Chapter 81: Chapter 81
Christian crashed his lips onto her fluttering ones, ruthlessly swallowing the rest of her protests. Fleur didn’t even stand a chance; the dominant alpha knew exactly how to dismantle her defenses and coax her sweet mouth into total submission.
High above them, the sky erupted in a brilliant display of celebratory fireworks, but beneath the artificial light, a far more blinding firework display detonated in Fleur’s mind.
To be held and kissed by the man she loved beneath the glowing silhouette of the Eiffel Tower was a fantasy she had locked away in the deepest recesses of her heart—a beautiful dream she never believed would manifest in reality.
Yet here she was, suspended in the waking world with her destined mate, the formidable wolf who was both her husband and the father of her children. As Christian poured his soul into a confession beneath the iconic structure, it felt as though the universe had finally granted every silent prayer she had ever breathed.
Fleur thought her heart couldn’t possibly hold any more joy, but her majestic alpha had no intention of stopping there. Tightening his crushing grip around her waist, his powerful hands locked against her spine as he swept her backward into a breathtaking, graceful dip.
Her heels entirely lost contact with the cobblestones, suspended effortlessly by his iron strength. Christian hovered directly over her, his massive frame creating a private sanctuary that shielded her from the outside world.
Their lips fused together once more in a desperate, intoxicating collision—a wild storm of primal urgency tempered by a sudden, aching tenderness that made the rest of the world dissolve into nothingness.
Fleur’s pulse ran wild as she surrendered completely to the torrent of the mate bond, her body arching instinctively into his heavy embrace. Christian’s kiss grew fiercely demanding, the possessive nature of his inner beast rising to the surface.
His tongue stroked the seam of her lips, commanding her to open for him. When she playfully nipped back, he caught her lower lip between his teeth, tugging just enough to draw a soft, breathless gasp from her throat. He seized the invitation instantly, his tongue sweeping authoritatively into the velvet warmth of her mouth, claiming every inch as his rightful territory.
Dizzied by the sheer, intoxicating scent of him—a heady mix of crisp winter mint and rich, dark whiskey—Fleur melted against him, letting the mafia king consume her senses entirely.
His large palms began a slow, burning descent down the curves of her hips, sending violent shivers straight to her core. Every touch was an unyielding declaration of ownership, a silent warning to the universe that this female belonged to him, and him alone.
Their breaths grew ragged and shallow as they ravaged each other’s mouths, Fleur’s tongue dancing with his in a frantic, desperate rhythm. She lost herself in the addictive taste of him, the primal pull of their bond drowning out the rational reminder that they were standing in a highly public square.
As the kiss deepened into something completely breathless, Christian’s grip tightened further, his hands roaming her body with a fierce, territorial intensity that made her blood run hot. The dazzling lights of the tower twinkled directly above them, casting a surreal, ethereal glow over their tangled silhouettes.
Inevitably, the magnetic display began to draw the attention of the surrounding crowds. Onlookers paused in their tracks, utterly captivated by the raw, cinematic romance unfolding before them. A ripple of enthusiastic cheers broke out, followed by a chorus of applause echoing through the crisp night air.
The sudden intrusion of the human world snapped the spell. Fleur blinked her eyes open, panic instantly replacing the haze of pleasure as she stared into Christian’s dark, possessive eyes.
He hadn’t broken eye contact for a single second; even mid-kiss, his gaze had been fiercely locked onto her face, reading every micro-expression and channeling the entirety of his devotion into the embrace. The sudden spike of anxiety in her scent and the gentle push of her hands against his chest left him momentarily growling in confusion.
"Christian... they’re watching us," she whispered frantically, her cheeks flushing a deep, beautiful crimson.
Christian couldn’t help but lean down to steal one more lingering peck from her pouty lips. His adorable, easily startled mate. A soft smile tugged at his lips.
"Let the whole damn world watch, my angel," he growled carelessly, his thumb stroking her burning cheek.
"No, please... I... I’m really not comfortable with a crowd," Fleur murmured, shielding her eyes as an intense wave of shyness washed over her.
Christian fought back a low rumble of frustration. The beast inside him wanted nothing more than to claim her right here, to show the entire world exactly who this woman belonged to. But he wasn’t the reckless, arrogant man he used to be. This version of Christian had known the agony of losing her once, and he was terrified of doing anything that might push her away again.
"Let’s get out of here," he commanded softly, the rough edge of desire still thick in his voice.
Fleur offered a breathless smile, biting her lip as she cast a nervous glance at the crowd out of the corner of her eye. Without a second thought, Christian locked his fingers securely through hers, using his intimidating stature to cut a swift path through the dense gather of onlookers.
A few people raised their phones, capturing the striking couple on video to upload to social media, but the alpha ignored them entirely.
They practically sprinted the last few yards toward the parked vehicle, only slowing down once the prying eyes of the crowd were left far behind. Leaning heavily against the cool metal of the car door, they both burst into breathless, spontaneous laughter.
"God, that was absolute madness!" Fleur gasped, clutching her stomach as she bent forward to catch her breath, her melodic giggles ringing out into the night.
"You aren’t wrong," Christian chuckled, running a hand through his dark hair, still reeling from the sheer adrenaline of the moment.
He had executed high-stakes battle operations and survived lethal turf wars, yet he had never experienced a rush of pure, unadulterated exhilaration quite like this.
He felt entirely weightless, entirely free. His gaze darkened with a sudden, predatory hunger as it anchored onto Fleur’s smiling face, the love in his chest expanding until it was almost painful.
"But I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat," he growled.
In one fluid, lightning-fast motion, he lunged forward, catching her by the waist and pinning her petite frame securely against the car door. He crashed his lips back onto hers with a devastating passion that perfectly mirrored the fire burning in his veins.
"Baby, I need you. Right now," he grunted against her mouth, his breath hot and demanding.
"Christian, get in the car... we need to go home," Fleur whimpered, though her hands instinctively wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer.
Christian only pressed his weight heavier against her, ensuring she could feel the rigid, unyielding proof of his arousal straining against her soft thighs. He had absolutely no intention of letting her go.
"I can’t wait until we get across the city, Fleur. I want you right this second," he growled possessively, his rough, deep voice vibrating against her ear as he rested his forehead against hers.
"Then I guess you’re just going to have to practice some self-control, Mr. Wayne," Fleur teased, a wicked, mesmerizing sparkle dancing in her eyes as she smiled against his lips.
"Damn it, woman, you are going to be the absolute death of me," Christian groaned, his control snapping entirely.
He swiftly spun around, yanking the passenger door open and hauling her into the seat with a protective, urgent strength. Slamming the door shut, he sprinted around to the driver’s seat, the raw hunger in his movements matched only by the untamed fire burning in his dark eyes.
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