“Karen,” he had the nerve to call after her while she ran out of the palace, only to find herself in the garden, where there were even more people.
She didn’t bother to stop and didn’t care to turn around.
She had dressed up for him, to please him, because some messed up part of her fancied Aiden despite all he had put her through.
But then again, aside from the fact that he had wiped away her memories and apologized for it or at least tried to he had done his best to protect her and even went as far as to uproot her from Fort Meyers and bring her to his home.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t bring herself to trust him. And seeing as she had started to warm up to him, only to be hurt in the process, she shall go against every fiber in her being that told her to run in his arms, and get away from him.
Or so she wished.
Soon enough, the alpha ultra to be caught up with her, and grabbed her hand, managing to spin her around so she would face him, all in one swift move.
“Look at me,” it was both a command and a plea.
And Karen knew somehow that Aiden never had to beg for anything in his life. And although the fact that he chased after her made her have second thoughts, she stubbornly kept her gaze cast downward and her mouth shut.
He chuckled dryly and then cupped her chin and raised her head ever so softly.
She shifted her glare to his face.
“Ooh, that’s one nasty glare,” he teased.
“Really? That’s what you came after me for?” She shot back at him.
“No. I followed you to apologize for the misunderstanding,” he said without preamble. “When I said that green looked good on you, I only meant the dress.”
For some reason, she believed him. He both sounded and looked sincere.
“Okay,” she drawled as she released a sigh and her shoulders slumped in defeat. “Apologies accepted.”
Aiden beamed at her at that, and she found his smile endearing.
“I’ll have to admit that I felt flattered when I saw that you were jealous, but I wouldn’t rub it in your face,” he winked at her.
She hit his shoulder lightly before a giggle escaped her mouth. She didn’t bother to deny his statement for it was nothing but the truth. And he would probably see right through her lie anyway.
“Karen,” he called her name as he gazed into her eyes with something akin to adoration swirling in the depths of those blue eyes of his.
She let out a noncommittal sound in response while averting her eyes.
“Would you mind it very much if I kissed you?”
Her heart started pounding erratically in her chest at that.
What do you say to that? She thought to herself.
She must have hesitated a tad bit too long, for his hand, that had been cupping her chin still, dropped to his side, and he said off-handedly, “Never mind. It’s probably too soon. How about a dance though?”
She found herself nodding dumbly at him. A dance, she could agree to, no matter how much she sucked at that. A kiss, however, she wasn’t quite ready if she were to be honest with herself.
She still had doubts regarding him, his feelings for her, and their supposed mate bond, even if her skin tingled each damn time he touched her.
A girl could never be cautious enough!
** ** ** ** ** **
The slow dance was a moment of pure pleasure and maybe a few shivers too. Despite not being the most agile or the deftest dancer out there, Karen received no complaints from Aiden thankfully. And heavens only knew she had stepped on his shoes one too many times.
He led her gently, beautifully. And she realized right then and there, in the safety of his arms, that there was probably no escaping him.
It’s not as if I need saving to begin with, she reasoned.
With a startled shudder, she jerked in his arms as he dipped his head forward and his lips grazed her earlobe.
God, his sensuality should be illegal!
His voice was mellow and yet husky at the same time when he asked her, “A penny for your thoughts?”
She blushed to her utter and complete dismay, and then uttered the first thing that came to her mind, while trying to avoid his magnetic eyes, “I’m a clumsy dancer. I wanted to apologize for that.”
He chuckled good-humoredly. “You’re fine.”
She rolled her eyes before squinting them at him, “Are you mocking my dance skills, oh big bad alpha ultra?”
“I would never,” he smirked and then said softly, “No need for formalities, sweetheart. Call me Aiden.”
It was her turn to giggle at that.
She was reminded of the first time she had met him, how utterly and absurdly gorgeous she had found him.
Call her desperate but she wanted all of his attention on her. And now that she had it, that she reveled in it, she wasn’t sure she could just let go. She shook her head in an effort to clear her mind.
What was happening to her?
Sure, she had indulged slightly in alcohol, but not nearly enough to make her this tipsy.
“I can smell you,” he all but growled seductively. “And I so badly want to kiss you, claim you, and mark you for all to see that I need to step away for a moment.”
She shook her head negatively, apprehending being left alone in the crowd when she was this flustered, “Please don’t. I don’t feel too well.”
“What do you mean?” He sobered up immediately, eyes narrowing, “what’s wrong?”
“I… I feel really…” she stammered on her words, and then dampened her lips before carrying on, “horny.”
“I’m flattered,” he teased her with a chuckle.
“Don’t be,” she iced out. “It feels foreign. I could basically jump anyone. And given our bond, it’s taking all my willpower not to succumb to the urge to jump your bones.”
His eyes narrowed partly in suspicion partly in anger, and then he asked, “Did you have anything to drink or eat right before coming down?”
“Some champagne,” she said breathlessly, feeling ten times hotter all of sudden, and she brought his hand up to her bosom so he would relieve some of her ache.
Aiden had the decency to blush, and dropped his hand, saying, “You’re not in your right mind. You don’t want this. Not really.”
“I do,” she pleaded, eyes drooping as she bit on her bottom lip. “Don’t deny me,” she carried on as she rubbed herself against him, much like a kitten in heat.
He hugged her to his chest, no doubt fearing she just might target someone else should he let her do as she pleased, and before long he was speaking into the phone.
Karen vaguely heard him say urgently, “I need your help mom. Karen’s been drugged.”
Oh, so that explains her desire to strip the man of his clothes and ravish him in front of everyone.
He caught her hand just as she finished opening the buttons of his shirt. She looked up into his blue magnetic eyes and said, “I’m not finished.”
“I bet you’re not,” he chuckled humorlessly.
And then, he muttered something about killing the culprit once found.
“Do you not like me?” She asked with a pout.
“I love you,” he retorted, “But this is not you.”