Chapter3
955 Words
THE REAL CONSEQUENCES?
NOLAN EARL:
Terrible mistake.
That was my first thought when I saw Ruby step out of the bathroom, damp hair clinging to her neck, my shirt hanging loose around her body like it was made for this purpose.
She fluttered those wide brown eyes at me. The same eyes that flinch when I speak, yet don’t look away. They linger. They ask.
I should tell her to leave again. But I don't. I'm holding her little waist in my hand pinning her on my thigh, ogling that luscious mouth taking a second gulp of the liquor, wondering what else this mouth can do
The innocence is undeniably there. The tremor beneath her calm. The smell of fresh soap mixes with the faint trace of her omega scent that refuses to be washed off. This doesn't feel right.
Picking an omega, this pure for this game doesn't feel so right.
I'm about to call Beta Ivan and ask for some other girl. The game goes way beyond a simple truth and dare so why then did Ivan pick his mate for me? Rejected or not, she's his fated one. I didn't really expect Ivan to be this cold towards her.
Even in my most evil, I'm considerate.
But I can feel her trembling in me right now. She’s trembling. Not entirely from fear. Her face flustered and hands holding the glass firmly.
"You have the choice of walking away now, but if you choose to stay," I tilt her chin a little bit higher now until our lips are just an inch apart, her raspy breath fanning my face, "This goes deeper, and I won't be responsible for it."
The truth burns and lingers a little at the tip of my tongue. Because there's more to this that could drown her. She’s Ivan’s reject, Meredith’s plaything for the night. But when all is done, there'll be more damage done.
Her fingers twitch against my chest, like she’s fighting the urge to not touch me but can’t help herself.
"Would you rather deal with the consequences?"
She holds that as a manacle around my neck.
I know the consequences of letting her go tonight go beyond having Ivan get to rule the territory. Truth be told, that's just make-believe. The real consequences? Nah, that would be too great to bear.
Or maybe I'm overly analyzing things. I'm growing weak, letting my emotions cloud my judgment. I'm listening to my heart instead of my head. And that's the first step to doom.
The blood moon rises in three months and if this doesn't get done tonight then all is doom. The curse can never be averted.
She doesn't make this any easier when she lifts her chin and her lips meet mine, wiping off every trace of hesitation from me.
Her hands clutch my shirt as I pull her closer, the warmth of her body pressing into mine. Every line between what's right and what's not dissolves, shoving every thought to the back of my mind.
She pulls away, and I can see her flushed face, "Let's turn off the lights."
I want to chuckle but no part of her innocence is funny.
"Why?"
"Isn't it done in the dark?"
Is she f*****g kidding me right now?
Then I realized I was stroking her damp pecan hair affectionately. I stop.
"Get the f**k out of here!" I growl and shove her to her feet.
Why the f**k is she not leaving?
"You don't want to f*****g go against my order, omega."
"Why are you so mad?" She's giggling. She's beautiful. How could Ivan not want this?
I blink and look away from the hardened n*****s poking into my tank shirt. An erotic sight I'm finding so damn hard to ignore.
"I mean you came up here first. You shouldn't have if you don't want to..." She flutters her thick lashes and the red colors on her cheeks get darker as she scrambles her brain for the right words to use, "Do it."
"You can't even say fuck."
"I can." She returns to sit at the edge of the bed, a little further from me, "I'm never going to have this chance to..." She scratches her head and cringes perceptibly, "To be this close to you. Ivan said no one would ever want me."
"You're f*****g drunk to think I'd want you."
Oh, the alcohol. Exactly what's giving her this false confidence.
"Yeah, I must be drunk to think that but I'm not drunk enough to know that I want us to have s*x. Ivan might want me afterwards. Men get attracted when they feel their friend is interested."
I swipe a hand down my face, groaning under my breath. She has no idea of what she’s saying. Or maybe she does.
"Nothing's gonna make Ivan look your way."
"Not if you make me desirable."
That hits somewhere I didn’t expect. She's already desirable but Ivan would rather chase power and wealth.
Before I can think twice, she's close to me again, and I’m already feeling her heat. "I'm not going to regret this. I know."
Just the right words I needed from those luscious lips.
I close the space between us.
Her mouth meets mine in an ardent kiss. Soft, nervous, tasting faintly of chardonnay and something impossibly sweet. She exhales into me. I can feel her fingers quiver as they touch my chest again.
The kiss deepens, slow and a bit uncertain at first, until it’s not. Until it matures into something real, hungry, and full of everything we’re not supposed to crave.
There's only one
way to get freed from this curse and tonight's the first big step. Ruby Henderson is the key.
- Writer
