Chapter 118
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, feeling as though I were draped in a provocative nightgown. There was no way in hell I would indulge his desires by wearing this dress. My eyes flickered to the clock—1 PM exactly. Without hesitation, I darted to my closet and pulled out my favorite oversized sweater, the one that always brought me comfort. It was white, loose, and long enough to cover my backside.
A wicked grin spread across my lips as I admired myself in the mirror one last time. "Perfect."
Descending the stairs, I searched for the dining room. The door to my right stood wide open, almost as if it were beckoning me inside. I hesitated briefly before stepping across the threshold into a vast room dominated by a massive wooden table stretching across its length.
"You're here." The whisper came from right behind me.
I whirled around to find Kenzo standing dangerously close, clad in jeans and a black fitted T-shirt that highlighted the tribal tattoos snaking around his upper arms. His eyes roamed slowly over my body, and I swallowed hard, refusing to break eye contact. I had sworn not to let him see me falter. He smirked.
"Are you cold, Thalassa?" he teased, his gaze lingering on my sweater.
"No," I replied coolly, unwilling to justify my choice of attire.
"Should I turn on the heater for you?" His expression feigned concern.
"I'm fine, thank you," I answered, mirroring his insincere tone with a smile.
His fingers grazed the hem of my sweater. "Then perhaps you should take this off... If you're cold, I wouldn't mind wrapping you in my arms and warming you up."
His confidence was intoxicating, and my knees weakened, but I stood my ground. "You don’t seem to like my sweater, do you?" I countered with a smirk.
He sighed, feigning nonchalance. "I would prefer to see you in the dress I gave you, but if you insist, you can wear the sweater... without the dress."
His arrogance stoked the fire within me, but anger made me sharper. "Did you want to see me in that see-through dress so badly, Alpha Kenzo?" I challenged, stepping closer. "Did you want to catch glimpses of my panties and imagine what it’s like between my thighs? Or perhaps you were hoping to see my hardening nipples through the lace?"
His eyes burned red with desire, his fangs bared as a low growl rumbled from his throat. I may have pushed him too far.
In a flash, he scooped me up and set me on the table, his movements so swift I barely registered them. With one knee, he forced my legs apart, positioning himself between them. His hand lifted the hem of my dress, and he pressed his arousal against the softness of my panties. I flinched but refused to acknowledge the shiver that coursed through me. I tried to retreat, but he caged me in with his arms.
My heart pounded as his scent wrapped around me, an intoxicating mix of dominance and lust. Terrifyingly, I found myself drawn to him.
Kenzo leaned closer, his breath fanning my lips, and I closed my eyes involuntarily, awaiting his touch.
"If I had known it was this easy to arouse you, I would have claimed you the first night I saw you," he murmured, pulling away.
Humiliation and fury surged through me, washing away any lingering desire. My palm connected with his cheek in a resounding slap. "Screw you, Kenzo!" I spat, shoving him back and leaping off the table.
His cheek reddened, the outline of my hand stark against his skin. Satisfaction surged through me. His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist before I could escape.
"What do you want... Alpha?" I hissed, glaring at him.
His eyes searched mine, flickering between hesitation and something deeper. Then, much to my disbelief, he pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. "You drive me insane, Thalassa," he whispered against my hair. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just wanted to show you that teasing me has consequences..."
His words might have worked on another woman, but I wasn’t so easily swayed. He started this game, and I refused to let him dictate the rules.
Summoning my strength, I shoved against his chest with all my might. This time, he let go, surprised by my resistance.
"Don't ever try to force me into wearing something like that dress again," I warned, my voice laced with defiance. "If you have a taste for that kind of thing, get yourself a sex doll. I’m sure rubber won’t complain."
His eyes darkened with anger, but I didn’t waver. I met his gaze with unwavering confidence, something I knew he wasn’t accustomed to.
"One more thing, Alpha Kenzo," I added, savoring the flicker of frustration in his expression. "I appreciate that you've brought me here, and I'll do my best to prove my worth to your pack. But I don't belong to you."
He stepped back, torn between irritation and confusion. Seizing the opportunity, I turned on my heel.
"I think I'll skip lunch. I've lost my appetite," I called over my shoulder, disappearing through the doorway without a backward glance.
Once inside my room, I locked the door and exhaled shakily. My hands trembled as the adrenaline wore off. The encounter had been far too intense, and I still couldn't believe how easily I'd been drawn into his web.
Anger still simmered beneath my skin, but a part of me knew the truth—if he hadn't stopped, I might have given in. The void inside me, the one left by breaking the blood bond, made me crave something to fill it. I ached in ways I couldn't explain, my shattered heart longing for something, anything, to make me feel whole again.
But Kenzo couldn’t be my escape, not now. After Hadrian, I had no tolerance for arrogance. Mates were supposed to strip away dominance, not amplify it.
Every moment away from the palace taught me more about what I didn't want. Now, I needed to figure out what I did want, what I needed to piece myself back together. And once I knew, I would seize my happiness on my own terms.