The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 86: Forget the Cake
Take her?
Her face burned. Nothing could prepare her for whatever would happen next - and that scared her more than anything.
And then what? How would she look at him in the eyes afterwards, knowing that he had compromised her virtue?
"You can charm the devil into going to heaven, if you had your way."
His breath on the skin of her neck tickled her.
"This is more than inappropriate."
But he wasn’t listening. He hefted her dress up to her knees.
The colour on her cheeks deepened.
"What are you doing?"
He gave her a dazzling grin. "Satisfying my curiosity."
She tried to close her legs, but the insufferable man was standing between them. Her eyes locked with his.
"I thought you wanted to have cake?"
He blinked as if just remembering.
"I did." Then he brushed his lips on hers ever so lightly.
Claire found herself tightening her hips around his.
Each brush of his lips made her stomach coil within.
She needed something more from him - something she couldn’t name.
He deepened the kiss, trying to pry her mouth open with his persistent strokes. Her lips parted with a gasp and he plunged inside.
Claire struggled to keep her hands still... but it was difficult to not touch him.
One hand held her waist, bringing her closer while the other hand cradled her head.
Then, he picked her up and laid her properly on the table, hastily clearing away parchments and whatnot.
Her hair fanned the breath of the table, dangling at the edge.
On a table? She tried to not think about the way the hard surface bit into her elbows.
She moved her hands along the table in a bid to distract herself.
Her wrist bumped into something and it slid off the the edge of the table. The sound of shattering glass made both of them freeze.
What was that?
He pulled away from her to glance at the unfortunate object.
That was her cue. Claire stood up from the table and arranged the dress.
"My inkwell." The King whispered, crouching down to gather the scattered glass pieces.
Claire looked between him and the door.
Then she crouched beside him and assessed the mess with a sigh born of sheer indecision.
The inkwell had been very fancy indeed.
"I can replace it." She sheepishly said when he continued staring at the broken object. Ink was splattered everywhere.
"How would you do that?"
She bit her lower lip as she pondered her options.
When she glanced up, he was looking at her lips.
Claire backed away, falling heavily on her rump with a loud thud.
He didn’t reach for her - at least not immediately.
Her eyes darted to the door and back to his.
Part of her wanted him to detain her, while the other part struggled to heed Andon’s words.
She had nothing to loose that she hadn’t already lost.
Except her virtue.
The predatory look in his eyes made her gulp. She jammed her knees together without realising it.
Not today. Not this way. She kept reciting to herself.
"Say you want me." Came that sweet drawl of his that could make her admit anything.
Her eyes dipped to his lips.
They were on the floor now, there was nowhere to run even if she wanted to.
Her bodice had dipped slightly with all the rushed movements.
His eyes lingered there for a while before he looked away.
"I want you to want this as much as I do... Claire."
The way he said her name made her yearn to hear it again and again.
"We are not children. There are consequences that cannot be ignored. All this youthful foolishness will pass and you’d hate me after it’s done."
"Youthful foolishness." He repeated, his eyes losing their peculiar shimmer.
"There is no better name for it."
"Wanting you is foolish?"
"Wanting something you’re not destined to have is foolish, Your Grace. Even a King can’t rewrite fate."
"I want to take you somewhere. For a few days, if you will." He climbed to his feet and dusted himself off.
Take her somewhere?
"Where do you have in mind, Your Grace?"
He surveyed her expression.
"To my private home at Glenwood."
She cleared her throat. "I beg your pardon?"
"As my Cupbearer, it is expected that you accompany me."
"Is it also expected that I share your bed?"
His lips cracked into a sly grin.
"I’ve told you before and I will tell you again. I won’t touch you if you don’t want me to. I do have a conscience - whether you think so or not."
She flushed crimson.
"Then why the sudden need to go to Glenwood?"
"I need space. I need fresh air."
The words hung as they stood there looking at each other.
Slowly, she reached down and started undoing the laces in the front of her lilac gown.
Claire heard his sharp intake of breath.
"What are you doing?"
"Making things easier for you."
He grasped her elbow and stopped her, searching her eyes.
His eyes were black once again, no more the intriguing yellow that had presided.
"Did you have any strong wine?"
A blush crept up her cheeks. "No."
"Why are you doing this, then?"
"Helping you satisfy your curiosity?"
"Why?" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
"Must you always ask me why?"
"Because you baffle me, Miss Stenly."
She stopped and stared up at him, aware of how close they were standing.
"Once your curiosity is satisfied, you’d grow tired of me and send me away."
"Is that what you think about me, Miss Stenly?"
Why did he return to being formal? She was still waiting to hear her name roll off his tongue in the erotic way it usually did.
She could feel liquid pooling between her legs - and she wasn’t on her time.
"I’ve realised something about you, Miss Stenly." He stepped forward, closing the non-existent distance between them.
"And what is that?"
"You’ve never said you don’t want me. You only mention the obvious consequences because you’re afraid I won’t want you anymore after I have you."
Her throat worked.
"I don’t want you. I can’t let the man that murdered my father between my legs willingly."
His jaw tensed. The way sunlight caught on his locks made her breath catch.
"Why then did you break through my window just to see me?"
She coloured but said nothing.
"Leave, then."
Biting her lip again, she headed for the door.
"Come back at dusk to serve wine." He said as she walked away.
As she turned the knob, she heard him whisper, "We’ll see if dusk will find you as resolute as dawn."
Her spin straightened and she walked out of the room.
