Chapter 18 Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen

Andre's Pov 

"You want us to sleep together?" I ask, turning quickly to catch her gaze lingering on me with a heavy, expectant intensity.

"Of course."

We're going over this lane again. We had this same conversation last year, even the year before. It’s a repetitive cycle of her pushing and me sidestepping, but today the air feels different. More fragile.

"You still don't think we should bond?" she queries further, her voice dropping into a challenge while I study her quietly. I know the politics. One wrong answer this time and I'm not sure what she is going to do or what her father will report to mine.

"My father thinks it's right if we do it," she continues, stepping closer. "After all, we are fated to each other. In the long run, we will end up together, so why the wait?"

"Why? Did Bianca tease you again?"

She snorts, her eyes flashing. "You really believe that Bianca's words can pressurize me? I just want to have a claim to you. I want to do anything that can keep us close."

"There are so many things we can do to keep us close without sleeping together just yet." I reply already sidestepping. 

"That reads like you still don't find me attractive," she says, her voice rising as she closes the distance between us. "All this while, since we became betrothed, you still don't see me as a woman..."

I don't let her finish. I pull at her arm immediately, my hand snaking over her back as I send her crashing back against the wall. The movement is so sudden that I see the breath escape her lungs, and a genuine shock spreads across her eyes. She clearly didn't expect that kind of heat from me.

I cage her against the wall, my brows perking up as I lean in. "You think I don't find you attractive?" I ask, lowering my lips so close to her ear that I can feel the shift in her muscles and the hitch in her breathing.

"Say it again..." I murmur, my hands instinctively coming to rest on her waist, pulling her flush against me.

I look into her eyes, and for once, she’s the one trying to figure out what has come over me. She swallows slowly, her pupils dilated. I snake my hand to one side of her ear, gently tucking a few loose strands of her hair behind it.

"We will sleep together when it's time," I say, my voice a low, steady command. "We are not going to rush anything. We have all the time in the world to do whatever we want."

I slide away from her before the moment can consume us. She doesn't move from that spot for several seconds, looking dazed. I walk over to the shoe rack, selecting a pair of obsidian-heeled pumps, and walk back to her. I squat down, taking her foot in my hand to help her into the fitting heels.

"I think this one looks good, what do you think?" I ask.

There is no immediate reply. She is still dumbfounded, her cheeks flushed a deep red and her eyes wide.

"Okay... I suppose," she finally replies with a long exhale.

I nod, turning to the store attendants who have been standing by, watching the entire display with bated breath.

"Bag this dress and send the bill to the North Wing office," I say. I turn back to her. "Let's go."

She nods silently and disappears into the changing room to remove the dress. The second the curtain closes, my attention snaps back to my phone. A new message from Ric is waiting.

"Henna is okay. Finished her classes and is with Caroline at the cafeteria."

"With Caroline?" I type back, my jaw tightening. That scrawny Omega? Being around that girl won't do Henna any good; Caroline is a lightning rod for Olenna’s cruelty and being with her will have Olenna's attention on her every time. 

"Why?" I add.

"I forgot to ask that, Dre. I have somewhere to be right now. Catch up to whatever she's doing later."

I heave a sigh, thinking the conversation is over, but then the screen light up again.

"What's up? Olenna just texted me. She’s in need of condoms."

Holy fuck.

"Have you finally decided to sleep with her?" Ric's next text reads, practically dripping with sarcasm.

I stare at the screen, my blood running cold. She didn't believe a word I said. She’s not waiting for "the right time." She’s planning to force the hand of fate tonight, regardless of what I want.

"Ready?" Olenna asks, stepping out of the dressing room in her casual clothes, looking perfectly composed again.

"Ready," I say, pocketing the phone with a hand that I have to force not to shake.

We come out of the mall and I turn to her, the cool afternoon air hitting my face. I don't wait until we're on the road. "You asked Ric for condoms."

Olenna doesn't even flinch. She just smooths her hair and sits down on the bike, waiting for me to help with the gear. "And he told you already? That boy really can't keep a secret when it comes to you, can he?"

"We are not doing it tonight," I say firmly, my voice leaving no room for negotiation.

She looks up at me, a playful but sharp glint in her eyes. "Why? You were going hard earlier, Dre. I didn't know you had all that bottled up inside of you. The way you pinned me against that wall... you didn't look like a man who wanted to wait."

I feel a muscle in my jaw twitch. I shouldn't have played into her game back there, but I needed to stun her into silence. Now, it's backfired. I force a small, tight smile, realizing that arguing with her only makes her more determined. If I keep fighting it, she'll smell the hesitation, and she'll start asking why.

"If that's what you want, let's do it then," I say, my voice dropping into a fake, easy tone. "But don't complain if the party runs late and I'm too tired to give you the 'show' you're looking for."

She smiles, satisfied that she’s won this round. "I’ll take my chances."

I help her with the gear, clicking the helmet into place. 

"I need to be at the salon to make my hair," she says through the visor. "Drop me where you normally do. I bet Bianca and the girls are already waiting for me. We have a lot of prepping to do if I’m going to look like a Queen tonight."

"As you wish," I mutter.