The Lycan Kingpin's Captive: A Baby For The Beast

I don't know what to make of what Nikolaos has just said; all I know is that my heart clenched so tightly that I nearly burst into tears

“Let's get you back into this dress so we can talk; your body is distracting,” he says as he picks up my discarded dress.

“Nikolaos-"

"When you're dressed,” he urges and slips the dress over my head.

Another protest is about to slip past my lips when I see how tightly he has his jaw clenched... So I allow him to help me into the stupid garment before he takes my hand and leads me back into the bedroom.

He sits down on the bed and I go to sit next to him, but he pulls me onto his lap and kisses the side of my head. “I need you close to me while I tell you this; hopefully you won't be disgusted with me afterward,” he says with a crack to his voice, and my heart breaks along with him.

I take his hand in mine and draw it to my lips to place a kiss, just like he's done to me so many times before. “I'm not going anywhere,” I assure him without any fancy words or expressions,

Nodding, he breathes out a shaky breath and I see his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallows deeply.

"When my mother was pregnant with us, it was only because my father wanted a son. Masha, my sister, was a year older than us and my father deemed my mother's pregnancy a failure. He wanted a son, not a daughter,” He starts.

"What a surprise it was to both of them when they found out she was not just pregnant with one son, but two. My father told her the Goddess blessed his bloodline with two boys for a reason...his true heir and a spare,” he says, scoffing. “Guess who turned out to be the spare?”

My fingers twist around his, mentally urging him to continue. He takes another shaky breath and I notice the sheen of sweat beading on his upper lip. This is difficult for him...but still he goes on. “We were born and Bastien was immediately doted on. I wasn't bothered by it, because I love my brother but he hated being the center of attention. When the time came for us to get our wolves, my father had me strung up by silver shackles and chains because I didn't get a wolf...the beast within me is a Lycan - the loannides Curse.”

Oh, I knew it! When his claws extended, they were black not your average wolf color!

"How old were you when you got your beast?” I asked.

The corner of his mouth lifts in a sardonic smile. “I had just turned ten years old and things went downhill from there.”

I watch as he rubs the back of his neck and pulls painfully at his hair, his breathing comes in short spurts, and clenching his jaw so hard I'm scared his teeth might snap.

He grins. “They're always welcomed.”

I nod and am about to move from his lap to give him some space when he locks his arms around my waist and raises an eyebrow. “Did I say you can move?”

“But...you're bare-chested right now!” I exclaim.

“And do you see me curling up in a corner with my eyes wide?” he asks, scoffing. “Have you close to me like this is comforting, little rabbit.”

Okay, that makes me smile and I lean forward to kiss his lips. But as I do that and feel him smiling, something occurs to me and I sit back.

“Wait, with your triggers in place, you've never-"

“No. Not with anyone since they disappeared. I mean, I tried when I was younger, but back then my panic attacks were worse than they are now,” he says, then he cups my cheek with his rough hand. “You're the first woman I want to be with, Mia, the first woman I willingly want to kiss and claim... and the first woman I have ever been tempted to touch.”

This shouldn't warm my heart so much, but it does. “And what...makes me so special?” I coax.

He chuckles, knowing that I am fishing for compliments right now, but he bites anyway.

“When you ran into me in that alleyway, I didn’t feel any revulsion. In fact as soon as I laid my eyes on you looking so scared and vulnerable, covered in your own blood...” he shakes his head. “I can’t explain it, but I wanted to take care of you.”

I grin. “So you knocked me up to keep me?”

"Well, that came after,” he says, shaking his head but the smile drops from his face. “So...you know my shame now..."

He trails off and looks at me expectantly, his eyes flickering towards the door and then back to me. It hurts my heart knowing that he thinks I'm about to leave, and I realize then that he’s always been terrified people will leave.

I meet his lips with a gentle kiss; savoring the taste and feel of him with my tongue and hoping that the kiss isn't too forceful. He holds me flush against his bare chest and I feel his pulse as it spikes; his hands rove around my back and he groans into my mouth.

Then I break off the kiss and cup his face with both my hands, caressing his bearded face. “I know your past and I am still in love with you; nothing will change that,” I say, watching as his eyes widen. “You're... in love with me?”

“lam and I don't expect you to respond with your own feelings right now. So long as you know that I am willing to try and stay by your side, it's fine with me.” I say.

The emotion washing over his face makes my heart clench with compassion for him. Has he ever had someone accept him for who he was? Or did he just push everyone away thinking they would all hurt him eventually?

He pulls me into his arms again and breathes out a long, pent-up sigh. “Thank you for saying that. Thank you for...not expecting my reciprocation, especially after what I have just told you,” he says, kissing the nape of my neck.

“I'm certain that I am in love with you, Mia. But I don’t want to say it while I am overwhelmed like this,” he says, not needing to explain himself to me because I understand completely.

I nod and breathe out a sigh just as he lets go of me, then he smiles and it takes my breath away. But as I think about him taking my breath away, something else occurs to me and I cover my mouth. Nikolaos frowns. “Are you okay?"

“No...” I groan with my mouth still covered, but he pulls my hands away, raising an eyebrow until I eventually sigh and look down. “I don't know how long I've been in a coma...but I've been kissing you without even thinking!”

He blinks with a furrowed brow, but it soon lifts and he chuckles while shaking his head. “I had some female nurses keep you clean while you were out, little rabbit, even your mouth,” he says.

I run my tongue over my teeth and sure enough, they're smooth and I actually taste some mint. My eyes widen, realizing now that he’s taken care of even my hygiene while I wasn't coherent.

“Thank you,” I sigh, feeling sheepish. “You're always taking care of me.”

He gets to his feet with me still in his arms and walks towards the bathroom again. After placing me down, his eyes rake over my body and I feel like I'm on fire. Running his hands down my side, he looks up at me with crimson eyes and grins.

“But, if you don't feel clean enough, I could always wash you myself,” he says, grabbing the hem of my dress and pulling it over my head.

Oh.