From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 167

Matthew's POV

I felt Julia's body tremble violently against my mouth, her thighs tightening around my head as she cried out my name. Her release washed over her in powerful waves, her entire body shuddering with the force of her climax. The sweet taste of her arousal filled my senses as she rode out her pleasure, her fingers tangled desperately in my hair.

As the last tremors subsided, I stood up slowly, supporting her weight as she leaned against me, her head falling onto my shoulder. Her breathing came in ragged gasps, her legs unsteady beneath her. The shower continued to rain warm water over us both, washing away the evidence of our passion.

"Oh my god..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rushing water.

I couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, pride surging through me at being able to give her such pleasure. Hati growled with approval in my mind, pleased to see our mate so thoroughly satisfied. I pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, tasting the droplets of water mixed with the salt of her skin.

Pressing my lips to her ear, I murmured, "Should I take you to bed now?"

Julia laughed softly, her eyes brightening as she looked up at me. "Really?" The single word held both surprise and anticipation.

"If you thought that was good," I growled, nipping gently at her earlobe, "let me show you what else I can do." My hand trailed down her back, pulling her hips against mine. "Imagine me deep inside you..."

I felt her considering my words, her body responding instinctively to the promise in my voice. Not waiting for her verbal answer—her body had already told me everything I needed to know—I reached behind her to turn off the shower. I grabbed a towel from the rack, quickly wrapping it around her, then hoisted her over my shoulder in a firefighter's carry that made her squeal in surprise.

I scooped Julia up in my arms with a smooth, practiced motion, cradling her wet body against my chest as I carried her from the steamy bathroom. Her laughter echoed through the hallway, the sound warming something deep inside me as water dripped from our bodies, leaving a trail across the hardwood floor.

"Firefighter rescue?" she teased, wrapping her arms around my neck, her eyes still hazy with pleasure from her release.

"More like treasure retrieval," I murmured, pressing my lips to her temple as I navigated toward the bedroom. Hati rumbled with satisfaction in my mind, pleased to have our mate in our arms where she belonged.

Moonlight streamed through the partially open curtains, casting the room in an ethereal silver-blue glow. Julia's bed sheets looked almost luminescent in the natural light, and when I gently laid her down, droplets of water on her skin caught the moonbeams, making her sparkle like she was covered in tiny diamonds.

I stood beside the bed for a moment, just looking at her, unable to contain the emotion swelling in my chest. This beautiful woman had nearly slipped through my fingers. The thought was unbearable.

"What is it?" she whispered, her expression growing concerned.

I shook my head slightly, feeling a sad smile touch my lips. "I keep thinking... if I'd come back sooner. If I hadn't wasted so much time..."

The regret was a physical ache in my chest. So many wasted weeks. So many nights I could have spent with her in my arms. The knowledge that I had hurt her with my absence was almost too much to bear.

Instead of answering with words, I knelt beside the bed, taking her right foot in my hands. I could sense her surprise at the gesture—this wasn't what she expected from an Alpha wolf. My fingers massaged her arch with gentle pressure, then I leaned forward and pressed my lips against her ankle, inhaling the intoxicating scent that was uniquely Julia.

"Matthew..." she breathed, confusion and intrigue mixing in her voice.

"Let me take care of you," I whispered against her skin. "Let me show you how I should have been treating you all along."

I kissed my way slowly up her calf, making each touch deliberate and reverent. Hati was normally so demanding, so assertive, but tonight he was in complete agreement with me—Julia deserved to be worshipped, not claimed. She deserved tenderness after all she'd been through.

As my mouth made its way up her thigh, I felt her tense slightly.

"Mmm..." she hummed, the sound vibrating through her body as my lips pressed against her inner thigh.

I looked up to meet her eyes in the moonlight, my breath catching at her expression of pure anticipation.

"I used to be impatient," I admitted, letting her see my vulnerability. "Too focused on my own needs. You deserve better than that, Julia. You deserve to be cherished."

"Matthew..." she breathed, her voice husky with desire. "Don't stop..."

In the back of my mind, Hati whimpered in agreement, urging me to continue, to erase the painful memories with new, gentle ones.

I continued my journey of exploration, my lips and hands mapping every inch of her body with exquisite care. When I found the sensitive hollow behind her knee, she gasped sharply.

"Ah! Right there..."

The curve where hip met waist drew a breathy "Oh God" from her lips when I traced it with my tongue. As my mouth moved to the delicate skin beneath her breasts, she whimpered loudly, her back arching off the bed.

"Yes... please..." she panted, her fingers clutching desperately at the sheets.

Time lost meaning as she surrendered to my touch. I could feel our mental connection strengthening, allowing me to sense her reactions to my ministrations.

"You're so beautiful," I murmured against her stomach, feeling her muscles quiver beneath my lips. "I should have told you every day. I should have never let you doubt it."

She threaded her fingers through my damp hair, tugging hard enough to make me groan against her skin. Through our bond, I felt her overwhelming emotion. This wasn't just physical for either of us—I was apologizing with every touch, making amends with every kiss, showing her a vulnerability I'd never revealed to anyone, not even Rachel.

Her breathing grew ragged as my mouth traveled lower, teasing the inside of her thighs.

I lost myself in the taste of her skin, the sound of her soft moans becoming more urgent, the feel of her fingers tightening in my hair.

"Yes... right there... oh my god..." Her hips lifted toward my mouth, seeking more contact, more pressure. Each breathy moan and whispered plea drove me closer to the edge of my control.

"Please," she begged, her voice a desperate whimper. "I need... I need you inside..."

I raised my head, meeting her gaze in the moonlight, searching her face to be certain. The desire in her eyes was unmistakable, but I needed to be sure this was what she truly wanted. Slowly, I moved up her body until we were face to face, supporting my weight on my forearms to avoid crushing her.

"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice rough with desire but my mind clear with respect for her boundaries.

She nodded, emotion seeming to close her throat. The trust in her eyes humbled me, reminding me of my responsibility to this woman who had been hurt so deeply in the past.

"Do I need to get protection?" I asked, hesitating.

She shook her head, and I saw a clarity in her eyes that took my breath away. She looked at me with such certainty, such trust, that it made my chest ache.

"Mark me, Alpha," she whispered.