The moon had begun to sink, but its glow still bathed the forest in silver when Elena stirred. Every muscle in her body hummed with the memory of him—his lips, his hands, his hunger. She could still feel the echo of his thrusts, the way his release had burned into her like a seal of possession. But when her eyes opened, he was gone. A chill slipped over her skin, though the night was not cold. She sat up, brushing moss and leaves from her bare skin, her heart pounding with both fear and longing. Had she imagined it all again? The golden eyes, the whisper, the way her body had come alive under his touch? “Elena…” The whisper returned, deep and familiar. She spun, and there he was—emerging from the trees like the night had conjured him just for her. His shirt was gone, his chest bare and powerful, muscles glistening faintly with sweat. The sight of him stole her breath. “You left,” she whispered. “I needed to see if you would follow.” His smile curved, dangerous and tender at once. “And you did.” He closed the distance in a single stride, his hand sliding around her waist, pulling her against him. Their bodies pressed together, skin to skin, and she gasped at the heat radiating from him. His eyes burned into hers, molten gold, hungry and unyielding. “You are fire,” he murmured, his lips brushing her temple. “Every time I touch you, it consumes me.” Her hands moved without thought, exploring the hard planes of his chest, the ridges of muscle under her palms. His skin was hot, alive, as though flames licked just beneath the surface. She wanted to taste him, to claim him as he had claimed her. “Then let me burn,” she whispered. A low growl rumbled from his chest, vibrating against her palms. He kissed her, fierce and demanding, his mouth claiming hers with a hunger that made her knees weak. His tongue tangled with hers, his teeth nipping at her lower lip until she moaned, clutching at him desperately. Without warning, he lifted her, cradling her against his chest. She gasped, wrapping her legs around his waist, her body already pulsing with need. He pressed her back against a tree, the rough bark biting into her shoulders, but the sensation only heightened the urgency. “Elena,” he growled against her mouth. “Every time I look at you, I want to take you harder, deeper. I want to make you scream my name until the forest trembles.” “Then do it,” she whispered, her voice trembling with need. His hands slid down to her thighs, gripping her firmly as he ground his arousal against her soaked heat. She cried out, the friction maddening, her hips rocking against him instinctively. He kissed down her throat, biting lightly, then soothing the mark with his tongue. “You taste like the moon,” he said against her skin, his voice rough, reverent. “Sweet, intoxicating. Mine.” He shifted, pulling at the fabric still clinging to her hips until it tore away completely, leaving her bare before him. The cool air kissed her skin, but his body was a furnace against hers, every movement sparking new flames. He teased her entrance with the thick head of his cock, sliding it back and forth across her slick folds. She whimpered, grinding against him, desperate for more. “Patience,” he murmured, though his own voice was ragged with restraint. “I want to feel you beg.” “I’m already begging,” she gasped, nails digging into his shoulders. “Please… please, I need you.” His control snapped. With a guttural growl, he thrust into her, burying himself to the hilt. She cried out, her back arching against the tree, her walls clenching around him. He groaned, his forehead pressed to hers, as though the sensation was almost too much to bear. “Gods, Elena…” His hips began to move, slow and deep at first, each thrust stretching her, filling her completely. She moaned louder with every stroke, her nails raking down his back, her legs tightening around him. The pace quickened, harder, rougher, the tree shaking with the force of his thrusts. The sound of their bodies colliding echoed in the night, mingling with her cries and his growls. “You feel so good,” he rasped, his lips brushing her ear. “So tight, so wet… like you were made for me.” “I was,” she gasped, lost in the fire consuming her. “I’m yours.” Her climax built quickly, the friction, the fullness, the raw intensity overwhelming her senses. She cried out, her body clenching around him as she shattered, stars bursting behind her eyes. He didn’t stop. He thrust harder, chasing his own release, his breath hot against her neck. She clung to him, her body trembling from the aftershocks, and felt him tense, his groan deep and primal as he spilled into her, filling her with his heat. They stayed locked together, pressed against the tree, their bodies slick with sweat and desire. His chest heaved against hers, his heart pounding like a drum. Slowly, he eased out of her, lowering her gently to the moss-covered ground. Elena collapsed into his arms, trembling, her body still hum