Five

Kiara’s POV

“Oh hell no,” I exclaimed rather vehemently, rising to my feet and glaring at my father. “No way in hell is that happening!” I fumed, incredulous as to how we’d even gotten here so quickly.

Dad sat straighter in his seat and sent a sideways glance toward the seat next to me, a direction I was trying desperately to ignore. “Kiara Hudson, What has gotten into you? Sit down!” He glared up at me.

Grumbling under my breath, I returned to my seat, folding my hands across my chest and looking the other way, resentment, panic, and worst of all, desire, burning their way through my every sense.

“You have been extremely rude this entire meeting and I can no longer ignore it. What’s gotten into you? We’re simply lucky the Clan King has not taken offense at any of your impertinence.”

Offense my ass! He was the one in the wrong here and judging from the smug smile on his face at my barely concealed insults and huffs of disapproval, he knew it. I’d managed not to cuss him out after my father made the introductions but now that he had effectively roped me into such an obvious harebrained plan, I was on my last fuse.

“Dad we can’t─”

“Enough.” He said firmly and I fell into a surly silence. He turned our perpetually amused guest. “I am so sorry about this Ivan. Believe it or not, Kiara isn’t usually like this.”

I scoffed, disbelief coloring my features.

“No worries, Alpha Damien. I believe you. Clearly, something has her ticked. I wonder what it is.” I felt his gaze on me, not for the first time today, and gave in to the inexorable urge to look at him.

He was leaned back in his chair, salt and pepper hair pulled back in another one of those ponytails that seemed to be his solution for making his long hair presentable. He was dressed in a suit, black and closely cut to his frame, with a silk red shirt, open at the first two buttons underneath it.

His eyes twinkled at me, a little smirk on his face as clearly he found this situation humorous. His amusement at my annoyance annoyed me, but that sexy little smirk did other things as well that I was trying desperately to ignore.

“I’m almost certain of her sweetness, if given the patience and time.” He said it innocently enough and my father took it at face value with a smile, but I blushed all the way down to the roots of my hair. Damn, that insufferable blood sucker!

“Despite her obvious displeasure with the arrangement, I assure you we will carry on. Kiara can be a bit of a hot head at times, but she never shies away from her duty and knows when she has to bury personal bias aside for our collective benefit. Don’t you Kiara?” I gritted my teeth but unless I was willing to tell him exactly why I couldn’t be working anywhere near this Vampire, I had to suck it up and bite the bullet.

I sighed. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Good.” My father neigh beamed at Ivan. I couldn’t believe it. Business aside, why was he being so friendly? Had he been bespelled? This was a vampire for Goddess's sake. Even if he didn’t exactly share my hatred for them, their kind was constantly preying on us on our own land.

Hell, I caught this so-called Vampire King in the very act of feeding from a barely conscious werewolf! How could he stand to tolerate the enemy so near and worse, propose that I work in such close proximity with him? Did he think Ivan wouldn’t be able to attack me in broad daylight? I wouldn’t bet on it one bit.

“Since we are all in agreement, Kiara will go with you tomorrow to oversee the initiation of the project. We can regroup in a week's time and review our progress.”

“I take no issue to that,” Ivan said with a nod.

With that, he stood up and stretched out his hand for my father who took it a little too eagerly for my liking. Then he turned, giving me a long look that swept all corners of me, from the top of my hair to the tight black combat suit I wore for training. I refused to meet his eyes not wanting the giddiness I felt at his clear appreciation show in mine.

“Kiara.” He purred my name for the first time and my mouth was suddenly dry. I could barely tether to my control even with my father sitting right across from us. How, dear goddess, was I going to keep a lid on it if we would have to spend so much time alone together tomorrow!

I was fucked! I tried to ignore the part of me that wanted it to be literally.

As soon as he was out the door, I whirled unto my father, indignation alighting my features. He held up a hand signaling me to wait and recalling that legendary Vampire’s hearing, I acquiesced. When I was sure he was far enough away, I exploded into a rant, blustering for a few seconds before reaching any sort of coherence.

“Oh my god, Dad! Why on earth would you agree to such a contract with a Vampire of all creatures? You don’t even like Vampires!”

And the truth was that for as long as I have known my father, he did not. A vampire had raped and tortured his wife for years when she was just a child. He’d had to rescue her from that hell hole himself so he knew exactly what those monsters were capable of. Not to mention that he was completely aware of the mess and clashes that had been occurring at our borders. So what the hell?

Instead of a succinct explanation, Dad merely sighed. “Sometimes when your back is against the wall and you’re running out of options, you’d need to make certain compromises you’d rather not.”

I stared at him. “I’d never have imagined sending your daughter into the land of those blood suckers was a compromise you’d ever be willing to make. No matter the cost.”

I rose. “Guess I was wrong.”

With that parting shot, I left him alone in his study knowing that I had hurt him but trying not to care because it hurt thinking he’d force me there with that bastard as much as I hated to go.

***

Dinner that evening was an awkward affair and the blame for that lay entirely at the feet of the fang-toothed bastard that was seated across from me at our dining table.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that we had to do business with him, he was intruding into precious family time. Beside me, Mom picked at her food, throwing it around her plate rather than eating and she barely said a word. I knew it had to do with Ivan’s presence a few fit from her and I cursed my dad for making us go through this.

I couldn’t completely blame him, to be honest. He was right. We needed to make nice with other clan heads for the collaboration of a few mutually beneficial projects and resolution of any outstanding conflict between various packs and clans.

It was essential for the survival of our pack. I just hated that this time, the clan head had to be a Vampire, and him for that matter. Speaking of him, I shifted in my seat, once again feeling his eyes on me even as he carried out some inane conversation with my father.

I couldn't help but meet his eyes, as he boldly stared at mine every time he picked a morsel into his mouth and chewed it. Not only did I have my own wanton feelings to contend with but my wolf was getting increasingly difficult to control, thrashing at my insides as if she wanted to burst from my skin.

I vibrated with the effort it took to keep myself from flying out across the table into his lap and dragging his mouth back unto my neck where it belonged. I hungered desperately, but it wasn’t for the food on my plate which I barely touched. I swallowed when he cleared the last of his plate and elegantly dabbed the corner of his lips with a napkin.

“Mmm. Delicious.” He said and I bit my lip to keep a little moan from falling out of my lips. Mortified, I gave a hastily uttered excuse and fled from the dining room, all but running to my room.

I hadn’t heard anyone behind me, but a hand stopped me from closing the door and a second later, Ivan pushed his way into my room.

The pulse at my neck fired at a rapid steady rate and his dark gaze seemed fixated on it. I could barely breathe much less swallow. The urge to run was intense; towards him, away from him. Both sentiments warred within my body. Instead of doing either, I stood completely still.

“You can’t… You can’t be here.” I said even as he stalked towards me and gathered me in his arms. I pushed weakly against his chest, no heat whatsoever behind it. “You need to le─”

“Shhh little wolf. I had a wonderful meal downstairs. Let me take my desert.” He murmured and then he was kissing me, velvety lips moving roving over mine with haste. With so much need. With demand.

I mewled as his tongue pushed into my mouth and wrapped my arms around his neck, all thoughts of kicking him out gone from my consciousness.

Large hands splayed over my ass, gently rubbing one moment and then clutching the next, lifting me and forcing me to wrap my legs around his waist. My hot, damp center pressed against a hard bulge in his pants. I moaned into his mouth, limbs twitching in response to the onslaught of sensations.

He spun us around and pressed me against the wall, hips pumping back and forth in a way that dragged that bulge over my oh-so-ready center. I panted and squirmed, pushing my core forward as much as I could all the while wishing he could repeat this movement with all our clothes off.