I’m not blind, I’ve seen the way she sometimes stares at me, her cheeks flushing a sweet pink when I catch her doing it. But there’s a power imbalance between us, and there always will be. I’d never want her to feel like she owes me anything, or that she cares for me when really it’s just the forced proximity talking. Plus, I don’t have a pack. And Raven deserves a doting pack after everything she’s been through.
A low growl nearly escapes when I think of someone else's hands on her. Another alpha’s lips against her throat, locking them together with his knot. Sinking his teeth into her pretty white skin, scarring her and claiming her as his.
God fucking damn it. The rage I feel even thinking about that happening must be making me release some strong alpha pheromones because Raven’s head turns to me, her eyes questioning.
“Is everything alright?” she asks.
No, everything is not alright, but I can’t tell you that. Instead I grunt out, “Yeah, everything’s fine.”
It’s clear she doesn’t believe me, so I lean across the aisle and gesture to her injured ankle. “Can I take a look?”
They said it was just a minor sprain, but it was pretty swollen when she first came off the ice.
She hesitates only for a moment before she nods. “Sure. I should take the ice off for a while anyway.”
I kneel before her, lifting the ice pack and setting it aside. I gently pick up her foot, visibly inspecting it to make sure nothing has gotten worse. When I catch sight of bruises on her knees, I place her foot back down and shift to get a better look. The new position puts me between her legs. I push her skirt up a little to see how bad it is and mutter a curse when I see the large area on her outer thigh mottled with deep purple.
My hand moves before I can think about it, stroking gently over the skin. Raven’s breath hitches. When I look up, her pupils are blown wide, and there’s a pink blush to her pale cheeks that almost matches the shade of her lips. The muscles in her thighs tense under my touch. That’s when I realize exactly how this looks—her bodyguard kneeling between her spread legs, his hand up her dress.
I should back away, I know I should. But I can’t bring myself to just yet. Not when she isn’t pushing me away. When she’s looking at me like she wants me to go further. And fuck do I want to. I want to press my lips to each of her scrapes and bruises, comfort each of her hurts. I want to drag my nose up her inner thigh until I get to her warm pussy. Scent her. Taste her. Consume her.
Raven holds my gaze as she deliberately spreads her legs further apart, her shaking hands making fists in her skirt. The challenge in her expression hasmy cock even harder. Goddamnit, if she keeps looking at me like this, I’ll never be able to pull away.
My palms land on her quads, skimming up the smooth skin. A sweet, soft sound leaves Raven’s lips.
When my hands disappear beneath the fabric of her skirt, I can’t help looking away from her face to glance at the apex of her thighs. The cotton that covers her cunt is no longer a bright pink, but a deep fuschia because her slick has soaked through, the fabric clinging to her and hinting at the outline of her pussy. Jesus, she must bedrenched.
I skim a knuckle along the skin where her thigh meets her hip. Raven’s breath is coming in short pants now, loud in the silent train car. I tease a fingertip along the edge of her panties and watch as desire flickers across her delicate features. She’s so responsive, so eager. Oh, the things I could teach her.
I lock gazes with her once more. “Tell me to stop.”
She sucks in a breath, and bites her lip, shaking her head infinitesimally.
“Tell me to stop,principessa,” I growl.
“Don’t stop.” Her voice is soft but her eyes are burning with heat and confidence. She wants this.
My knuckle grazes over the wet spot on her panties, and I can practically see her cunt clenching, looking for something to squeeze. I give in and push my fingertips under the hem of her underwear, immediately encountering the wet warmth of her slick. I need to see her. Need to see her pretty pink pussy swollen and glistening with her arousal, with her ache for me.
Muffled voices outside of the cabin bring reality crashing back down abruptly. What the fuck am I doing?We’re in public. She’s off-limits. Her coach and publicist could walk in at any minute.
I shove away from her, landing on my ass with my back against the bench. She gives me a look that’s between disappointment and fear before she rights her clothing and turns away from me, staring back out the window. Her cheeks are still red, though, betraying her.
Needing to cut the tension, I push myself up to stand, grab the forgotten ice pack, and place it gently back on her sprained ankle. She doesn’t look at me. But she shivers slightly as soon as the cold ice is against her skin.
Without a word, I unzip my softshell jacket and drape it over her bare shoulders. When I sit back on my side of the train car, I notice her trying to surreptitiously bring the fabric to her nose, inhaling to see if she can catch any of my scent despite my blockers.
My alpha calms a little, knowing my omega is wrapped in as much of our scent as we can manage right now, and knowing she wants it, too.
Wait a second.Myomega?
“I’m just gonna…” I stand, motioning toward the door. Not waiting for a response, I step out into the hall. I won’t go anywhere, not when she’s inside alone, unprotected. But I need a moment to collect myself.
Staring at the moving scenery outside the window, I slowly bring my slick-damp fingers to my lips and groan.
I’m so fucked.
24
