49

ELEANOR
There was no way this was happening right now. I shouldn’t be feeling my body thrum with excitement and raw need with every move of Easton’s tongue in my mouth. His movements had started out slowly, just a press of lips that grew more insistent as he looked to grow more excited and confident as time went on without any form of refusal from me.
When his hand comes up and trails down my face ever so slowly until he reaches back up to grip firmly, yet so gently in my hair, a soft, wanton moan is ripped out of my throat and that had been when his slick tongue probed in to draw even more embarrassing sounds out of my lips.
This was supposed to feel wrong, wasn’t it? I could hear the more rational voices in my head screaming at me, reminding me why exactly I was here and how that was the exact opposite of what I was currently doing, but, how could it be wrong when it felt so right?
My body yearned to be closer to him and I could feel myself arching further into his strong arms around me. His body felt so firm against mine, his hold so protective, a stark contrast to his tongue that threatened to devour me whole. There was no one to blame other than myself when I started to feel hot all over, wanting him all over and around me.
I unconsciously pressed my thighs together to prevent my arousal from further spreading, but it was already too late, I could already feel my wetness staining my underwear as he deepened the kiss. I wanted more, I wanted him in every way possible I could have him.
My knees had already given out from under me, and now he was holding me up entirely, the unintentional display of strength sent a shiver running down my spine. When his hands finally grew bold enough to begin moving, it felt like my entire body had been set on fire, the best kind of fire there could be, and every inch his fingers brushed past his left tingling, my heavy breaths into his wet mouth growing even heavier.
I’d never felt like this before. This was new, to want, to beg to be touched like this, to feel every cell in my body yearn to press so close to him that not even a breath of air could pass between our bodies. It was different, everything in Easton felt completely different.
He was awakening something in me that I didn’t even know existed. A carnal desire that I wanted to explore with him and just him. I’d never wanted something -or someone as badly as I wanted, no, needed Easton right now.
I’d been touched before, in many ways, but not a single time had it felt like this. No. With Zane, all I’d ever felt was repulsion, a prayer for it to end, counting down the minutes until I could get away and now-
The thought of Zane strikes something in me and, like coming off a spell, I was abruptly dragged back to reality. As my eyes snapped open to Easton’s face, I did the first thing my scrambled brain could think of.
The shock and disbelief in his eyes at the unexpected action almost had me dropping to my knees in an earnest apology, but for some reason, my body remained locked in place.
I had just slapped Alpha Easton across the face and was currently doing nothing to ease the situation. My lips wouldn’t move to form any words and even when I tried, it felt as if I’d lost my voice. This was not how today was supposed to go. I’d completely lost control, I’d deluded myself into believing I had over the situation and I needed to get out of here before I did something even worse.
After several seconds of opening and sealing my lips like a fish out of water, I swiftly turned around, ready to make a run for it and never look back, but once again, there was a firm grip around my wrist, stopping me.
It took me a few minutes to collect myself and mentally scold myself for the tingles his touch was once again sending all over my body, but, by the time I turned, his eyes were fixed on the floor. Completely avoiding mine as his chest heaves. For some reason, that leaves me with a sour feeling, as I wondered why he wouldn’t want to look at me after raising such intense emotions in me by giving me the best kiss of my entire life.
‘Focus, Eleanor!’ I mentally scolded myself again.
He’s probably thinking about how I’d just hit him and was about to leave without any remorse. I was about to be in some deep shit, I knew that much. I should be forcing an apology out right now, but after what had just happened, I couldn’t trust my voice to not betray me and beg him to take me right where we stood. It was the first time I was feeling this way and I didn’t want to behave like a whore, -more than I already did-, in his presence.
“I’m sorry…” Easton’s low mutter yanks me out of my reverie and my heart drops to my feet, disbelieving in my ears as I questioned him.
“W-what?”
“I’m sorry.” he repeats, louder this time, “I shouldn’t have done that, I shouldn’t have touched you against your will, but….. I do not regret it. I would turn the other side of my cheek a hundred times over if it meant I could continue to kiss you. I would kiss you for the rest of my days if I could.” he finishes, my jaw now finding home on the floor.
He was definitely different, a rare breed was what he was, and it still has me reeling, the fact that he’d apologized to me more than I had to him today, even though I’d been the one at fault every single time. This also proves that the girls were right, his words and actions were one of a man desperately trying to hold on. There was no doubt in my mind now that he still wanted me, and I was currently convincing myself the excitement I was feeling at the realization was owning to the fact that our plan could continue as intended.
This was perfect. If he was still this willing, then there wouldn’t be a problem with using him. I was going to use him for my revenge and when everything finally came to an end, I was going to get on my knees and apologize to him, but for now, I should just go ahead with what I’d intended to do in the first place, play on his emotions.
“Easton, I-”
My words were cut short when he suddenly released my wrist like he’d been burnt, like he’d just snapped out of a trance, and before I could get another word in, he spoke, “We should head back, we’ve been gone a while. I don’t want to feed Mark with thoughts. I apologize once again for my misbehavior. I’ll see you at the feast then.” he finishes curtly and even bows a little as if I wasn’t too dazed to be seeing rightly. With his head still down, he begins to walk away.
I felt like I’d been slapped across the face instead of him as I watched him go. Desperate chants of ‘No’s bounced around in my head and my feet were moving before I could form a coherent thought. I couldn’t just let him leave, not when I was just gaining control of the situation again.
“I need you!” I blurt loudly, startling Easton both with my words and my fingers now wrapped desperately around his arm, forcing him to a halt.
I watched as his eyes locked to the point where I’d been holding onto him, before they slowly trailed toward mine, his surprise and confusion evident. With his eyes on me, I was suddenly stripped of every strand of confidence I previously had, turning into a stuttering, blushing mess as I jumped back from where we’d been so close.
“I- what I mean is… wait… I- it’s not what you are thinking. So, what I’m trying to say is um….. I- I need you, like, your help….. I need your help, yes, help!” I finally finished with much struggle and his features seemed to relax before they slowly stretched at the corners, making me distractedly wonder what it’d be like to feel those lips stretching into a smile while they were against mine.
For goddess’ sake, does he not know that I was still an embarrassingly horny mess?
He finally nods, making a noise of understanding, “I understand you, but now isn’t the right time. We need to go back out there, but I assure you, we will get talking again soon.”
“But what if there is no next time? What if you don’t get to see me anymore?” I asked, my arms crossing over my chest.
I hadn’t gotten the chance to process the fact that it almost sounded like I was sulking at the idea of not getting to be in close proximity with him anymore when Easton suddenly stepped into my space once again, his smile almost blinding and causing my heart to drum against my ribs erratically.
“There will be a next time, love, and not just a next time. We will keep seeing each other…. For a long, long time.” his voice carried such confidence that I was inclined to believe him, but doubt still lingers.
“How could you be so sure? It’s not like-” The rest of my words are cut off by his finger placed over my lips, his eyes holding such softness as he whispers into the space between our lips, “Just believe me.”
Unsurprisingly, any argument dies at the back of my throat at that, and when he’s convinced I wouldn’t press further, he finally steps back, but not before leaving a chaste kiss on my forehead.
Without another word, he turns and walks away with a broad smile on his lips, leaving me to watch his receding back, dazed and breathless.
I was indeed right. Being in his domain certainly has something to do with the drastic change in his behavior. Here, he was a man in control, making everything feel as different as it was from the night of our first encounter. It felt like he had everything right in the palm of his hand and no one could predict what his next move would be, and I wasn’t sure if I should be wary of that, but I couldn’t deny the spark of excitement it had lit in me.
“You coming?” his voice took me out of my thoughts once again, and I hurriedly followed after him.
On getting back to the ballroom, it looked like the party was already in full swing, with music blaring loudly out of the speakers, meals and fruits of different kinds spread out on each and every table where I could see some girls digging in. I scanned the room quickly until my eyes locked on Jasmine and Clara where they’d been beckoning me over already, and I rushed to their side, where they made room for me between themselves.
I could see the questions in their eyes, and I could tell they were practically dying to get a recount of everything that’d happened during my alone time with Easton, but, I was in a mood to tease, feeling oddly lighter than I had in a long, long time, which leads to me grabbing an apple off the table and biting into it, a pleased hum leaving my lips as I made a show of enjoying it the whole time while their faces dropped from opposite sides of me.
I was later told that all the girls were taken except one who was brought in by a different vehicle but had her face covered with a mask. She had supposedly come specially to deliver something to Easton and was treated differently from the rest of us.
I wondered who the strange girl was, she wasn’t dressed like a slave, and she definitely wasn’t being treated as one, and I couldn’t help but wonder who exactly she was, and why the sudden need for secrecy. What was it that she had to deliver, and why was her identity so relevant that it had to be kept a secret? While everyone was busy with the feast or enjoying the entertainment provided, -a stark contrast from what was our norm in Zane’s hellhole of a pack-, I had my eyes fixed on the mysterious girl, my curiosity taking the best of me and, for some reason, I had a feeling she’d been stealing glances at me too.
When the party was over, we all assembled to say goodbyes to everyone, including the girls I knew had just gained their freedom. I was happy for them, but I was still only human and couldn’t help feeling a little envious of the fact that they got to gain their freedom that easily. I wished that it was me instead.
“Soon” I heard Alpine say and I cracked a small smile, hopeful for what was to come now that everything seemed to be moving forward.
I felt a pang of sadness as my eyes locked with Easton’s. I felt a sense of loss at having to leave a pack that, despite being a stranger, it’d felt more like home than anywhere else. Everyone in this place was so incredibly nice, and they treated each other with respect and that respect was even extended to us, despite being slaves by identity.
I desperately wished I could stay back like the girls who were now waving at us with tears in their eyes. I felt my eyes well up too, but they were fixed on Easton. I didn’t want to leave his side, not wanting to be any farther from him than I had to, but, he had given me his word, and now I just had to trust that and hope it all works out.
Just when I was about to get onto the bus, a hand blocked the door and I raised my head to find Mark staring back at me. I swallowed nervously, waiting for his reprimanding words.
“Thank you for not ruining tonight, I’m actually impressed,” he says with a hint of a smile before casually walking away to his spot in front.
I breathed out a sigh of relief, my hand coming up to my chest. Today had definitely been something. It was so different in a way that I found I wouldn’t mind getting used to.
I was finally about to get in when I caught sight of the mysterious girl from the corner of my eye. I stopped to stare at her, and she suddenly paused to do the same. Our eyes lock and she breaks into a grin, one that wipes off her face as abruptly as it came before she walked away. It was only then I realized she’d been brought by Zane’s personal car, which drove off the second she shut the door after herself.
She wasn’t a stranger, that much was obvious. Either that, or she must know me from somewhere. What else could’ve been the reason for that grin? I was curious about her because of the ambiguity surrounding her presence, but what about me could’ve sparked her curiosity too?
I was back to being lost until the mention of my name snapped me out of my thoughts and I finally, stepped onto the bus to take a seat next to Jasmine.
I knew I had to find out who the mysterious woman was. Whoever she was, she could be the key to unravelling even more mysteries or a bringer of doom for me.