PERHAPS A MISCOMMUNICATION?

Claimed by the Arrogant Alpha

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Chapter 7: PERHAPS A MISCOMMUNICATION?

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A second passed and Jessica wanted to laugh and brush it off.

She doesn’t want to look pathetic in front of Kai, in front of anyone, but an Alpha especially. She doesn’t want to look like – like – like an Omega, needy for a mate, dependent, fragile and delicate.

Something bubbled up inside her and threatened to spill out – she hoped it was laughter, even if it was choked and awkward, but then she pushed the sensation down when she feared it might be tears.

She will not cry in front of Kai – a stranger.

“I mean, I know it sounds weird. Having lots of other people around me makes me feel smothered… like empty, but here, it’s like I’m at peace, in a way. It’s strange. I don’t know how to describe it.” Jessica chewed on her lip, wondering what kind of senseless crap he just blurted out.

Kai was probably going to think she was stupid and weird. Jessica looked up, uncomfortable.

Kai was fast.

He leaned across, abrupt but controlled, and one light push to an unsuspecting Jessica and she was falling onto her back, surprisingly gently. Jessica’s arms broke away from each other, releasing the hold around her knees and her heels ungracefully hit the ground.

Large hands wrapped around Jessica’s wrists and pinned them either side of her head, grip secure but somehow tender.

He was bent over Jessica, low and almost predatory, and yet Jessica felt an odd sense of security wash over her.

“What are you doing?” She asked, sounding dazed and clueless.

Her Omega wolf was rolling with happiness from such close proximity with the enticing Alpha.

Kai’s scent invaded and engulfed Jessica, wrapping around her like a second skin, calming her and yet making her fervent.

This will last way longer than the imprint from before.

Kai’s only response was a brush of lips across Jessica’s shoulder as he slowly nosed along her neck.

Then he drew back and scrunched up his nose.

Jessica hated to admit it was cute.

“Did you put cologne on?” He said the word like it was acid on his tongue, like the act was a crime and should be forbidden.

He looked outright displeased and it amused Jessica.

Jessica laughed as he scowled, muttering something about chemicals and smelling unnatural. Her eyes closed as she giggled, feeling smug and satisfied.

That will teach him for – oh.

Jessica shuddered pleasantly and she felt heat rapidly spreading across her body.

Kai had pressed his lips to the hollow of her neck and his tongue darted out, swiping across her skin. She could feel Kai’s smirk.

“Really, what are you doing?” Jessica asked again, now more urgent as Kai sucked on the skin.

Her body had become pliant underneath the Alpha and her wolf was telling her to submit, submit, submit. “You’ll leave a mark – ah, Kai.” Her head felt dizzy and pleasure tingled all the way down to her toes.

Panic began to arise when Kai’s teeth grazed across the sensitive skin and she jolted, back arching and unintentionally pressing against Kai’s body, getting closer and closer to full compliance.

So much contact – too much, and not enough.

Kai nibbled across the skin and Jessica’s body tensed because it seemed any second now he might decide to bite into the pale neck presented to him.

But Kai hadn’t even asked her, hadn’t even implied he wanted to be her mate.

All he did was show these acts of possession that left Jessica puzzled.

She didn’t want to be disappointed like this again, but she most certainly was not Kai’s toy to play around with.

“Seriously, stop! Kai, you haven’t even asked.” Her tone raised in pitch as fear crept it.

Kai drew back immediately, mocha eyes filled with something that looked like desire and lust. It was dangerous and seductive.

He checked over Jessica’s face like he was making sure he was okay before speaking, “Asked you what?” His voice was gravelly and low but it sounded cold and distant again.

Kai’s question was like a dagger to the heart.

Jessica breathed heavily underneath him.

Wasn’t it obvious?

Nibbling across the neck was a common act before one would mark their mate.

Jessica stared up at Kai incredulously.

Her mouth felt dry and she found herself at a loss for words.

Did she really have to spell it out?

Then fear crept in and a voice in her head asked, ‘did Kai even want to mate you?’

It was like ice had been thrown all over him.

Kai peered down at her, expectantly and waiting.

Oh God.

“Aren’t you going to mate me?” She whispered, her wolf hopeful.

It was like last year all over again.

Kai glanced away, guilty. “No, I mean, I wasn’t going to ri–”

Jessica wrenched her hands from Kai’s grip as her body numbed over. “Get off,” She demanded.

Her wolf growled because she too also felt played, used and cheated. Jessica wanted to scream at him, and break down into tears at the same time.

Kai faltered but when Jessica shoved against his chest he sat back on his heels – that indecipherable expression on his face again. He licked his lips (lips that had just been pressed against Jessica’s neck).

“Wait –”

Jessica blocked him out and stumbled to her feet, clumsy and frantic, wobbling momentarily and ignored the way her anger faintly dissolved when Kai’s hand reached out to steady her.

She stepped back from the Alpha and glared. “It’s not – this isn’t – it’s not funny.” She stammered and hated the way her voice cracked in the middle. She turned on her heel and walked away, angry at Kai, pissed with herself.

That feeling of loneliness returned, settling into its usual place to consume Jessica’s thoughts and drain her. Jessica had barely noticed it when she had been with Kai.

It was certainly worse now.

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Jessica lathered soap into her hands and scrubbed her neck, shuddering when she could still feel Kai against her.

It had felt so wonderful, so right, and now so meaningless.

His scent clung to her despite the steaming water and the various harsh soaps she used.

He was everywhere – touching her skin, behind her eyelids, haunting her thoughts.

Nails scratched along the area and irritated red marks of frustration decorated her neck.

Jessica let out an enraged, infuriated sound as she stood under the shower.

Everything was worse now, because before, she could believe Kai was proud and a jerk, ignorant and stupid. And now, now Jessica had to know that he was actually sweet, and had radiant half-smiles.

Even though Kai sort of forced himself onto Jessica, he had stopped as soon as she demanded. He was unexpectedly easy to talk to and he made Jessica feel oddly at ease, in a way she had never experienced before.

He didn’t get mad when Jessica called him an ‘idiot’ or got angry for categorising him. Their short, simple conversation made Jessica’s ice wall melt, crumble, fall in on itself.

Whoever Kai chooses will be very lucky.

Jessica shut the water off, feeling sorry for herself. She reached for a towel and wrapped herself slowly. In the foggy mirror, she could see a dark red mark on her neck where Kai had marked him.

Temporary.

Like his intentions.

His affections.

And hopefully, his presence in Jessica’s life.

Jessica’s wolf suddenly snarled, reminding her that Kai was not all that. He was not the perfect Alpha because he messed around with Jessica who wanted little to do with him in the first place.

It was hard to believe that though, when she felt heartbroken. She hadn’t even realised she held any such feelings.

Was this what happened when one found a wolf they wished to mate with?

Jessica tightened the towel around her body.

‘It can’t be, because Kai doesn’t want me.’

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TBC