Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 24 : We Didn’t Sleep

It was incredibly still in the room, the only sound that of Jared slowly turning the lock on the door into place. It echoed through the space with finality. We were alone. He turned to look at me, his shoulders tightening and then relaxing as he took a breath.

“Do you know what I am?" he asked, taking a step toward me.

My heart was beating a million miles a minute as he closed the distance between us, his gaze locked on my face.

I couldn't answer. I couldn't form the words. Did I know who he was? A bounty hunter… murderer… closeted master of antiquities… Aeris has called him something else, though.

A lost prince.

“Why did he call you a lost prince?" I breathed as he continued to close the distance between us.

He stopped short of me, looking down at me and the way the moonlight was touching my shoulders. He didn't answer my inquiry, but he reached out and ran his fingers over my exposed skin. I closed my eyes against his touch.

“You're not safe around me," he breathed.

“Why are you trying to push me away?" I replied, leaning into his touch as he stroked my neck.

“Because this won't end well for us," he admitted, a hint of regret in his voice.

I opened my eyes, finding him incredibly close now, close enough for me to rest my hand against his chest. I could feel his heartbeat hammering nearly as rapidly as my own.

“Why?" I dared to ask. I bit down on my lip and closed my eyes again as he reached up and plucked the pins out of my hair, releasing my curls.

“Eliza," he whispered, resting his forehead against mine. We were silent for the space of a breath, my palm spread wide over his chest. “I'm a Dark Lord. Do you know what that is?"

“Yes."

I knew of Dark Lords. I knew one personally, in fact. Maybe that's why I'd found Jared so familiar. His dark eyes and even darker shadow of power suddenly made sense. Maybe like the White Queens, his lineage branched off into seemingly endless factions of family carrying the same powers and traits.

'I'm not afraid,' I told myself. 'I'm not. I'm not.'

“I could hurt you," he said, tilting his head so his nose grazed against mine. I felt his eyelashes on my cheek as he brushed his lips against my jaw. A shiver ran down my spine, causing me to curl my toes in anticipation. “I will hurt you."

"You couldn't hurt me if you tried," I whispered.

"I could," he repeated, but his voice cracked over the words.

closing my eyes as I leaned

a shuddering breath, then leaned forward, brushing the

kind of power over me that I couldn't put into

his shirt, pulling him closer. He groaned low in his throat, a tremble running through his body as he tangled his fingers in my hair and deepened the kiss, his tongue running along my lower lip. I whispered his name

the Goddess he'd locked the

over the laces that held my dress up. He loosened them with his fingers, pulling on the fabric until it gave way. The sleeves fell from my shoulders and the bodice fell over my

sucked in my breath, a desperate moan escaping my lips.

breathed against my

skin. My n*****s tightened

words anyway, no matter how hard I tried. He bent his head, running his lips across my chest, then took one of my n*****s between his teeth. I hissed, gripping his shoulders in response

liked it, a

stop," I gasped as he sucked, his tongue flicking over my n****e, sending a rush of warmth down my spine. I threw my head back, shivering in

male sound deep in his throat that set my teeth on edge with desire as he knelt before me, his hands running over the curve of

kissed me just above my hip bone. I closed my eyes as he slowly pulled my dress

thumb over the apex

mind as he kissed me just

my thighs. I hadn't realized I was clenching them together

in mingled shock and relief as his mouth settled on my core. He was rough, his stubble scraping against the tender skin along my upper thighs as he pulled me closer to him, one hand spread

cried, tangling my hands

me into a stupor. "I–I can't–Oh, please–" I pleaded,

he

me into his arms and walked me across the room, tossing me roughly on the bed. I looked up at him, watching as he hastily removed his clothing. His eyes were on me, on my body, on my legs spread wide on

as he watched me. He was nearly all the way undressed, wearing nothing but his shirt, which was long enough to hide

met my eyes, his gaze feral and dripping with hunger. He grabbed my ankles and

not now… not now that he was climbing onto the bed, holding himself over me as he bent his head to kiss me. It was a long, hungry kiss. He ran

explored me with his hands, running his fingertips from my cheek all the way down to my navel, and then between my legs. I shivered under his touch, then cried out as he slid his fingers inside of me. I arched my back, pleading with him as he circled his thumb over my

him resting against my inner thigh, hard and hot and aching as he slowly ground against me, his breath

with his fingers, always slowing his

was enjoying teasing me and making me beg. He was watching every shred of pleasure and desperation pass over my face, the corner of his mouth

kissed me again, his hand leaving my core and resting on my knee, pushing my legs open wider for him. I tore at his shirt, ripping it open in a

eyes nearly rolled in the back of my head at the movement, my arms falling

aren't you?" he rasped against

not afraid,"