And she thought him a monster.
Another wealth of problems there.
He hadn’t given her much reason to think anything else since he’d burst in on her in the hotel. Leon didn’t need or want her love and adoration, but by the Gods, she’d respect him and bow to his demands. With no plans on taking a mate anytime soon, he found himself at war with his own wants and needs. An Omega at his disposal would be quite nice indeed, but not if she hated him with every fiber of her being. He didn’t want to bed and breed a woman who would rather gut him than smile at him.
Taking a steadying breath didn’t calm his fraying temper, the heavy scent of jasmine and spun sugar coating the back of his throat until he let it out on a pleased rumble.
Why deny himself? She was prepared for it, had proven so every time she locked up when he drew too close. She knew what was expected of a mated Omega, and she wouldn’t dare try and deny him.
He wasn’t a complete asshole, that was why. He would no sooner bed a wounded female as he would cut off his own hand.
So he sat there like an idiot, holding his shirt to his nose to drag in deep draughts of her scent until there was a soft knock at the door.
“What is it,” Leon barked, jerking his collar straight as the door opened.
“Do you need anything else tonight, sir,” Mrs. Jacobs asked, poking her round face into the office with her ever present smile.
“No, Mrs. Jacobs. You may go on.”
“Will you breakfast with Miss Elena tomorrow?”
“No,” Leon said, turning his attention to the computer screen’s glow.
“As you wish, sir. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Two hours of work did nothing to calm his hunger for her. Leon found himself climbing the stairs two at a time, remembering her dangerous lurch forward where nothing but his hold upon her kept her from tumbling down the steep staircase. It slowed him as he approached the bedroom door, easing it open so as not to wake her.
Elena still slept, but not as he left her. Quiet whines and whimpers escaped her quivering lips, muscles twitching as she fought off some nightmare.
“Stop,” she mumbled into the pillow, arm jerking against her chest. “Please stop.”
Her assailant.
Leon growled low in his throat as he climbed onto the bed, covering her body with his. Pressing her deep into the mattress to still her helpless movements as he turned the vicious sound into a purr for her ears alone. He gave her his warmth and the solid strength of his body, and with a final sigh she settled back into a deep sleep.
He didn’t know how long he lay there, near crushing the tiny woman beneath him. Long enough to grow painfully hard, his hips moving of their own accord to rub against the soft roundness of her hip. Leaving a trail of slick excitement before he slid off to the side to curl around her back once more.
There he remained, his hardness tucked tight between her cheeks as he continued to purr for her. Keeping her docile and quiet in sleep as he explored her small body. Twining the softness of her hair around his fingers, rubbing it against the coarse stubble of his cheek.
He’d make her want him, by the Gods.
THIRTEEN
ELENA
Waking up slowly, Elena groaned and stretched. Not until she flopped to her back to spread her arms and legs wide did she realize that not only was she feeling better rested than she had in years, but that she was alone.
Bright morning light streamed through the windows, but there was no clock to note the time. Assuming she’d slept in late, she bounded out of the bed, rushing through her morning routine before donning a simple fitted dress and short jacket. She had precious little with her, and her options were dwindling fast. She’d need to speak with Mrs. Jacobs about her laundry, and eventually Leon about some sort of wardrobe.
These were all things she’d never needed to worry herself about, her father’s household running smoothly without her interference. It was something Linda saw to, making sure the staff kept up with the multitude of duties that such a large household required.
Sniffing hard, Elena fought down the surge of tears as she thought of the family who had abandoned her so easily.
Hurrying downstairs, she came up short as she saw Leon making his way to the front door.
“Ah, you’re finally awake,” he said, turning to face her with his arms crossed over his chest.
