7 | Collision

*** Lilliana's POV

Lilliana’s heart raced as she made her way to the door, bumping into a chair on her way, the dull thud momentarily breaking her stride. Her eyes burned slightly, but she paid no mind to it. She was on autopilot now, her body moving of its own accord. Eamon had groomed her well, and it was as if a switch had flipped in her mind. No reservations, no second thoughts. She trusted her instincts, and they told her to trust him.

Reaching the door, she ignored the peephole, leaving the safety latch in place as she turned the handle. The door creaked open, and there he was, the charmer from the parking lot, with that above-average smile that now seemed so much more. He smelled incredible, a mix of something earthy and intoxicating that made her throat catch. For a brief moment, her inner monologue went silent, as if her thoughts themselves had stilled in his presence.

“What took you so long,” he muttered, his voice soft but laced with something deeper, almost wistful. The words seemed to hang in the air, carrying a weight she didn’t yet understand.

*** Eamon's POV

Eamon stared into her eyes as the door opened. They were brown, but within the depths of that brown, a kaleidoscope of green and gray patterns swirled. Wolf. Witch. Her scent hit him with full force, and it was all he could do to contain the surge of his wolf. He pushed the door open, snapping the latch off like it was nothing, his restraint finally slipping.

In one fluid motion, he kicked the door shut behind him and grabbed her by the throat, pinning her against the nearest wall. The impact was sharp, the thud of her body against the wall echoing in the room. He slammed his mouth onto hers, the kiss forceful, claiming.

He released her throat only to hike her up, her back still pressed against the wall. The sound of her shoes scraping the wall as he lifted her filled the air. Her legs wrapped around him instinctively as he pinned her arms above her head, her forearms pressing into the wall, his grip unyielding.

*** Lilliana's POV

Lilliana hadn’t even registered his words when he pushed the door in, the safety latch snapping with a sound like a twig breaking underfoot. She stumbled back, just enough for him to slip inside. Before she could process what was happening, she was slammed against the wall, his hand gripping her throat, his mouth crashing down on hers.

The feel of his body against hers was electric, every point of contact sending shockwaves through her. When he lifted her, straddling her against the wall, she didn’t resist. It felt right, like they fit together perfectly. She welcomed the position, her legs wrapping around him naturally.

What is that smell? Her thoughts barely formed before an inner voice answered, It’s him, and he’s ours. Her intuition had always had its own consciousness, guiding her, never failing her. Now, it was louder, more insistent.

She let go, surrendering completely to whatever this was. It was perfect, it was right. The sound of his breath mingling with hers, the steady rhythm of their bodies against the wall—she soaked it all in, letting herself be consumed by the moment.