The wind is unbearably cold, even in my fuzzy trench coat; I shrink my body further to preserve my heat.It’s been five days since the Alpha and I had sex; while the scent of the ocean that lingered between my thighs for days is no longer there, the bruises on my neck persist beautifully—there is an Alpha for you.Even the deepest of wounds heal overnight for me, but his marks remain.My heat is gone; more specifically, it ended two days ago; after him, toys alone couldn’t cut it; I had to pair them with the memory of his rough touch, hard shaft and wicked mouth. Which, in my now clarity, feels foolish—but I did it anyway—over and over until the friction grew uncomfortable.My hand finds my throat before I drop it to the side when my assigned vehicle pulls up by the house’s entrance.The bruises on my neck are the first marks on my flesh that I adore, not because the Alpha made them but because he winces every time I wear a turtleneck or scarf. I find the sight of the guilt-ridden Alp
"I asked you a question, Ruby."He repeats, even without turning from my seat, I know it is Alpha Adrian who speaks. There is something about the hyperawareness of my body in his presence that makes even the harmless fondling of my breasts by Violet throb my core.I hadn’t taken off my coat; if I did, I would have to take off my scarf too and…I like that the marks can remain private.“These…these are soft.”Violet comments to the Alpha.I can feel the sharpness of his glare prickle the hair at the back of my neck, causing a shudder to escape me at his attention.“Did you-”My mind races at the harshness of his tone; if I let him continue, I have no doubt in mind that he will spit venomous words that might make Violet look at me differently.I can take his anger, but not here—not in front of what could possibly be my only friend.A gag leaves my lips, interrupting his forming sentence, and a frown crosses his face before he sighs and turns to the men behind him."Get her friend-""I ha
I hate that his chuckle fills my ears, but Alpha Adrian yields to my desperate pleas and rubs my nub against the roof of my sex.My fingers curl against him as I permit my eyes to flutter shut only; he places the naughty little nub between his thumb and forefinger, pinching it to life.“Ah!”A cry escapes me as my eyes fly open.“I said focus on me.”I don’t…want to.The blue of his eyes beautifully resembles the raging sea on a dark night, paired with the scent of salty water flooding my body to a dizzying degree—I fear I might forget myself.His finger slides inside me, slowly—painfully slow, that if it were not for the press of his thumb against the nub that still throbbed under his pinch, I would have fussed."Expose your breasts.""What?"His fingers halt."Expose them."Is this his way of asking me not to touch him?My hands, enjoying the softness of his hair, drop to my side before reaching for my dress’s side zipper; it takes a bit of manipulation, his fingers are still moving
I can still smell the ocean around me, even after a shower and a warm cider tonic that’s supposed to prevent hangovers. The tonic must not be effective because my temples still throb. Does that sex count as the second time? I didn’t finish. That dick really left me, huh? I drop the towel in hand on the bed; on instinct, I scan for traces of dye before leaving it discarded. A buzzing sound fills the air as I approach my dresser. This is the third time my phone has rung since I left the car—correction, since I was escorted by my prison warden out of the car, reeking of nothing but the alpha. "Yes?" I answer; I do not mean to be rude; I perhaps shouldn’t think of the alpha before trying to converse politely. "Ruby?" Parker's voice calls. He doesn't sound like himself. "Ah, Parker. A little late for a call, isn’t it." "Oh...Good, you are okay. I thought the Alpha..." He drawls. He sounds drunk. Great, a two-a.m. drunk call. “Thank the goddess you are okay.” A smile finds my
**Trigger Consent-Non-Consent**Alpha Adrian M. KnoxHis gaze couldn't leave her breasts, the curve of her waist and the flesh that peeked on either side of her centre’s flesh.Still, her question, ‘Do I scare you, Alpha?’Her tone irked him, but it was the ghost of a smile dancing in her eyes that made him halt his steps.He wasn't scared of her; he was scared of himself.Scared that if he were to reach for her, he would fuck her so roughly that she might have a bruise tomorrow during the gala.She was a friend of the Queen of Ketria; if anything was a big no-no, it was that."You are not leaving the house; go back to your room and put some damn clothes on!""Oh? But I dressed up for you."She uttered the words in a seductive purr as she batted her lashes and stroked the flesh peeking from her centre.He cleared his throat, hating how heaving his breathing grew at nothing but her sight—then again, she corrupted the clear air in his space; perhaps that was the reason he was suffocatin
Her moan drew his full attention; her fingers moved faster inside her. She was fucking herself to the point of desperation, but the act that drew him was that her fingers had bunched his bedcover and held it in place on her nose as if she desired his scent.Did she like his scent?What did he smell like to her?They weren't mates, yet why?"Mmshy"He wanted to call her name, to give her directions; he knew where she twitched most.He knew the portion of her body that would erupt with a well-timed stroke.As if she sensed his desire to communicate, her gaze turned to him—they were still red, still held their touch of condescension, but for some reason, he loved their darkness.Her hand left the bedcover, and to her relief, they remained bunched and in position next to her nose. Her now free hand centred her attention on her cl*t, circling the wet bud with growing speed until her moans rang in the room.Again, he swallowed, and the act felt noisy; he wanted all his senses on the woman c
My smile holds as I utter words I do not even mean. I am used to this. That, and Rebecca is akin to a vampire; if she senses any weaknesses, she digs, probes and devours them until one is left grateful to her for loving you despite your very many shortcomings. If gaslighting had a mascot, it would be her—that being said, she would make a fantastic ally for Alpha Adrian because, again, she knows everyone's weaknesses. Perhaps that is why he proposed to her first. Even in that regard, I was his second choice. The one he settled for. “How are you? How have things been? Lovely coat, by the way. I have one just like it in pink; I purchased it last winter, I believe.” That’s not a compliment, just a reminder that my wardrobe is out of date. "I have been well. What about you?" "Mm... I’m sorry. If only I had said yes to the Alpha's proposal instead of you, you wouldn't have gotten married in such a disgraceful way. I mean, a courthouse wedding, couldn't he have at least put in some ef
Monica’s question rings in my ear.The fireworks exploding in the sky permit me to see the severity of her question.A strained panic sets low in my belly."What? Yes...I told you I did tell him where I was going and that I would be returning early. "A sigh crosses Monica’s lips as if my answer were disappointing.I mean, it was not technically permission, but he has no right to lock me in my room because he ‘doesn’t like my behaviour’ or because I ‘disobeyed’ him; we agreed to stay out of each other’s lives.If anything, his interference is a breach of our contract."About an hour ago, I got a call; I missed it because of the music, and they had some cotton candy slots that...you know what, not the point. The point is that the Alpha is furious, and an hour ago, he summoned you to be brought back to the Manor."Shit."So, we might both be in trouble."My lips part, and I almost suggest that we run, but silence ensues amid the fireworks exploding in the sky, shortly after the last ‘bo