Don’t Poke the Luna Chapter 83

Xena’s POV

"I'm not telling," Ryder said with that mysterious half-smile that made my stomach flutter.

"Fine," I replied softly, trying to sound indifferent despite the curiosity burning inside me. We walked side by side in silence, our shoulders occasionally brushing. I had no idea what was going through Ryder's mind—his expression was always so difficult to read—but I could feel the tension crackling in the air between us.

The golf cart that had brought us here was parked in front of the pack house. We climbed in, and Ryder drove us past several houses toward the outskirts. My heart raced with each passing second, unsure of where we were heading but unable to deny the thrill of being alone with him.

As we crested a small hill, a cluster of lights appeared ahead. Fireflies danced in the darkness, seemingly guiding our path. When the cart finally stopped, I saw a blanket spread on the ground, adorned with pillows and a tray of food.

"This looks nice," I said, genuinely surprised by the effort he'd put into this.

"Just be yourself," he said quietly, his green eyes reflecting the moonlight.

"You got angry when I was being myself earlier tonight," I mumbled as I climbed out of the cart. Ryder paused for a moment, then walked over and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

My heart jolted like it had been struck by lightning, and the dark cloud that had been hanging over my head dissipated. He pulled me toward the blankets. "Hope you like cold pasta."

"I'm sure it'll be fine. Thanks for doing this." We sat down, and Ryder served us each a plate. The chicken alfredo wasn't the best I'd ever had, but I wasn't about to complain. Truthfully, even the most unappetizing food would have tasted like a gourmet meal shared with him in this moment.

"I couldn't take you on a tropical getaway for your birthday, or to the mountains. This was the best I could come up with," he said, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"It's perfect," I said sincerely, "I don't need anything fancy or expensive. I just need something that comes from the heart. This is really perfect." I felt my voice quiver slightly and hoped he didn't notice the tears glistening in my eyes.

The atmosphere was still a bit awkward, but it was slowly improving. We each only ate half our food before setting our plates aside.

"Where did William and Amara go?" I asked as we lay down. Ryder positioned his arm beneath my head, letting me rest against his chest. Though the temperature was warm enough not to need a blanket, I grabbed one anyway and draped it over my legs. His heartbeat was steady against my ear, making me feel safer than I ever had before.

"He arranged a date for himself and Amara. She thought it was going to be a double date, so..."

"Well, I wouldn't want to ruin their evening anyway," I said softly, thinking to myself: But I'm glad to have you all to myself.

Ryder placed his fingers under my chin, lifting my face to his. "I'm sorry too."

I gave him a gentle kiss before settling back against his chest. I could feel his warmth through the thin fabric of his shirt, heating my entire body. In this moment, our earlier arguments and misunderstandings seemed insignificant.

"When do we have to go back?" I asked, not wanting this perfect moment to end.

"We don't have to go back," Ryder said. He gazed up at the stars. "That's the Big Dipper."

"It's a full moon tonight," I replied, completely relaxed now. I sneaked a glance at his phone. The time showed 11:24 pm. Thirty-six minutes until my birthday, I thought, but didn't say it aloud.

"Will you wear that red dress tomorrow?" he suddenly asked.

"Yes, I will."

"Good."

Ryder turned so that I was lying beneath him, his body covering mine. His hand caressed my cheek, his eyes speaking volumes though his lips remained silent. Instead, he placed a soft kiss on my lips.

Gradually, the kiss deepened, and I could feel his cock pressing against me. My heart was pounding so fast I thought it might burst through my chest, an instinctual attraction making it impossible to resist him.

"If you don't want this, we can stop now," Ryder said, breaking the kiss to look directly into my eyes.

"Touch me," I practically begged.

He crashed his lips against mine. His hands pushed my dress upward, quickly removing it from my body. Ryder stared at me, my matching white lace bra and panties eliciting a deep growl from his chest before his mouth captured my nipple.

"Oh!" I moaned as he played with the other one. God, I wanted this so badly. I grabbed his shirt, making sure to remove it as he continued sucking on my breast. I needed to feel his skin against mine.

Ryder's hungry movements slowed as he moved back up. "Damn, I want you so badly," he whispered in my ear.

"Then have me," I whispered back.

"Once the bond is complete, I'll possess you entirely," he promised, his hand covering my most intimate place. "Open your legs for me."

As if my body had a will of its own, my legs parted. He moved my panties aside and slipped a finger inside. His thumb played with my most sensitive spot, making me writhe involuntarily.

"Oh, Ryder!" I moaned, my nails digging deep into the blanket. In this moment, I was completely his, and he was completely mine.

Chapter 84(R18)

Xena’s POV

“Babe?” Ryder’s voice was a low, velvet growl in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I barely had time to catch my breath before his lips found my most sensitive spot, igniting a fire that spread through me like wildfire. His touch was deliberate, teasing, as he slid my panties down with a mix of urgency and restraint. The cool night air brushed against my skin, but it was his tongue, warm and skilled, that sent electric shocks through my core. Each flick, each gentle suck, was a spark that built into an inferno.

“Ryder!” I cried out, my voice echoing into the night as my body arched under his touch. The pleasure was overwhelming, a tidal wave that crashed over me without mercy. His fingers joined the assault, curling inside me, and his tongue never faltered, drawing out every ounce of sensation. My body clenched around him, shuddering as the first orgasm hit me like a storm. But he didn’t stop. Another wave built almost instantly, and I was helpless against it, my cries of “Oh! Oh!” mingling with the rustle of leaves in the breeze. My limbs trembled, my entire being surrendered to his control.

Ryder moved up my body, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that tasted of me, of us. The intimacy of it sent a new kind of heat through me, a need to give him as much as he’d given me. With a surge of boldness, I pushed him onto his back, straddling his hips. The moonlight carved his muscles into sharp relief, each line of his chest and abs a work of art I’d been dying to explore. My fingers traced the hard planes of his body, memorizing every dip and curve. I’d fantasized about this moment, and now it was real.

My lips started at his neck, savoring the salt of his skin. When I found that spot just behind his ear, his body tensed beneath me, a low groan rumbling in his chest. His fingers dug into my hips, not hard enough to hurt but enough to send a thrill through me. My long hair fell across my face, obscuring my view, but Ryder gathered it in his hand, wrapping it around his fist with a gentle tug that made my pulse race. I moved lower, my lips brushing over his chest, his abs, until I reached the waistband of his shorts. His hips bucked, a silent plea, and the bulge beneath the fabric was impossible to ignore.

With a slow, deliberate motion, I tugged his shorts down, freeing him. The sight of his nine-inch length made my breath catch, a mix of nerves and desire swirling in my chest. But I wanted this—wanted him. Locking eyes with him, I let my tongue glide from the base to the tip, slow and teasing. His eyes rolled back, his body shuddering as a deep, primal groan escaped him. The sound was pure wolf, raw and untamed, and it spurred me on. I took him into my mouth, inch by inch, my lack of a gag reflex allowing me to take all of him. The weight of him, the heat, was intoxicating.

“Holy hell!” Ryder growled, his hands guiding my head in a rhythm that matched his ragged breaths. I remembered a scene from a movie I’d watched, where a woman had driven her partner wild by touching him elsewhere. Curious, I cupped his balls, massaging them gently. The effect was immediate—his body went rigid, his groans turning desperate. I quickened my pace, feeling him tense beneath me, and then he was unraveling, his release hot and sudden in my throat. I didn’t stop, not until his grip on my hair loosened and his body went slack, spent.

Sitting up, I let my hair fall to one side, messy and wild. With a slow, deliberate motion, I wiped my lips with a finger, then brought it to my mouth, licking it clean while holding his gaze. Ryder’s jaw dropped, his eyes dark with awe and hunger. Emboldened, I reached behind me and unhooked my bra, letting it fall to the blanket. I bit my lip, a coy gesture that felt both vulnerable and powerful. His gaze raked over me, and I could see his desire reigniting, his body already responding.

I crawled toward him, and his lips crashed against mine, hungry and fierce. “You’re gonna kill me, woman,” he muttered, his voice rough with need. In one swift motion, he flipped me onto my side, then onto my stomach, the blanket soft beneath me. His lips found the back of my neck, trailing kisses down my spine that sent sparks exploding across my skin. My body arched instinctively, my hips pressing against him, drawing a deeper growl from his throat. His fingers, tipped with the faintest hint of claws, grazed my sides, leaving goosebumps in their wake. When his teeth nipped playfully at my waist, I gasped, the sensation both ticklish and electric. His hands gripped my hips, firm and possessive, and the mate bond between us flared, overwhelming my senses.

“Ryder!” I gasped, my voice trembling as I glanced at my phone. The screen glowed with the time: 12:04 a.m. My birthday. The sparks of our bond, the intensity of his touch, confirmed what I’d always suspected—he was my mate, my forever.

“Turn over,” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. I rolled onto my back, my eyes squeezed shut, my heart pounding like a drum. He settled over me, his weight comforting as my legs wrapped around his waist. My hands were pinned above my head, his grip gentle but unyielding. “Open your eyes, beautiful.”

“You sure?” My voice shook, a mix of anticipation and fear.

“Absolutely,” he said, his tone steady and sure.

I opened my eyes, and the moment our gazes locked, the mate bond snapped into place, a golden thread tying our souls together. The air left my lungs, and then he was inside me, filling me completely. The initial pain was sharp, making me tense, but he paused, giving me time to adjust. My fingers dug into his shoulders, anchoring me to him.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, kissing away the tear that slipped down my cheek. His tenderness broke something open inside me, and I clung to him, overwhelmed by the depth of our connection.

“Just relax. It’ll feel good soon,” he promised, his voice a soothing balm. The pain began to fade as he moved, slow and careful, pulling out and easing back in. “God, you’re so tight,” he groaned, his restraint evident in the tension of his jaw. He was holding back, making sure I was okay.

Chapter 85(R18)

Xena’s POV

“Y-Yes… yes…” My voice quivered, words stumbling over themselves as the sharp edge of pain melted into a rush of pleasure. Each sensation was a wave, pulling me deeper into Ryder’s orbit. I could feel his awareness of my body’s shift, the moment I relaxed beneath him. He quickened his pace, but there was still a careful restraint in his movements, like he was holding back a storm just for me.

“I can’t hold on much longer,” Ryder rasped, his voice strained with the effort of control. His rhythm intensified, each thrust steady but faster, coaxing my body to meet him. The moonlight bathed us, casting shadows across the picnic blanket spread beneath us, the night alive with the hum of our connection.

“Oh!” A moan escaped me as that familiar pressure began to build again, coiling tight in my core. Ryder’s lips found my neck, trailing fire across my skin until they lingered on my collarbone, that sensitive spot that made my entire body shudder. “Ryder!” His name was a plea, a confession of how desperately I needed him, how completely he consumed me.

“Just a little longer,” he murmured, his breath hot against my skin. My legs tightened around his waist, anchoring me to him. In one fluid motion, he lifted me, repositioning us so I was straddling his lap. My hips moved instinctively, rocking against him with a force that outpaced his own thrusts. His hands gripped my hips, firm and guiding, syncing our rhythms until we were one. A primal urge surged within me, raw and undeniable—the need to mark him, to claim him as mine. My fangs descended, a flicker of hesitation in my eyes as I wrestled with the weight of what it meant.

Ryder saw it, his gaze steady and warm, filled with unspoken encouragement. “Do it,” he said softly, his voice a lifeline. I met his eyes, and he gently pulled me closer, his strength a quiet support. My lips brushed the curve of his neck, and his body trembled beneath me. Then, with a breath, I sank my fangs into his skin, piercing deep until I felt bone. A guttural growl rumbled from his chest, his arms wrapping around me in a fierce embrace. His breathing was ragged, but he kept us moving, our bodies still locked in their dance.

Slowly, I retracted my fangs, my tongue gliding over the wound, tasting the metallic tang of his blood mingled with his scent. It sent my heart racing, the intimacy of the act binding us closer. Ryder pulled my head back, his lips crashing against mine in a kiss that was all fire and passion. It was as if our souls touched, the mate bond thrumming between us. “I’m about to lose it,” he warned, his voice thick with need.

“Take me hard,” I whispered against his ear, my words barely a breath but heavy with intent. Ryder paused, his eyes searching mine for any trace of pain or doubt. Finding none, he laid me back on the blanket and unleashed himself. The sound of skin against skin echoed through the quiet valley, each thrust pushing me closer to the edge. “Ryder!” I moaned, my body trembling under the intensity, my breasts bouncing with his relentless rhythm. He was merciless, and I wanted every second of it.

His fangs gleamed in the moonlight, sharp and wild, as he brushed my hair aside to expose my neck. My nerves sparked, my pulse thundering in my ears. He leaned closer, his body pressed against mine, his voice laced with concern. “Xena…” The way he said my name, full of care, made my heart ache.

“Do it! Please!” I begged, the pressure inside me teetering on the brink, desperate for release.

“Look at me,” he said, his voice low and almost pained. I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze as it flickered between my face and my neck, torn between desire and fear of hurting me. “I love you,” he whispered, and then his fangs sank into my neck, piercing deep. My scream shattered the night, scattering birds from the trees as our climaxes collided, a torrent of ecstasy that consumed us both. A deep growl vibrated through Ryder’s chest, the final piece of our mate bond locking into place, sealing us as one.

He released my neck, his tongue gently cleaning the wound with a tenderness that made my chest tighten. My body felt weightless, drained, as darkness crept into the edges of my vision. “Don’t fight it. Sleep, love. I’ll be here when you wake. I love you,” he murmured, his voice a soft anchor in the haze.

“Love you…” I managed, my words fading as the world slipped away.

The first thing I heard was the cheerful chirping of birds, their songs weaving through the morning air. Then came the sparks, a tingling warmth that danced across my skin, comforting and electric. It was the mate bond, alive and humming, wrapping me in its embrace. “You awake?” Ryder’s voice was a gentle whisper, like the first light of dawn.

“Nope,” I mumbled, rolling over to bury my face in his chest. His warmth, his scent, was home. I wanted to stay here forever, cocooned in this moment.

“Happy birthday,” he said, his hand stroking my back in slow, soothing circles, like he was calming a skittish wolf.

“Thanks,” I replied, my voice thick with sleep, a smile tugging at my lips.

“We should head back. There’s a birthday breakfast waiting for you,” he said, his fingers still tracing lazy patterns on my skin.

I peeked through my lashes, catching the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the trees. “It’s too early for breakfast,” I grumbled, not ready to leave the safety of his arms.

“Your dad and brother are coming. You want them smelling… us?” His teasing tone snapped me awake, a flush creeping up my neck.

I bolted upright, scanning the blanket for my clothes. “Where’s my stuff?”

“Right here.” Ryder handed me a neat pile of folded garments, his eyes glinting with amusement. I hesitated, suddenly self-conscious about dressing in front of him in the daylight. But this was my mate, the man I’d bared my soul to. Swallowing my nerves, I slipped on my bra, then my panties, and finally my dress, trying to act like it was no big deal.

“We should take this stuff back,” I said, gesturing to the scattered picnic remnants and the blanket beneath us.

“Nah. When you girls start getting ready for tonight, William and I will come clean up,” he said, his tone casual, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“That feels wrong,” I said, frowning. Leaving a mess for someone else didn’t sit right with me.

“I did the same for him and Amara,” Ryder said with a grin.