Chapter 64 - You better listen to him

EMMA

I pour salt over the popcorn. The smell of warm butter and salt reminds me of home. Hadrian places one hand on the granite edge of the counter beside me and cages me half in. He leans in close and his fingers of his other hand trail down my side. My body warms up under his touch. I fear that I’ll melt into a puddle on the ground. Cecile definitely won’t appreciate that.

His lips brush against the shell of my ear. “Do you want to go on a date?”

I turn around to face him. “A date?”

Hadrian rubs the back of his neck and I notice the red tinge to the exposed hill of his collarbone. “Isn’t that what it’s called by humans?”

I perk up. “You mean a real date? Like a date, date?

“Is there another kind of date in your world?” Hadrian is wearing a form-fitting navy navy sweater and it clings to his well-developed muscles. My gaze wanders over his broad frame as he obscures my vision to the rest of the room.

I trace my eyes over his torso and back to his eyes. “I’ve never been on a date.”

Hadrian must notice my gaze on his body and his eyes darken. Hadrian runs his fingers over my shoulder blades and sends me a crooked smile that could make me trip if I was walking. “Me neither. I’ll take you after.”

“After what?”

Hadrian brings a hand to my neck and connects our lips together. I freeze for a second with wide eyes. Hadrian deepens the kiss and I melt in his hands. He brings our bodies flush together until his hard erection pokes onto my stomach and showing me exactly after what. He lifts me up and I lock my ankles behind his back.

“You better not…“ Cecile calls.

Hadrian flips off the chef and walks out of the kitchen with me wrapped around his waist. His distance from the past few days seemed to have disappeared.

Hadrian presses me against the marble wall in the hallway and snakes a hand under my sweater. He runs his thumb over my covered nipple and my chest further into his hand. He plays my body like an instrument until I’m wet and wanting.

We both know where this is headed.

“Wait. We can’t do this now.” I’m excited about the idea of a date with Hadrian, but I want it to be a real one. Even though my body is begging me to shut up and let Hadrian’s skilled hands continue.

Hadrian pulls back and frowns. “Why?”

I roll my eyes at him. “That’s how the girls in the town do it.” I wiggle myself free. “The guy would pick them up, they would go on a date and afterward the guy brings them home. Sometimes they would kiss.” I say with a blush.

“Sometimes?” Hadrian growls. “What happens after?” He pulls me back to him. He’s playing dirty. He knows that his touch lures me in.

I blink as his dark eyes hold me captive. “The guy goes home.” I sputter.

Hadrian chuckles as he takes me in. “That sounds cute sweetheart, but you can’t fool me.”

He turns me in his arms and locks me against his torso. “Your pussy is begging for more than a kiss.”

He unfastens the button of my jeans and his thumb runs over the skin under the line of my panties.

I moan as his fingers draw closer to where they’re needed. “Hadrian.”

“Is a chaste date really what you want?” He whispers in my ear.

“I want…” I gasp when his hand slips in further and he circles his finger around my wet bundle of heat. I moan and it would be so easy to let myself ride this wave of pleasure. He moves further down and circles a finger around my entrance. *Just let him.* The devilish voice on my shoulder says.

“I-I want you to pick me up at seven.”

Hadrian freezes and pulls his hand back. “What?” I use his momentary disorientation and twist out of his arms. I take an uneven step back as I let the space calm down my body.

“What am I supposed to do in the meantime?” Hadrian growls at me.

His eyes are predatory and I can’t help a giggle. *Did I make the beast mad?*

———————

I run out of the hallway with wobbly legs. I let my back fall against the marble when I’m out of his sight. I place my hand over my heart and it races in double time. I squeal at the idea of having a date with Hadrian tonight.

A part of me hopes that he won’t actually wait until seven. That part between my legs is cursing at me right now for running away.

“Are you having a heart attack?” Callum asks next to me and I jump.

Callum has his arms crossed and his signature scowl on.

“Callum, you’re back,” I say as I keep the hand on my heart.

His eyes turn my way, but he stands rooted in place. “I am.”

I walk through the halls back to my room and Callum diligently follows me. I notice that he walks a little closer than before. I fidget with the ends of my hair. “How’s your shoulder?”

“Healed.” He states as elaborately as ever.

“Good, I mean great.” There falls a painful silence as we walk back to the rooms. I sigh when I enter the parlor and I close the door behind me.

*So what if the guy hates me? He saved my life. But it was my mother, was I even really in danger? Wait, did my mother try to kill me?*

I’m spiraling again as I argue with myself.

*The least I can do is thank him.*

I open the door and Callum is already facing my way in the doorway. Callum’s scowl is intensified with a frown.

I shake my head as I try to make sense of the jumble in my brain. “Why did you save me?”

“Because it’s my duty.”

I gesture at him. “But you hate me.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“I wouldn't have protected a werewolf before…” I whisper, but don’t finish my sentence.

“Before Prince Hadrian.” Callum finishes for me. His shoulders lose their tension for a moment. “Nevertheless, I would always protect one's mate.”

There is a fracture in his armor and I can see through the cracks for the first time.

“Thank you,” I say and mean it.

“I didn’t do it to save you, I did it to save Prince Hadrian.”

*Ah, there is the infuriating guard again.*

It is the most words I heard Callum speak. And that includes the conversations he has with his brother. His words are laced with harshness, but I can see the sincerity in his hazel-red eyes.

“This is really important to you,” I conclude.

Callum nods. “I know what it is like to lose a mate.”

My eyes widen. *Callum lost his mate?* I don’t know what to say to that. Is this why he is closed off all the time? I would be devastated if something would happen to Hadrian, but can it compare even a fraction of a bond between fated mates?

“I’m his chosen mate.” I refute. I won’t let myself forget that fact.

“I see your bond and Hadrian would be destroyed if it was broken.” Callum counters.

I ponder his words. Callum has suffered a great loss. Something that destroyed his very being. It ripped his soul and took away half. I can see it now in the hard shell he keeps around him at all times.

I give him a hug because I don’t think many people ever do.

“Emma, let go.” There is fear in his voice and I notice a tremble in his shoulders. I’ve yet to encounter something that could scare Callum.

I hear bones crack as if someone is cracking their knuckles. “You better listen to him, little mate.” Hadrian growls through gritted teeth. His voice has a malicious layer to it. It reminds me of when he lost control. *The dark prince.*

*Ooh, snap.*

I let go of Callum as I look into the burn of fury in Hadrian’s dark eyes. His eyes swirl with obsidian. Through the darkness, I can still see the hint of amber. He’s incredibly angry, but still in control.

He tears Callum away from me by his collar and swings the well-built guard against the marble wall. I hear bones snap and Callum winches. I gasp and I think he broke his shoulder this time.

I look at Hadrian with wide eyes. “What are you doing?” I shout at him.

Miles comes into the hallway and his eyes move from his brother to me and finally to Hadrian.

Hadrian moves through the doorway and slams the door behind him. “How long has this been going on?”

“What are you talking about?”

Hadrian charges at me and towers over me. “You and the guard.”

There is transpiration collecting at his throat and the exposed part of his collarbone. His muscles look big and daunting in his fitted sweater. His chest expands with every ragged breath.

“Seriously!” I shout at him. I turn away from him to give myself some space.

Hadrian pulls me back at the loops of my jeans and with a swift move turns me around. “Is this why you ran away from me just now? To fuck the guard instead?”

He wraps a hand high around my throat. His darkness threatens to take over. And here I thought that I could play with the beast.

“I’m not sleeping with Callum.” I try to pull myself back, but Hadrian holds a strong grip on me.

“I wasn’t asking if you were sleeping with him!” Hadrian growls and his teeth are sharp.

I swing my hands in the air. “I gave him a hug!”

Hadrian releases my throat and takes my arms in his hands. He traps them behind my back and pushes his chest into mine. “What comes next?” His voice gets lower and the rasp more prominent.

I’m caged against him and completely at his mercy. It does something unexpected to my body. He rarely enforces his strength and dominance this way. The thing is that I find myself not particularly hating it. Even worse, my body is longing for it.

“Would he have grabbed your ass and bent you his way.” One hand moves over the curve of my backside and squeezes me against him.

His darkness pulls me in and tempts me without him even realizing it. Many believe there is only innocence in me.

But just because I don’t curse or I don’t outwardly express my desires, doesn’t mean that they aren’t there.

Just because I wanted a romantic date, doesn’t mean I don’t want him to do all the dirty things after. I’m not one to easily express myself when it comes to sex, it’s all still so new for me. I’m still learning, I’m still feeding my curiosity.

And this dark prince brings out a new curiosity that I need to satisfy.

He leans down with vicious eyes. “Would he have ripped your clothes off?”

A shiver of lust runs through my body and heats the spot between my legs. I need him to stop talking and do exactly what he’s implying.

“Do it.”