My Marked Luna (Apphia and Nicholas) novel Chapter 41

**TITLE: In Fragile Moments We Discover Strength Hidden In Stillness by Tao Cole Rynn**

**Chapter 41**

Nicholas

In this moment, my lips are pressed against hers, and it feels as if the world around us has melted away. I’m kissing my mate, and it’s an indescribable sensation, one that ignites every nerve ending in my body. The rush of emotions swells within me like a tidal wave, threatening to overwhelm my senses. I don’t want this blissful moment to come to an end. I pull her petite frame closer, as if by doing so, I can somehow fuse our souls together.

‘Mate, mate,’ Nico purrs in my mind, his voice a low rumble filled with primal urgency. He’s urging me to take her right here, to claim her as my own. But I can’t. She’s already taken such a courageous step by letting me kiss her, and if I act too impulsively, I risk pushing her away. The last thing I want is for her to retreat into herself. I savor the sweetness of her mouth, a taste that surpasses all my fantasies, far more intoxicating than the sensual dreams that haunt my nights. My body reacts with a fierce intensity; my arousal is palpable, and I know I won’t be able to hold back for much longer.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar heat envelops me. It’s disconcerting because I’m not used to feeling warm. My internal temperature is usually cold, a side effect of the dark wraith that resides within me. But now, my lycan is roaring to life, demanding my attention, yearning to take control. I struggle to rein him in.

“Nico, calm down,” I whisper internally, my voice firm yet pleading. “We can’t scare her.”

“Can’t help it. Need to mate now,” Nico growls back, his urgency palpable. The heat intensifies, and I can feel beads of sweat forming on my brow. In a moment of desperation, I pull away from Apphia, my heart racing.

“Nicholas, a-are you alright?” Her voice reaches me, distant yet filled with concern. I gently caress her cheek, hoping to reassure her even as my heart feels heavy with uncertainty.

“Heat,” Nico growls again, his frustration echoing in my mind. “Nick, it’s been a month since we found our mate. She may not feel it, but we do. We have to mate.”

No! I refuse to give in to this primal urge.

I take a step back from Apphia, even though every fiber of my being screams against it.

“Nicholas, please say something,” Apphia pleads, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, a reflection of her confusion and hurt. I can’t bear to see her like this, but I have to maintain distance.

“I’m sorry, Apphia,” I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t understand why you’re acting this way. I thought you wanted me to kiss you. You said you had feelings for me.” Her words cut through me, and I can feel the weight of my own contradictions pressing down.

“Oh fuck,” I groan, my arousal throbbing painfully. With trembling hands, I begin to stroke myself slowly, a mix of pleasure and torment. My hips jerk instinctively as I feel the urgency building within me, my body demanding more. I quicken my pace, and soon, I’m releasing myself against the wall, a wave of ecstasy crashing over me. But even that doesn’t quell the fire within; I am left feeling restless and sensitive, my body still craving release.

I just want to collapse into a cold bed.

Feeling a brief moment of relief, I step out of the shower and into my bedroom, cranking up the AC to combat the heat still radiating from my body. I lie back on my bed, a thin sheet barely covering me, utterly spent.

Yet, moments later, I’m jolted awake, my eyes flying open. The heat is still there, suffocating me, and the sweat has returned. My arousal is back, throbbing insistently, and Nico howls in frustration.

I leap out of bed and rush back to the bathroom, closing my eyes tightly as I think of Apphia. With a desperate thrust against my hand, I reach my peak faster than a teenager on his first time. My body trembles from the intensity, yet my arousal remains, raw and demanding. I release again, load after load splattering against the wall.

“Hmmm. Oh fuck!” I gasp, realization dawning on me. I knew that fated mates could enter heat if they didn’t mate within a month of meeting, but I never thought it would happen to me.

I stumble back to my bedroom, forcing myself to lie down and close my eyes, willing sleep to take me. I need rest, but my body protests vehemently. The sound of the door creaking open pulls me from my thoughts, but I have no desire to acknowledge the intruders. My father steps into the room, followed closely by Blade. I feel a wave of embarrassment wash over me at the thought of them seeing me like this.