Chapter 43: Claimed every inch

The next morning, Caroline woke up early and went straight out to the balcony to watch the sun rise over the ocean.

They had arrived at the private beach house late after midnight, so the darkness had hidden the landscape until now.

Looking toward the horizon, she watched as a warm red glow stretched across the sky. As the sun slowly began to crest over the water, she joined her hands together in a quiet moment of prayer.

After a while, she slipped back into the bedroom and headed into the bathroom to freshen up. She changed into a comfortable, sleeveless A-line dress, secured her damp hair behind her head with a clutch, and quietly stepped out of the room.

"I wonder when the staff will arrive. It might be better if I just make breakfast myself," Caroline mumbled, turning toward the kitchen.

Finding the pantry fully stocked, she began preparing a hearty meal, lost in the quiet routine until Andrew strolled into the space, freshly showered and wearing a white bathrobe.

"When did you wake up?" he asked, tightening the belt around his waist as he walked up behind her.

"I woke up early to watch the sunrise," Caroline replied, turning to smile at him. As he stepped closer, a sudden, rich wave of his Alpha pheromones washed over her, making her breath catch slightly in her throat.

"Let’s have breakfast," she whispered, hastily reaching for the serving plates to hide her fluster.

Before she could carry them away, Andrew gently took the plates from her hands and set them aside on the nearby table.

A second later, he closed the distance between them, trapping her comfortably between his broad frame and the edge of the kitchen counter. He lifted the bowl from her hands, placing it on the surface behind her, and gently nudged her chin up with his thumb.

"Andrew, we’re in the kitchen," she protested softly.

"I know," Andrew murmured, his hungry, dark gaze locking onto hers. "And the first thing I want this morning isn’t breakfast—it’s you."

Caroline almost forgot to blink. She bit her lower lip, her mind racing for a way to slip away, but the moment he pressed his lips against hers, all hesitation vanished.

Inhaling the intoxicating warmth of his scent, she lost her restraint and kissed him back, her lips moving against his with the exact same fierce intensity.

She could feel the firm press of his body through the fabric of his robe, leaving no doubt about how much he wanted her. Pulling back just enough to break the kiss, she looked up into his eyes, her breath coming in shallow hitches.

"The... the food will get cold," she almost stuttered, her heart racing as she realized where this was leading if they didn’t stop now.

"It can wait. I’ll heat it up again," Andrew whispered against her skin. His fingers traced a path along her bare arm, gently nudging the thin strap of her dress down her shoulder. He pressed a warm kiss onto her exposed skin, then slowly trailed a path of kisses up her neck to her jawline.

Caroline gripped the edge of the marble counter behind her. Andrew tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her flush against his chest until there wasn’t an inch of space left between them. His lips continued their agonizingly sweet assault, tracing a hot path from her neck down to her throat and across the curve of her collarbone.

Before she could catch her breath, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms. Carrying her out of the kitchen and into the living room, he sank onto the couch, positioning her so she was straddling his lap.

Caroline brought her hands up to cup his face, creating just enough space to look down at him. A few loose strands of her hair fell forward, brushing against his cheeks.

"Yes, mate?" Andrew murmured, his dark eyes locking onto hers. His hands slid beneath the hem of her dress as they smoothed over the skin of her legs and up her thighs. "Your scent is driving me mad... so rich and earthy, like spring blossoms after the drizzle."

He leaned in, his teeth gently grazing her collarbone. Caroline closed her eyes as a soft gasp escaped her lips. Her fingers acted on pure instinct, reaching for the lapels of his bathrobe and pushing the fabric aside to touch the warm, bare skin of his chest.

’What am I doing? Just moments ago... I was hungry. I thought we would be eating...’

"Ahh!"

She yelped when his teeth caught her earlobe and bit down harder, the sharp sting shooting straight down her neck.

"What are you thinking?" His voice stayed low and rough against her skin. "Want me to go further? I’m asking because if you give in now, I might fuck you until I’ve claimed every inch of you."

Heat flooded Caroline’s face. His fingers locked tight around her wrist and dragged her hand down his chest, over the hard planes of his abdomen, then lower still until her palm pressed against the thick ridge straining his underpants.

"Fuck... even your touch is making me hard. Feel that?" His deep red eyes stayed locked on hers, watching every flicker of reaction.

"Yes. I can feel it," she said, voice unsteady. "What’s stopping you?"

’I must be out of my mind letting him do this, but I want him.’ She wasn’t a virgin. The only reason her pulse kept stuttering was because it was the first time with him.

Andrew smirked and claimed her mouth in a deep, demanding kiss that knocked the air straight out of her lungs. One hand kept guiding hers over the hard length of him while the other slid up under her clothes until his fingers found her core. He pressed two fingers along her folds, felt how wet she was.

"Fuck. You’re soaked, Caroline. Is that for me? Tell me. I like hearing the words." His chin rested on her shoulder, breath hot against her ear.

"Yes," she managed. "You’re the reason, Andrew."