But my fetish outfit wasn’t even the worst part, and I knew it.
“Is that... a giant pool toy?” Alaric finally asked. It was the first time I’d heard him sound uncertain. At least I could take credit for throwing off his unshakable confidence.
There was no point in denying it. “Yes, it’s an inflatable.”
Alaric squinted at it. “In the shape of a dragon?”
“Yes.”
“And... it’s wearing bondage gear.”
“Indeed.”
As if wrenched from a daze, Alaric shook his head. “All right. That’s something you don’t see every day.”
The latex squeaked as I crossed my arms. “Surely that’s not all you have to say about it. Go ahead. Tell me how you really feel.”
Alaric’s cheeks flushed. He looked deeply flustered. “I—” His mouth hung open. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Why don’t you start with the reason you broke into my office?”
The omega’s demeanor flipped to annoyance. Despite kneeling on the floor, he puffed out his chest and squared his shoulders. “Yes. Let’s start with that.”
The corner of my mouth curled into a smirk. He looked silly exuding so much righteous fury in that position.
“By the way,” I interrupted. “Whatever your plan was, you forgot to include a change of clothes.”
His brow twitched as he shuffled his thighs closer together. “I’m aware,” he muttered.
I felt disappointed I didn’t catch a glance of his intimate areas, which deeply shocked me. I felt like a computer that had tripped over a string of code and malfunctioned. During all my years, I’d never experienced attraction to another person before. My tastes ran more towards fetish gear and inanimate objects. That was one of my deepest secrets, and part of the reason I dreaded being the bachelor. I couldn’t imagine myself with a living, breathing partner.
So why did it disappoint me that I couldn’t see all of Alaric’s naked body?
Intrigued yet still annoyed, I took a step closer. The thick heel of my boots clopped against the hardwood floor.
Alaric didn’t move as I towered over him. The cornered cat narrowed his eyes, likeIwas the one in the wrong here.
“Well?” I prompted.
Alaric lifted his head and stated, “I came here to confront you, dragon.”
That was not quite what I expected.
“Oh? Whatever for?” I asked, even more curious now.
Alaric exuded a shocking amount of confidence despite being naked on the floor. He stuck out his chin, his eyes sharp as daggers.
“You have a vendetta against me, don’t you?” he hissed.
He spat the word so viciously it took me off guard.
“Pardon me?” I asked.
The leeway gave him space to kindle his anger. He rose to his feet in a flurry, jabbing a perfectly manicured finger in my direction. “Don’t deny it, dragon. I’ve been on this island four times, and each time, I’ve been humiliated and cast aside!”
It was true Alaric had never ‘won’ the Dragonfate Games, but his fury was misguided. Still, I liked the fiery quality of his accusation. I was excited that he seemed ready and willing to start an altercation with me.
“You think I’m responsible for your lack of success in the Games,” I clarified.
