Chapter 15 I'm doomed
~Sage~
I couldn't stop thinking about his mouth.
It had been twelve hours since Keith had me writhing beneath him in the rose garden, and every single second since had been torture of a different kind. The heat was gone, thank God, but it had been replaced by something else entirely. An hyperawareness of everything. The way my dress brushed against my nipples. The way my thighs brushed together when I walked. The phantom feeling of his fingers between my legs.
"Hold still," the makeup artist commanded, applying another coat of mascara.
I tried to focus on anything else, but my traitorous mind kept replaying last night. The way he'd commanded me to spread my legs. The feeling of his tongue—
"You're flushed," the woman observed. "Are you feeling alright?"
I nodded and smiled nervously. "Yes, I'm just excited," I lied.
The welcome ceremony was in two hours, and I'd been in preparation since noon. They'd waxed, plucked, and polished every inch of me until I barely recognized myself in the mirror. The dress they'd chosen was stunning: a deep burgundy that hugged my curves before flowing out into a dramatic train. The neckline was modest, but the back was completely open down to just above my tailbone.
"The Alpha King will be pleased," one of the servants murmured approvingly.
The Alpha King. The man I was supposed to mark me in a week, not the one who'd made me come three times last night.
A knock at the door made me jump.
"Come in," the head servant called.
Keith walked in, and every cell in my body came alive. He was dressed in a black suit that fit him perfectly, his dark hair styled back from his face. His eyes found mine in the mirror, and I watched them darken as they traveled down my exposed back.
"The King sent me to escort you down," he said, his voice perfectly neutral.
"We're almost finished," the makeup artist said, adding one final swipe of lipstick.
The servants filed out, leaving us alone and the air immediately changed around us.
"You look..." he started, then stopped, his hungry gaze lingering on my exposed cleavage.
"Like a proper Luna?" I stood, smoothing down my dress.
"Like something forbidden," he corrected, moving closer. "That dress should be illegal."
"You can't say things like that to your stepmother."
"Why not?" He was behind me now, not touching but close enough that I could feel his heat. "Afraid you'll think about it all night? The way you thought about last night all day?"
My cheeks flamed. "How did you—"
"Your scent," he murmured, his breath tickling my ear. "Every time you think about what we did, it changes. Becomes sweeter. I've been so hard all day knowing you were up here, thinking about my mouth on you."
"Keith..."
"Did you try to touch yourself this morning? When you woke up aching?"
"Stop," I whispered, but my body betrayed me, my nipples hardening visibly through my dress.
He chuckled darkly. "You did. Good girl. Did you think about me while you did it?"
"We should go," I said desperately. "Your father—"
"Is busy greeting guests." His finger traced down my exposed spine, barely touching. "We have time."
I shivered violently. "We can't. Not again."
"I know." He stepped back, and I immediately missed his warmth. "But that doesn't mean I won't enjoy watching you squirm all night, knowing what you're thinking about."
The walk to the ballroom was torture. Keith stayed precisely three feet behind me, playing the perfect gentleman, but I could feel his eyes on me like a physical touch.
The ballroom was packed with what looked like hundreds of werewolves. They all turned when we entered, conversations dying. King Damon stood at the far end on a raised platform, beckoning me forward.
"Smile," Keith murmured. "You look terrified."
"I am terrified."
"Don't be. Your scent is perfect. Satisfied but not mated. No unmated male will challenge for you tonight."
Thanks to you, I thought, then immediately regretted it as my scent apparently broadcast that thought to him. I heard his sharp intake of breath behind me.
King Damon took my hand when I reached him, pulling me up onto the platform.
"My beloved pack," he announced, his voice carrying easily through the room. "I present Sage, your future Luna."
Applause erupted. I smiled and waved, playing my part, trying not to look at Keith who had taken his position at his father's left side.
"Tonight, we celebrate," the King continued. "In one week, she will be marked as mine."
More applause. Someone handed me a glass of champagne, and the formal part of the ceremony began. I had to greet what felt like every single pack member, accepting their congratulations and good wishes.
Keith never moved from his position, but I felt his eyes on me constantly. Every time I glanced his way, he was watching me with an intensity that made my stomach clench.
An hour into the ceremony, the formal greetings finally ended. Music started, and couples began dancing. King Damon had been pulled away by his advisors, leaving me momentarily alone.
"Dance with me."
I turned to find Keith holding out his hand.
"Is that wise?"
"It would be stranger if I didn't dance with my new stepmother," he said with a smirk that made me want to slap him. Or kiss him. Maybe both.
I took his hand, letting him lead me onto the dance floor. The song was slow, romantic. Completely inappropriate for us.
Keith pulled me close, one hand on my lower back, fingers splayed across my bare skin. The contact made me gasp.
"Careful," he murmured. "People are watching."
"Then stop touching me like that."
"Like what?" His thumb stroked along my spine. "I'm barely touching you at all. Certainly not like last night."
"You're evil."
"You're the one broadcasting your arousal to every wolf in here," he countered. "Do you know what you smell like right now?"
"Shut up."
He spun me, then pulled me back closer than before. "You smell like you need to be fucked, Sage. Like you're empty and aching for it."
My steps faltered. "Keith—"
"I know you are," he continued, his voice pitched low so only I could hear. "I can smell how wet you're getting just from dancing with me. If I slipped my hand under this dress right now, would you be soaked for me?"
"Stop," I begged, but my body pressed closer to his.
"I can't stop thinking about how you tasted," he admitted, his control finally cracking slightly. "How you sounded when you came. The way you begged me for more."
"This is torture."
"Good." He dipped me suddenly, his face hovering over mine. "Because that's what you've been doing to me all day. Looking like this. Smelling like that."
When he pulled me back up, I caught sight of King Damon watching us from across the room, his expression unreadable.
"Your father's watching," I warned.
Keith didn't even look. "Let him."
The song ended, and another began. Keith didn't let go.
"Let me go,” I whispered harshly, trying to pull away. “People will talk."
"They already are." His hand slid lower on my back, dangerously low. "They're wondering why the virgin bride smells so... satisfied. Why she keeps looking at the Alpha's son like she wants to devour him."
"I do not—"
"You do." He leaned down, lips brushing my ear. "And later tonight, when you're alone in your bed, you'll think about this. About how badly you wanted me to pull you into an empty room and finish what we started last night."
"You're wrong."
"Your scent says otherwise." He finally stepped back, bowing formally. "Enjoy the rest of your party, stepmother."
The title was like cold water. A reminder of what this really was. What we could never be.
I watched him walk away, disappearing into the crowd. My body ached with unfulfilled need, my skin still burning from his touch.
"Sage."
I turned to find Natalie, gorgeous in a silver dress that left little to the imagination.
"Natalie."
She studied me with calculating eyes. "You look flushed. Keith does have that effect on women."
Before I could respond, she leaned in close, inhaling.
"Interesting," she murmured. "You smell like—"
"Like what?" I challenged.
She smiled, sharp and knowing. "Like you're hiding something. And I'm going to find out what."
She walked away, leaving me standing alone on the dance floor, surrounded by werewolves and drowning in secrets that could destroy everything.
The welcome ceremony continued around me, but all I could think about was Keith's promise.
Later tonight, when you're alone in your bed...
God help me, he was right. I was completely, utterly doomed.