Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 9 : Scuttled

*Sasha*

“Let me get this straight," Amanda said, glancing at me over the top of her martini glass. “Lucas–face slap Lucas–saved your life twice yesterday?"

“I saved him, too," I reminded her, “but… yeah, I guess that's the gist of it."

We were back in Nostalgia, but it was earlier in the evening and Bite of the Wolf was a bit ambitious for this time of day. Not to mention, it was a weeknight. So, Amanda and I both sipped apple martinis and caught up on our adventures–mostly mine, since the hunky boy in calculus didn't take long to describe. At least she got his number.

“And there's some weird temple under the library?" Amanda whispered, as I'd told her that part in the strictest confidence.

“Yeah. Hopefully, it doesn't stop construction altogether," I replied glumly.

“It would stop you from seeing a certain someone, though I'm getting the impression you wouldn't mind so much anymore," Amanda grinned.

I groaned and dropped my head to the table. “Honestly, I just don't know anymore. He's not at all like we were as kids. Okay, a little bit, but he's a lot more serious about his career than I expected. I kind of figured he was just going to use being cousin to the White Queen to get whatever he wanted out of life. But he's… not like that."

“And he seems to want to slip you a little black sausage," Amanda teased crudely.

“Amanda!" I hissed, scandalized. “That's gross! Besides, I don't even know if it's true. He keeps wanting to be close to me...."

“He called you 'precious,'" Amanda butted in.

I felt my cheeks get hot. “Well, yeah, he did. But that's beside the point. He keeps calling me his 'intern,' too. And every time we get really close, he shifts gears and begins talking about the library project. I just… I don't get it."

Amanda tapped perfectly manicured nails on the tabletop. “Maybe he's trying to keep professional boundaries because he's, you know, technically your boss?"

“Then why in the Moon Goddess's name doesn't he keep it that way?" I almost sailed in despair.

Amanda's eyes twinkled mischievously. “Maybe he can't. Guys don't always think with the big brain, you know?"

“You're beyond hope. You know that, right?" I sighed.

“I just tell it like it is," Amanda replied, completely unrepentant.

A dark storm entered the bar. The temperature felt like it dropped considerably.

“Well, speak of the devil," Amanda breathed, leaning to the side slightly so she could check out his ass.

I rolled my eyes. “One, he doesn't seem to be in that kind of mood, and two, he's kind of mine… or something… right?"

“A girl can still show a little appreciation," Amanda said dreamily. Then she shook her head and gave me a shove that nearly knocked me off my chair. “Go get 'em, Lemon Tart."

I shot her a look before picking up my martini and going to brave the crackling storm cloud that was Lucas Black.

“Hey," I said, sliding onto the barstool next to him just as he ordered a whiskey shot. “Is everything okay?"

Lucas slid a large amount of money across the bar. “Keep 'em comin'," he intoned before turning to me. His eyes were already bloodshot. Either he'd been crying, which I doubted, or Lucas Black had started the party before he arrived at Nostalgia.

“Um, Lucas," I said in a soft whisper, “it's the middle of the day. You probably shouldn't...."

“It's over, princess," Lucas interrupted.

My heart squeezed. We were over? We hadn't even started....

“What do you mean, it's over?"

“The library–whole project's been terminated. They found bodies–well, remains–down in the temple. King Xander said artifacts are one thing, but disturbing the dead is quite another."

My heart sank. “Oh Lucas," I said, pressing my hand over his. “I'm so sorry."

Lucas turned his hand over palm up and threaded his fingers through mine. “Don't worry, princess. They'll find you a new work study."

“I liked this one," I replied softly, looking down at our joined hands.

“Me, too," Lucas said throatily. He rubbed his thumb in little circles over the back of my hand.

I swallowed. “I suppose that means you get assigned to a different project, too. Maybe we'll be assigned to the same one?"

Lucas snorted. “Doubt it. I'm in the dog house."

“What? Why? It's not like you put a temple under the old library," I said.

“No. But I didn't spot the bodies, either. Stone went back to the site this morning with an archeological team, and they uncovered a kind of catacombs straight away. The king's pissed I went to him to ask to keep a lid on things without doing it myself."

I squeezed his hand. “Lucas, you were attacked last. We were on a train home this morning. You couldn't possibly have gotten together a team and—“

Lucas slammed his fist on the bar, making the whiskey in his next shot slosh over the edges of the glass."I had forty men on site yesterday. Hell, Herb was already down there. Would it have killed me to ask him to take a look around?"

“The same Herb that nearly got killed, along with me and a few others, when the ground imploded?" I said.

Lucas paused, then lifted his second whiskey shot to his lips. “Point taken."

I put my hand over the top. “Lucas. Let's do something else, okay, other than drinking?"

Slow music played in the background. Lucas looked out at the small, empty dance floor. “Okay, princess," he said, setting the glass down. “You give me a dance, I'll stop drinking."

I glanced at the dance floor. “Lucas, almost nobody is here, and no one's dancing."

“Gives us plenty of space, then, doesn't it?" Lucas slid off his barstool and tugged me off of mine, into his arms.

My heart skipped a beat, then began pounding overtime. “Lucas, this isn't the dance floor."

Lucas pulled our joined hands against his chest, his other arm circling my waist and holding me close. “Does it matter?"

I looked around. Amanda was giving me a thumbs-up. The rest of the patrons seemed more interested in their drinks.

“I guess it doesn't," I whispered.

“Good." Lucas swayed his hips, swaying me with him.

He was so warm, and his toned body melted into me where I was soft. We were so close I could feel his heartbeat, and while it was steadier than mine, it wasn't entirely even either. He wasn't unaffected. I made his heart beat fast–me.

I made eye contact with his chest, feeling flustered by our dancing.

“Look at me, princess," Lucas breathed in my ear.

A shiver of desire rolled down my spine.

I raised my eyes to his throat, then up to meet his silver-flecked, gray eyes. They were burning with lust… and something… else?

“How about we get out of here?" Lucas whispered.

I knew what he meant. My mouth went dry and I licked my lips to moisten them, my emotions in turmoil.

Lucas followed the movement of my tongue. “Let's get out of here, princess." He tempted me again.

I could feel what he wanted pressed against my belly, and I let out a little whimper that only he could hear. I was so conflicted....

Lucas dipped his head, his lips almost brushing mine.

I held my breath in anticipation.

A hand clapped down on Lucas's shoulder, startling us both out of our reverie.

“Mind if I cut in?"

Lucas and I dragged our gaze from each other at the same time.

“Donovan?" I asked, feeling as though I were coming out of some sort of fog.

“Donovan," Lucas said between his teeth. “Yes, actually, we do mind."

Reluctantly, I disentangled myself from Lucas, who growled low in his throat and shifted around to hide… certain… things.

“Donovan, what are you doing here? I thought you were on a diplomatic mission to Norwind?" I touched his arm, then noted there was a light bruise on his cheek.

“Negotiating didn't go well," Donovan grumbled, shooting Lucas a suspicious look. “Who's Mr. Handsy?"

I looked at Lucas, who had a dark expression on his face. “This is Lucas Black. He was the site director at that library build I told you about."

“That one you were chomping at the bit to get on? Yeah, I remember." Donovan looked Lucas up and down. “Still doesn't explain why his hand was crawling toward your ass."