33 A Little PDA ( Public Display Of Affection)

**Annabel’s POV**

Caleb held his ground, but the shift in his demeanour was noticeable. He inclined his head slightly, a gesture of reluctant submission. "Of course, Your Majesty. I meant no offence."

"I apologise," Caleb added, his tone calm and respectful as he turned and walked away.

Darius’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before he turned to me. "Do you want to dance?" he asked, his voice low and steady.

I hesitated, unsure, but eventually, I nodded. "Come on," he said, extending his hand. His touch was firm yet inviting, and I found myself drawn to him despite my apprehension.

As we stepped onto the dance floor, the crowd seemed to part effortlessly, creating a space just for us. 

The music swelled softly, wrapping around us like a gentle embrace. Darius pulled me close, his hand firm on my back, his other hand clasping mine. 

His touch was deliberate, tender but possessive, and I felt my body relax against his. Resting my head on his chest, I let out a soft sigh as the world seemed to blur and fade away.

In that moment, there was nothing but him. His presence surrounded me, grounding me, yet it stirred something wild and uncontainable within me. 

His movements were graceful, his steps effortless, but there was something deeper in the way he held me—a claim, an unspoken declaration that I belonged to him. 

I allowed myself to sink into the feeling, not for any grand reason but simply because I wanted to. Just for tonight, I wanted to feel safe and cherished.

Darius stayed close to me for the rest of the evening, his attention unwavering. There was an intensity about him tonight, a quiet fire that ignited desires I couldn’t fully understand or control. His strength and dominance were intoxicating, but I kept myself in check, unwilling to let my emotions betray me.

Eventually, he decided it was time to leave. The event still bustled with life, the chatter and laughter of the guests filling the grand hall, but Darius’s tone left no room for argument. 

There was an urgency in his voice, though he didn’t explain it. Austin, our host, looked concerned, clearly worried he had done something wrong, but Declan stepped in to assure him everything was fine.

The moment we got into the car, the door barely shutting behind us, Darius pulled me close with a sudden intensity. Before I could even catch my breath, his lips crashed against mine in a kiss that was fierce and unrelenting yet somehow tender and electrifying. 

It was as if he had been holding back all night, and now the floodgates had opened. His lips moved against mine with a wild hunger, a desperate need that left me breathless when he finally pulled away.

His eyes were golden, his wolf blazing just beneath the surface. The energy radiating from him was raw, untamed, and utterly consuming.

"You were driving me insane in there," he confessed, his voice rough with emotion. "All eyes were on you." His words carried a hint of jealousy, but there was also pride in his tone—a possessiveness that was as alluring as it was overwhelming.

I stared at him, my chest rising and falling as I struggled to catch my breath. His confession sent a ripple of warmth through me, even as it left me feeling vulnerable. 

I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t speak. Instead, I let the moment linger, the air between us heavy with unspoken emotions. Whatever this was, whatever it was becoming, I wasn’t ready to break it just yet.

Lifting my chin with a firm yet gentle touch, Darius gazed at me with an intensity that made my heart race. His voice was calm, yet the possessiveness in his words was unmistakable.

"I should be the only one looking at you that way," he said, his golden eyes blazing with emotion.

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my skin. 

"Your scent drives me crazy, Ann. You have no idea what you do to me. I’m in trouble—trapped in something I have no control over. You are dangerous for me," he confessed, his wolf still lingering beneath the surface, a raw edge to his voice.

I didn’t know what to say. His words, his touch—they ignited feelings inside me that I didn’t even know existed. My pulse quickened, and I found myself unable to look away from him, even as the vulnerability in his tone left me shaken.

"I want you so badly," he continued, his voice dipping into something deeper, more desperate.

"It’s taking everything in me to hold back. Since that night, it’s been impossible to keep you out of my mind. Do you think about me, too, or is this all one-sided? Has Maxwell taken everything from you? Are there no scraps left for me to have?"

His words hit me like a blow, and I stared at him, stunned. I could see the pain in his eyes, the fear that being my second chance wasn’t enough for him. That he wasn’t enough for me.

"Your Majesty," I managed to whisper, but he stopped me, his thumb gently grazing my lips.

"It’s Darius when we’re alone," he said softly, his eyes never leaving mine. His thumb traced over my lips, lingering as if savouring the moment. 

"So soft. So delicate. Everything about you screams caution." His voice dropped even lower, filled with a quiet torment. "Tell me, Annabel, will you be the death of me?"

I opened my mouth to speak, to respond, but before I could, he closed the distance between us. His lips crashed onto mine with a force that left me breathless, the kiss searing and consuming, pulling me into his world. 

His lips trailed down to my neck, sending shivers through my entire body as his words reached me through the bond.

"I won’t hold back anymore," he linked me, his voice a raw growl in my mind as he pulled me closer, his touch intensifying with every moment.

His confession, his possessiveness, his need—it overwhelmed me. 

A realization settled over me like a heavy cloak. There was a shift in the air, a shift in us. Darius wasn’t just staking a claim; he was laying bare his soul, his vulnerability, and it left me reeling.

Could I open my heart again? Could I give in to something I knew would change everything? 

Darius was my fated mate, and I couldn’t deny the way my heart beat in time with his. But deep down, I knew the truth—I was a widowed slave, and he was a king. We had no future. 

How could I possibly ask him to sacrifice so much for me? Could I even allow myself to ask for a sacrifice at all?

That night, Darius followed me to my room. He didn’t leave my side, holding me close as if protecting me from the world. 

His warmth surrounded me, his presence both comforting and electrifying. For a moment, I thought he might go all the way, but he didn’t. He stopped, his restraint surprising me.

I realised we weren’t there yet. Not completely. But the unspoken promises in his touch, in his words, told me it was only a matter of time.