to abandon me for an art exhibition while I go to school pregnant and in pain.” The sarcasm in her tone makes me chuckle slightly, then I walk up to her, sitting on the bed.“It is just one day, and I will be back in the evening or the next morning. It will be as though I didn’t leave. Plus, Rhea is here to take care of you, and&hell
HIRAM’S POV:After dinner, June and I settle in her room while Rhea stays in the guest room. I expect her to follow the usual routine of staying up almost the entire night, keeping me awake too, but before I can tell, she is sleeping peacefully in my arms.I remain like that, watching the rise and fall of her chest with a gentle snore accompanying it. While she sleeps, I try to sleep too. I shut my eyes, patting her hair gently, but even as I close my eyes, I find it difficult to drift off to sleep.After a while, I push her head away gently, then I place it on the pillow, planting a kiss on her head before I stand up. My steps are quiet in order not to wake her. I leave the room, heading for the front door to get some fresh air, but the moment I step out of the hallway, I spot Milo sitting in the living room
Hiram:After minutes of driving, we get to Juniper’s mother’s house. It is a small house in town, which looks comfy. There is a compact car parked in front of it, and June’s mother is standing in front of the house. When we pull up, she rushes toward the car.Before I can open the door, Juniper gets it, rushing toward her mother.“Mum!” she exclaims, throwing her arms around her. Her mother pats her back slightly. Then I get out of the car, and Rhea follows. I grab our joint luggage while Rhea takes her bag.She looks almost the same as June, but her hair is black. They pull away, facing Rhea and me.“You already know Rhea,” June says, and Rhea waves at her.
HIRAM’S POV:“Hiram, the food’s too cold!”“Hiram, the food’s too hot!”“Hiram, it’s too sweet!”“Hiram, it’s too salty!”This has been June’s anthem this past week. I know mood swings are part of the pregnancy package, but I didn’t expect it to be this way. It’s like I can hardly breathe, and nothing is good enough for her. Sometimes I wish I could rip that baby out of her.Right now, she is fast asleep, and it is the best time for me with her. Watching her sleep peacefully like a baby and admiring her beauty, because once that eye opens, I’ll be running around the clock.
Hiram’s POV:Last night, June didn’t spend the night in my room. She came back home with Rhea, and they hung out the entire evening.“You know I’m beginning to think you love Rhea more than you love me,” I say to her as she sits in front of the mirror doing her hair.She looks at me through the mirror with a frown on her face.“Why would you say that?” she asks, and I walk up to her, bending slightly.“Maybe because you spent the entire evening with her, and slept in the guest room too,” I say, and she chuckles slightly.“So, you’re jealous of a woman?” she asks, then tilts her head slightly to face me. “You know what? Maybe I do love her better and we might have…”