Your Man IS NOT My Mate

“You shouldn’t say such things” I breathlessly reply, feeling giddy, not just from his words but from the strokes of his thumb against my cheek. “You’ll give-” my breath hitches as he unexpectedly leans down, our faces nearly touching. My voice reverts to an airy whisper. “You’ll give people the wrong idea.”

“Which is?” His voice lowers to match mine, the close proximity causing his minty breath to fan my lips, and I swear to God, it takes every ounce of strength in me not to let my eyes drop.

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “That you want me.”

“And what makes you think that I don’t?”

Is he serious? Just about everything would make me think so. “Well for starters, your ‘no touch rule’... It’s obvious you didn’t want me.”

“Oh darling, you must understand... It was you who didn’t want me, you wanted Adrian, so that was my way of keeping myself in check and my emotions at bay. I didn’t want to force myself on you.”

“And now?” I look up into his eyes barely able to steady my breathing, not discounting the way he called me darling.

A smirk breaks out on his face and my heart skips a beat, confidence oozing from his deep husky tone. “And now, you do.”

“W-what?” I’m taken aback by the audacity of his unwavering boldness.

“Watch this....” He leans in even closer, his eyes momentarily breaking our gaze to flick to my lips. His nose brushes against mine sending a shockwave through my body. My stomach twists into knots, my heart beating wildly against my ribcage as he tilts my head up slightly, our breaths mingling together. My eyes, propelled by instinct, flutter close.

I wait...

“See.” He releases a core-vibrating chuckle against my lip. “That’s how I know”

Huh?

I’m suddenly jolted back to reality, and my eyes shoot open, witnessing the broad smile plastered on his face.

Ugh!

“Any other questions?” He smirks amidst my flustered face, though all I can think about is what kissing him would have been like.

“Yes, I do.” Mrs. Sandra interjects, and I’m immediately pulled from within my head as I jump away from Alaric’s touch- yanked from the bliss of what could have been.

I turn to face the table, but I wish I didn’t because now my cheeks are red from embarrassment as I notice all eyes riveted on me.

“So, she is-”

“Was.” Alaric quickly corrects, noticing where she’s going with whatever she’s about to say.

“Sorry, sorry, was... so she was with Adrian?” She points to Adrian while looking between Alaric and me, confused.

“Yes- but the key word here is WAS.” Alaric emphasizes. “Now, she’s mine.” He pulls my back to his chest, encircling me with his arms as he rests his chin on my head.

The looks I get from around the table after that revelation urges me to explain. I pull myself away from Alaric, looking at his mom to clarify that I’m not one of those girls who jump from guy to guy, much less between brothers. “I’m not with either of them anymore.”

She arches a brow.

“I mean, I was never with Alaric.”

“You mean not yet.” He asserts.

“I’m not just going to up and run into your arms just because you make me feel things I’ve never felt before.” I say pointed at him.

“Are you sure?” Alaric steps closer to me, bridging the gap I created when I moved away from his embrace.

“Stop.” I shake my head, denying his advances. “Nothing is going to happen between us.... at least not until we talk first.” I trail off at the end.

He grabs hold of my hand clearly not letting my mumble bits pass him. “Well then, there’s nothing quite like the present.”

My eyes dart to those sitting on the table, purposely avoiding Adrian, who has been relatively silent, sitting with a solemn expression on his face; hopefully regretting the mess he made of my heart.

Before I can protest, I’m already being dragged halfway up the stairs.

“I swear, I really saw her first.” I overhear Adrian say to his parents as Alaric drags me up to his room to talk.

“You know, technically that’s a lie.” Alaric whispers in my ear closing the door behind us.

“What is?”

“That he saw you first.”

I try to rack my brain to recall my first encounters with the both of them. “Pretty sure it was Adrian.” I assuredly say, staring confused at Alaric as he sighs.

He grabs my waist unexpectedly, pulling me into his chest, holding me close as he rubs his cheek against mine. Stella instantly becomes a raving maniac, desperately fighting to break free. My heart starts to beat faster, and I feel the blood rushing up my neck, a blush dusting my cheeks as he whispers in my ears, his teeth grazing my earlobe slightly. “Did that by any chance jog your memory?”

“Huh?” I moan, confused and barely to focus on his words due to the tingling sensation of his touch and Stella’s relentless, persistent nature.

“Or maybe this might ring a bell” He leans down lower letting his warm tongue trace up and down my throat. A shiver runs through my body like fired neurons only spurring on Stella’s unnaturally frenzied behavior. My knees buckle and on instinctive I grab unto his shoulders to steady myself, fighting the increment urge to moan again as my head tilts more to one side to allow him freer access; but unfortunately, it’s not enough to ring a bell or jog my memory. I don’t remember any of this, but I don’t want him to stop- but I should stop him, we’re supposed to be talking for crying out loud.

Summoning my last ounces of willpower, I attempt to use my hold on his shoulders to push him away, but in a swift unpredicted motion, he grabs my ass with a forceful squeeze, pushing his sported erection into my stomach with a low, feral growl, clearly wearing thin on his patience. “Do I have to fu*k you for you to remember!”

What!?

Suddenly my lungs are penetrated by a strong, heavy earthly aura that instantly reminds me of.... my eyes immediately widen as I look up, our eyes making four, and like a falling brick, reality hits me.

“Finally.” He purrs, easing up the tension of his hold.

My teeth clench “You!” I seethe, recognizing I am no longer chatting with Alaric, which I should have realized the minute Stella started acting like an undomesticated bit*h in heat.

“Well hello to you too.” smirks the undeniable, insanely handsome, heterochromia beast standing before me. “It’s good to know we are finally on the same page.... princess.”

“Princess?" I gag "Princess is not my cup of tea.”

“But cupcake is?” He scoffs, rendering me speechless.

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes attempting once again to free myself from his grip.

But he releases a threatening growl. “Mine!”

I narrow my eyes on him, my tone merged with aggravation. “What happened to not forcing yourself on me?”

“Trust me, if it was up to me, you would have been mine from the start” His thumb traces my cheek. “All mine- only mine…. Isn’t that right, princess?”

I go to retaliate but suddenly, my body shudders, my eye twitches and something within me snaps.

“Yes, that’s right, my King.”

---------

Book 2

Mine! Mate Or Not.