novelraw Chapter 92: Lake
Chapter 92: Lake
Scarlett’s POV
Leo totally ignored my request for him to leave.
"You’re burning up," Leo murmured, his hand lingering near my cheek. I could feel the heat radiating off his palm. "And not just because of the fear of the full moon. Your head is spinning, Scarlett."
I pushed his hand away, but the heat of the night was becoming unbearable. It wasn’t just the temperature; it was the pressure in my chest, the dream, and the way Zoe was pacing in my mind. The air felt thick, like wool in my lungs.
"The lake is quiet this time of night," Leo said, a challenge sparking in those sea-blue eyes. "The water is freezing. It’ll stop the noise in your head. Come on. Run with me. If you can keep up, I’ll let you have whatever you request."
I glared at him, my competitive streak finally flaring up through the exhaustion. The idea of the cold water hitting my skin was too tempting to resist. "I can outrun you in my sleep, Leo."
He smirked, a flash of white teeth in the dark. "Come on, then."
He began to swing himself back over the railing, descending the trellis with a fluid, predator-like grace. I hesitated for a second—thinking of Ethan, thinking of the rumors, thinking of the other two brothers who were likely sleeping just down the hall. But then I thought of the blood in my dream and the fire in my veins.
Fuck it.
I climbed down the railing after him. My feet hadn’t even touched the grass before Leo’s hands were on my waist, catching me and helping me land gently on the soft earth. I swallowed hard, his touch sending a jolt through me that made my breath hitch. He didn’t pull away immediately, his smirk widening as he saw my reaction.
"How do we leave?" I whispered, looking toward the dark woods.
"Through the front gate," he said simply, already leading the way.
"The guards will see us," I hissed, grabbing his arm to stop him.
"And so?" He didn’t even slow down.
The mansion was quiet, the halls of the packhouse sleeping, but the grounds were crawling with sentries. I could feel their eyes on us as we walked across the open lawn—an Alpha and the girl everyone was gossiping about. I braced myself for a challenge, but none of them dared say a word. They simply bowed their heads as Leo passed. He was their Alpha; his word was law, and his presence was enough to silence any questions.
We reached the massive iron gate. The guards on duty pulled them open, bowing deeply to Leo. I followed him out, my heart hammering against my ribs. We walked toward the lake, a two-minute trek through the dense trees where the air smelled of damp earth and moss.
As the trees cleared, the lake opened up before us.
Leo didn’t waste a second. He was in a playful mood, but there was an underlying intensity to his movements. He began to undress right there on the shore, his clothes hitting the sand in a careless heap. My breath caught as he stood completely naked before me. My eyes involuntarily fell to his huge cock, and I had to jerk my gaze away, my face heating up despite the chill.
He waded into the water without a flinch, the surface rippling around his muscular thighs. "Come in," he called back, his voice a low lure. "The water is perfect."
I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I reached for the hem of my cardigan. I felt exposed, not just physically but emotionally. One by one, my clothes joined his on the sand. I stood naked before him, the moonlight washing over my skin.
My nipples hardened instantly—not just because of the biting cold air, but because of the intensity of Leo’s gaze. He wasn’t teasing anymore. He was staring at me like I was the only thing left in the world, his sea-blue eyes dark with a hunger that made Zoe howl in the back of my mind.
"Well?" he prompted, his voice husky. "Are you coming, or do I have to come get you?"
I didn’t answer him. I couldn’t. My voice was trapped somewhere in my throat. I stepped into the water, and the transition from the humid night air to the icy lake was like a slap to my system. I gasped, the cold biting at my ankles, then my knees, as I waded deeper toward the center where Leo stood.
"It’s... it’s freezing," I managed to whisper, my teeth beginning to chatter.
"Focus on the cold, Scarlett," Leo said. His voice was closer now. "Let it ease your mind."
Before I could reply, my foot slipped on a mossy rock. I let out a small yelp, my arms flailing for balance, but I didn’t hit the water. Leo’s arms were there, wrapping around my waist and pulling me flush against his chest.
The contact was electric. The freezing water was swirling around our waists, but where our skin met, it felt like a forest fire. My breasts pressed against his hard, wet chest, and I could feel the thudding of his heart—heavy and fast, matching my own.
I looked up at him, the moonlight reflecting in his sea-blue eyes. He wasn’t smirking anymore. He looked almost pained, his jaw tight as he stared down at my lips.
"You have no idea what you do to me," he rasped, his hands sliding down to rest on my hips, holding me steady in the shifting current. "I spent two years trying to convince myself that what I felt for you was just... nostalgia. But tonight, watching you in that ring? Seeing you getting hurt for a man who doesn’t deserve you?"
He leaned down, his forehead resting against mine. Our breaths mingled in the cold air, forming tiny clouds of steam.
"I wanted to kill him, Scarlett. I wanted to tear out his throat for letting you walk away alone."
Zoe was screaming in my head, a wild, primal sound of longing. She wanted him. She wanted to claim him right here in the water. My hands, acting on their own accord, moved up to rest on his damp shoulders. The tattoos under my palms felt like they were vibrating.
"Leo, don’t," I whispered, though I didn’t pull away. "You’re engaged. I’m... I’m still tied to Ethan. If your father finds out—"
"My father is the one who insisted on these political matches," Leo growled, his grip on my hips tightening. "But he’s not the one who has to live with a hollow chest for the rest of his life. I want my mate. I want you."
He started to lean in, his lips just a breath away from mine.