Chapter 11
ELEVEN
LAUREL
The door closed on the Lucas pack, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Turning, I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall as I dropped my Duchess persona.
It had taken every ounce of my skill to get them to leave without me, and I was exhausted. I stayed there for a moment before I opened my eyes again, taking in the lofty ceilings and low lighting of the suite.
I always felt so small in here by myself. The way the marble floors reflected the red drapes made me feel like I was walking over a pool of blood, and I wanted to be away from it all.
After slipping off my shoes, I limped over to my dressing room. My leg was throbbing, protesting how I’d ignored it all evening.
I relaxed as I entered my small space, pulling a cold pack from my mini fridge and securing it to my knee.
Then I slipped on an oversized hoodie, tugging it down to cover my silky dress.
It warmed me after so long in the cold suite, and I felt much more comfortable all covered and cozy.
I sat down on my vanity chair, taking the clips out of my hair and letting my mind wander.
It kept coming back to that one alpha.
Ocean.
There was something different about him. He had smiled at me with abandon, and his eyes had shone in a way I’d never seen. The way he’d blushed when I’d taken his hand, and his purr… No alpha had ever purred for me before.
What was he doing here, within the blood-soaked walls of the Crimson Palace?
No one came to my suite who kept their conscience clean, and as far as I knew, Ocean was another one of my father’s errand boys. So, how did he still have that warm light in his eyes?
Grabbing my phone, I pulled up the guest log, scrolling until I found his name attached to one of our bookable rooms. I put it down, then picked it up again, chewing my lip. I shouldn’t visit him, should I?
I couldn’t get caught going to his room for nothing—but I could come up with an excuse. I kind of owed him, right? For helping me convincingly kiss that slimy toad, Prince.
I grabbed a basket off the top shelf and started to pack it with gifts. As the Duchess, I sometimes brought a gift to a special guest in person. A personal favour, though I made it my own by carefully hiding a bug in the basket, capturing any secrets that my targets let slip.
The favour basket had to be the same every time. I layered in slippers, chocolates, specialty coffee, and teas. A single red rose, scented skin oil, and a bottle of wine.
I opened a lower drawer carefully, eyeing the stack of pinup pictures of me. I was supposed to put them in every basket, but I “forgot” every time. They were just collecting dust here. But if there was one alpha I did want seeing them, it was Ocean.
I slipped one in before I changed my mind, then picked up the last offering.
It was a blindfold made of thick ribbon, higher quality than the ones we usually gave to our guests.
But I could make it even more special for Ocean.
I brought it up to my neck, scent-marking it before hastily tucking it among the other gifts.
I stared at it, my cheeks heating a bit.
This wasn’t exactly subtle.
Would Ocean like the scent?
Would his scent blocker have worn off? If he did like my scent, this would burn it off faster. God, I wanted to know what he smelled like so badly.
I imagined him lying back on the bed, his curls spreading around his face, and bringing the blindfold up to his nose as his scent spiked in arousal.
I cut the thought off with a squeak.
My face was burning as I hurried through the back corridors, calling the staff elevator. I willed the thoughts away with effort as I rode up to the fourth floor.
Control.
I breathed in and out. My scent was the same, still steady despite my racing thoughts. Which meant this was fine, and I was completely in control.
I slowed as I neared his door. I took a breath and held it as I reached my hand up to knock, listening for a response.
And then—the door was opening.
My breath released in a whoosh at the sight of him.
He was wearing nothing but a pair of grey sweats and a small towel slung over his shoulders.
So much of his beautiful dark skin was on display.
He was cut; his pecs and abs looked positively chiselled, and there was a sinful trail of hair leading down his navel and disappearing far too soon beneath his waistband.
His curls were dripping, just washed, and he cocked a sharp eyebrow at me as that beautiful smile came to his lips again.
“Um,” I said, and the light caught his fucking nipple piercings, making me lose my train of thought.
Lick.
I wanted to lick them, try sucking one into my mouth while watching his face…
He was stuck in a moment of surprise as he took me in, then he leaned against the doorframe and relaxed. “Hi, cutie,” he said, his smile growing wider.
Cutie? What—?
Oh, no.
I’d forgotten to take off my ridiculously oversized hoodie. I was supposed to be a picture of class and grace for him, all confident and sexy as I handed over my gift. Instead, I was a small, gormless bunny, clutching her basket and gaping at him.
I’d come here as Laurel, not the Duchess.
I pushed aside my internal screaming and lifted my chin, scrambling to get my cool back, even as my father’s voice raged in my head. You think anyone wants to see you like that?
“I wanted to gift you a favour,” I said, holding out the basket.
He looked at it, tilting his head.
Oh, god.
He was going to reject it.
“It’s a very high honour,” I continued, aware I sounded a bit desperate. “I, um, give it to special guests. That I like.”
He blinked at me.
My cheeks burned, the thick sensation clawing up my throat and making my eyes sting.
The one time in my life I’d actually wanted to impress an alpha, and I’d fucked it up.
Of course, he wouldn’t want anything to do with me right now.
I was a mess, standing at his door barefoot, with no makeup, and in a man’s hoodie.
“I’ll just go,” I said, my voice cracking as my lip wobbled.
But before I could, he reached for the basket, his eyes crinkling with warmth. “Don’t go. Let’s see what you have for me.”
I didn’t dare step any closer, just held out the handle for him to take.
He didn’t even look at it as he took it from me. A blush was creeping up his neck as we stared at each other.
“So, um,” he said, cupping the back of his neck and making his bicep curl. “Do you want to come in? Maybe we could talk.”
“Okay,” I squeaked, then cleared my throat and tried again. “Yes, all right.”
I gave him a small smile as I stepped closer. It felt so natural, like I was being pulled by a magnetic force. This feeling was new, this bubbling giddiness in my stomach and the swelling in my chest.
No, not new.
Forgotten.
How long had it been since I’d had a moment of happiness?
Not for a long while.
But here I stood, so far from picture perfect it would give my father a heart attack, and Ocean still didn’t stop staring at me, and it just…
I stepped closer to him and breathed in his scent, eager to discover whether he smelled as good as I’d been hoping.
I was shocked the reality didn’t physically knock me to the ground, all my thoughts grinding to a halt as I breathed it in.
It was rich and deep, black coral sparkling with sea salt. Earthy and ancient, a promise of surety and safety.
It was a beacon, calling to me, drawing me out from underneath the layers of cold protection I’d encased myself in. My mind was blossoming with hope, with color and light and warmth—everything I thought I’d never feel again.
My instincts took over, and I pulled him close, kissing him as I’d wanted to do earlier. He let out a low groan that made heat throb in my core, and I pushed him back, my hand slipping down to cup the hardness in his underwear.
I was desperate and almost fell on top of him as he hit the bed, but that was good because my legs were around his waist now. I pressed closer, hands tangling in his hair.
God, what was this? I couldn’t get enough of his rich, deep scent, my need for him stronger than anything I’d ever experienced before. It felt so right, like a piece of my soul had been missing, but now it was home—
Scent match.
Terror coursed through me at the thought. I stumbled back, and my scent flared out from me, rippling and sharp with fear.
I turned and fled.