Chapter 93: Lust
Kael closed the door with a clenched jaw. He had been proud of his own control but within half a month, this girl was already testing his limits. He leaned against the wall for a moment and shut his eyes briefly.
He heard the faint sound of water splashing inside, and unbidden the picture of the way she had gasped when the cold poured over her, hair plastered to her cheeks, defiance burning even when her body trembled from exhaustion, appeared before him...
He exhaled slowly, forcing his jaw tight. Training her to throw a punch. That was all this was supposed to be. He knew she wanted to learn combat. And when she’d knelt there in front of the entire pack, and ’almost’ fearlessly asked that he train her, he’d accepted. But now, he was regretting it.
Because the images flooding his mind had nothing to do with training. At all.
He saw her kneeling again, arms lifted high, the bowl trembling in her hands as water threatened to spill. She looked fragile and stubborn at the same time.
And the sight of her body, tense and straining, red from exertion, stirred things in him that had nothing to do with teaching her combat. His hands curled into fists. He could still remember the shape of her beneath that soaked dress, the way the water had run down her neck, outlining every curve before sliding lower.
That sight had brought back another memory. Of when she had woken up in her first heat. Hot and ready under his touch. The way she had thrust her softness into his hands, wordlessly begging for more. His palms tingled at the phantom sensation. And Kael almost turned back to head into the washroom.
She wouldn’t refuse him... Or rather, she wouldn’t be able to... Once she could feel his desire, her Omega side would give in on its own.
Kael pressed the back of his head against the wall, closing his eyes tighter now. But that proved to useless. If anything, it made everything clearer.
He could picture her arms trembling as she held the bowl above her head, her chest rising and falling rapidly, as she bit her lip to keep her concentration.
"F*ck!"
With a muttered curse, he straightened from against the wall and moved towards the door. To hell with their decision to keep their distance!
But just as his hand reached for the door handle, he stilled. He dragged in a breath, low and heavy. This was dangerous. If he let himself think of her this way, if he indulged even once, he knew he would never stop.
Yet his mind betrayed him again, and his wolf only made it worse- growling at him to take her, to claim her, to possess her. His wolf seemed intent on reminding him that she belonged to them.
A low rumble escaped Kael’s throat before he could stop it. He forced himself to turn from the bathroom door and stride to his own room, jaw tight.
If the desire wouldn’t leave him, then he would deal with it himself. His wolf whined at the thought, restless, refusing to accept anything less than Emira pressed beneath them. But Kael shoved the urge down, refusing to give in.
Just as he was about to ’handle’ things, a distant sound cut through the silence.
His wolf stilled, ears pricking, and let out a warning growl. Someone was close. Someone was moving toward the house.
Kael froze, head tilting slightly.
Good. His lips curved up in a humourless smile. If he couldn’t fuck, then at least he could fight.
His golden eyes seemed to glow brighter as he released the door handle and stalked toward the back entrance as eager as his wolf to get into a fight. Someone actually dared to approach him, that too in the middle of the day!
But as he neared the door, his wolf hesitated, nose wrinkling. The scent was familiar. Too familiar.
Kael’s brow furrowed. Someone from his own pack? Breaking into his house? What for?
His jaw flexed. It seemed three years of absence had made everyone think that he had probably calmed down. His mind shied away from the feelings of fear and hatred pouring out from that person, giving him a headache.
Dam* it! If you’re going to intrude, at least be brave about it! He shook his head. Fine. Whatever the reason, the person had chosen the wrong place, the wrong time and the wrong person. And he would make sure they regretted it.
Kael pushed the door open and stepped outside, his stance of someone prepared for battle. His wolf prowled inside him, urging him forward, teeth bared at the thought of catching the intruder.
But the moment he was close enough for the scent to hit him properly, Kael stopped dead. His chest tightened as recognition slammed into him, cutting through his anger like a blade.
Mate.
An inward curse tore through his mind. His jaw clenched hard, almost painfully. How had he not realised sooner? How had he let his own thoughts, his own damned desire, cloud him so completely that he hadn’t even recognized the one scent he should never be able to mistake? Ramona...
Fury rose, not at her, but at himself. The mistake was inexcusable. The shame of it made his expression even fiercer, his golden eyes burning as he looked left, from where she emerged a moment later, her eyes downcast.
Shouldn’t she be clinging to Zen at this moment, trying to console him and get close to him?
He stared at her as she looked back at him, her eyes wide with fear of him... She even flinched when their eyes met...which only fueled his anger.
"What are you doing here?" He asked coldly and watched as she almost jumped looking like a small rabbit ready to run.
"I... I wanted to talk to you, Kael. Can we... go inside?"
Kael stilled. She wanted to come inside his house?