Warmth.

  That was the first thing she felt. Soft furs beneath her knees. A heartbeat.

  Nova stirred slightly, the ache in her ribs was a dull hum now. Her cheek was pressed against the slope of someone's chest.

  Her entire body was draped over his.

  Chest to chest. Legs tangled. His arms wrapped firmly around her, as if he hadn't moved all night.

  She didn't need to look to know who it was. He smelled like the forest after rain, pine, and the faintest trace of fresh snowfall. Jax.

  Her body tensed. Almost instantly, the arm around her tightened.

  "You're okay, Nova. I've got you," Jax whispered, his voice low and warm against her ear.

  Her eyes fluttered open slowly.

  "Jax?" she whispered against his neck, her voice hoarse and uncertain.

  His reply came low and groggy, thick with sleep. "You're awake."

  "Where—?"

  "We're in my chambers," he said quickly, maybe too quickly, like he'd rehearsed it. "You nearly died of hypothermia. Elias said you needed warmth. Skin-to-skin."

  Nova blinked slowly, brain still catching up.

  Then her senses aligned—and reality hit hard.

  She was in nothing but black undergarments, her body pressed full-length against his bare chest, her legs tangled with his like they belonged there.

  Her breath hitched. "Oh my gods," she muttered, trying to push herself up, mortified. A sharp ache flared through her side and she winced.

  He didn't let her go.

  "Hey—hey, easy," he said, arms steady around her. "You're still healing."

  "Why am I—why are we—" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Why are we like this?"

  Jax chuckled softly, the sound rumbling low in his chest. "It was either this... or let you freeze to death. Elias said skin-to-skin contact was the only way to raise your core temperature."

  His laugh eased the tension in her chest, and she relaxed back into him.

  The steady beat of his heart echoed softly in her ear.

  He gave a slight shrug, one hand brushing lightly along her back with the pad of his thumb.

  "You were freezing," he murmured. "You wouldn't stop shaking. Nova... I care about you. And I don't want to lose you."

  Her heart skipped once. Then again.

  "Thanks for keeping me warm," she whispered.

  Jax's fingers moved gently, tracing the curve of her shoulder down to the small of her back. Once. Slowly. Then up again.

  And stopped.

  "Always. As long as I'm breathing, you'll never be cold again," he whispered.

  ???

  Silence had settled between them again. Their breathing matched.

  The tension was full of things unsaid, of heartbeats shared, of breath mingling between bodies that shouldn't have been this close... but were.

  Nova could feel every inch of him. The warmth of his skin, the tension in his muscles, his abs.

  She had never held hands with a man, let alone lay in a bed with him. Yet this felt so natural. So right.

  Everywhere their skin touched, she felt a tingling sensation. And she couldn't stop thinking about it.

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  The tingle where his hand touched her back.

  "Jax... I am fighting the urge to kiss you. Can I?" she whispered.

  His breath caught. For a split second, he didn't move.

  He felt her tense, and realized he'd stiffened under her.

  "Nova, you don't ever need to ask me that," he answered, quickly. "The answer is always yes."

  Then he lifted a hand to her cheek.

  His thumb traced her jaw and he leaned in.

  Their lips met. A spark jolted through both of them. Like something was locking into place.

  He felt it and so did she. Not normal lips touching.

  It was everything she didn't expect but couldn't help needing. Time froze.

  Nova's fingers slid up his bare chest as the kiss deepened — still gentle, still careful, but full of something electric.

  Her hands traveled up to his hair. She wasn't aware of just how much restraint Jax was showing, trying to contain himself.

  The kiss calmed a storm inside her... brought her warmth, but a different storm started to brew. Something dangerous.

  The kiss deepened, becoming more passionate, more urgent. His tongue traced the seam of her lips, seeking entry, and she parted for him, her body responding to his touch with a heat that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

  Jax felt it more. The sparks between their lips. Sparks that were very real. He had never felt it to that degree before... even with his fated mate.

  As their kiss intensified, his hands began to roam, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist, before slowly moving higher to cup her breast.

  She gasped, her body arching into his touch, her nipples hardening against the thin fabric of her black undergarment.

  He groaned, his fingers finding the sensitive peak, and she felt a wave of pleasure course through her.

  He kissed down her neck, mouth moving lower. She could feel the heat of his breath on her skin, his fingers still moving, still teasing.

  He reached her breasts, his mouth finding one nipple, his tongue circling it, his teeth grazing it before biting.

  She blushed, but her body responded to his touch whether she was shy or not.

  Her hands moved to his hair, She moaned. He didn't let her move.

  Her body trembled as she felt his fingers move lower. He was dominant and in charge. It was turning her on...something she didn't realize would.

  Jax stiffened. He could smell the arousal on her scent. It was driving his wolf crazy. He wanted to mark her.

  He flipped her over, so her back was against his chest and sat up with her in his lap. His breath hot on her neck.

  "You are so beautiful," he said almost to himself. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

  He slid his right hand again under her sports bra playing with both of her nipples and kneading her soft breasts. His left hand slid lower under her bottom undergarments.

  She thanked the gods she was hair free and fully waxed everywhere.

  She gasped as his fingers found her clit, his touch gentle yet firm. He began to circle, his fingers moving in slow, deliberate strokes.

  She could feel the heat building, the tension coiling in her core. She leaned into him, her body pressing against his, her hands grabbing his arms. She moaned his name.

  "Jax... that feels so..."

  Her voice was airy and she couldn't finish her sentence because he slid a finger inside of her.

  Jax's wolf was trying to surface, the second he felt how hot and tight she was. He forced it back down.

  "Gods....Nova," he groaned through gritted teeth, pushing his wolf down.

  She could feel the tension coiling, the heat building as his fingers moved in slow, deliberate strokes, circling her clit with expert precision. She had never had an orgasm before or even kissed a boy.

  "Jax ... I don't know..." She started to say but he cut her off.

  "Just relax. Let me touch you." He whispered in her ear with a commanding voice.

  He tried to put another finger inside her but it was too much.

  "You are so tight." He groaned, fighting his wolf again. Her hips started to move with his hand, riding the finger inside her and thumb massaging above. Her head leaned back against the crook of his neck, letting him support her full weight.

  Jax could feel it. Similar to how he felt it with Cira. But it was more powerful...different. Her emotions. The tension. The heat rising within.

  She was close, and she didn't want to fight it. She wanted to let go, to surrender to the pleasure that was building within her.

  "Come for me, baby," he whispered, his voice hoarse with desire. He kissed her on the ear.

  He shocked himself, calling her baby. The word fell out of him without thought, but it felt unbearably right.

  Something involuntary, white hot pleasure coursed through her. He felt it.

  "Jax..." she moaned, her voice a low, desperate sound. Her neck exposed.

  He could feel her orgasm even without a matebond. The intensity surprised him for a moment. He groaned into her ear. His body thrusting against hers. He wanted to be inside her.

  But he didn't want to push her too far... she was probably a virgin based on how tight she was.

  His wolf surged and whispered to Nova, "You are mine."

  Then, Jax's body tensed underneath her.

  At first, Nova thought she'd done something wrong. His breath grew shallow, uneven. The arm around her tightened. She was still breathing heavy.

  "Jax?" she whispered.

  He didn't answer.

  His jaw clenched.

  "Are you alright?" she swallowed, pulling herself off of him.

  His eyes — those usually warm, hazel eyes — flickered gold. Something ancient and hungry moved behind them.

  He jerked away like he'd been burned.

  "I need a shower," he said abruptly. His voice was strained.

  Nova blinked, confused. "What? Jax, what's wrong?"

  "I just—" He swung his legs over the side of the bed, not looking at her. "I need to cool off. Now."

  He stood, grabbing a pair of pants from a nearby chair, tugging them on without turning back.

  His movements were tight, too controlled. His shoulders still trembled slightly as he raked a hand through his hair and walked toward the bathing chamber attached to his room.

  Nova sat frozen. Her skin was flushed, her body still tingling from his touch.

  But something else now twisted in her chest. Embarrassment. Hurt. Confusion.

  She stood, gathering the clothes that had been left folded on a nearby chair. Simple tight pants. A soft tunic. Boots.

  She dressed quickly and quietly, every sound feeling loud in the silence he left behind.

  She hurried out of the room.