20. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

-Naomi-

I hadn’t intended to lose my temper, but each time he moved something or disrupted the order of the plates I meticulously arranged, it felt like a gnawing frustration in my mind. I had a specific way of doing things, and his interruptions forced me to repeat the process endlessly, leaving me feeling dizzy. However, labeling my Alpha as a jerk was undoubtedly a risky move.

“I’m a what?” Reese’s voice cut through the tension.

I gulped, attempting to backtrack, but my words came out as a jumbled stammer. Yet, to my surprise, Reese’s expression softened into a smile, lacking the expected anger.

“S-Sorry,” I managed to mumble, my embarrassment clear.

He chuckled, catching me off guard. I had expected him to be more offended. After all, Alphas typically held their pride in high regard.

“You have a preference for things to be in a certain way, don’t you?” he observed.

I nodded silently.

“But as my mate, you have every right to ask me to stop,” he reassured me, circling around the table, his behavior feeling predatory. I glanced at the items he had displaced, torn between focusing on rectifying the arrangement or addressing the looming figure behind me.

In the end, my compulsion for order prevailed, and I leaned forward, swiftly restoring the salt shaker and candlestick to their rightful places. A wave of relief washed over me as I straightened up, momentarily forgetting about Reese’s proximity. When I turned to face him, I found him standing beside me, his gaze fixed on my pushed-out rear. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I hastily retreated, only to find his eyes glinting with a faint glow, signaling his wolf’s presence drawing closer to the surface than usual.

We locked eyes, tension crackling between us once more. I folded my hands in front of me, the urge to flee intensifying. However, a voice inside me warned that if I ran, Reese would follow. Attempting to steady my nerves, I refocused on my task, but with every movement, I sensed him trailing closely behind, his presence overpowering. Though he didn’t touch me, his proximity was suffocating, yet strangely exhilarating, making it challenging to concentrate on completing my task.

“Um, could I have some space?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“No,” came his reply in a slightly echoing tone.

“I’m almost done,” I informed him, trying to sound composed.

“Good, and then I want your undivided attention.”

“My undivided attention?” I echoed, glancing nervously over my shoulder to find him standing right behind me.

I gulped, my throat feeling parched. He smiled, clearly noticing my unease. It must have pleased his Alpha instincts to see me vulnerable, and I quickly averted my gaze, focusing on completing my task. However, as I neared the end, the tremble in my hands intensified, and the air filled with a dark, erotic scent that I knew wasn’t solely mine. Inhaling it, my own natural scent mingled with his, heightening the tension between us. A low rumble emanated from him, signaling the imminent release of pent-up desire.

As I placed the last fork down, Reese seized me, causing me to let out a small scream. He ruined my carefully arranged table setting as he bent me over the table, pressing me against the surface, igniting a fiery passion between my legs. I was overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment. What was happening? How could it feel even more intense than before? I whimpered at the sight of the disordered plate, but Reese pressed against me, his body keeping me in place as he buried his nose in my neck, eliciting mutual moans of pleasure.

Unable to focus on the task at hand, I felt his cock pressing against me, sending shivers down my spine. This must be what happens between mates , I reasoned internally, the overpowering desire that made them lose control. Reese began grinding his hips against mine, his scent intoxicating me further, until I was on the brink of climax.

His teeth grazed my shoulder, right where the marking spot was on a wolf, and I couldn’t help but cry out in ecstasy, pressing back against him. His hand slid beneath my skirt with purpose.

“You smell incredible,” he murmured into my ear, biting down again.

“Oh, Goddess,” I whimpered, my breath catching in my throat.

With each bite, he brought me closer to the edge. If he continued, I was certain to climax right there in the dining room. It was a sobering realization, and I reached for his hand just as it neared my most intimate area. He growled in frustration, his displeasure sending a thrill through me. We couldn’t continue like this in such an exposed place.

“Alpha Reese, we’re still in the dining room,” I reminded him, my voice tinged with urgency.

“So, if I take you to a bedroom, can I have my face buried in your sweet scent?” he questioned, catching me off guard with his suggestive remark. Was he really suggesting...? I couldn’t finish the thought as the doors suddenly swung open, revealing other staff members entering the room, their eyes widening in surprise at the scene before them. While I glanced at them in embarrassment, Reese seemed more preoccupied with my scent, refusing to move from our position.

“Alpha Reese!” I hissed, my patience wearing thin as the other wolves stared at us incredulously.

He groaned, pressing closer to me, his behavior noticeably possessive, eliciting astonishment from the few females who had entered. This was beyond mortifying, and I pushed back, my frustration mounting.

“Alpha Reese!” I growled again, this time devoid of any amusement.

Finally acknowledging the situation, Reese pushed back slightly, his hand resting on the table. Seeing my expression, he turned to address the group who had witnessed our exchange, his demeanor shifting as he realized the awkwardness of the situation. With a forced smile, he helped me stand.

“We’ll relocate to a more private place,” he declared, his words implying a continuation of our intimacy elsewhere.

Too stunned to protest, I allowed him to lead me out of the room. As he guided me into a nearby living room and closed the door behind us, I turned to him, my anger bubbling to the surface as I shoved my hands against his chest, though it hardly made an impact.

“Do you have any idea how that made me look?” I demanded, my frustration evident in my tone.

“What?” he asked, genuinely confused.

“How we were... the way you just...”

“I doubt anyone will question our connection now,” he countered casually.

I glared at him, finding nothing amusing about the situation. His lack of concern only fueled my anger, as I feared the potential repercussions for myself.

“I’m sure they’ll only see me as... promiscuous!” I snapped.

“Why shouldn’t I show you affection if you’re already bound to me?” he challenged.

“Maybe they still think I enchanted you, or perhaps I have magical lady parts!”

“Magical lady parts?” he echoed, clearly puzzled. “You mean a pussy so sweet I can’t think about anything else.”

His crude description caused my cheeks to flush, and I took a step back, a dark smirk spreading across his lips.

“What’s gotten into you today?” I inquired, noticing a flicker of exhaustion returning to his eyes as he rubbed them wearily.

“I honestly don’t know,” he admitted. “Suddenly, the need to see you was overwhelming, and the moment I started to follow you, you just smelled so sweet. The same scent that drew me to you from the moment I laid eyes on you after years of being apart.”

His confession left me feeling overwhelmed, realizing the depth of his struggle, and as I studied him, I noticed the fatigue etched into his features.

“Have you slept at all?” I asked, concerned.

“Not really. At least not tonight. I feel on edge. It’s like I’m a young Alpha again, grappling with the weight of this power.”

I could sense his inner turmoil, and my sympathy for him deepened.

“So, what do you want to do?” I prompted gently. “What do your instincts tell you?”

He appeared momentarily nervous, then shrugged in a way that seemed to convey ‘isn’t it obvious?’

“Oh,” I murmured, understanding his silent implication. “But we’ve only spent a short time together. You said 30 minutes wasn’t enough!”

“I thought it wasn’t. Apparently, it’s enough to put me on edge,” he sighed.

“We’re not mating. It was just a joke.”

“I’m fully aware.”

“Then don’t look at me like that,” I insisted.

“Like what?” he questioned innocently.

“Like you want to chase me around the room,” I murmured.

“I do want to chase you around the room, and I shouldn’t! I have a mate!” he exclaimed, frustration evident in his tone.

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“Then don’t put such thoughts into my head!” he urged.

“It seems like they were already there,” I countered.

“Well, then don’t vocalize them, because now I really want to do it, and once I catch you, I want your full submission,” he declared, his voice laced with desire.