My Wild Beast
Chapter 46: You’re You.

Chapter 46: You’re You.

The air whooshed out of Nova’s lungs. How can Yoa say something like that so easily? It was swoon-worthy. The fact that it was Yoa made it ten times even more swoon-worthy.

His intense eyes that mirrored the sunsets of this tropical island were locked on hers. His heart thrummed beneath her palm as the dappled light cast over the forest floor, portraying shadows along them. Even while she stared up at this beast of a man, so large and powerful yet acting so gentle and saying the most wonderful words, Nova couldn’t help feeling the weight of Aiyana’s words.

Nova might have held her ground with Aiyana, but that didn’t mean her words didn’t strike a chord. She’d tossed all reasoning to the side the moment that lake didn’t allow her to return home. Heck, she was sure all reasoning was cast aside the first time they’d kissed in his bed.

"I don’t understand. You’re logical about almost everything. This—" Nova pointed between them. "Doesn’t make any sense. I’m not strong or powerful like her or you." Nova’s voice was small. She felt small.

New insecurities were unlocked, especially after meeting that Goddess of a shifter, Aiyana. The girl who’d grown up with Yoa probably knew every little detail about him and would make the perfect partner for him-

"You’re not her."

Nova’s breath caught as she stared up at him, dread squeezing at her heart. Yoa was being brutally blunt again. She should have seen this coming.

"And you’re not me. You’re you. That’s exactly who I want."

Oh.

His voice was like warm honey wrapped around her, softening the edges of her doubt.

Wide-eyed, Nova reached out for the small threads of insecurity, every excuse that might explain this away or stop it before it got too real, and blurted, "We barely know each other! You can’t be so certain—"

"So we’ll get to know each other," Yoa purred deeply, his hand now cupping her cheek as he gazed down at her with those molten eyes that she couldn’t ever escape from. "I’m new to these... feelings, but my beast yearns for you. I yearn for you. It’s like a piece of me’s been missing until now. Until you climbed down that pit and helped me escape."

Her breath caught as he leaned in, his forehead brushing hers. "You don’t have to be anything more than you already are." His voice was a whisper, but the warmth bled out of his gaze and into hers. The palm of his hand against her cheek radiated heat. Their breaths mingled as he bent and pressed his lips to hers, soft and certain.

The sincerity in his words and his touch washed away the lingering doubt. This was Yoa. He wasn’t some modern man like the ones she’d dated before. These weren’t simple lines spoken to win her over for a fleeting fling. Yoa meant every single word.

Nova still didn’t quite understand it, but any other thoughts turned into mush as the softness of their kiss kindled a slow-burning fire between them. The kiss deepened, answering to the fire sparking in their souls. Their lips parted, tongues meeting in an intoxicating rhythm, surrendering to one another.

Nova’s body arched into him, going onto her tiptoes as he pressed her lower back more into him. That hand then lowered and lifted her as her fingers gripped at the roots of his wild hair. A rumble vibrated up his throat, and his hands gripped her thighs tighter as they wrapped around his waist.

"Seriously?" Aiyana snaps, storming towards them, glowering. The pair freeze, panting, trying to catch their breaths and slowly look at the approaching feline. "I just told you why this is wrong, and you’re just going to ignore it and act like these sickening lovebirds- mph!"

Atia pounced on Aiyana, his hand clasping over her mouth, the other gripping both her wrists behind her. "Oh, man. When did this progress? Nova, I thought we were going to be the real deal!" He winked at Nova, ignoring Yoa’s narrowing eyes.

Aiyana managed to slip her hand free from Atia’s hold and knocked his chin upwards before scrambling out of his hold. "Is she really who you’re choosing?" Aiyana demanded, gesturing in Nova’s direction.

"Do. Not. Disrespect. Nova," Yoa snarled his voice a low thunder as the earth trembled into his command.

Aiyana’s hands clenched into fists as she looked between them, then released a breath. "Fine."

"Fine?" Yoa echoed, giving her a sharp, expectant look.

"I won’t apologise for my words." Aiyana’s gaze was locked on Nova’s now. "Things will not be easy for either of you." With that, she turned on her heel and stormed off, her long raven locks flicking behind her back.

Atia called after her, shot Yoa a concerned look, and then followed in her wake.

"Thanks, I think I can handle her, though," Nova whispered, hiding her face into Yoa’s neck. He smirked, aware of how she’d faced Aiyana even while her fingers had trembled. There was so much more to Nova than a pretty face.

That was why neither his beast nor he could watch Nova leave them forever. He accepted there was something more powerful at play here and to that, he decided to let fate play its hand.

"I know you can," he purred into her ear, glancing to the canopy for more of Vulcan’s spies. "But I like protecting you... even when you don’t need it."

Nova smiled against his skin, feeling the steady thrum of his pulse beneath her cheek. "You’re such a possessive cat," she mumbled.

He hummed low in his chest, the sound vibrating through her. "Only when it comes to you."

"Your words are far too sweet for me," Nova murmured, the smile thick in her voice even while she hid.

"Get used to them." He nibbled on her earlobe, and she shuddered at the sensation, exhaling with a soft moan.

"And time I took you to my other place."

"Other place?" Nova pulled back and looked up at him, her cheeks still flushed from kissing and being pressed up to him in the middle of the jungle.

"My hideout. It’s not far from here."

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