The rhythm of Alaric’s breathing sped up. The cat claws digging into my shirt loosened their hold and slowly shifted back to manicured nails, but they remained on my chest. His palms were warm.
“Is this a game to you?” Alaric demanded. “I don’t mean the reality show. I mean you and me right now.”
I sensed him on the edge of retreat. One wrong move and he’d bolt—and I would not let that happen. Despite our playful conflict, I wanted him to feel safe with me.
“No,” I said firmly. “I’m enthralled by our relationship thus far, but it is not a game to me. I have no intention of toying with you.”
Not without his consent, anyway.
The hard edge in Alaric’s gaze softened. “Hmph. Our relationship, huh?”
I smiled. “What else should I call it?”
He blew a loose strand of white hair out of his face. “Wearekeeping each other’s secrets.”
I noticed the subtle flaring of his nostrils, as if sampling the air. Was he as fascinated by my scent as I was by his?
Alaric cleared his throat, then finally drew away. Disappointment followed his absence. I held myself in check so I didn’t grab his wrists and put his hands back on my chest.
“Well, I suppose I have the answer to my question,” Alaric mused.
There was a hanging edge to his comment, as if he was silently asking my permission to leave. Or was it permission to stay?
He met my gaze. “Thank you for your honesty.”
“You’re welcome,” I said. “It’s not every day I meet someone I can be totally honest with.”
I watched the black collar tighten around Alaric’s throat as he swallowed. “Is that so?” His eyes flicked back down to the bulge in my trousers before he wrenched them away with a grunt. “For gods’ sakes, do you get this horny over every omega you see?”
“No,” I said.
The speed and force of my answer surprised Alaric. He paused before replying in a curt tone, “Sorry if I find that hard to believe.”
I shrugged. “I understand. But it’s the truth. I’ve never once been turned on by another person—until I met you. That’s a fact.”
Alaric let that sink in. His cheeks flushed an adorable shade of pink. Then he snorted. “But it’s completely normal for you to get turned on from wearing latex and dominating innocent pool toys.”
My tone was gentle. “The heart wants what it wants.”
We held unblinking eye contact for a few seconds. Then Alaric huffed and stalked towards the door. “I’m leaving. I need my beauty sleep before the first challenge tomorrow.”
A mixture of excitement and weariness swirled in my chest. It was another chance to see Alaric—but it also meant dealing with the rest of the exhausting contestants.
“Good night, perverted alpha,” Alaric stated. Once again, his insult sounded fond.
“Good night, criminal omega,” I replied.
He scoffed as he walked down the hall. “I used the front door this time, thank you very much!”
“Still trespassing,” I called after him with a smile.
6
Alaric
I fumedas I marched out of the dragons’ castle. Jade was impossible. He was so infuriatingly charming. Every time I wanted to spit in his face, he disarmed me with his clever words and attentive gaze, like he had magical conflict-resolving powers.
Actually, I shouldn’t spit in his face. He would probably enjoy that.
