Page 45 of Semper

He placed a hand on my thigh, the possessiveness in his touch making my skin tingle.

"Then let your body and the Isle show you. Let me."

I blinked, confusion swirling in my mind. "What?"

"Today, the Isle took a child. But you... you’re ready to be filled with one. Bringing new life forth will give our people the security they need to do the same. It will be a sign from the Isle itself."

I couldn't stop my thoughts from spiraling, torn between the woman I had once been and the one he claimed I was always meant to be. How could I reconcile the mundane life of a hotel housekeeper with this twisted destiny, one that seemed to bind me to something ancient and unyielding?

"You really believe I can do that?" The question slipped from my lips, even as I struggled to comprehend it.

"You will do it," he replied with eerie certainty.

He studied me then as if seeing something hidden beneath my skin. "You’re already ovulating."

I exhaled sharply in disbelief. "How can you possibly—?"

"Your body is a treasure, Lolita. Do you think I wouldn’t know it inside and out?"

A rush of heat flooded my face as I stared at him, feeling the weight of his conviction. His words carried an air of finality. I’d been turning over the events of the day, questioning everything, but this? This twisted reasoning—linking me to the survival of a child I hadn’t even known existed until hours ago—felt like too much. Yet, in the pit of my stomach, there was a part of me that feared he might be right.

Ihadnoticed the lack of expectant mothers. I brushed it off. Now it felt like a glaring omission. I tried to push back against the truth he was weaving around me, but it was getting harder to resist.

I finished most of my drink, the warmth of it spreading through me, dulling the sharper edges of my thoughts. I wasn’t drunk, but my usual resistance felt softer, and my inhibitions lowered. Alexander downed the remainder of his own drink and stood, his eyes never leaving mine. He extended his hand toward me, and this time, I didn’t hesitate. There was something about the way he moved, the certainty in his eyes that made me want to follow.

"Come," he said, reaching for me.

I placed my hand in his, letting him lead me from the kitchen and up the stairs.

As we walked, my mind felt clearer, not weighed down by the confusion that had plagued me earlier. Instead, I felt a strange sense of peace, the tension slipping away with each step. The sound of our footsteps echoed softly in the quiet, and shadows danced along the walls, casting everything in an almost dreamlike glow. When we reached the bedroom, Alexander opened the door and gestured for me to enter first. It was comfortably warm, the fireplace casting a soft light over the bed. The air felt heavy with anticipation. He closed the door behind us and moved closer, his hand sliding to the small of my back.

I could feel the heat radiating from his body, my skin tingling under his touch. Slowly, he turned me around to face him, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. Without a word, he lowered his head and kissed me, soft at first, testing me.

His lips claimed mine in a way that left no doubt of his intentions. I melted into him, the last of my reservationsdissolving. His hands trailed down my sides, firm yet tender, sending shivers up my spine. He guided me back toward the bed, never breaking the kiss. As my knees hit the edge of the mattress, he gently pushed me down, hovering above me as he kissed his way down my neck, sending a delicious heat coursing through my veins.

"You’re ready, Lolita," he whispered against my skin, his lips brushing just below my ear. "The Isle knows it. I know it."

I couldn’t stop the shudder that ran through me, his words igniting something primal deep inside. His lips trailed lower, brushing against my collarbone, sending jolts of heat through my body. His hands moved with deliberate slowness, reaching for the waistband of my pants. With one swift motion, he unbuttoned them, tugging them down over my hips, leaving me exposed. My underwear followed.

I caught his gaze, dark and possessive as he looked down at me. My shirt and bra joined the small pile next, his hands pushing the fabric up and over my head. The cool air of the room contrasted sharply with the heat radiating between us, and I shivered, but not from the cold.

“So beautiful,” he murmured.

He stepped back, just enough to let me see him. He shed his suit jacket, and then his fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt. He undid them slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. The deliberate pace only heightened the anticipation that curled in my stomach, a heat rising with every passing second. When his shirt finally fell open, revealing the hard lines of his chest and abs, I couldn't tear my eyes away. His body, sculpted and powerful, was a reminder of the control he held over me—over everything in my life. The room seemed to shrink around us, the space charged with tension.

His shirt dropped to the floor, and then he lowered his slacks, revealing the powerful muscles of his thighs. As he stoodbefore me in all his glory, his cock straining against his drawers, I felt a surge of wetness between my legs. His eyes bore into mine, hooded and intense, as if he could see every secret hidden within me.

With a predatory grace, he moved closer, his fingers trailing down my trembling skin. Every touch sent electricity coursing through me, drawing me closer to him in both fear and longing. His lips found mine in a hungry kiss, igniting a fire that consumed all rational thought. There was no room for hesitation or doubt. He laid me back and began to kiss his way down my body, each touch more possessive than the last. His lips trailed a path over my skin, and I could feel the warmth of his breath against my sensitive flesh. Every sensation heightened my arousal, making me almost desperate with want.

As if in a trance, I reached out to touch him, running my fingers through his hair. He looked up at me, his eyes sparkling with lust and something else—an emotion that I couldn't quite place. It was as if he were gauging my reaction, waiting for me to surrender completely to him. And for some reason, it turned me on even more. He continued his descent, following the curve of my body with slow, deliberate movements.

As his lips brushed the sensitive skin of my inner thighs, a shiver ran up my spine. I squeezed my eyes shut, overwhelmed by the sensation, the vulnerability of it all.

“Eyes on me,” he commanded, his voice low, but with an edge that left no room for disobedience.

My eyes fluttered open, locking onto his. His gaze was dark, burning with possession. "Good girl," he murmured, his lips curling into a faint smile as he trailed his hands slowly up my legs, his touch deliberate, knowing.

"I want you to feel every second of this." He used his fingers and slowly parted my lips, revealing the source of my desire and his main target.