Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 32263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
My body ignites with a fierce lustful need I never knew it was capable of. I want more. So. Much. More.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard. His eyes are dark and blazing, his pupils blown wide with desire, and for a second, I’m certain he’s going to take me right here and now.
He takes several deep, steadying breaths as he clings to me, trying to get himself under control. I don’t want him to hold back. I want to see this sexy Wolf King losing all control for me.
“Gods…” he whispers, suddenly releasing me and abruptly turning away.
I’m dizzy. I’m shaken. Every nerve in my body is humming.
He takes violent, heavy breaths as he struggles to control himself.
“I am alpha,” he whispers to himself. “I endure.”
I run my hand over my forehead, wondering if this pulsing heat thundering through my body will ever cool down.
“We cannot continue like this,” he growls in a low, monstrous tone. “If we continue, I will not be able to stop.”
I stare at his big heaving back moving up and down with every savage breath and wonder what would be so bad about that.
“The moon is not right yet,” he says. “The Gods would not approve.”
I let him get control of himself as my body yearns and begs for more. A dark, naughty part of me suggests that I hike my skirt up and show him my legs. Another part urges me to tug down the front of my dress. Yet another tells me to bend over and pretend I’ve dropped something.
My body is aching to be claimed.
Instead, I follow his lead and take a deep breath, trying to be respectful. I don’t know what the freaking moon has to do with any of this, but I know there’s a lot to be learned about these wolves and their strange customs, as frustrating as they are.
“Three weeks until the next full moon,” he murmurs as he turns back to me, his voice thick with promise and restraint. “And then…”
He doesn’t finish the sentence.
He doesn’t need to.
Because the dark lustful look in his eyes tells me exactly what he’s planning to do to me when the full moon rises.
I shiver at the thought.
Three weeks can’t come fast enough.
Chapter Seven
Morwen
“So far, we’ve done this the wolf way,” I say while we’re sitting at dinner, drinking the smoothest, fruitiest wine I’ve ever tasted. “Now, it’s time to do it the human way.”
Alaric looks at me curiously, one dark brow lifting. “Your people have courting rituals?”
“We do.”
“What are they?”
I grin as I stare him down. “Questions. The women ask questions.”
“Oh,” he says, leaning back in his chair, amusement flickering across his handsome face. “Questions.”
“Yes,” I say, nodding eagerly. “Questions. And I have a lot of them.”
He reaches for the bottle and tops off my wine before settling back and folding his arms across that broad chest like he’s bracing himself. “Proceed,” he says gravely. “Please.”
I don’t waste a second.
“Morning or night person?”
“Night,” he answers immediately. “The kingdom is quiet then. I can think. But I don’t sleep too much either way, so I’m up early as well.”
“How many hours do you sleep?”
“Four.”
“Four?!”
“On a good night.”
“A good night?” I say, staring at him in horror. “Oh my gods, you’re going to think I’m hibernating. I can sleep ten hours easy.”
I love how his smiles keep reaching his eyes. He looks so handsome when he’s all stern and king-like, but the relaxed, stress-free version of Alaric is pretty gorgeous too.
“I think I’ll quite enjoy watching you sleep,” he says.
“Oh no,” I say, laughing. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
“What am I thinking?”
“I’m not sure, but it’s a lot of twisted blankets, far-flung legs, an open mouth, and lots of drool on the pillow. It’s not pretty. Or very queen-like.”
He grins. “It sounds quite entertaining.”
I let out a dramatic little huff. “Moving on. What do you do when you’re not ruling a kingdom?”
“I’m always ruling a kingdom.”
“Of course,” I say, rolling my eyes. “But when you’re not in king mode.”
He just stares at me.
“When you’re off. When you’re relaxing.”
More blank staring.
“You have to let loose and unwind somehow,” I say. “Do you dance, or play an instrument, or drink with friends? Anything?”
He lets out a long, heavy breath. “Being a king is all I know.”
My heart aches for him. I can see the pain in his eyes. The pressure. The intense burden he holds every second of every day. It must be so hard. I don’t know how a man can handle such strain without being crushed by it.
I make a vow to be that release for him. To help him get in touch with the real Alaric. The man without the ‘King’ title attached to his name. Relaxing a little won’t harm his kingdom. It will make him a more well-rounded, thoughtful, patient ruler.