Chapter 137 Only The Best


    CADE


    “We’re near, sir. Only a few minutes more,” the captain said, his voice carrying easily over the soft ssh of water against the hull.


    “Thank you,” I replied, leaning back slightly.


    “First time in rc<b>?</b><b>” </b>the captain asked.


    I shook my head. “No.” My gaze drifted to the horizon, the faint outline of the inding into focus. “But it’s our first time together.”


    The captain smiled knowingly. “Well, you might put a ring on it. rc is known for evesting marriages.”


    I couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. “One day,” I said quietly, more to myself than to him.


    The man’s eyes crinkled with amusement, but he turned back to his chamber, humming under his breath.


    I pushed myself up from the bench and made my way to our room. The floor swayed gently with the rhythm of the water, but I barely noticed. My focus was already on her.


    The door creaked softly as I stepped inside, and I saw my other half.


    She was sprawled on the bed in the most unguarded way, hair spilling across the pillow, one hand resting just above her head. There was something about seeing her like this that gripped me tighter than any battle ever could. She was mine, marked and bound to me, and I wanted to savor every heartbeat of that truth.


    I thought about waking her–not because we had to, but because I wanted her again. The memory ofst night, the way she’d given herself to mepletely, made something primal stir inside me. She was irresistible, every curve, every sound, every look.


    But I had mercy, of course! I wasn’t insatiable.


    So instead, I sat down on the edge of the bed, careful not to jostle her. I could watch her for hours, and maybe I would if time allowed. My fingers itched to touch her, but I kept them still for a moment, simply letting my eyes take her in.


    Leaning forward, I ced a gentle kiss on her forehead. She shifted slightly, murmuring something under her breath, and my eyes drifted lower to her mark.


    It was a storm. It suited her perfectly. She was calm in the heart of the storm, and yet she could summon lightning when she needed to. My storm. My anchor.


    I pressed my lips to it, letting them linger. She made a soft, unconscious moan in response, and it sent a shiver down my spine, heat rushing through me like wildfire. Every instinct screamed at me to take her again, to feel her beneath me one more time.


    Behave, Cade.


    –


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    Chapter 137 Only The Best


    I forced myself to breathe evenly, to remember that there was more to this moment than giving in to the pull between us.


    Hershes fluttered, and then those eyes–those beautiful, soul–striking eyes–met mine. Awake, they were even more breathtaking, like they’d stolen light from the ocean itself.


    “We’re near,” I whispered.


    She blinked slowly then straightened with a small wince. My brows knit together before I could stop myself. She was sore. My fault. My ego liked that, but the rest of me just wanted her to feelfortable.


    “I need to get dressed,” she said, already pushing herself upright.


    “I’ll help you,” I offered immediately, a grin ying at my lips.


    “No!” she eximed, eyes wide, and shoved at my shoulder until I stumbled off the bed.


    Iughed, letting her push me toward the door like an unruly wolf pup. “Fine, fine,” I chuckled, holding my hands up in surrender as she threw me out of the room.


    The door shut in my face, but I was still smiling.


    ***


    Finally, after a few minutes, we had arrived.


    Arden still looked sore, but she didn’t want to admit to it. I knew it, though. I could feel her annoyance through our mate link.


    Her brows were knitted, her lips slightly pursed, and every time her gaze flicked to me, there was that little re.


    It was cute.


    Infuriatingly cute.


    We started walking down the steps of the terminal, my stride automatically shortening to match hers. I had all the bags, of course–not because she wasn’t capable, but because right now, she could barely keep herself upright without swaying. She still hadn’t recovered from the rigorous exercisest night, and as much as she insisted she was fine, I still wanted to treat her like a princess.


    The crowd was modest for this hour, mostly humans, but I still noticed their attention when we passed through. Heads turned. Conversations paused. Eyes trailed after us with curiosity.


    “Fenra?” one of them asked, a man with graying hair and an inquisitive look.


    Arden, ever polite, straightened a little despite the difort. “Yes, sir.”


    “How did you know?” I asked him, raising a brow.


    He grinned knowingly. “Good–looking people are from Fenra. I don’t know what’s in the food over there. I might consider moving there myself.”


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    I huffed augh, and Arden let out a small chuckle too. It was light, but her steps were still slow, her bnce slightly off.


    I clicked my tongue. “Enough of this.”


    Before she could question me, I shifted the weight of the bags all to one arm, slipped the other under her knees, and lifted her clean off the ground in a princess carry.


    She froze.


    The heads that had already been ncing at us before were now full–on staring. A few gasps and a couple of surprisedughs followed.


    “Ohhh, look at them!”


    “That’s adorable.”


    “She must be his girlfriend.”


    “Or wife. Definitely his wife.”


    Arden’s cheeks turned the shade of ripe berries. “Cade,” she hissed under her breath, her hands bracing awkwardly against my chest, pushing me away.


    I smirked down at her. “What? My arms work fine. I might as well use them.”


    She gave me an embarrassed look. “You’re ridiculous. They’re staring at us.”


    “Let them. We’re not from here anyway,” I countered, deliberately tightening my hold around her.


    That earned a ripple of more coos and a few dreamy sighs from nearby onlookers. Arden ducked her face toward my shoulder, probably hoping to hide from their amused attention.


    Sweet little thing. She could re all she wanted–but she wasn’t asking me to put her down.


    We made our way through the murmurs and the nces. The scent of her shampoo mixed with the faint trace of my scent made me smile.


    It was hard to care about the stares when all I wanted was to make sure she got to the car without one more ounce of strain.


    When we finally stepped out into the cooler air, the car was waiting right at the curb. A ck limousine. The driver, in a crisp suit, stepped forward to open the rear door.


    Arden tilted her head to look at it, then turned back to me with a frown. “Seriously? A limousine?”


    “Mm–hm.”


    She shook her head. “Why did you splurge so much?”


    I shifted her weight slightly in my arms, offering her a slow grin. “Only the best for my baby.”


    20


    Bonds At War: The Virgin Is Mine