CROWNED AS THE RUTHLESS ALPHA'S CELESTIAL LUNA

TEASING THE WARLORD

HEIDI’S POV

He pressed his large hand flat against the wooden frame of the door, and his warm breath brushed across the sensitive skin of my neck. He just promised to spend every single day proving his absolute loyalty to me, and he specifically asked me what I thought he would do tomorrow morning when the sun came up.

Looking up into his dark eyes, a surge of sudden confidence completely overtook my usual cautious nature. I spent my entire life keeping my head down and avoiding conflict with powerful people, but this massive man was my destined mate, and my biological instincts told me I was completely safe with him.

"If you truly want to prove your absolute loyalty to me tomorrow morning, Alpha, you can start by brewing my coffee perfectly," the sassy response left my lips easily while my hands reached up to grab the thick collar of his dark button-down shirt.

Curling my fingers tightly into the expensive fabric, I forcefully pulled his massive body downward until his face lowered directly toward mine. Kurt gasped sharply, and his entire muscular frame tensed in complete surprise because he clearly did not expect me to initiate physical contact so aggressively. He allowed me to pull him down, completely surrendering his physical dominance in the quiet hallway. Our faces were incredibly close together, and the physical distance between our lips measured only a few millimeters.

His dark eyes dilated heavily, and his intense gaze dropped directly to my mouth. He parted his lips slightly, clearly expecting me to deliver a very passionate kiss to seal the mating bond right then and there. The overwhelming scent of fresh rain and blooming jasmine surrounded us, making my mind feel slightly dizzy from the intense physical chemistry vibrating between our bodies. He leaned his head forward just a fraction of an inch to capture my lips with his own.

Right before our mouths could actually touch, I suddenly stopped pulling his shirt and released the dark fabric completely. Raising my right hand, I patted his solid chest two times and stepped backward into the open doorway of the guest bedroom.

"Goodnight, Kurt," I said softly, flashing him a highly cheeky smile before stepping entirely into the room and pulling the heavy oak door shut directly in his shocked face.

Reaching out quickly, my fingers grasped the cold metal deadbolt and turned the lock until a loud clicking sound echoed in the quiet space. Leaning my back flat against the solid wood of the closed door, my hands immediately flew up to cover my hot cheeks. A deep red blush spread rapidly across my face, and my heart beat frantically against my ribs.

"I absolutely cannot believe I just did that to a Warlord," a breathless whisper escaped my lips as I stared at the large, empty bedroom. Teasing a very powerful and highly possessive man was incredibly dangerous, yet the thrilling interaction made me feel truly alive for the first time in many years.

Pushing myself away from the wooden door, my feet walked across the plush cream-colored carpet toward the attached master bathroom. The bathroom was massive, featuring white marble tiles, a large glass shower enclosure, and a massive white ceramic soaking tub positioned directly in the center of the room. Walking over to the tub, my hands turned the shiny silver handles, and steaming hot water began to fill the deep basin rapidly. Reaching for a large glass bottle of liquid soap resting on the marble counter, I poured a generous amount of the lavender-scented soap directly into the running water until thick white bubbles formed on the surface.

While the large bathtub filled completely, my hands pulled the dirty, oversized gray t-shirt over my head and dropped the flour-covered fabric onto the tiled floor. Pushing my faded blue jeans down my legs, I stepped out of the heavy denim and left the dirty clothes in a neat pile near the sink. Stepping carefully into the steaming water, the intense heat immediately penetrated my cold skin, and a loud sigh of pure relief left my throat. Sitting down fully into the warm water, the thick white bubbles covered my bare skin up to my collarbone.

Because the water heater in the basement of my foster home never worked properly, I spent the last ten years taking freezing showers that left my muscles constantly tense and aching. Tonight, the hot water relaxed the tight muscles in my back and my legs perfectly. Grabbing a clean washcloth and a bar of white soap, I scrubbed the cooking grease and the dirt from my arms, my chest, and my legs. Leaning my head backward under the silver faucet, the warm water rinsed the dirt completely out of my wild dark hair. Pushing a generous amount of expensive shampoo into my scalp, my fingers massaged the soap into my hair until it felt completely clean.

After soaking in the hot water for over an entire hour, the water finally started to feel cool against my skin. Standing up from the large ceramic tub, my hands grabbed a very large and incredibly soft white towel from a heated metal rack on the wall. Wrapping the warm towel tightly around my body, the thick cotton absorbed the moisture from my skin instantly. Walking out of the bathroom and into the main bedroom area, I opened the tall wooden doors of the massive walk-in closet to find something clean to wear to bed.

The closet was completely filled with brand-new clothes in my exact size, which meant Kurt likely ordered Jason to stock the room earlier today. Reaching for a pair of soft black silk pajamas hanging on a wooden hanger, I pulled the smooth fabric over my clean body. The silk felt incredibly luxurious against my skin. Walking over to the massive king-sized bed positioned in the center of the room, I pulled the thick white duvet back and climbed onto the mattress. The mattress was incredibly soft, and the numerous pillows supported my head perfectly. Closing my eyes, the sheer exhaustion of the stressful day finally caught up with my brain, and I fell into a very deep, dreamless sleep almost instantly.

Bright morning sunlight streaming through the large glass windows woke me up the next day. Opening my eyes slowly, a feeling of deep restfulness settled into my bones because I actually slept through the entire night without waking up a single time. Pushing the heavy white duvet off my legs, my feet touched the soft carpet, and I stood up from the large bed. Stretching my arms high above my head, the joints in my back popped quietly. Walking back into the massive closet, my hands searched the wooden hangers for a comfortable outfit for the day. Selecting a pair of dark denim jeans and a fitted black long-sleeved shirt, I dressed quickly and brushed my tangled dark hair until it fell smoothly down my back.

Because I spent the last ten years waking up at dawn to cook massive breakfasts for Robert and Susan, my biological clock and my deeply ingrained habits told my brain I needed to rush downstairs to prepare food. Leaving the comfortable guest bedroom, my feet walked quickly down the carpeted hallway and descended the grand wooden staircase. The large estate was incredibly quiet in the morning light.

Approaching the heavy wooden door of the main kitchen, my hands pushed the wood open, and I stepped into the large room, fully expecting to see an empty stove and dirty dishes. Instead, my feet stopped moving completely, and I froze right in the doorway.

The bright kitchen smelled absolutely amazing. Sizzling bacon, fresh eggs, and brewing dark coffee filled the air with a highly appetizing aroma. Standing directly in front of the large stainless steel stove was the incredibly dangerous Alpha of the territory. Kurt wore dark jeans and a tight gray shirt, and he had rolled the long sleeves up past his elbows to expose his thick, heavily muscled forearms. He held a metal spatula in his right hand, and he was flipping a large row of pancakes on a hot metal griddle. Little Leo sat quietly at the marble kitchen island, coloring a picture on a piece of white paper with bright crayons while waiting patiently for his food.

Hearing the kitchen door open, Kurt turned his massive body away from the hot stove and looked directly at me. He placed the metal spatula down on the counter and picked up a white ceramic mug filled with steaming black coffee. He walked across the hardwood floor, stopped right in front of me, and held the warm mug out for me to take. A highly satisfied smirk appeared on his handsome face.

"I told you I was going to spend every single day proving my loyalty to you, Heidi, so please drink your coffee and tell me exactly how you want your eggs cooked this morning."