Chapter 91

[ 1,183 words ]

“She thought she was admiring a handsome man. She didn’t realize she was already memorizing the scent of home p>

~Rebel Beast

While Alek had been expecting Dimitri, it didn’t mean she was prepared for the sight that greeted her.

If Dimitri King had been charming yesterday, that charm had somehow multiplied today, and Alek found herself gawking at him.

Dimitri was wearing an olive-green henley with the sleeves rolled carelessly to his forearms. The open V-neck left the strong column of his throat exposed, revealing just enough sun-kissed skin to be distracting without trying to be.

The loose fabric skimmed over his broad shoulders and solid chest before falling effortlessly over his frame, somehow making a man built like a beast look dangerously approachable. It suited him far too well.

Alek found herself staring at the hollow at the base of his throat for a second longer than was appropriate before her eyes snapped upward.

Seriously? Since when did collars become attractive?

Looking up, however, proved to be an even bigger mistake.

Her gaze landed on the glossy, soft curls that framed his face. Alek had never understood the appeal of jerry curls, but on Dimitri, they looked ridiculously attractive. Her fingers itched with the absurd urge to run a hand through them. And maybe p>

Maybe sink her teeth into him a little.

Christ, Lord above.

What in the world was wrong with her?

It didn’t help that she was no longer breathing properly because his scent drifted toward her.

Dimitri smelled of black currants, crisp cedarwood, and clean musk. The sweetness reached her first, bright and inviting, before the richness of cedar settled beneath it. It was the sort of scent that would linger in her memory long after he’d walked away, making it impossible to forget the man who wore it.

But while Alek found herself captivated by Dimitri, the same could be said for him.

Yesterday, when he had caught her, he could have sworn he’d felt those curves beneath his hands. He hadn’t been mistaken.

Yellow.

That was going to be his favorite color from now on.

Alek looked devastating in the yellow sundress that hugged her figure, drawing his attention first to the soft swell of her breasts before following the graceful curve of her hips.

Hips that would one day bear his pups.

His heirs.

Dimitri didn’t even realize he’d crossed the room. One moment he had been standing by the doorway. The next, he was right in front of her, his gaze burning with an intensity that stole the breath from her lungs.

Almost instinctively, he lowered his head toward the crook of her neck. Without realizing it, Alek tilted her head back, giving him room.

Meanwhile, Aria, Trisha, and Brittney watched the scene in utter bewilderment.

“Is that supposed to happen?” Trisha asked, her brows knitting together. “I mean, he’s supposed to appreciate the dress, not… whatever this is.” She gestured helplessly toward the pair.

“Well, he’s doing just fine.” Brittney shrugged. “If a man appreciated me like that, rest assured my panties are coming off p>

“Eww.” Aria pulled a face, though the mention of panties instantly reminded her of her dream—and exactly whose fingers had been down there.

A miserable groan escaped her. This was getting out of hand.

Meanwhile, with his face buried against Alek’s neck, Dimitri drew in a slow, deep breath. A low growl rumbled in his chest.

Alek smelled of creamy vanilla, fresh lime, and crushed basil. There was nothing overly sweet about it. The lime reached him first with a lively brightness, while the basil lent it a clean, green edge. The vanilla lingered just enough to soften it all. Dimitri had met women who wore expensive perfumes. None of them had ever made him want to stand this close.

His gums throbbed, and his canines instinctively lengthened as an overwhelming urge to sink them into the smooth skin of her neck swept over him.

The tips of his teeth grazed Alek’s skin, drawing a shiver from her. His tongue swept over the spot in a slow, possessive stroke. Completely oblivious to what he was doing, Dimitri leaned in again, his mouth parting as instinct took over.

“Beta Dimitri p>

The voice behind him shattered the moment.

Dimitri froze.

As though waking from a trance, he looked down to find Alek still in his arms, her eyes glazed, lips slightly parted, and her head tilted toward him in complete surrender.

His blood ran cold. He had almost marked her.

Oh shit.

Before he could recover, Hummer’s triumphant roar exploded through his head.

Mine.

Double shit.

Dimitri sprang away from Alek as though he’d been burned.

The sudden distance seemed to snap Alek out of whatever spell had settled over her. Her eyes widened, and as awareness flooded back, crimson spread across her cheeks.

What the hell had just happened?

“I’m so sorry.” The apology tumbled out before Dimitri could stop it. He looked thoroughly shaken. “You just looked so beautiful p>

His eyes squeezed shut.

Brilliant.

Apologizing while complimenting her in the same breath probably wasn’t helping.

Inside his head, his wolf, Hummer, was practically beside himself, pacing in restless circles, entirely too pleased with what had nearly happened.

Dimitri, on the other hand, wanted the ground to split open and swallow him whole because he had just remembered he hadn’t come alone.

He slowly turned toward the doorway, and the expressions staring back at him confirmed everything he had been dreading.

Valerie and Variant had seen it. Maybe they hadn’t understood he had nearly marked Alek, but they had definitely seen him try to bite her.

His.

The word settled into his chest with startling ease. It should have felt foreign. Instead, it felt right.

“Uh Dimitri cleared his throat. “This is Valerie and Variant p>

Valerie and Variant stepped forward, greeting the girls with bright smiles.

The girls returned the greeting, though Alek’s voice came out noticeably quieter. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at Dimitri.

He noticed but pretended he hadn’t.

“They’ll be taking care of whatever you need for the rest of today,” Dimitri said, forcing himself to sound composed. “If anything comes up, you can always get my number from them p>

An awkward silence followed.

“I’ll… see you all later p>

He turned and started toward the door.

One… Two… Three… Four steps.

He stopped.

Before anyone could question it, Dimitri turned on his heel and strode straight back to Alek. He cupped her face with one hand and pressed a quick, gentle kiss to her lips.

“I wish I had time to explain,” he murmured against them. “But I really have to go p>

Alek could only stare at him, her mind completely blank. She managed the smallest nod.

“See you p>

He stole one last kiss before finally forcing himself to walk away. This time, he didn’t look back as the door clicked shut behind him.

For exactly three seconds, absolute silence filled the room. Just like that, every pair of eyes slowly turned toward Alek, including Valerie’s and Variant’s.

Then the silence shattered as the girls erupted into excited screams.

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