Something’s made Carlos believe he can’t change things. “Tell you what. You get me out of here and… I’ll write you.” Another crazy twinge in my belly at the thought of being separated.
“You’ll send me your fairies, Sedona?”
“Yes. Just promise you won’t show them to anyone.”
“It will be my secret, though I’m sure I’ll want to show your talent to everyone I meet.”
My cheeks warm. He knows just how to charm me.
“If I honor your request, there is something you must promise me-”
A scraping sound by the door brings my head up with a snap. A plastic plate of food appears through the little service window at the base of the door, along with a new plastic tumbler. Prison rations. Carlos uses the chains on his wrists to leverage himself to sitting, his brows puckered.
I get up and pad over to retrieve the goods. The cup holds red wine. The plate has an array of cut fruits, crackers, cheese, and chocolate. There’s even a mashed avocado with pistachio nuts and a white crumbly cheese. Suddenly famished, I dip a cracker into it and take a bite.
“Dinner is served.” I walk back, food and wine in hand. “See? The hospitality here isn’t so bad.”
He mutters something in Spanish.
“Looks like I get to feed you this time.” Proffering the wine, I scoot closer to him on the bed.
“Uh-uh. No. Unlock me now.”
It’s hilarious how firm Carlos is. He’ll stand me giving him a blowjob, but apparently feeding him crosses a line.
“Sorry, Charlie.” My nipples harden as I hold a cracker with avocado dip up to his lips. There’s something hot about serving an alpha wolf in my birthday suit.
He takes a bite, his dark-lashed brown eyes locked on my face. “I should be feeding you,” he complains, although his jutting erection proves this is hot to him, too.
I roll my eyes. “You’re so old-fashioned.”
He arches a brow. “Look where I grew up.”
I pop another bite of cracker with dip in his mouth, watch his full lips as he chews.
I kneel beside him, loving the way his eyes rake over my breasts, the hunger there. “Tell me about this place. What’s it like? How did you become alpha?”
Clouds storm over his expression. “It’s… terrible,” he admits. “Completely isolated from the modern world. Not poor, but backwards. We have gold and silver mines, which is part of why the ancestors isolated-to keep them a secret-but the methods of mining are ancient and unsafe. Most of the pack survives on subsistence farming and low wages from the mine. We also have plots of sugarcane, a little coffee, and cacao. All the profits go to my family and the council, who live in this gran hacienda.”
“The pack is led by the council, not you?”
“Yes, exactly so. I don’t know how it came about, but there has always been a council that makes final decisions for the pack. The alpha is more of a figurehead.”
“Well I think your council sucks.”
“Indeed.” His voice is dark. I feed him a slice of an orange star-shaped fruit.
“Why did you come back?” I think I know. He’s a natural alpha, which means he wouldn’t shirk responsibility, especially for the weak who might depend on him. But I want to hear what he says.
“You know,”-he gives a humorless chuckle-“if it weren’t for my mother I might not have. And sometimes I’m not even sure she knows I’m here.”
I wait for the story.
“She suffers from dementia. She has since my father’s death. The poor woman doesn’t belong here. She was given as a gift to my father from a pack on the coast and although she loved my father, she never took to Monte Lobo.”
“Given as a gift?”
Carlos nods.
“As in, forced to marry, like some medieval princess? What is this, the Dark Ages?” And I thought my dad’s dating policy was old fashioned.
“It may as well be. Monte Lobo is a fortress against time, as well as humans. Most of the pack live as serfs.”
“Let me guess. The council keeps it that way.” I run my hand through my hair. “This place is messed up. No wonder these assholes think they can just grab me from a beach and present me to their alpha.”
Carlos winces. “I know it sounds barbaric to you.” His expression turns brooding. “I would never bury a woman in a life she hated.”
I can’t tell if he’s talking about what his father did, or making a promise to me, but a chill runs across my skin.
I take a deep drink from the cup of wine. I’m not a huge drinker, but my brother does run a nightclub. The wine is expensive. Delicious. It warms my entire body. I swallow more and bring it to Carlos’ lips.
“What did you want me to promise you?”
He takes a sip and a drip falls down his chin.
I lick it off, laughing when his cock bobs in response. “In exchange for my fairies,” I remind him, my voice pure seduction.
“I don’t wish this event to traumatize you. You’re an extraordinary wolf. You have much to enjoy of life, and much to give.”
“Thanks.”
“Promise me, when you are free, you will not fear. You will still make your choices. Travel, like you wanted to. Forget this time. Forget me.”
“I promise I will live without fear,” I whisper. “But, I can never forget.” Not this time. Not him. Deep down, I know it’s true. I’ve known him only a few hours, but, somehow, he’s a part of me.
“Come here.” He lifts his chin, gaze on my lips.
I know he wants a kiss, but I can’t resist the temptation to straddle his lap first, then slant my lips over his.
He growls, drawing my lower lip into his mouth, taking control back, even with his wrists bound. He tastes of wine and fruit. His facial hair rubs against my face as he tilts his head and masters me with his kiss, tongue sweeping between my lips.