28. Not Like This

Paul - His villa
I huff in disbelief. I didn’t think it would come this far. "You can’t be serious. That custom is from the medieval era, and we’ve grown and evolved past the obtuse visions of the dark ages."
While the others remain silent, I sense their dissatisfaction. The conflict in their eyes reminds me of how much I hate to see them unhappy.
Tamara leans on her walking stick, her piercing eyes pleading to give in. "I don't ask for a bloodied sheet to prove she's a virgin since no one would expect it from a strigoi. But let us hear your zeal and her ecstasy. There is no mating ritual without them. We'll wait here since we have excellent hearing. Only then will she be recognized as the Alpha's mate."
I open my mouth to protest, but Laura takes my hand and gives me a little tug toward the stairs. It's awkward to leave the room while everyone assumes what we're about to do. This entire situation sends an uneasy feeling to my gut and twinges my headache.
The stairs creak as we ascend, and I wonder if the whole building is shaking. I want to shout and scream, but I can't appear weak. I sigh, and Laura squeezes my hand tighter.
When Laura and I are alone upstairs on our way to my room, I take a long breath, roll back my shoulders, and grab her hand. "Please accept my apologies."
“You apologize because you didn’t fondle my ass this time?” Laura squeezes back my hand. “I forgive you.”
“What? No. I’m sorry for the way Alin spoke about you. It’s revolting. You were called a bloodthirsty bitch. That doesn’t bother you?”
"I've been called worse."
We go inside my room. I turn to look her in the eyes after closing the door. "We don't need to do this. I'll find some other way."
“I can feel the attraction between us, and I know you do too.” Laura holds my gaze and raises her chin as if this were a dare. “You can have me.”
The thought that she knows it’s dangerous and she’s still trying to get me to bite her looms over me. But I force a smirk. “You’re not playing hard to get at all.”
“No, because I’m not hard to get. I’m hard to keep.”
Her eyes are wide open, and she is staring at me. I lean in, and she opens her lips, inviting me in. Fortunately, I stop myself just in time and explain, "There will be no kissing or feelings involved."
Laura's tongue leaps out to moisten her lips, which are already glistening. Her mocking turquoise eyes look even more enticing thanks to the dark lines across her lids.
“Okay, but don’t be too rough.”
Suddenly, the vulnerability in her eyes makes me want to kiss her even harder. It will be tough for me to do this act of mating without letting myself get carried away by the things I feel for her. But if I slip up, I’ll bite her. It’s in a wolf’s nature to nip at the neck of his mate. My instinct will demand that I mark her as mine, and if I do, I might kill her.
I grip her hips, intending to put some space between us. The flutter of her pretty, long lashes mesmerizes me, and I end up holding her even closer. My resolve wavers. It feels so good to have her so close. Too good. It's so easy to slide a hand up her bare back, feel the ridges of her spine beneath my palm, maybe twirl a lock of hair around my fingers.
I scowl and open my mouth to speak, but Laura swings around and walks to the bed before I can say a thing.
There will be a test of restraint tonight, one that I must not fail since our lives may be on the line. I follow her to the bed and let her remove my shirt. Then her fingers go down to my belt. A shiver of delight flutters low in my stomach. My treacherous organ twitches, reaching out towards those enticing fingers.
Once she’s released the monster out of the cage of the clothes, I can’t stop anymore. My first impulse is to rip her dress, but the sight of her naked body might kill the last shreds of self-control that I have.
I throw Laura onto the bed and don’t pay attention to her gasp. The slit in her dress allows me to easily part her legs. I catch her gaze while I grip her hips and pull her closer to the edge of the bed. Closing my eyes in a futile attempt to not look at her anymore, I enter her hard, all in one go.
Her shriek blows off the hinges of my mind. I step back, baffled by her painful scream. Blood covers the sheet and my hardened member. My pulse throbs inside my skull, pressing on my temples as I feel I’m going mad.
I'm a retarded jerk! My fist slams on the wall. It doesn't make me feel any better; it's simply a diversion from punching myself. Fuck Tamara and her antiquated traditions!
Laura’s voice comes from behind me. “Paul, come and finish what you’ve started.”
I turn and march toward the bed. She looks at me as if she thinks I will do it. Instead, I grab the sheet and yank it off the bed, compelling her to turn over. My headache has faded into the background as an uncontrollable wrath overtakes me.
I march outside the room, through the corridor, and down the stairs. They all look at me, and I’m not ashamed of my nakedness. They’ve all seen me during the full moon shifts. I throw the bloodied sheet from the top of the last flight of stairs. It settles neatly at their feet as I snarl.
"Here’s your proof! I hope you're pleased. I, for one, am appalled. Things like this used to happen in medieval times, not now."
I leave them there and walk toward my room. To my surprise, Laura is still here. I stop at the threshold and turn around. “I’ll sleep in a guest room.”
Footsteps rush over the marble floor and she grabs my wrist. "Paul, please stay. I want you."
I shake my head and yank my hand from her grip. “Not like this.”