Chapter 218: Get everything you want

It was a good thing that Elena already had my black Golden Card in her possession as we left the store. She wasn’t expecting it, but suddenly I was motivated to spoil her. And nothing was going to stop me from doing as I wished. My pulse thrummed with a familiar, sharp edge, like the hunger of a predator protecting what was his.

Each store along Fifth Avenue we entered, I bought anything she glanced at with appreciation. I wasn’t sure where this drive came from, but I wanted to adorn her like a goddess in all the luxuries of this world. If anyone asked me, Elena deserved it all. Yes, she did! My senses sharpened around her, the faint warmth of her skin, the soft scent of her perfume mingled with the city air and it made me ache to keep her close.

"No, Andrey. I don’t wanna go in. You keep buying me things I don’t need," she dug her heels into the sidewalk in front of one of the last stores. "What even is this? Purses! I don’t even need a new purse. It was embarrassing enough for you to buy all those shoes and lingerie."

"Elena, why won’t you let me take care of you?" I cupped her cheek and stepped closer, ignoring the pedestrians passing by on the busy street. My senses flared at every subtle reaction of hers, how her pulse quickened, how her scent changed when she was nervous. "I don’t need any of this stuff, it’s too much," she whispered, not meeting my gaze. I wondered why no one else had spoiled her as she deserved. This should be normal for her but she was too innocent, too human, unaware of the predatory world around her.

Leaning over, I pressed my lips into the curve of her ear and whispered in a tone that would make her shiver. "You’re one of my possessions, baby, and I take care of what’s mine. So I’m going to treat you like a goddess, and when we get home… I’m going to fuck you like a whore."

Elena sucked in a soft gasp, and her body shuddered. That response, so instinctively human, so vulnerable was exactly what I wanted. I straightened and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger on her skin just long enough to savor it. Her soft skin was the sun, and I, the Alpha, was drawn to her like a wolf to a flame.

"Now be a good girl for me and go inside. Pick out all the bags you want," I lifted my eyebrows as she froze, staring at me with dazzling blue eyes. "Elena, I won’t repeat myself."

Her cheeks instantly flushed pink, and she whirled away. I bit my bottom lip to keep from chuckling and followed her inside the brightly lit store. My little human dancer avoided my gaze as she moved through the rows of bags. I followed silently, shadowing her like a wolf pacing beside prey, aware of every subtle shift of her weight, every flicker of expression.

I watched her pick up a black quilted handbag with a gold chain, turn it over in her hands, then set it down and move on. As I had in every other store, I went behind her and picked it up. It was obvious she wanted it, but something in her mind told her she didn’t deserve it. Yet she absolutely did. My instincts knew it, even before her mind did.

As we walked, I made sure to grab the matching clutch and wallet. Elena didn’t notice, preoccupied with the rows of goods before her. It wasn’t until we reached the back of the store, near the luggage sets, that her eyes fell on the treasures I carried. Her mouth fell open, and her face went pale.

"Andrey," she hissed, a soft panic in her voice. "Okay, this is all too much. You have got to stop."

"NO," I said with a sternness that made her clam up immediately. We stared at each other like cowboys in a Western preparing to draw. My gaze never wavered, and when her lower lip began to tremble, I knew I had won.

"Fine," she gritted out through her teeth. "I’m ready to leave."

"Are you sure? I saw you looking at the luggage set," I teased, pushing her buttons on purpose.

"I don’t need any luggage, I don’t go anywhere," she sulked, and I laughed softly, a low rumble that only I would recognize as wolfish amusement. I moved to the front of the store to check out, and Elena hugged herself as I whipped out my card and paid for everything she touched.

Outside on the street, the sun was setting, painting the city in orange fire. The light caught Elena’s golden hair and made it glow like molten silk. I couldn’t stop staring. My senses were alert to every subtle movement, every pulse of hers. She was completely unaware, completely human and completely mine.

Antonio received my text in time as we left the store and pulled the car to the curb. Without a word, he jumped out and helped me maneuver the shopping bags into the truck. Elena frowned at the sheer amount, but I caught the flicker of admiration in her eyes.

"Oh! My goodness, is that the ballerina?" An elderly woman cried as I opened the back door for Elena. "That’s the ballerina from the magazine!" Three older women with arms loaded with shopping bags gawked at her, and Elena turned red as a tomato.

"Yes! She’s the Prima Ballerina of New York," another confirmed. They scuttled toward her, excitement spilling from them. Elena’s face was quickly obscured by a mask, and I couldn’t read her expressions anymore but I could feel the tension in the air. Their excitement drew a small crowd who watched in awe.

"My granddaughter does ballet across the city, can I get a picture with you?"

"You know, I saw your performance last Friday, it was amazing!"

"Joan won’t believe this when we show her these photos!"

They all snapped pictures, gathered around her but I was around , protective, aware, and fully in control. Elena had no idea how close to the edge she was, how safe she was under my gaze, or how fiercely I would protect her, whether she knew it or not.