Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 232

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 232: Between Heat and Hesitation**

The warmth radiating from Marcus was unlike anything Emma had ever experienced. It enveloped her, a tangible force that seeped through the delicate silk of her nightdress, igniting her skin with a fervent heat that crawled over her inch by inch.

A faint, tantalizing sting danced along the nape of her neck as his canines grazed the sensitive skin there, teasingly close to breaking the surface but holding back, as if he were marking her, claiming her as his own. It was a possessive hunger that sent shivers racing down her spine, a primal connection that made her heart race.

“Ms. Tibarn… are you still feeling cold?” His voice, deep and gravelly, was laced with the same fiery intensity that radiated from his body, leaving her breathless.

“No… Not anymore,” Emma managed to stammer, squirming slightly in his embrace. “Marcus, let me go. It’s… too hot.”

The heat was suffocating; already, a thin sheen of sweat had formed along the small of her back, making her acutely aware of every inch of skin that touched him.

“You said earlier that I was too cold,” he murmured, his arms tightening around her waist, pulling her even closer. “Now, you say I’m too hot.”

His grip was as if he wanted to fuse her very essence with his, as if he sought to make her a part of him.

“Tell me, Ms. Tibarn…” His lips brushed against the shell of her ear, his breath warm and inviting, a husky whisper that carried both sin and reverence. “Do you prefer me when I’m cold… or when I’m warm?”

The books had taught him that to make a woman accept his touch, he had to ensure she didn’t recoil from his body. He needed to discover what kind of warmth would make her heart open to him.

Emma’s thoughts swirled in a haze, dulled by the heat that clung to every breath she took. Suddenly, she turned to face him, her eyes searching his. “Marcus, are you trying to form a bond with me?”

The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. If he was truly in heat and unable to control it…

Then perhaps forging a connection now wouldn’t be so terrible after all.

His breath caught in his throat at her words, freezing him in place.

He yearned for that bond, but the truth remained tangled in his throat, unspoken.

He no longer wished to die.

As that warmth began to ebb from his body, he bit his lip, locking eyes with her beneath the soft glow of the moonlight that streamed through the window. “Ms. Tibarn…”

The moonlight painted their surroundings in a silvery hue, and Emma could see the uncertainty etched on his face. Her heart softened, and she offered him a gentle escape. “I understand. You’re not ready yet, are you? It’s alright. There’s no rush. We can talk when you are.”

He had been so impatient lately, but it seemed that his urgency had been confined to flirtation, not to the deeper connection they both craved.

That sort of intimacy couldn’t be rushed, and Emma was in no hurry to force it.

She shifted slightly, creating a bit of distance between them, before lying back down comfortably. “If you don’t want to bond, then let’s just sleep.”

Sleep was becoming a welcome companion for her now.

His flirting had been overwhelming, and she found herself weary from it all.

She remained still for a few more minutes, biding her time until she was certain he was truly asleep. Then, with quiet determination, she slipped from his embrace, washed up, changed her clothes, and quietly left the room.

Downstairs, the enticing aroma of breakfast wafted through the air, a welcoming scent that made her stomach growl in anticipation.

Edric had already set the table and was waiting on the couch when Emma descended the stairs.

Cotton Candy, their ever-mood-swinging pet, was curled up in a corner, sulking as usual. Emma had long since grown accustomed to its bouts of quiet gloom.

“Emma.” Edric stood the moment he spotted her, emerging from the kitchen with a cheerful smile as he carried out the dishes. He had prepared all her favorite breakfast items, a delightful spread that made her heart swell with gratitude.

He settled beside her as she ate, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Emma, would you like to go out for a walk later?”

The weather was perfect today, the sun shining brightly, and the city was alive with energy.

Edric knew how much she relished the hustle and bustle of crowds.

Emma paused for a moment, contemplating. “Let’s go in the afternoon. I promised Aria I’d bake her some cakes and pastries. I’ll take care of that this morning. Then, we can stop by Cloudspire Medical Center to visit Laura.”

Edric nodded eagerly, his enthusiasm infectious. “Alright. We can come back late tonight. They say there’s a meteor shower happening. I’ll take you to see it, okay?”

The thought of a meteor shower added a sprinkle of excitement to her day, and Emma couldn’t help but smile at the prospect.