Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Katsura

The word echoed in my head long after he said it.

What did he mean by that?

I didn’t move.

My fingers curled into the fabric of my dress as if it were the only thing keeping me upright. My heart was pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

“I said strip.”

His voice was calm but his eyes said otherwise.

I swallowed hard and shook my head. “Please… I didn’t mean to disobey you.”

He stood up slowly, his eyes digging in on me.

Every step he took toward me felt like a countdown, I was scared about what his next move would be. My back pressed against the wall, my breath coming in shallow gasps, tears stinging my eyes.

“You ran,” he said quietly. “You lied, even when I promised to protect you. You thought you could hide from me.”

“I was scared,” I whispered.

“Scared?” he scoffed.

“You had no reason to be scared, Katsura.”

He stopped in front of me, towering over me. His eyes were dark and unreadable. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, and that scared me more than anger would have.

He reached for me, his hands reaching for my face.

I flinched, trying to tilt my head to the other side.

His fingers caught my chin, forcing my face up. His touch was firm, not rough, but it left no room for escape.

“Look at me.”

I did without thinking twice.

“You belong under my protection,” he said. “And you don’t get to decide when you leave it.”

My lips trembled. “I’m not your possession.”

His mouth curved into a slow smile. “Of course you are.”

He let go of my chin and stepped back, his eyes on my chest.

“Take it off.”

My hands shook as I reached for the hem of my dress. My body felt heavy, like it wasn’t mine anymore. Slowly, I pulled the fabric over my head and let it fall to the floor.

I stood there in my underwear, my arms wrapped around myself. I wasn’t cold or shivering, but his gaze on my body was cold.

His eyes moved over me without shame. They moved as if he were inspecting his goods that had just arrived.

“Turn around.”

I obeyed again.

Then he said the word that I dreaded. “Everything.” He smirked.

Tears burned my eyes as I slipped out of the rest. The air of the night was cold and it bit into my skin, I felt exposed. I have never been stark naked in front of a man before.

He kicked away the pile of clothes on the floor and moved closer to where I stood, trying to decide if I should cover my bare pussy or my titties.

Then his hands were on me, trailing every part of my body.

They settled on my titties, then they fell to my pussy. I couldn’t help but notice how his eyes lit up with excitement on seeing them.

“Walk.” He had his hand placed on my lower back as he guided me towards a door.

He led me through another door inside the chamber. Steam filled the room instantly. The bathroom was large, carved in dark stone. A deep bathtub sat at the center, already filled, water steaming gently.

“Get in,” he said.

I hesitated, wondering what he might be up to.

His hand pressed against my lower back again, but this time it was firm. “Now.”

I stepped into the tub, the warm water wrapping around my legs, my waist, my chest. I sank down, hugging my knees but using my hair to cover my chest.

He let his pants loose. I turned the moment he dropped them to the floor. What was he thinking going naked in front of me?

The water shifted as he stepped in behind me, his hands circling my waist and making me gasp.

My breath caught when I could feel his dick against my ass.

His body was solid against my back, heat radiating from him. I could feel him everywhere without him touching me.

“You think I enjoy chasing you?” he asked quietly.

“I don’t know,” I whispered.

“I don’t,” he said. “But I will not be made a fool of.”

His hands came down on my shoulders, pushing them gently but firmly back.

“Relax.” He pressed his lips against my neck making my legs shake in the water.

I tried to concentrate, in fact, I had tears trailing down my cheeks but his lips pressed harder, making it very difficult.

He reached for soap and began to wash my arms, slow and deliberate. His touch wasn’t gentle, but it wasn’t cruel either. It was controlled. Like everything else about him, of course, it was all about him.

“You smell like what I can eat right now,” he murmured. “What would it take to have you here?”

“What?” I tried to turn but he held me back.

“Don’t…” he warned.

“Please… I don’t…” I stuttered.

“Shhhh… don’t worry. When I eventually fuck you, I’ll be gentle.”

He washed my neck, my back, his fingers tracing lines that made my skin tingle despite myself.

“You shouldn’t react to me like this,” he continued. “Not unless there’s something you’re hiding.”

“I’m not,” I lied weakly.

His breath brushed my ear. “You’re a terrible liar.”

He turned me slightly so I faced him. My knees pressed against his thighs. His hand rested on my waist, keeping me there so I wouldn’t be able to turn.

“Tell me,” he said. “Why does my wolf react to you?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

His eyes searched my face. For a moment, something softer flickered there, he knew I was lying. He could tell because my voice cracked and betrayed me.

His eyes settled on my hands, and I drowned them in the water.

“Look at your wrist,” he ordered.

My heart skipped a beat.

“What?” I asked.

“Your wrist,” he repeated.

I slowly lifted my hand.

The skin around the mark was darker than my real complexion. The faint mark, shaped like a crescent bite, glowed softly against my skin.

His fingers closed around my wrist, his grip tightened, and he stared at the mark closely as if he was studying it.

He looked confused and maybe worried. I was sure he had never seen something like this before.

“What is this?” he whispered.

I quickly pulled my hand out of his grip and dug it deep into the water.