Chapter 9 - Wayne
“Perhaps I wouldn’t be such a ‘bore’ if I weren’t worried my head would end up on the floor for saying the wrong thing.” Her words still echo at the back of my head, a reminder that she’s not as timid as I thought.
She’s got spunk and a little bit of sass. And I want to see more of this version of her.
I’d just gifted her a nest with personal blankets and pillows from the other Kings and me.
Now I can’t get the image of her face out of my head.
The shock in her eyes and the gratitude etched on her gaze thawed something inside me.
And even now, hours later, I still feel a certain type of way simply thinking about it.
Ever since we left her nest, I haven’t been able to think of anything else other than her. It’s like she’s living rent-free in my head. She occupies my thoughts every hour and every minute, making me almost lose my damn mind.
I’m drawn to her.
And I know for sure the other Kings can relate as well. That’s why Sinth didn’t waste time seeing her when she was still in the dungeon. He’s had his moment with her—enjoyed her company and got to know her on a personal level.
It’s my turn now.
I want to see her again.
I need to see her again.
The image of her in that red dress flashes in my head, and a broad smile spreads across my face. I think about how beautiful she looked with the soft fabric of her gown accentuating her figure.
My fingers close around the golden goblet in my hand as I sip from it. The flavor of the fine wine explodes on my tongue, and I savor it while thinking about her.
I think for a moment, contemplating my next move. “Fuck it.” I drain the wine glass, set the goblet on the table, and storm out of my quarters.
My brown robe sweeps the floor behind me as I stroll down the halls with majestic strides. The guards bow in reverence, the maids do the same, some hiding their flushed cheeks.
I don’t pay attention to them. My mind is set on only one woman—which, by the way, is strange.
I reach her quarters in no time and hesitate for a second before banging on her door. She doesn’t answer right away, but when she does, when she yanks the door open, my heart jumps.
I lean against the frame, unable to take my eyes off her.
My goodness! She’s gorgeous.
Her hair is still piled up on her head with loose strands framing her face. Her blue eyes seem brighter—sparkly in a way I’d missed earlier.
She’d changed into something less ceremonial—a simple dress that’s almost see-through. The hem hangs above her knees, revealing her soft, alluring, thick thighs.
My eyes fall to her chest where the neckline of her dress dips low enough to showcase her cleavage. Her voluptuous curves have me glued for a second before I quickly get a grip of myself.
I move my eyes back to her face, a small mischievous grin tugging at the corners of my lips.
“Hey, cutie.”
She stares at me like she’s trying to decide whether to slam the door in my face or not.
“I have a name.” Her voice is sweet and enticing in my ears despite the roughness of her tone.
“Speaking of.” I don’t shift my gaze from her face. “You know, I just realized I don’t know your name. None of us do.”
Her stare is almost contemptuous.
I think for a moment. “Although, I believe Chris does—I mean it’s his men who investigated your background, so they must have mentioned your name to him at some point.” A pause, then add almost to myself. “And the bastard didn’t think it was information worth sharing.”
“Blaming him doesn’t change the fact that you never asked,” she shoots back. “If you wanted to know my name, you would’ve just asked him then.”
“You’re right.” I push myself off the wall, straightening. “I didn’t because it slipped my mind.”
“Of course it did. It’s not like it was important to you anyway.”
“No, that’s not…” I scratch the back of my head. “That’s not what I meant.”
She’s managed to make me feel guilty without even trying.
I like that.
“What’re you doing here…my lord?” she asks.
“I’ll ignore the sarcasm in that.” I move past her and walk inside.
“Oh, yeah. Come on in, you’re welcome.”
“I’ll ignore that one too.” I turn around and face her. “You’re really not holding back.”
“You told me not to.” Her arms are folded across her chest as she fights the urge to roll her eyes at me. Her jaw tightens, accentuating the small scowl perched on her face.
I really like that about her already—she doesn’t hide the irritation the way most people around me learn to. Everyone else smooths their face into something diplomatic the second I walk into a room. She just looks like she wants to throw something at my head.
“Come on, don’t look at me like that,” I say teasingly, taking stock of the room. “I’m your fated mate…well, one—of your fated mates.” The slight pause comes when I roll my eyes.
“You mean the same ‘fated mate’ you almost executed, the one you rejected?”
“That wasn’t me. That was…”
“Chris,” she cuts me off, her voice sharp and quick. “It’s all Chris’s fault, isn’t it?” A pause. “You never have a hand in anything.”
“You’re treading a thin line,” I say, annoyed at her words. “And I don’t like it.”
“What? Can’t take the truth?”
My face twists into a faint frown as I begin closing the distance between us. “Okay, first, I didn’t reject you…”
“You didn’t accept me either.”
I continue, despite her interruption, “And second, I didn’t order your execution.”
“You also didn’t stop it.” Her voice is laced with something emotional.
“Goodness me!” I groan in frustration. “Why are you picking on me?”
“I don’t know!” she lashes out. “Maybe because you asked me to grow a personality!”
“Wait, so this is my fault now?” I push my head back.
“I don’t know!” She combs her fingers through her hair, her voice breaking into faint sobs. “I don’t know, okay? I’m just…” She swallows. “My emotions are heightened right now, and I’m feeling everything at once. It has to go somewhere.” The words burst out of her in a nervous rush.
I take her hand, my height towering over her frame. Her expression softens at my touch, her surprised eyes boring into mine in a way that quickens my pulse. She’s a new Omega. I forgot that it could make her emotional.
“I didn’t mean to yell,” she says, much calmer now. “But you’re one of the people who hurt me, and you’re here, so I guess I just…”
“Exploded?”
She waits a moment, then nods.
“Lucky for you, I’m a firm believer in letting emotions run wild,” I say, my voice a low whisper. “Don’t try this around Chris, though; there’s no telling what he’ll do.”
A soft scoff falls off her lips. Short. Genuine.
“You and your brothers have a funny relationship.”
“They’re not my brothers. God, no. We just happen to share a region and, apparently, you.”
“That was supposed to be a joke.” Her chin lifts at that, something defiant sparking behind her eyes. “And nobody shares me. I’m not property.”
“Didn’t say you were.” I hold up both hands, mock-innocent. “Just stating facts. Fate seems to think differently than you do on the matter.”
“Fate can go to hell for all I care.”
I laugh genuinely, the sound surprising even me, and she looks briefly startled that she managed it, like she didn’t expect her own bitterness to land as anything but bitter.
“See, that.” I point at her, grinning. “That’s what it means to grow a personality. The polite, careful version of you that you trot out at breakfast is boring. This one’s got teeth. I like her.”
“Careful now, my lord,” she says, her voice devoid of sarcasm. “If she’s got teeth, it means she bites.”
“Do I strike you as someone afraid of getting bitten?” I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her to myself.
The air around us is thick with tension as we stare into each other’s eyes. My heart is racing, and judging by the rising and falling of her chest, I can say hers is doing the same.
My right thumb finds her full lips and begins tracing the gentle curve of her mouth. She doesn’t pull away. Doesn’t push me back either.
“Tell me your name,” I say softly.
“Charlize,” she replies, voice sweet like honey. “Charlize Abernathy.”
“Wayne.” I don’t take my eyes off her. “Wayne Black.”
The force pulling me to her is stronger now, and all I want to do is claim those cherry lips.
My body moves before I can stop myself. I lean forward, lips inches from hers, and in a heartbeat, I kiss her.
She goes still for one full second.
Then she kisses back, sharp and startled and hungry all at once. My hand finds her jaw, tilting her closer, and she makes a small sound against my mouth that undoes something in my chest I didn’t know was still tied down.
I shove my tongue in her mouth, and she reciprocates the gesture. My heart is hammering in my chest, my hands on her waist pulling her closer to me.
My dick quickly hardens beneath my pants, and it grazes her stomach. We devour each other’s lips with an intense fervency that leaves us both breathless.
Her generous swells are pressed against my torso, heads dancing to the rhythm of our passion. The kiss deepens, and I feel myself losing control.
I’m hooked. Completely, stupidly hooked. The world has faded into the background, leaving just the two of us. Nothing else matters.
Her fingers curl into my shirt like she’s decided to stop fighting it.
Then, just as fast, she shoves me back.
“Wait.” Her breath comes ragged, her eyes wide, something like panic chasing the heat still flushed across her face. “Wait, I can’t—we can’t—” She swallows.
“Okay.” I step back right away, hands raised, giving her the space she’s asking for even though every part of me wants to close it again. “Okay. We stop.”
She purses her lips and wraps her arms around herself. Unable to meet my eyes again, she stares at the floor as though she’s furious with her own body for reacting the way it did. “You should um… you should go.”
I want to argue. I want to point out that she kissed me back, that whatever just happened wasn’t one-sided no matter how hard she’s trying to convince herself otherwise.