Arranged Marriage to the Lycan King

4 - The Night Before

THERON’S POV

I glared at Rowan as we left the human mayor’s residence. Not before had the same tantalizing scent wafted through my nostrils. I paused, inhaling deeply in the doorway. What was that?

“Theron? Are you okay?”

I looked at Rowan. “Do you smell that?”

“Smell what? Humans. I can smell plenty of them. And it’s not a great smell,” he said with a slight sneer.

I glared once again. “We’re supposed to bring peace between our species; talking like that is not a good strategy.”

He shrugged. “Just because you’re marrying a human doesn’t mean I have to.”

I stepped outside, closing the door behind me, glad the mayor hadn’t heard us discussing human smells. Closing the door cut off the scent tickling my nostrils since we first entered the mayor’s house. It was floral with a hint of citrus. Something I’d never smelled before. And it had a pit forming in my stomach as if I was on the edge of a cliff.

“Why did you have to ask her father about her virginity?”

Rowan smiled. “So that’s what you’ve been glaring at me about. I had to know. We had to know. It is part of our customs. And if the council found out you were without a virgin bride, I mean…”

“Who would have told them, Rowan? You?”

He shook his head. “No, never.”

“Then it was unnecessary. You know I don’t care about that tradition in the slightest.”

Rowan elbowed me in the ribs. “Especially with your history, am I right?”

I rolled my eyes. “It doesn’t matter, regardless of my reputation.”

“Well, I’m just glad it’s settled, and the girl is a virgin.”

“As far as her father knows. Who’s to say she hasn’t snuck away some nights to a secret boyfriend?”

Rowan looked thoughtful. “Maybe. But let’s focus on the here and now, then. She’s yours now. And if another soul dares to bat an eye at her, they’ll be answering to the whole Lycan special forces.”

I slapped him on the shoulders. “She is mine.”

*****

ELARA’S POV

My eyes nervously darted around the party. Banners hung sloppily along doorways, saying things like ‘congratulations’ and ‘we’ll miss you,’ probably put up by people who didn’t even know me as anything other than the mayor’s daughter. I knew next to none of the people who kept coming to me to thank me for my sacrifice.

Everyone knew I was a sacrificial lamb. Instead of looking to save me, they were giddy with the idea that my sacrifice could somehow better their lives. I smiled weakly as another young couple approached me, shaking my hand.

The crops. They were dying. I needed to focus on what I could help with in the short time I’d be married. I could muster up enough patience to see through a plan to help humans. But once I saw an opportunity, I was out of there. I had my savings in a hidden pocket of my luggage.

After the celebration, I was to meet Theron and travel with him to Stonehaven. I wasn’t sure if he’d appear here, but looking at the clock and seeing we were halfway through our festivities, I doubted he’d be by. Seeing that it was almost seven, I took a big swig of my drink—flat orange soda.

I started inching towards the back hallway leading to a closet, where I’d meet with James, and he’d…pop my cherry. I glance at him across the room, but he does not notice me. We were to arrive separately. Me before him. He had his arms around some female I couldn’t recall the name of. Nothing was between James and me, so I felt no spark of jealousy, just irritation that he could be distracted.

Still, I headed to our meeting spot, ensuring no one observed my movements. When I finally reached the hallway, I saw how dimly lit it was. Good, it’s more effortless to sneak around. I crept down the hallway, going to the door that was supposed to be a utility closet. I couldn’t believe I was going to lose my virginity the night before my wedding in a janitor’s closet to someone I wasn’t marrying.

As I reached the closet, I looked around and slipped inside. I reached around, looking for a light. It flickered as it turned on, barely illuminating the small space. But did I want him to be able to see me though? I quickly turned off the light, my nerves getting the better of me. Complete darkness was better.

I turned around, leaning against the shelves, holding my breath, and waiting. As I waited, I started counting things I was grateful for. The sun, the sky, my father…but I found myself growing drowsy. Where was James? He was supposed to be here by now. Did I need to see and remind him of his promise to me?

I was seething in anger when suddenly the door handle jiggled. I was suddenly alert as the door swung open. I held out my arms as a dark figure blocked the light from the hallway. James had finally come.

Stepping inside, I noticed that James seemed a tad taller. Was the closet just short? I felt a chill run down my spine as James stepped closer, taking up almost the entire closet. He slowly closed the door behind him. I closed my eyes, waiting for him to step into my arms.

The warmth of his skin radiated against mine as he invaded my personal space, pressing his chest up against me. I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling his face down to mine. “Take me.”

And just like that, the mood in the closest completely shifted. Lips crashed into mine. Cinnamon and spice filled my nostrils as I squeezed my eyes close. His tongue ran along the seams of my lips before I opened up and granted him access. Hands grabbed at my hips, pulling me flush against him.

I gasped as I came into contact with his erection against my stomach. He took the opening to deepen our kiss, ravaging my mouth. Shivers went through my body as a hand gripped my thigh and hooked my leg over his hip, my dress riding up around my waist. His fingers were like fire, burning everywhere they touched with delicious heat.

I squirmed against him, pulling him closer. I’d made out with James before, but never like this. He’d never kissed me like this before. Maybe if he had, I would have lost my virginity much sooner.

Now, grabbing my other thigh, he lifted my other leg so he was between them now, holding me up against the shelf, grinding against my center. I whimpered as his hardness ground against my clit, sending shockwaves through my body.

His hand went from my thigh to between us, hitting the thin lace of the thong I’d embarrassingly purchased along with the dress. I moaned as a finger slipped them inside and found my aching clit, and brushed against it softly.

Making small circles, I started moving my hips against his hand, feeling myself nearing the edge of an orgasm. As I came crashing down on his hand, I let out a whimper into his mouth. He groaned, inhaling my cries of pleasure.

Suddenly, he was dropping me down and spinning me around. My dress was still above my waist; my ass would be on full display in my lace thong if there were any lights. He grabbed the thong, ripping it off of me. I giggled. “Calm down.”

Not saying anything, his hands grabbed my ass, jiggling each cheek. I heard him moaning, then the sound of him undoing his pants. Oh, wow. It was time. Already. I gripped the edges of the shelf, waiting for him to take me. As he paused, staring down at me, I almost turned back around to see if everything was okay when I felt him start to line him up against my entrance.

I froze, closing my eyes, as he slowly started to enter me, stretching me. A sharp pinch made me cry out, but a hand went over my mouth. I cried out into his hand as the burning sensation filled my body. When I thought surely he was done, he kept pushing deeper inside me until I was full and stretched to the max.

We both stood there for a moment, both of us gasping. And then he started moving. He allowed me to adjust to his size as he pulled back out and back in. Thrusting in and out of me slowly, stretching me to the size of him.

His hand fell from my mouth and lowered to my breast, pinching my n****e through the dress. I moaned, another hand wrapping around me to start palming my clit as he quickened his thrusts.

“Don’t hold back,” I moaned.

With that, I lit a fire in him. He started thrusting in and out of me, his palm against my clit, allowing me to ride it, chasing another orgasm.

Our bodies were loud in the cramped closest, the smell of sweat permeating the air. I continued to ride the palm of his hand, him filling me and pounding into me with ferocity. I cried out as another orgasm ripped through me, his own following soon behind as he filled me with a warm liquid.

I gasped, realizing he hadn’t worn a condom. But my gasp was cut off by his mouth crashing against mine, sucking the words right out of my mouth. I moaned, kissing him back. When he stopped pumping inside me, I pulled away from his kiss, out of breath.

I wish I had done this so much sooner. If I had known James was this good, I would have done this dozens of times with him. Leaning my head against the shelf, I tried to catch my breath. James slid out of me, tugging me backward against his chest. I turned to snuggle into his chest.

In the dark, his chest seemed so much broader and more complex. His arms wrapped around me seemed larger, too. But I sighed in contentment, almost sadness when I realized this would be the only time I would experience this. “My mate.”

The voice saying those words made my body stiffen. That wasn’t James’s voice. I pulled away, slapping at the spot where I knew the light switch to be. As the light illuminated the small space, it also illuminated the dark eyes of the Lycan King standing in front of me.

I screamed.