New Year with the Cartel (Nightshade Wolves #8)

Chapter 6

Fendwyr

I watched Gustall's reaction with a mix of amusement and satisfaction. He looked like he wanted to bolt, like a skittish deer caught in a hunter's sights. But he held himself back, forcing a tight smile onto his face. "Thank you," he said. "That's very... thoughtful of you."

He picked up the box meant for him, turning it over in his hands as if examining the packaging. "You didn't have to do this, you know. I can take care of myself."

Oh, if only that was true. If only he wasn't a lost little omega, so clearly out of his depth in this new situation. I could see the way he was biting his tongue, holding back words he desperately wanted to voice.

But he was being polite, playing along with my charade. It was almost... endearing. To have him in my compound, at my mercy, acting like everything was perfectly normal. As if he wasn't mentally scrambling to find a way out, as if my offer of food and shelter was enough to quell his fears.

Almost. But not quite. I could smell his apprehension, see the way his body remained tense, ready to flee at any sudden move. He was a long way from truly relaxing in my presence, no matter how I tried to put him at ease. Again, it was going to take time. A lot of it.

"I know I didn't have to," I agreed, taking a step closer to him. "But I wanted to. A beautiful omega like you deserves to be taken care of, to be... pampered." I let my gaze rove over his delicate features, lingering on his plush lips, his slender throat...

I wanted to touch him, to feel the softness of his skin, to hear his sweet cries of pleasure as I mapped every inch of his body. But I held myself back, not wanting to scare him off. Not yet, anyway. It was too soon for that.

"I insist you take the food," I said instead, my voice low and persuasive. "You'll need your strength for... what lies ahead." It was a loaded statement, filled with all the unspoken implications of what I had in store for him.

Gustall's eyes widened slightly at my loaded statement, a flicker of fear passing through their green depths. He knew I was hinting at something more, something dark and potentially terrifying. But he didn't call me out on it, instead nodding and clutching the food box to his chest.

"Okay, I will," he said. "I... appreciate the meal. And the place to rest." He glanced around the room, lingering on the plush furnishings, and the large bed. Then his gaze darted back to me, wary but trying to be polite. He was quite good at that.

We stood there for a moment, an unspoken tension stretching between us. I could almost hear the questions he was biting back. He wanted to know what I meant by my loaded comment, and wanted to understand the true nature of the 'lies ahead' comment. But he didn't voice them, not yet. He was still trying to pretend this was a normal encounter, that I was just a gracious host and not... something more.

"So, um..." He cleared his throat, the sound loud in the quiet room. "What do you like to do for fun around here? Besides, you know, what you've been doing" His tone was casual, but I could hear the underlying tightness, the way he was fishing for information.

I chuckled, amused by his attempt at nonchalance. He thought he could play this game, could act like he wasn't desperately curious about my true intentions. It was almost cute. Almost.

"Oh, I have my ways," I said, moving closer to him. "Hunting, poker, the occasional fight to keep my men in line. The usual fare for an alpha in my position." I let my gaze drift meaningfully over his body, lingering on the delicate curve of his lips. "But I have to say, the most enjoyable diversions have been few and far between lately. Until now, that is."

I reached out, letting my fingers brush lightly down his arm. Gustall shivered at the contact, his muscles tensing beneath my touch. I could feel the way he was trying not to recoil, to maintain his pretense of calm interest. It was... intriguing and interesting.

"And you, Gustall? What do you like to do for fun?" I murmured, letting the question hang in the air between us. "Besides trying to find ways out of locked rooms, of course." I smiled wryly, letting him know I had overheard his frantic attempts to escape. Everybody had, to be honest.

Gustall blushed, his face flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and outrage. I could imagine the cutting retorts he was biting back. He was stuck, and he knew it, knew he was completely at my mercy. It was a heady position for him, and he was handling it with surprising composure... so far.

"I..." he started, then paused, his jaw working as he struggled for a response. "I'm not really the party type, to be honest. I prefer quiet things, books, and learning. Things like that." He shrugged, as if deprecating his own tastes.

But I could see the way his eyes darted to the bed, the way his tongue moistened his lips. He might prefer quiet things, but he wasn't immune to the idea of other diversions. Not that I was surprised. Even the most bookish omega had needs and desires. And Gustall was still young, his body primed to crave touch, intimacy...

"But I'm sure we could find some... mutual activities to enjoy," I said, my voice low and suggestive. I let my gaze drift over him, taking in the way his thin frame trembled, the flush high on his cheekbones. "Things that would help pass the time, keep you... entertained." I smiled, slow and deliberate. "While you're here with me."

I let the unsaid implications hang heavy in the air. I wanted him to know what I was offering, wanted him to understand that I could give him pleasure beyond his wildest dreams. If he would let me, if he would stop fighting his true nature. The omega in him was crying out for attention, and I was more than willing to provide it.

But I would make him ask for it, make him beg so sweetly for me.

I watched as Gustall gingerly opened the box, as he peeked inside, his brow furrowing slightly at the sight of the hearty meal within. I thought he was going to respond to what I said last, but he didn't. Maybe he was just so hungry he didn't want to eat his food later.

"This looks..." he trailed off, looking up at me questioningly. "It really is for me?"

I chuckled at his uncertainty. "Of course it is. I know you're half-starved. An omega in your condition needs to keep his strength up."

He nodded slowly, as if absorbing that truth. Then his gaze dropped to the meal again, and I saw his shoulders relax almost imperceptibly. The aroma of the food, the promise of sustenance, was too tempting for him to refuse. He had been on his own for so long, without proper nourishment, that the offer of a hot meal was enough to quiet some of his fears. Even if he still didn't trust me entirely, he couldn't resist the lure of food after so many nights of hunger.

He tore open the container, letting steam rise up to his face as he took his first tentative bite. "Mmm..." he hummed, his eyes widening in surprise. "This is really good."

I smiled at the compliment, pleased that my men had provided well. "Of course it is. I may be many things, but I'm not cruel enough to starve an omega under my protection."

We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, our earlier conversation fading as we focused on the simple pleasure of consuming a satisfying meal. But even as we ate, I could feel the tension coiled between us, a tangle of anticipation and unease. We were still strangers, in some fundamental way, and yet the attraction between us was palpable. We both couldn't deny it, which made me wonder if one particular thing wasn't true.

I took a bite of my own food, then reached across Gustall to grab a napkin, dabbing at my mouth with it. His arm brushed against mine in the process, and I couldn't help the way my skin prickled with awareness at the contact. I was hyper-aware of his presence, hyper-aware of the omega scent that clung to his skin, and the way it drew me in. He felt the same way, too.

"I should warn you," I said, setting down the napkin and turning to face him fully. My voice was low, serious. "Things may get... intense, once the New Year arrives. The... celebrations can get a bit rough around here. I thought it best to make sure you had your strength before then."

Gustall tensed at my words, his hand tightening around his fork. He was still learning that my words held double-meanings, and he was too inexperienced to catch them, to understand what I meant. And he didn't know I could see how his eyes widened in fear.

"I see," he said, trying to keep his voice light. "Well, as long as I'm not in the way, I'm sure I'll be alright." But I saw the way his hand shook as he brought the fork to his mouth, the way he tried to hide behind his hair as I moved closer to him.

"In the way?" I chuckled, leaning back in my chair and taking a sip of my drink. "Oh, you won't be in the way at all, I can assure you. In fact, I'm counting on you to be right in the middle of the action." I smiled, letting the implications of my words sink in. "We could use a little omega entertainment to liven up the festivities."

Gustall's fork clattered onto his plate, his face paling. "I-I don't know what you mean," he stammered, looking like he wanted to bolt out of his chair. "I'm not some sort of entertainer, and I don't plan on being around for any of that. I'll be gone before then."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? And how exactly do you plan to do that, when you can't even find your way out of a locked bedroom? I'm afraid you'll be finding it much more difficult to escape than you think, Gustall."

He glared at me, his green eyes flashing with anger. "You can't keep me here against my will," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "I have rights, you know. You can't just hold me prisoner."

I leaned forward, my expression serious. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," I promised. "I don't need to keep you here against your will, not when I can make you want to stay." I let my gaze drift down his body, lingering on the way his jacket clung to his slender frame. "You're an omega, after all. It's in your nature to do what an alpha desires."

Gustall shuddered, but I could see the way his pupils dilated, the way his breath hitched slightly. He was trying to deny it, trying to resist his own instincts, but his body was telling a different story. He wanted me, wanted me to claim him, to make him mine... And of course, when the time was right, I would do it.

"Just admit it," I murmured, reaching across the table to trace my fingers along his wrist. "You're drawn to me, just as I am to you. You can't resist the pull, the scent of my alpha blood calling to your omega nature." I leaned in closer, my lips brushing against his ear. "You need me, Gustall. More than you can even comprehend."