Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 47

47 (Lucian’s POV) Recovery 2

Lucian

Mara stirred. Then slowly, her eyes opened.

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I was at her side in seconds, pressing a kiss to her forehead before she even sat up. Her smile was bright, untouched by everything she’d just endured

“We kicked some ass, Lucian,” she said, grinning.

I laughed softly, brushing hair from her face. She made it sound like she’d woken from a nap, not barely survived a battle. My throat tightened. She could’ve died out there. And she only made it through because she stood her ground-because she had to. Her alpha had failed her.

“How are Rowan and Darian?” she asked, voice suddenly serious.

I shook my head. “I don’t know. But I’m sure they’re fine.”

She nodded, trusting me, and swung her legs off the bed. “Let’s go home.”

“I’ve got you,” I said, and helped her down.

“I feel so rested,” she said, stretching like she hadn’t just had her ribs broken and rebuilt. “You’ve been out for fourteen hours. Of course you’re rested,” I teased, and her eyes went wide in disbelief. I laughed, then swept her into my arms before she could argue about walking.

She didn’t protest-just started talking about the fight.

The way her face lit up, the way her hands moved as she described every detail… it struck me. She

loved it.

The battlefield, the adrenaline-it wasn’t just duty. She loved being a warrior just as much as she loved being a healer. And who said she couldn’t be both?

But not under Darian. Not with him in charge.

My father needed to wake up and see that leadership wasn’t something you handed out like favors. Lives weren’t props for his guilt.

I just had to figure out how to tell Mara-how to convince her to step back from the army. After everything, that conversation was going to be harder than I thought.

We made it home, went straight to the left wing, into our room. All I wanted was a shower and sleep. She, on the other hand, looked like she could run laps around the estate.

She peeled off the hospital clothes, and I paused, just watching her for a moment. Even with the bruises still fading, she was stunning. Strong. Whole.

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<47 (Lucian’s POV) Recovery 2

“Mara,” I said, reaching out my hand.

She turned to me, a sly smile tugging at her lips, eyes full of something familiar and electric.

She took my hand.

No words needed. She already knew what shower time meant

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I didn’t hesitate. The second the water hit us, I buried myself in her. It wasn’t just about desire-it was need. Desperate, aching need. She was here. Alive. With me. And every movement reminded me that I hadn’t lost her.

My fears bled out with every thrust. Her moans wrapped around my name like a prayer, her nails digging into my sides, grounding me. Telling me she was here too-feeling what I felt. Needing it just as much.

“Mine,” I breathed, barely holding back my wolf, teetering on the edge of claiming her.

“Claim me, Lucian. Take me now,” she whispered, breathless, her voice thick with hunger.

I looked into her eyes-glowing yellow, wild and wolfish. Her teeth had elongated. She wasn’t just

asking. She meant it.

“Are you sure?” I asked, even though my body already knew the answer.

“This is it for me. I’m not looking back,” she said. “I love you, Lucian.”

Then-without warning-she sank her teeth into my neck, her climax crashing through her as she

marked me.

The pain and pleasure twisted together, and I groaned, the sensation primal and overwhelming. She licked the wound as if sealing it with devotion. My body trembled, but I didn’t wait. I answered her the only way that made sense.

I bit down-hard, deep-marking her with everything I had. My soul reached for hers as I spilled into her. Mara cried out again, the force of the claiming pulling her into another release, and I felt her pulse with mine.

Still moving inside her, I kept my teeth buried a moment longer, making sure the mark would never fade. Then I pulled back, licking the blood away with reverence.

“Mara,” I whispered, watching her eyes flutter in a daze.

“You are my Luna. My north. My life and my love.”

Tears welled in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks.

“I love you, Lucian,” she whispered.

Those words shattered something in me. I kissed her-deep and slow-like I had all the time in the

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