Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow novel Chapter 203

Chapter 203: His Reason

***************

Chapter 203

~Aira’s POV~

Zade chuckled, setting his coffee down before leaning against the table. "Last night was... unexpected," he said, his tone softer now.

I met his gaze, my heart fluttering. "It was."

"And?" he prompted, a hint of uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

"And I don’t regret it," I admitted.

Relief washed over his features, and he reached out, taking my hand in his. His thumb brushed over my knuckles, sending a warm shiver through me.

"Neither do I," Zade said quietly.

The moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps, and we both turned to see Tempest entering the kitchen, her expression guarded.

She paused, her sharp eyes narrowing as they darted between us. "What’s going on here?" she demanded, crossing her arms.

"Nothing," I said quickly, though my blush likely gave me away.

Tempest arched a brow, clearly unconvinced. "Right."

Zade, ever the picture of calm, simply smirked. "Morning, Tempest."

She muttered something under her breath before grabbing her coffee and leaving the room.

Zade turned back to me with an amused expression as the door swung shut behind her. "She’s going to grill us later, you know."

I sighed, resting my chin on my hand. "I know."

"But for now," he said, his smirk softening into a genuine smile, "I’m just glad we have this moment."

"Me too," I whispered, and for the first time in a long while, I felt at peace.

*****************

~Zade’s POV~

Aira’s soft laughter lingered in my mind as I sipped my coffee after I made a careless remark. My gaze followed her as she busied herself in the kitchen.

Despite the calm air between us, the memory of the previous night played vividly in my thoughts.

Everyone assumed we’d crossed a line—Tempest, Snow, even Zara—but they were wrong. I hadn’t gone that far with Aira, though the temptation had been overwhelming.

When I brought her home, her unique and intoxicating scent surrounded me. Her warmth, the way her lips moulded perfectly to mine—it all stirred something primal within me.

Yet, I couldn’t let the heat of the moment dictate our future.

My lips pulled back in a lovely smile.

It had started with a drink.

After the chaos Kaid brought to the ball, Aira found me brooding on the balcony. She’d approached quietly, her presence was soothing despite the storm raging inside me.

"Zade?" she’d hesitantly.

I turned, expecting her to leave me to my thoughts. Instead, she stayed, standing by my side. Something in her eyes—a mix of concern and curiosity—disarmed me.

"You okay?" Aira asked.

I wasn’t, but I nodded anyway. "I’ve had better nights."

We talked, the tension easing with each shared word. I’d opened up more than I intended, and she listened without judgment. Her understanding grounded me in a way I hadn’t expected.

When I took her home later, I thought that would be it. A goodnight peck, perhaps. But instead, we kissed—again.

This time, there was no hesitation. Her lips were soft and inviting, and my wolf, Everest, surged with the need to claim her. Her hands slid into my hair, pulling me closer, and I responded, deepening the kiss.

The kiss turned heated fast, the pull between us undeniable. It didn’t take long for us to find ourselves inside Snow’s mansion and straight to her room. I backed her toward the couch, her body pliant under my touch as my hands roamed her back.

Her breaths came in short gasps as I kissed down her neck, my teeth grazing her pulse point. She moaned, arching into me, and it took every ounce of self-control not to let my instincts take over.

"Zade," Aira murmured, her voice thick with desire. "I want you."

I froze, her words washing over me like a bucket of ice water. Everest growled in protest, urging me to continue, but I forced myself to pull back.

Her eyes, heavy-lidded and filled with longing, searched mine. "Why did you stop?"

I exhaled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Aira, are you sure this is what you want?"

She nodded, her hands gripping my arms. "Yes. I want you. I’ve never been more sure."