Chapter 3

Keegan POV:

Her lips met mine and I groaned. She tasted and felt so amazing. My hands rested on her hips as her mouth moved against my own. I closed my eyes, allowing myself one little kiss, and then I would stop it.

I was so hard.

Then she swept her tongue across my bottom lip, and I lost it. I moaned deeply, taking in her tongue—so sweet—into my mouth. My hands slid around her hips to grope her ass. I groaned again, pulling her body closer to my own.

She moaned and it really hit. I was so dead.

With a heavy sigh, I grasped her shoulders and gently pushed her away. She looked at me, wide-eyed and scared. She looked vulnerable and I read the rejection in her eyes immediately.

“I’m sorry. I just—” Vianne paused, discreetly glancing down at my crotch and I cringed. “I thought you wanted me.”

Though she apologized, she didn’t appear too broken-hearted about it. In fact, she looked more upset than ever, her hand clenching at her sides. I had a feeling that not only was she angry at my rejection but also that she had given in to her desires. The latter made the most sense since she didn’t show an inkling of interest in me all day.

I shook my head as I stepped toward her. She backed away from me and grabbed her shirt, quickly flinging it on.

“Vianne,” I called out to her. She turned back to look at me. Her eyes locked with mine and she looked back down at my crotch.

Yup, it was still there.

“Oh. Is that because of Edwin? I mean, Clement did say that he thought you were… gay.”

I shook my head in disbelief.

“Forget it happened. I am so stupid,” she said with the roll of her eyes. Her face was flushed as she fled.

I groaned. Maybe it was better if she thought I was gay. Or that I didn’t want her. But by the time I made my way down to the main floor, I knew I needed to talk to her. I had to. She didn’t need more insecurity and I certainly shouldn’t be the cause for it. It would just prolong the training if she never felt comfortable in herself. I needed to make sure that she was confident. Maybe assuring her of my desire would help defuse the situation. But then again, it might just fuel it.

That damned kiss. Her lips were so soft and warm.

My thoughts were not helping me at that moment. I caught her scent on the first floor and looked around. I paused by Claire’s room several minutes later and noticed Vianne lying in bed with her. She heard my approach and looked at me, her face unreadable before she turned away.

“Vianne,” I whispered.

She glanced back at me again and got up from the bed, tiptoeing out of the room and closing the door. “She was having a nightmare when I came up. She’s alright now.” Her head was hung low, her eyes hidden from my view.

I put my finger under her chin and tilted her head up so that I could see her. “I’m not gay, Vianne. It’s just—”

“I get it. Clement,” she sighed.

“Clement,” I said, resigned.

She tried to turn away but I stopped her. My fingers slid from her chin to her cheek and captured her hand with my other one. I leaned in, whispering in her ear. “That was one hell of a kiss. And you’re the one doing this—” I gestured to my prominent erection that was still straining against my pants. “—to me.”

Her breathing hitched and the once unreadable expression on her face morphed again to desire. Vianne’s eyes never left mine as her hand rose to glide over my chest, her palm pressing firmly against it. Suddenly, her warmth was gone when she snatched it back.

She raised her brow in question, her eyes narrowing slightly before she turned towards her room. She looked back at me over her shoulder, but once inside, she closed the door without a word.

The sound of the click made it obvious that she was just as confused about what was occurring between us. I was, too. I didn’t know the exact cause of this attraction. But I was aware of the consequences if we gave in. She was going to be the literal death of me. It was going to be one hell of a training regime. Then again, going at it like rabbits might just help with muscle tone.

Not that she really needed that. Being a wolf pretty much ensured that she was in shape, but it just turned out that she seemed more toned than most men I had trained.

The line of thought didn’t help matters either. I groaned and walked into my bedroom. There was a moment when I realized that my room smelled like her. It had only taken her a few minutes to find the shirt in my closet, and yet the amazing scent of her saturated my room.

I would be walking around with an erection every time I passed my door if her scent didn’t disappear quickly. I rummaged for some shorts and a muscle shirt. I needed to take care of my problem.

With the water on as hot as possible, I let the water flow down my head and my body. I leaned one hand on my tiled wall and soaped up the other. I couldn’t have her in reality, but at the very least, I could fantasize about her.

I needed relief. I closed my eyes, trying to envision Vianne spread out on my bed. I groaned and tightened my grip.

I came hard, holding still and gasping for breath for several minutes afterward. I would be taking care of my needs on a daily basis for a while. It had been too long since I had sex. It was something I chose not to pursue when I didn’t have anything to offer to the other person and when I was still a wreck.

That was the price I paid. But there was no way I could stay away from Vianne. I looked down to find myself hard again. We would have to remain strong. At least, I hoped one of us could.

A short while later, wearing less confining shorts, I made my way downstairs. The living room television was switched on and Claire was sitting on the couch with the remote in her hand.

“Hi, Keenen,” she said, grinning.

Vianne giggled, coming out of the kitchen. “It’s Keegan, baby.”

“Kee…gan. Keegan,” Claire said, cocking her head a bit.

Vianne nodded. “Perfect.”

“Keegan,” she tried again.

“That’s right, Claire,” I chuckled.

Vianne smiled at her daughter and turned her gaze towards me. “Keegan, there isn’t much food in the kitchen.”

I scratched the back of my head, wincing. “I don’t cook much.” I knew how to make exactly four things. I usually lived on that or hunting. I walked past her into the kitchen.

She looked at me, confused. “Then why do you have all this fancy cooking equipment?”

“Your dad said you liked to cook.”

Vianne stiffened, looking back into the living room. “Claire doesn’t know that Clement is my father and her grandfather. I would like to keep it that way. If you talk about him, use his name.”

I nodded. That made perfect sense. Claire would end up spilling to someone and the information could spread. It would be dangerous not only for Vianne but for Claire, too. Then again, from her tone, I thought that Vianne wasn’t ready to consider Clement her father. I didn’t blame her. She had only found out about him a few months ago.

“It’s only two. I can run into town and grab some groceries,” she suggested.

I shook my head immediately. “Sorry, Vianne. Your fa—I mean, Clement made it clear that you are not allowed out of my sight.”

For a moment, there was a glint in her eyes as she stepped closer. But it disappeared as quickly as it came. “Really?” she asked, her tone bordering on resentment. She seemed like a ticking time bomb. “That may be a problem when I use the shower and sleep.”

She knew what she was doing to me. She stepped away, pulling a pen and notepad from the drawer. “I refuse to be locked away like I am in a cage. It is safe here and no one knows me.” She started writing out a list.

“Claire and your safety is my biggest concern. What I meant is, if you need groceries, we could make arrangements,” I glared at her. “Why are you so pissed off at me?”

She threw me a glare over her shoulder. “That is what you get for the stunt in the hallway,” she commented with a shrug. “Don’t do that again.”

“If I recall correctly,” I growled, advancing towards her, “YOU were the one who kissed me.”