Chapter 13: Bound in Fire
738 Words
LENA
She was drowning.
Drowning in heat.
Drowning in him.
Valerian's touch was everywhere.
Sliding over her waist, skimming the sensitive skin of her breasts, teasing over the delicate curve of her hip. Exploring. Possessing. Claiming.
But never giving her what she needed.
Lena bit her lip hard, her breath shuddering out of her as she pressed back against him.
He had stripped her of every defense.
Had kissed her until she was weak.
Had pushed her to the razor-thin edge of madness—
But then he had stopped.
He wasn’t pulling away.
He wasn’t letting her go.
No—this was worse.
Because he was still touching her.
Still stroking, still teasing, still burning her from the inside out—
But he wouldn’t give her what she craved.
Wouldn’t let her fall over the edge.
Wouldn’t let her escape this torment.
Lena’s body ached.
Every nerve was on fire.
Every touch was too much and not enough.
Her fists clenched against the stone wall behind her, her body taut, trembling, her breathing sharp and uneven.
"Valerian," she whispered, her voice raw.
His golden eyes darkened, his fingers dragging lower.
But still—still, he gave her nothing.
Only slow, lazy strokes over her skin.
Only the kind of careful, calculated torment that was driving her out of her mind.
A choked noise caught in her throat.
"Please."
Valerian stilled.
A slow, wicked smile curved his lips.
"Please what?"
Lena squeezed her eyes shut, hating him.
Hating him for this game.
Hating him for the way he had unraveled her.
Hating him for the way she was already losing.
Valerian leaned in, his lips grazing her ear.
"Say it, little wolf."
Lena shook her head.
She couldn’t.
She wouldn’t.
She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
But for the Goddess sake — she was burning.
Her hands curled into fists, her entire body tensed and desperate, aching for him, aching for release—
And he knew it.
He knew it.
And he was enjoying this.
Valerian hummed, trailing his fingers lower, so close, so agonizingly close—
And then pulled his fingers away.
Lena gasped.
Her eyes snapped open, her pulse slamming into her ribs, her body screaming at the loss of him.
She couldn’t take it.
Couldn’t endure this.
She had spent her whole life fighting, resisting, refusing to submit—
But this—this was different.
This wasn’t pain.
This wasn’t force.
This was pure, excruciating pleasure—
Pleasure he was dangling in front of her, offering in pieces, teasing her with just enough to make her crave more.
And he wouldn’t stop.
Not until she admitted it.
Not until she gave in.
Not until she said the words.
Lena’s fingers dug into his arms, her breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps.
"Valerian."
His golden eyes flashed.
"Say it," he murmured.
Lena trembled.
He stroked his fingers over her waist—so slow, so cruel, setting her body ablaze with need.
"Tell me what you want."
Lena clenched her teeth.
She wouldn’t.
She wouldn’t—
His lips brushed over her throat, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin—
Her back arched, a shuddering gasp tearing from her throat.
"Say it," he commanded.
She whimpered.
She actually whimpered.
He dragged his fingers lower—so close to where she needed him, so close, so close—
Her knees nearly buckled.
Valerian caught her.
Held her.
Waited.
Lena sucked in a ragged breath.
"I—"
His lips skimmed her jaw.
"I—"
His fingers traced right over the place she ached for him most—
And then— he stopped.
Lena’s entire body jerked.
Her breathing was wild.
Her pulse pounded.
She was right there.
Right on the edge.
And he was leaving her there.
Her eyes snapped open, blazing with frustration, with desperation, with something else.
Valerian smirked.
"I can wait all night," he murmured.
Lena shuddered.
She wanted to kill him.
She wanted to tear him apart.
She wanted—
Goddess, she wanted him.
Her nails bit into his arms.
"Please," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Valerian’s smile deepened.
"Please what?"
Her breath hitched.
She clenched her eyes shut, her pride screaming at her to stay silent—
But her body—
Her body betrayed her.
"Please don’t stop," she whispered.
Valerian’s grip tightened.
And when he spoke, his voice was pure satisfaction.
"That’s all I needed to hear."
Because then—he shattered her.
- Writer
