RAE
"… I need you to get information from Alpha Kendricks. Go to him – here, take this painting as a gift…"
Jerome's words still rang in my ear as I sat nervously in Alpha Kendricks living room. My heart thudded so violently against my breast that I feared my eyes would change colour once again.
Bending my head a bit, I lifted a finger and traced the frame of the painting – that was a mistake. There was something about the painting, something in the eyes of the woman who lay on her back that called to me. I felt a blush heat my cheeks as I imagined what the man in her embrace was doing to her to elicit such emotions from her. I closed my eyes and hoped to a moon I couldn't reach that my eyes did not change colour.
I heard the door open, and acting on mere instinct, I got up and bolted from the room.
I didn't go far.
"The time to change your mind was before I stepped into the room Sweetheart," The same voice that had spoken to me earlier said, as his hand easily caught mine, and imprisoned it in his grasp. Once again, I felt myself affected by the deep timbre of it.
"And you brought a gift," he continued, and I could hear the amusement in his voice – "my own painting. I was hoping you'd be a little more – original"
I could merely nod at him. I shut my eyes tight, wishing for a miracle. My moonbane had shown me several things about this Alpha.
I knew he was powerful, ruthless, and did not have a heart…
His voice became more serious now. "Open your eyes sweetheart."
I shook my head. I could already feel my eyes changing. The painting, my fear, and the sound of his voice was doing a lot to me.
"I wouldn't ask again." This time, I felt the power in his voice. Again, I understood this was a man accustomed to being obeyed.
How to keep my eyes shut without disobeying him….. "Please, Alpha Kendricks," I murmured, allowing my voice to trail away for want of something better to say.
Strong arms drew me to him, so that I trembled as I felt my body collide with his rock hard one.
My entire senses were swimming. His aura engulfed me. My flesh warmed where ever it touches his. I kept my eyes tight shut.
"Tell me this then," he said softly. "Did you come here of your own will, or as a thank-you gift from your boyfriend…"
His words jolted me, the insinuation in them, and the shock of it made me open my eyes.
The worst mistake I had ever made. As soon as my eyes snapped open to look at his, I found I couldn't look away.
His eyes were the clearest gray I had ever seen. No speckles of any colour, just a clear gray like the purest of lakes on a winter morning.
Alpha Kendricks sucked in an audible breath, and before I could say another word, his lips took mine.
His kiss was gentle, yet thorough, his lips glided over mine, something about the way he kissed reminded me of a time I had watched Jerome tame a horse. Alpha Kendricks used the same technique now. Gentle, yet decisive and firm, he kissed as though he could make up his mind for both of us.
When he pulled his lips away, I was breathless, and the most aroused I had ever been in years. He pressed his lips to my ear, and I shuddered at the impact.
"Let me paraphrase," he said, in that deep voice of his, tinged with suppressed passion now. "Was it your idea to come and have sex with me today, or did your boyfriend send you to have sex with me as a way to seal our pact? Believe it or not, I was and am still willing to make him Alpha. I did not need your soft, lush body to convince me to stick to my words."
I shook my head, taking a step backwards, then several steps, till I felt my back hit hard against the door. "It's not true. You're lying," I spat.
Alpha Kendricks raised a single brow.
"Jerome would never – would never whore me out in the demeaning way you suggest," I said in a shaky voice, trying now to convince myself. Jerome had his flaws, but he would never do this! He… he said he was falling in love with me!
"Ah, so it was your idea then," the Alpha said, relentless. "I'm glad."
"No." I shook my head vehemently. "It was no one's idea to have sex. I came because Jerome sent me to – to give you a gift."
He smiled then, the corner of his lips tilting up and transforming him from dangerous to dangerously sexy. "A gift of my own painting? And look what painting it is."
I stared for a while at the painting that now lay discarded on the sofa. Jerome was right, I could be stupid at times. With the acceptance of my stupidity came a more painful realization. Jerome had indeed sent me here to have sex with Alpha Kendricks. He had sent me off like a common whore. Tears stung my eyes at the hurt, the betrayal.
Alpha Kendricks had every reason to take advantage of me now, worse, he'd believe that indeed, Jerome had been right when he called me stupid.
Alpha Kendricks next words shocked me even further than my current predicament. "Or maybe your boyfriend sent you over so I could see you have moonbane."
Fear, anxiety, and shame stabbed at my heart at his words. I shut my eyes immediately, trying to hide my secret. How was I so stupid as to let him see my eyes when I was in a state!
I thought of what other packs did to females with moonbane. I couldn't even bear to dwell on the horrors. I had no doubt Alpha Kendricks would do much worse to me, he was that ruthless.
The thought that the man I thought was growing to love me, Jerome, could do this to me, expose me in such a way cut deeply at my heart.
Alpha Kendricks voice was silkily soft as his words taunted me with the ruthlessness in them.
"It's already too late to hide. I know you have moonbane."