The Beast And The Blessed

Fifty-Two: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

I couldn't fight the smile on my face. Every time I tried, it would sneak back up on me. One burning look from Killian, and he was right back on me.

Touching, kissing, licking, and biting.

He stayed true to his word and made love to me repeatedly, almost putting the night of my heat to shame. If we had more time, he would have easily done it. I had never known sex could be so good.

But it was more than sex. Every touch and kiss had me feeling things for him that I hadn't been prepared for, even before he marked me. It was incredible and terrifying at the same time.

I knew he had a history that would prevent him from being open with his feelings or prevent him from feeling them at all. But every time his eyes met mine and he gave me a slow and loving kiss, my chest felt warm, and I could feel myself falling deeper.

That was how I ended up sitting naked in the cold bathtub with my knees pulled up to my chest and my arms around my legs at four in the morning. My cheek rested on my forearms, as I stared over the lip of the giant stand­alone tub toward the closed bathroom door.

I took a deep breath, fearful that he would hear my heart thumping away and realize I wasn't in the bed with him anymore.

I needed a minute to think, and I couldn't do that with his arms and scent around me. He was intoxicating.

held me to his large and naked body, I felt myself settling into a state of bliss that I had never known before. It worried me to fall too far for a man that was resistant to be there to

calm and relaxed. My

just that. While he was fast asleep with a content smile on his face, I was lying wide awake, excited for our future. I couldn't wait for it to be announced that I was officially his mate in every way and that I was his queen. More than that, was that

faded because the people that I wanted there wouldn't be. My parents had been disappointed in me for not shifting, and ever after what

they wouldn't

he could even visit his mother

could say, but I never had the

now Killian was my person. I just hoped that he would reciprocate my feelings for him one day. Otherwise, I

I heard

second before he turned the handle, finding it unlocked, and peaked around the

my head, the sight of him making me softly smile as my worries melted to the back of my mind. I stretched my arms before pushing myself upto my feet. "I'm

are sitting in an empty bathtub alone, my mate, and don't forget that I can now feel your emotions. Something has upset you." He held out a hand in all of his naked glory, and I placed my palm over his as I climbed out

My nipples were hard from the cold and rubbed against his chest. He let out a low growl as he looked down at me with desire. I couldn't even remember why I had pulled away from him and had gotten out of bed to begin with. Because I was worried that I felt more for him than he

it with the way he was looking at me. He had opened up to me more than I had expected, and I just needed to be patient. I wore his mark. He was stuck with me, and maybe one

to terms with it. I loved him. I was in love with him. It wasn't because of

I loved Killian Amery.

a minute," I whispered, lost in his touch.