Chapter 18 Lucien
EIGHTEEN
Lucien
After a long night of snuggling, I woke hard as stone the next morning, my cock notched against the sweet, tempting curve of Olivia’s ass. Her hair was everywhere—spread across the pillow and tickling my nose as she slept, my forearm clutched like a teddy bear to her breasts.
It was sweet, sweet torture.
Everything about her was, really. And I was the lucky, undeserving bastard who got to enjoy these stolen moments with her.
I had to be careful after last night. I’d been so fucking close to the edge, I almost pushed her too far. Because when she asked me if she could feed me… Goddess’s tits. I wanted to peel those pants off her and feast on her pussy until she screamed my name and painted me with her release.
Too much, too fast.
Thankfully, after I plied her with sugar, the exhaustion of the long day and night had caught up with her, and she’d drifted off to sleep quickly, her nose tucked against my neck where my scent was the strongest.
I’d lain awake staring at her long into the night, but eventually, the draw of a soft, warm mate had dragged me under into dreamless sleep, better than any I’d had since I’d been taken. Not waking up in a cold sweat with visions of my torturer looming over me was a vast improvement.
Olivia stirred in my arms, and I watched as her eyelids fluttered a second before she started to wiggle in my arms. When she froze a moment later, I realized why.
“Sorry. I’ll move.”
“No, it’s okay, it’s, umm…” A pretty blush lit up her freckled cheeks, and I couldn’t hold back my grin.
“Does somebody like the feel of me pressed up against her in the morning?”
I pressed forward just a little, and I knew I was right that she liked it when she pushed back against my rock-hard cock with a tiny, perfect moan.
But a second later, she sprang out of bed like a tennis ball off a backhand serve, and I found myself utterly alone in the still-warm sheets.
Her scent was the only thing left behind.
That, and my raging erection.
She was as red as a stop sign, and the message in her body language was every bit as clear.
“Hey, it’s okay. Your pace, remember? There’s no pressure here.”
She buried her face in her hands, shaking her head as she backed toward the bathroom. But it wasn’t until she made a break for it, bolting into the other room and slamming the bathroom door with gusto, that I started to get worried.
“Olivia?” I climbed out of bed and knocked on the bathroom door, worry making me knock a little too loudly.
“Everything’s fine, just go away.”
Shit. Did I upset her? She seemed into it, but clearly I’d misread the situation. “Hellcat, if I hurt your feelings or upset you somehow, I need to know so I don’t do it again. I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to take things too—”
She snatched the door open, hair pulled into a knot on top of her head, sleep shirt rucked up just under her breasts. Basically, she was the picture of sexy perfection for a lazy Sunday in bed. Until I got to her expression. Fury? Angst? It was unreadable, but it wasn’t good, I knew that much.
“You didn’t take things too fast, okay? I just got embarrassed, and now I’m embarrassed for being embarrassed, and also for moaning at you like that, I just…” She made a distressed sound and tried to slam the door again.
I slapped my palm against it to stop her before she could get it the last inch closed. “Okay, hold up. Rewind. Did you not enjoy yourself last night?”
“Yes, I did. Of course I did, it was incredible. But I—”
“No buts. You have absolutely fucking nothing to be embarrassed about. That moan? It was sexy as fuck. I want to make you do it again. And again. And again.” I let my voice drop low as I said it, leaning into the little space she was peeping at me through.
“I don’t want you to do anything but what comes naturally to you.
And if that’s moaning when it feels good, well, hellcat, I want every single one of your moans. Just for me.”
She blew out a slow breath, finally looking up and shyly meeting my gaze. “I’m sorry for running away.”
“Don’t apologize. You’re perfect.” There was something I needed to know, though I wasn’t sure now was the ideal time to ask. I didn’t want to keep scaring her off. “I know you’re a virgin, but have you had any sexual experience with past boyfriends? Just so I know where we’re at.”
She bit her bottom lip and shook her head.
Ah. “Well, then, let me be the very first to tell you, it’s hot as hell when you’re into it. Even if it’s something small. And I don’t want you to hold back or feel embarrassed or in any way think you need to change what you’re doing. Understood?”
Her small nod was all I needed to sweep in and kiss her again, tangling my fingers into the back of her shirt. This time, when a little moan escaped her, I growled my wholehearted approval.
An hour later, we were dressed, had breakfast, and were waiting with the pack for Asithius in his lounge.
This time, I’d learned my lesson and wasn’t letting Olivia out of arm’s reach.
But when he walked in flanked by two even larger centaurs—one male, one female—we got even more than we bargained for.
“Welcome back! I hope you all rested well?”
Murmurs of agreement rose around the room, but everyone was too hyperfocused on the new additions to say much more.
“Excellent. You’re going to need it. The governing herd has decided that if you wish to once again hold your omega stone, you’ll need to earn it.
Centaurs usually decide on requests from other species through challenges.
I’ve brought with me our two current champions.
If you agree to our terms, one of them will choose who they deem to be the worthiest opponent amongst your pack, and you’ll face off one-to-one in a challenge.
The winner keeps the omega stone. Permanently. ”
Shit. I’d known it wouldn’t be easy, but I quickly sized up the two centaurs, and even the female centaur was heavily muscled enough to take down a large human male in an arm-wrestling contest. And depending on the challenge selected for you by the herd leaders, it would be nearly impossible to best either of them in feats of size or strength.
I glanced down at their four horse legs and added speed to the mental list of complications.
If that wasn’t enough, they looked fucking mean.
The male wore an expression that reminded me of a chained-up bulldog, hungry and looking to tear a bite of someone’s ass.
That dangerous impression was fueled by the fact that they were both armed from head to hoof, leather weapons belts custom fitted to their torsos and horse chests, all in easy reach.
“Our females are not accepting a challenge. You can choose any male you want, but our women are off-limits.” Gael was the one who snarled first, a protective arm around his pregnant mate.
“I agree.” I stepped forward, putting myself between the three intimidatingly large centaurs and my small, gentle mate.
A moment later, we were all in a line, lips curled in a sneer.
“As I suspected. Flantia, your assistance won’t be needed for this challenge.” Asithius dismissed the female centaur with a bored wave.
Flantia smiled threateningly, bowing in the same fashion Laurana, had, but with twin daggers crossed over her chest. Formalities accomplished, she turned and galloped away, sending clods of grass flying into the room behind her.
“Flantian, her twin brother, would be more than happy to challenge a strong alpha wolf, wouldn’t you?” Asithius clapped the male on the shoulder, and Flantian stared us all down, considering.
Other creatures might have thought us an easy win individually and made a flippant choice, but there was keen intelligence in his eyes.
I knew instinctively that Flantian hadn’t become the male champion through sheer might.
No, I’d studied up on each of the species represented by the IGC when I’d taken the position, and centaurs prized ruthless cunning above all else.
Their reputation was mostly put down to wisdom, but I disagreed. They were crafty.
He wouldn’t choose the high alpha, because that would be an act of war.
Gael’s mate was visibly pregnant, so I doubted he’d choose him, despite his imposing stature.
Centaurs valued family, and it would be seen as repugnant to potentially harm a male when his family needed him for protection.
That left Reed, Samuel, and me on fairly equal footing.
When his eyes locked with mine, I knew before he even opened his mouth that he was going to choose me. And a moment later, he lifted a meaty hand and pointed directly at my chest, confirming it.
I tried my best to block out Olivia’s horrified gasp behind me, the way her fingertips grasped the back of my loose shirt, as if she didn’t want to let me go. I’d never faced a challenge with so much at stake; not just the stone, but a female of my own to fight for, to protect.
For our future daughter.
The weight settled over me like a mantle, visceral and almost suffocating with importance.
Failure was not an option.
“Excellent choice. Lucien, isn’t it?” Asithius focused on me, gaze lingering once more on my scar in a way that made me grit my teeth.
“Yes, Herd Leader.”
“Excellent!” Asithius rubbed his hands together, the picture of bloodthirsty excitement.
“The challenge will begin one hour before sunset. You may wear comfortable pants, but no other clothing. You’re allowed to bring no weapons beyond those you’re born with.
As you are a shifter, you may shift between forms at will.
The challenge will be revealed when it’s time to start, but you should know that it will be dangerous, even deadly.
One winner will be determined by our governing herd, and you’re allowed to choose your own representative to sit with them and cast a vote to ensure it’s fair.
Do you accept the terms of the challenge, knowing that the result is final? ”
“I accept.”