Chapter 34 Chapter 34
KAI’S POV
I sat back in my chair, my own meal untouched, my attention entirely consumed by the creature across from me.
I watched her eat. It was such a mundane act, yet when she did it... it was riveting.
I tracked the way her small, white teeth tore into the bread, the delicate bob of her throat as she swallowed. It was maddening. It was obsessive. I felt a primal need to keep her in my line of sight, as if looking away would cause her to vanish into thin air again.
She sensed my gaze. Her movements faltered, her hand trembling slightly as she set her utensils down on the silver tray. She looked up, her wide, fearful eyes locking with mine.
And then I heard it.
Her heart was like a staccato rhythm that betrayed every secret she tried to keep.
A slow, arrogant smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.
"Finished already?" I drawled, leaning forward slightly.
She swallowed hard, her pulse spiking even higher. "Y-Yes, Alpha."
"You barely touched it," I murmured, my eyes dropping to her lips. "But then again... you seem full enough."
I knew I had this effect on her. I could smell the fear rolling off her in waves, but beneath the fear... there was something else. Something sweeter. Desire. She wanted me, even if her mind refused to admit it. Her body knew.
The longer I stared, the faster her heart raced. Damn it. It was like music to my ears, a chaotic symphony played just for me.
I reached out across the table. She flinched, but she didn't pull away. I covered her small, trembling hand with my own, my thumb brushing over her knuckles.
The moment my skin touched hers, the rhythm changed.
Her heart didn't stop; it slowed. It deepened. The frantic panic bled away, replaced by a heavy, steady beat.
My smirk faded slightly, replaced by a frown of genuine intrigue. My touch made her nervous, yes... but it also relaxed her. It grounded her.
How is that possible? I thought, staring at her flushed face. She fears me, yet she finds calm in my grip.
"Your heart..." I whispered, my thumb pressing into her pulse point. "It sings for me, doesn't it?"
She tried to look away, but I wouldn't let her.
Damn it. She is utterly mesmerizing.
My gaze drifted lower, drawn like a moth to a flame. I couldn't help it. That dress... the tailor had followed my instructions to the letter.
The pale silk barely contained her, pushing her breasts up, offering them to me.
Suddenly, a sharp sting on my knuckles snapped me back. I blinked, looking up to see her covering her chest with her hands, glaring at me with righteous indignation.
"You don't have to stare at it like that," she hissed.
I fought back a grin. There she was. My little tigress. She was terrified of me one moment, and slapping my hand away the next. She was so feisty when it came to protecting her body.
But she is wrong, I thought, my amusement darkening into something heavier. She thinks that the body belongs to her.
I let out a low, controlled sigh, leaning back in my chair. She needed a lesson. She needed a reminder of exactly who she belonged to.
"Stand up," I commanded, my voice flat.
She blinked, confused. "Huh?"
My eyes narrowed. "I don't like to repeat myself, Anya." I let a dangerous edge bleed into my tone. "Stand. Up."
She swallowed hard, her defiance swaying under the weight of my Alpha command. Slowly, she pushed her chair back and stood, her hands still clutching the neckline of her dress.
"Come here," I ordered.
She hesitated for a heartbeat, then took a few tentative steps until she was standing between my spread knees. "And?" she asked, her voice trembling, trying to sound brave. "What now?"
I didn't answer with words. I shot my hands out, gripping her small waist, and yanked her forward until her thighs hit the chair.
My face was now level with her chest. I didn't ask for permission. I leaned forward and buried my face in the soft, fragrant valley of her cleavage, inhaling deeply. She smelled of soap, fear, and that intoxicating sweetness that drove my wolf insane.
"Now," I murmured against her skin, feeling her heart beating against my cheek. "Do you have a problem?"
She was frozen, too shocked to move. I smirked against her skin.
I didn't use my hands. I used my teeth. I clamped onto the delicate ribbon lacing the front of her bodice and pulled. One tug, and the knot gave way.
The silk loosened, falling open, leaving her completely, beautifully exposed right in front of my face.
She gasped, her hands flying up, but she didn't push me away. She couldn't move.
"Beautiful," I growled.
I didn't wait. I latched onto her, my mouth closing over her soft flesh. I suckled her breast, swirling my tongue, then drew her nipple into my mouth, biting down gently, just enough to claim.
But I didn't close my eyes. I looked up, locking my gaze with hers, forcing her to watch me take her.
Her head fell back, her teeth sinking into her lower lip as a soft, broken sound escaped her throat.
"A-Alpha..."