I walk to the dinner table with Lily holding a bowl of salad. She has just finished making dinner, and we are about to sit down and eat. Luckily for me, Nickolas didn’t tear into me earlier, as I feared he might. Instead, he simply glared at me for a few seconds before leaving with Eric to go somewhere. Lily assures me they should be arriving back any minute, and I’m surprised to hear her mention that Nickolas will also be joining us for dinner.
Speaking of the devils, I hear them enter the house and catch a whiff of their scent as they approach Lily and me. Despite my relief, a sense of uncertainty still lingers as I wonder what Nickolas’s mood will be like during dinner.
Eric walks over to Lily and pulls her into a deep kiss upon reaching the dinner table. I can’t help but smile as I watch them; they are so happy and in love. My cousin wasn’t unlucky like me. Despite having a lycan for a mate, her fate seems much brighter than mine.
However, as I revel in their happiness, I feel someone’s eyes on me and turn to see that it’s Nickolas. He just stares at me with his piercing green eyes, scrutinizing every little detail of my face and body. His intense gaze feels like it’s burning into me, and I quickly tear my eyes away, feeling a sense of discomfort wash over me. I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking about as he stares at me so intensely.
Once Eric and Lily are finally able to pull away from their affectionate moment, Eric and Nickolas head upstairs to wash up before joining Lily and me again at the dinner table. This time, Lily and I are already seated. We left the head of the table empty for Nickolas, as he is the king, and reserved his right side for Eric. Lily takes her seat beside him. I am seated opposite Eric and to the left of Nickolas. As they walk down and take their seats, a tense atmosphere settles over the table. The first half of dinner goes relatively well, with me regaling Eric with humorous tales about all the antics Lily got up to when she was young. I fabricate a story about us growing up together, claiming that her family served the crown. Nickolas remains silent throughout the meal, not uttering a single word since we started eating. I steal some glances at him from across the table, only to find him staring back at me with the same intense expression he had earlier. His unwavering gaze sends a shiver down my spine, leaving me feeling uneasy.
I move to push my hair behind my ear. I’m startled when someone else does it for me. My fork slips from my fingers, clattering to the floor as I feel Nickolas’s hand on my hair. Startled, I turn to face him, my eyes wide with confusion as I wonder why he would offer such a small gesture of assistance. However, he remains silent, returning his focus to his meal without a word.
Turning back to my food, I raise a questioning brow at Eric, silently seeking an explanation for Nickolas’s unexpected behavior. Eric’s response is a subtle shake of his head, indicating that he, too, is perplexed by the gesture. The encounter leaves me feeling unsettled and puzzled, wondering what could have prompted such a strange action from Nickolas.
We finish dinner, I help Lily with the dishes before we move to the living room to watch TV. It’s been ages since I’ve indulged in some television time. As I approach the three-arm couch, intending to sit beside Eric, someone suddenly grabs my hand, causing me to yelp in surprise. I’m pulled towards Nickolas, who then seats me on his lap. Frozen in place, I don’t dare move or even breathe as his scent fills my nostrils, and his breath fans my neck, sending shivers down my spine. What on earth is going on?
Seeking an explanation, I glance at Eric, but he merely shakes his head and turns away, pretending as if me been on Nickolas’s lap isn’t the slightest bit unusual. His indifference only adds to my confusion and unease.
I choose to ignore the situation momentarily and focus on trying to enjoy the movie, pushing aside the fact that my ass is positioned just above Nickolas’s groin. Halfway through the film, Lily excuses herself to get more popcorn, and Eric follows her out of the room. Suddenly, my heart rate accelerates as I realize that Nickolas and I are now alone in the room.
“Amelia,” he whispers, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.
“Yes?” I respond, my voice trembling with anticipation, every nerve on edge.
“What did I tell you this morning, Amelia?” he asks, his tone low and captivating as he trails his fingertips along my thigh, igniting a fire within me.
“Please, be more specific, Your Majesty,” I manage to say, my heart racing with a mixture of fear and desire.
Nickolas’s touch sends a jolt of electricity through me as his hand slips under the fabric of my dress, his fingers tracing a path up my leg, igniting a burning desire in his wake. I struggle to maintain composure as he speaks, his words dripping with a potent mixture of command and longing.
“If I remember correctly,” he murmurs, his voice low and seductive, “I told you to come to my room once you are done and not to disappear again.” I glance upwards, silently pleading with the heavens to intervene and save me from whatever game Nickolas is playing right now and to shield us from Eric and Lily. I’m thankful that the dim light from the TV casts shadows, offering us a semblance of privacy.
“Didn’t I, Amelia?” His words snap me out of my reverie, his hand now gently but possessively wrapping around my neck, not restricting, but claiming me in his grasp.
“You did,” I whisper, feeling my legs tremble from the lingering sensation of his touch.
“I did,” he affirms, his hand gliding from my waist down my leg, his touch deliberate and tantalizing. With a slow, deliberate movement, he uncrosses my legs before returning his hand between them.
I gasp, my fingers instinctively clutching the armrest as Nickolas’s touch sends a surge of sensation coursing through me. As he slowly moves my G-string to the side, my breath catches in my throat, a mixture of surprise and arousal swirling within me. I was also surprised it wasn’t grandma panties they bought for me.
Returning to reality with a sharp intake of breath, I feel the intensity of Nickolas’s touch as he strokes my center, each caress sending waves of pleasure rippling through me. My body responds eagerly, aching with need as wetness pools between my legs. Confusion and desire battle within me as I try to comprehend the whirlwind of sensations engulfing me.
“What the fuck is going on?” My mind races with questions, but in this moment, all I can focus on is the intoxicating touch of Nickolas’s finger and the raw, primal desire building within me.
“I thought about giving you a light punishment for disobeying me, but then you decided to make things worse,” Nickolas murmurs, his voice sending a jolt of electricity through me as he inserts a finger into me. My lips press together tightly as I grip the armrest with increasing desperation.
What on earth is Nickolas doing? Is he truly going to touch me in front of Eric and Lily? And why am I not protesting? My mind whirls with confusion, even as my body responds eagerly to his touch. I’m not entirely sure what I’ve done to deserve this, but in this moment, it hardly seems to matter.
“I’m sorry,” I manage to say, the words emerging as a strained whisper instead of the moan that threatens to escape. Despite the confusion swirling within me, I can’t deny the primal longing building with each stroke of his finger.
“Don’t worry, once I’m done with you, you will be sorry,” he says, his voice a low growl as he adds another finger into me and increases the pressure around my neck. I throw my head back, my back arching as pleasure surges through me, intensified by the sensation of his hand around my neck.
“Nickolas,” I rasp out, my voice barely audible amidst the overwhelming waves of ecstasy crashing over me as he slowly thrusts in and out of me. Every fiber of my being screams that this is wrong, but it feels so undeniably good.
“Be careful, little one,” he warns, his tone dripping with both menace and desire, “you don’t want your friends hearing you, do you?” He slows his pace, torturing me with his deliberate movements, pushing me to the edge of my restraint.
I shake my head frantically, unable to form words, as I fear that if I open my mouth, only a desperate moan will escape. Nickolas continues to slowly thrust in and out of me, his hand still wrapped around my neck, heightening my pleasure with each deliberate movement. As the pleasure builds and threatens to overwhelm me completely, I bite down hard on my lip, digging my nails into the armrest in a futile attempt to stifle the inevitable moan ripping to escape.
“I’m cuming, Nickolas,” I whisper, my voice trembling with need as I close my eyes, feeling the sensation roll to the back of my head.
“Good,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against the back of my ear before suddenly pulling his hand away. My eyes snap open, confusion clouding my thoughts as I wonder why he stopped. Turning to face him, I see him licking his fingers clean, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes.
A sinking realization dawn upon me. This must be Nickolas’s way of exacting punishment, denying me the release I craved. Shock washes over me, both at the unexpected interruption and at the unfamiliar sight of mischief in Nickolas’s eyes. I had never thought I would see any emotion other than anger or emptiness reflected in his gaze. Instinctively, my fingers reach out, craving to sweep aside his hair, to trace the contours of his face, to delve into the depths of his captivating eyes. But before my touch finds its mark, Nickolas springs up, intercepting my motion. A surge of relief washes over me because I dread to think what might have happened if I had actually touched him. I might have risked losing my hand.
My thighs press together involuntarily as I feel the unmistakable moisture between them. Lily returns and shoots me a sly wink, leaving me puzzled. I’m certain she and Eric couldn’t have heard me. Then it dawns on me. Shit! How could I have been so careless? Werewolves possess senses far beyond the ordinary; they can detect arousal as easily as they draw breath. How could I forget what my kind are capable of?
My cheeks blaze bright red, and I quickly turn away from Lily, burying my face in Nickolas’s chest. He readily accommodates me, wrapping his arm around my body. I’ve never felt more embarrassed in my life than I do in this moment. I also notice that his shirt is now untucked, likely an attempt to conceal the damp patch on his pants caused by my arousal.
“It was nice having you over for dinner, Your Majesty,” Lily’s voice breaks the tense silence. Nickolas doesn’t say anything, so I assume he nods. He stands and gently drops me on the floor. I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I avoid meeting Eric and Lily’s eyes.
Nickolas leads the way to the front door, his hand firmly clasping mine. As we step out of their door, the thought crosses my mind: what did I do to deserve punishment? I’d love to ask him as we walk back to the castle in complete silence, but I know better than to do so.