Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 181 - [R18] This Princess Is Generous Today

A/N: R18 adjacent? Nothing super explicit by the end...

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When I looked back, Kyrie had straightened up and recovered even more of her poise. She stepped over to the table and sat the skirt down... but was looking anywhere but directly at me. I wish I could say the same.

> I can’t... stop looking. <

Vrika is not exactly frothing at the mouth, but it was close. Because it could feel how on the edge I was of doing the sort of things I might later regret.

"Your eyes are very blue right now."

I knew that. I’d seen it in the mirror behind her. The fact that Anise didn’t comment... does that mean she knows about our kind? Or did she just not notice at the angle she was behind me...

"...and yours are orange, so what?"

"Did you come here on purpose?"

Without acknowledging my mouthy retort, she gets to the point. Obviously coming here at all meant I had a purpose to do so, so she meant something specific. She meant if I came to see her.

"No. I came to..."

I trail off. Telling her that I came to have dinner with another woman already sounds wrong. Explaining further that it was so that I might be better mentally prepared for if I accepted an invitation from her next time?

> No, I’m not starting with that. Here we go. The conversation I’ve been avoiding all day by keeping busy. I can at least... <

"I meant to send it. That picture last night. For the reasons you can probably imagine. I felt lonely and... I shouldn’t have done that."

Her slightly avoidant expression morphed into something like relief, maybe. But quickly it changed again into determination as she turned her face back toward me.

"Then why did you hang up at the end of the call? Did I say something wrong?"

The question was like a challenge and a promise to do better all at once. I could deflect and make excuses. Retreat behind my usual walls and hope to leave as soon as I can.

"Because talking to you when I’ve just woken up is dangerous."

Instead, I found myself taking a step closer to her.

"...Dangerous how?"

Another step. She didn’t move away, though I could see her grip tighten on the table. Not from fear, but from the decision she keeps making to stop herself. From doing anything that I don’t want her to.

> I can feel my own decisions melting. Like a castle made of bricks of butter. <

Close enough now to see the tiny flecks in her brown eyes. Close enough that I didn’t have to do anything but whisper for her to hear me loudly. Which is good, because saying this too loudly is a confession all its own.

"Because if we talk when I’m vulnerable, I might tell you things. And if I tell you things, you might change your mind about protecting me."

Her eyes flashed bright orange and I could see her entire form grow taut. Practically sense her wolf on the other side trying to break free and prove that’s not true.

"Nothing you could tell me would-"

"Don’t."

The authority in my voice made her stop mid-sentence, just like it had in the alley. The same instant submission from merely projecting my voice as I’d been trained that had fascinated and terrified me before.

"Don’t make promises you might not be able to keep. Now... don’t move, Kyrie."

I watched her entire body go still, the skirt falling forgotten from her fingers again as her eyes locked onto mine with that same absolute attention I’d seen in the alley. The same willingness to listen to what I said.

But this time, there were no rogues threatening us. Just us, in this private space, with nothing but honesty and want hanging in the air. I reached out slowly, my palm coming to rest against her chest.

Where her supposedly fitted shirt was still too loose on her. A prank by Anise or does she really not fit her old measurement? Her heart hammered against my fingers, rapid and strong. And I just... couldn’t anymore.

> Vrika, avert your eyes and keep your sounds to yourself. <

Taking her wrist in a firm grip, I moved us to the hidden back room that Anise reminded me of. She trailed with me despite the abrupt change. The moment we were inside, I whirled on her for another small ’order’ while slipping this stupid jacket off.

"Lie down."

The woman moved without question, sinking gracefully to the hard floor and then stretching back. Her white hair listening to gravity and falling around her skull. The single piece of visible charcoal fabric contrasted beautifully with her pale skin.

And I found myself momentarily transfixed by the sight of her - this powerful Alpha, laying herself vulnerable for me. I wanted to take a picture. Not for blackmail... just... I don’t know why.

There’s merely a feeling of needing to preserve this moment. Preserve her. My lips part and it comes out a bit more strained than before.

"Again, don’t move."

One knee on either side of her hips, my hands braced the flooring beside her shoulders... settling carefully above her. Holding myself up in the air as I leaned forward, studying her restrained face in the soft lighting.

"You’ve been losing sleep..."

I posited while tracing a finger along the faint shadows beneath her flickering orange eyes. She mentioned losing weight, but this darkness was new. Unless she had been wearing makeup here the other times we met?

"Yes..."

She breathed out the answer without any pretense. As a reward for her - I tell myself - I let my hand drift lower. Fingers slide down her cheek, her jaw, until I found the rapid pulse at the base of her throat.

She shivered at the choice of sensitive place. At the contact over her vitals. But Kyrie held perfectly still otherwise, as I’d commanded. Pushing myself back up with the other hand and the strength of my core, I rested in a sitting position lightly on top of the top of her thighs.

My choice to wear these shorts feels great, now. Or possibly disastrous. The electricity of my skin against hers is fueling bolder and bolder choices.

> Seriously, stop paying attention to us. I can share the memory later, but I can almost *feel* you watching! I’m not an exhibitionist, no matter how vain and unashamed I am of wanting or engaging in acts like this. <

After admonishing Vrika, and looking down at the wealthy, powerful CEO... my other palm slid up her shirt to a rest over her stomach. Through this second point of contact I could now also feel the gentle contraction of her breathing.

And pet the ferocious beast’s stomach... scratching slightly with my nails just to try and annoy her and see what would happen. The danger of her reacting when I’ve done something too far...

"And the weight - it sounds like you’re not taking good care of yourself."

Her eyes fluttered and closed at my touch. Pinched tight. But she does nothing more. Including telling me to stop. She really, probably should do that before I go and lose all reason.

"It’s hard to find an appetite when you aren’t sure what... someone specific is doing. Maybe if you answered my invitation..."

The admission and temptation she voices with half re-opened eyes sent heat spiraling through me. This strong, controlled woman - falling apart because of my stubborn silence... or not eating dinner because I haven’t agreed to go?

"I’m just talking. I wasn’t asking any questions."

I murmured while leaning back down. Until my lips were barely an inch from her ear. My wrist twisted so my hand remained splayed across her stomach, possessive and warm and driving her shirt up just a little.

My other hand trails back upward to the other side of her face, letting my fingers find the delicate flesh of her ear. She made a soft breathy sound when I tugged gently at the lobe between thumb and index.

"Citra..."

"Shh. I’m being generous today. Just... feel for a minute."

Generous to who, I wasn’t sure. I pressed my lips to the sensitive spot just below her ear, licking my lips and tasting the salt of sweat when I pull back. Inhaling that crisp scent that was uniquely hers...

While pressing more soft, irrational kisses along the column of her throat. Each point of contact drew withheld little gasps from her. The Alpha surely struggling to continue to do nothing against these... affections.

In one spot, I could even feel her pulse racing so, so rapidly beneath my lips. And her hands remained flat against the floor - fisted but obedient the entire time. But mine?

The one on her stomach moved in slow disobediently random circles, feeling the werewolf warm contours of her skin. Her athletic form being underneath me made every kiss I placed on her neck more uneven, more desperate.

"Please..."

She whispered as I turned away, though what she was asking for remained unspoken. I could pretend not to know, but the pleading tone of that voice... only broke my earlier suggestions to be quiet after my hand dipped a little low.

After it lingered at the edge of her pantyline... and pulled back because of the knock on the door. Clearly not Anise, with how loud the banging was. And it makes me wonder who it is I will hold a grudge for.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m