Alaric

I pulled away from the kiss only to stare at his face.

His beautiful face.

I could not believe that I had actually confessed how I truly felt to the man who was supposed to be my rival.

I kept telling myself it was the alcohol talking. That was the excuse I desperately wanted to believe because it was easier than admitting the truth.

But this was far more than alcohol.

I had kissed him because I wanted to.

I wanted him so badly that I could barely control my emotions whenever he was around me anymore.

Even as the kiss deepened, I could not stop myself from releasing my pheromones into the air. It was an invitation and a risk at the same time. Some reckless part of me wanted to see if he would reject me again the way he had done so many times before.

But it seemed like Nico wanted the same thing.

I might have been drunk, but I still knew exactly what I was doing and everything happening around me.

Did he want me as much as I wanted him?

I slowly fluttered my lashes while staring into his dark brown eyes. Nico blinked once before his arms wrapped firmly around my waist, pulling me against his chest.

"You have such a beautiful waist," he muttered slowly.

I wanted to smile at the compliment, but I could not stop staring into his eyes long enough to react properly. The question I had been dying to ask all night escaped from my lips before I could stop myself.

"Do you want me?" I demanded softly.

Before he could respond, I quickly continued speaking, suddenly remembering the stupid bet between us.

"I know you won the bet, but... can you..."

I stuttered like an idiot while trying to force out the deepest desire hidden inside me.

"Can you what, princess?" he asked softly while brushing a strand of hair away from my forehead.

Princess.

That word was slowly becoming something dangerously addictive whenever it came from his lips.

"What is it that you truly desire, Alaric de Villier?"

I blinked slowly before lowering my head in embarrassment.

My chest tightened painfully, but after a few seconds, I forced myself to look back at him again.

Then I finally let it all out.

"I want you to fuck me tonight," I confessed quietly. "Even if it is only for tonight."

The moment the words left my lips, I felt his hand loosen slightly around my waist.

There it was again.

That horrible feeling of rejection.

Was I really that unwanted?

Did he not look at me and feel something too? Why was he acting like I had asked for something unimaginable? We were both adults. Having sex did not have to change anything between us.

After all, it was just sex.

Or at least that was what I kept trying to convince myself.

"Be careful what you wish for," Nico said slowly before pulling away from me completely and walking toward the dining table.

I stared at his back in disbelief.

"What I wish for?" I repeated before letting out a humorless laugh. "You are making it sound like I asked for something terrible."

My irritation immediately started rising again.

"Why do you keep running away whenever we are about to fuck, Nicholas?" I snapped, deliberately using his full name. "Why the hell do you keep making me feel unwanted? If you do not want me, then just say it!"

My voice echoed loudly throughout the penthouse, sharp enough that it almost felt like the walls themselves trembled with it.

Nico stopped walking.

He released a slow breath before turning toward me again.

The moment our eyes met, I noticed the immediate shift in his expression. His brown eyes had darkened completely, something dangerous flickering beneath them as he slowly approached me again.

"It is not that I do not want to fuck you," he said quietly. "Trust me, I really want to."

"Then what is it, Nicholas Park?" I demanded immediately. "Are you afraid that I would be too good for you and then you would not be able to stop asking for more?"

His eyes widened slightly.

That tiny reaction told me everything I needed to know.

I let out another bitter laugh before shaking my head.

"This was great," I muttered sarcastically. "The dinner was nice, and now it is time for me to go to bed."

I hiccuped softly before yawning.

"I am sorry I kissed you. I am sorry I even asked." I rubbed my eyes tiredly before continuing. "We should really stop all these stupid games we keep playing. I think this should be the end of it and—"

"Oh, just stop talking."

Nico cut me off suddenly before closing the distance between us and crashing his lips against mine in a rough kiss.

I pushed him away almost immediately.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I yelled at him. "Stop messing with my head! If you do not want me, then just leave instead of acting like I forced you to be here!"

I shoved his chest again as he stepped closer.

"Stop, Alaric."

Nico grabbed my wrists before suddenly pinning both of my hands above my head against the cold glass window behind me.

I struggled against him immediately, breathing hard, but Nico did not let go.

Frustration burned through my chest.

I turned my head away from him with a sharp breath, but Nico immediately grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him again.

"What the hell do you want from me, Nico Park?" I demanded angrily.

"You," he admitted instantly. "I want you badly, but—"

"But what?" I snapped impatiently. "Why do you always stop talking whenever you are about to say something important? Just tell me what I need to know!"

Nico stared at me silently for a moment before his free hand slowly slid across my face and down toward my lips.

"When I go after someone or something," he said quietly, "I like having them completely to myself."

My breathing slowed slightly.

"I like control," he continued. "And you seem like the type of person who enjoys dominance, but that is not what I want."

His thumb brushed slowly across my lower lip.

"I want someone submissive in bed," he admitted darkly. "Someone who will let me do whatever I want to them."

I visibly swallowed.

"Aren’t you a beta?" I asked breathlessly.

Nico chuckled softly, but there was something dark hidden beneath the sound.

"I am much more than that," he murmured. "But trust me, princess, finding out will only make you more curious."

I frowned slightly. "What are you?"

He chuckled again before leaning closer until I could feel his warm breath brushing against my neck.

"I am a hunter."

I scoffed immediately. "Be serious, Nicholas."

"I am serious, Alaric," he whispered. "And right now, you are my prey."

A shiver ran down my spine.

"As much as I want you," he continued quietly, "if we are going to do this, then there will be no third parties."

My heartbeat quickened again.

"It will only be us," he said firmly. "No other sexual partners. No sharing. Whenever I want you, you come to me."

His eyes locked onto mine intensely.

"And when I say I do not like sharing, I mean it."

Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist.

"Lastly," he added quietly, "do not fall in love with me because I do not do love."

The moment he mentioned love, I shoved him away from me.

"Who the hell would fall in love with a narcissist like you?" I scoffed loudly.

But deep down, my stomach twisted painfully because some part of me knew I was stepping into something dangerous.

"This will only be sex," Nico repeated calmly before finally letting go of my wrists. "Nothing more."

He stepped back slightly.

"If you are okay with my terms and conditions, then we can continue," he said quietly. "If not..."

His gaze remained fixed on me.

"Goodnight, Alaric de Villier."

A slow smirk appeared on his lips.

"This has been a very interesting night."