Family system

Selene threw herself back into her training when they returned to the cult. It was easier that way—easier than thinking, easier than feeling. The changes in her body were undeniable. She was stronger, faster, sharper. The power Jack had granted her pulsed in her veins like a second heartbeat, and she felt herself evolving with every strike and battle.

But no matter how hard she trained, she couldn't get him out of her head.

Jack was everywhere—not physically—he was a god, always busy with his own affairs. But his presence lingered in her mind, a constant taunting whisper she couldn't silence. She could still feel the heat of his touch from that day, how his fingers had closed around hers and set her soul ablaze.

She had spent months honing herself into a weapon, into a warrior who relied on no one but herself. And yet, a single moment with him had unraveled everything.

She hated it.

She loved it.

Days passed. Then weeks.

Selene fought, trained, and honed her skills. She sparred with the others, led missions, and took on challenges that pushed her limits. She even meditated, something she had never done before, hoping it would give her clarity.

It did not.

Every night, she lay awake, restless, staring at the ceiling of her quarters.

And then, one night, she broke.

The pull was unbearable. It wasn't just longing—it was needed. A raw, consuming force that clawed at her insides and refused to let her rest. She had fought everything in her life, but this? This was unwinnable.

So she stopped fighting.

Dressed in a loose robe, Selene slipped out of her quarters and into the dimly lit halls of the cult. The moonlight spilled through the arched windows, casting silver light across the stone corridors as she moved with quiet purpose.

Every step felt heavier, like the universe was urging her forward, guiding her toward him.

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When she reached Jack's quarters, her pulse was a steady drumbeat of anticipation.

She hesitated only for a moment.

Then, with a deep breath, she pushed open the door.

Selene stepped into the room, the dim candlelight casting a warm glow on her breathtaking figure. The loose robe she wore barely clung to her curves, teasing more than it covered. Her toned midsection, the result of relentless training, peeked through the barely cinched fabric, and with every step, her thick, powerful thighs shifted, hinting at the raw strength beneath her smooth skin.

Her hips swayed with each movement, the natural sensuality of her body impossible to ignore. The robe slid off one shoulder, revealing the perfect slope of her collarbone and the soft swell of her ample breasts that strained against the loose fabric. Even in the dim lighting, the gentle sheen of sweat on her sun-kissed skin made her look irresistible—like a goddess sculpted from fire and desire.

But what truly caught Jack's attention were her eyes.

Those fiery, golden eyes, usually sharp and unwavering, now flickered with hesitation, with something unspoken—a silent battle between her desire and her pride.

Jack, who had been waiting for her, simply leaned back in his chair, a slow, knowing smile curling his lips.

"I was wondering when you'd finally give in," he murmured, his voice deep and smooth like molten gold. He tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze raking over her body with undisguised amusement and appreciation. "Took you long enough, Selene."

Selene froze in place, her confidence crumbling in an instant. She had prepared for this—had convinced herself that she could handle facing him without losing her composure. But nothing could have prepared her for that look in his eyes, the lazy dominance that made her feel exposed without him even touching her.

"I—" she started, but her voice betrayed her.

Jack chuckled, and the deep, rich sound shivered down her spine.

"Oh? Lost your words already?" He rested his elbow on the table, propping his chin on his hand as he gazed at her. "That's not like you, Selene."

Her face burned. She had led battles, killed monsters, and stared death in the eye without flinching—yet here she was, flustered like a girl experiencing her first romance.

"Shut up," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest to shield herself from his teasing.

Jack only smirked wider.

"I don't think I will," he mused, his eyes deliberately dropping to the way her robe barely covered her thighs. "Not when you come here, dressed like that, looking like that." He exhaled a slow breath as if she were testing his patience. "Damn, Selene. Are you trying to tempt me?"

Selene's entire body stiffened.

"I—I'm not—!" she spluttered, stepping back as if she had been physically struck. "I just—!"

Jack let out another chuckle, clearly enjoying every second of her unraveling.

"You're adorable when you're flustered," he said, his voice lowering just a fraction, enough to make her pulse jump. "I should do this more often."

Selene scowled, but her red cheeks betrayed her.

"You are insufferable."

"And yet, you're here," he countered smoothly, finally standing up from his chair. He walked toward her, his tall, powerful frame towering over her.@@novelbin@@

Selene knew she should say something—do something—but all she could focus on was the heat radiating from his body, the way his presence alone made her knees feel weak.

Jack reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered, grazing against her skin.

"Now," he said, his voice softer but no less commanding, "why don't you tell me what you came here for?"

Selene swallowed hard, her pride warring with her desire. But in that moment, with his golden gaze locked onto hers, she knew one thing for certain.

She was already his.

Selene's breath hitched as Jack's fingers lingered against her skin, his touch barely there, sending sparks of heat racing down her spine. She wanted to move, step back, say something sharp and witty—but her body betrayed her. Her pulse pounded in her ears, and she hated how easy it was for him to reduce her to this.

Jack's golden eyes studied her, amusement flickering behind them as he trailed his fingers down the curve of her jaw. "Still not answering me, huh?" His voice was low, teasing, yet something in his tone made her shudder. "That's not like you, Selene."

She gritted her teeth, trying to gather the last scraps of her composure. "I—I came because—" She faltered when his fingers skimmed the side of her neck, just the barest touch, but enough to make her exhale sharply.

Jack's smirk widened. "Because?" He leaned in, his breath warm against her cheek, and Selene fought the urge to close her eyes and just sink into the feeling.

She had spent days, weeks, months trying to fight this, pretending she didn't crave the weight of his touch, the way his voice alone could send her heart racing. But she was losing. She had already lost.

Jack tilted his head slightly, watching her like a predator, enjoying the slow realization of his prey. "You want me to say it for you?" His lips barely brushed the shell of her ear, his breath sending shivers down her spine.

Selene's hands clenched into fists at her sides.

She should push him away. She should.

But she didn't.

Jack let the silence stretch for a moment before he pulled back just enough to look at her properly. His expression was pure satisfaction like he had already won.

And maybe he had.

"You want me," he said, so casually, as if it were an undeniable fact as if her presence alone had already proved it.

Selene felt her face burn. "I—"

Jack's grin deepened.

"No need to be shy now," he murmured, his fingers trailing down to her collarbone, brushing the edge of her robe. His touch was light, teasing, barely there—yet Selene felt every inch of it as if he had branded her skin.

She swallowed hard, feeling like she was standing on the edge of something dangerous—something inevitable.

Jack's other hand came up, sliding to the small of her back, pulling her closer. His strength was effortless, his grip firm yet gentle, a silent demand rather than a forceful command.

Selene let out a shaky breath.

She should walk away. She should fight this.

But instead, she lifted her chin, looking him straight in the eyes.

"…You already knew," she said, her voice quieter than she intended but steady.

Jack chuckled, low and knowing.

"Of course I did," he murmured, his fingers slipping beneath the fabric of her robe, skimming against bare skin. "I was just waiting for you to admit it."

Selene's breath hitched again, her body reacting before her mind could process it.

He was too close, too warm, too intoxicating.

Her fingers twitched at her sides before she finally—finally—gave in.

With a sharp exhale, she grabbed the front of his shirt, fisting the fabric as she yanked him down into a kiss.

Jack didn't hesitate.

His grip tightened around her waist, pulling her flush against him as his lips claimed hers.

The moment their mouths met, everything else faded.

Selene didn't care about the teasing anymore. She didn't care about her pride or hesitation or how much she had fought against this.

Because the second Jack deepened the kiss, pressing her back against the nearest wall, she only thought about him.

And how much she never wanted this to stop.