Chapter 5

It has been a week since the ballroom incident and it was safe to say I had officially lost my mind.

I hadn't seen him ever since that night, of course being a common maid I didn't expect to see him all the time. 

Hence, it came as a huge shock to me when Madam Yelena assigned me to clean the Alpha's room. I wasn't a highly ranked maid, if that's even a thing, like Carla. 

I was on my way to the Alpha's quarters, which was on the top floor, with my cleaning equipment when Carla stopped me. 

"Hey!" She greeted, a large grin on her face. "Where are you heading to?"

After abruptly leaving my room the last time, Carla had avoided me, turning down the halls once she saw me or pretending like she never saw me.

"The Alpha's quarters." I grimaced, nodding upstairs. 

Although there was something in me that wanted to see him, I was still nervous. It was desire mixed with fear. A deadly combo. 

"He'll be back soon and I know you're still scared of him." She gave me a knowing smile. "Come on, I'll take your place."

I gave her a nervous look. "Wouldn't that... you know, put us in trouble. The last time I was almost punished was because I helped another girl."

She shrugged off my words. "Meh. You know he still hates you, right?"

I nodded, although I didn't like how she said it. 

"Then we both know it'll be best if you just avoid him..." She placed her hand on my shoulder. "I was assigned to his study. Let's trade places. Besides, the study is much easier to clean."

I still doubted her words but I, nevertheless, gave her the equipment in my hands. "Be careful, okay?"

Carla snorted like I just said something funny. "Come on, Akira! I've known the Alpha for years."

Without waiting for an answer, she turned to walk away, an extra bounce in her step.

With a shrug, I walked to the iron gated elevator that led to the study. It was on the floor above his quarters. The study occupied the entire fourth floor and it was massive, with tall floor-to-ceiling windows and black wooden mahogany shelved filled with different books ranging from business classics to historical fiction, mystery, thriller and romance- a lot of the romance books contained hardcore BDSM. 

The walls were a matte obsidian paint and a long and large black couch crowded the front of the burning fireplace. 

I went ahead to dutifully clean the black mahogany desk and wide black leather armchair and dust the leather shelves and couch before brushing out dirt on the black royal rug in the middle of the room.

I stood in front of the shelves housing the classic erotic books and I picked one out. Venus in furs. 

I wasn't supposed to be snooping through the Alpha's books, but I just went ahead and flipped through the first few pages.

I was flipping through it, trying to grasp the storyline when the door to the study opened.

I stilled, quickly placing the book back in its shelve and I turned around only to be met with Alpha Ares.

I cursed quietly as he strode towards me.

He stood a few feet away from me, his black dress shirt, which probably cost more than my Nana's cabin, had a few buttons open, exposing his tanned chiselled torso with intricate tattoo patterns, his black slacks stretched fittingly against his muscled thighs, and a Patek watch was strapped firmly on his thick wrist. His sleeves were folded, exposing thick corded veins that had my mouth watering.

My shoulders fell as he stalked closer to me, his strides were steady and his gaze was heated. 

I could see–and feel– the desire in his eyes as he got closer and it held so many dark promises, dark promises that a darker part of me yearned for.

I slowly backed up against the shelf when he finally approached me, my fingers gripping the wood so tight it stopped the blood flow on my fingers.

I immediately began to apologize. "I- I'm so sorry Alpha. I didn't mean to snoop around."

He raised his hand and immediately I flinched backwards, thinking he was going to strike me, instead, I felt his calloused fingers grip my chin. The sparks from a week ago started again with renewed energy and my heart began beating in a wild staccato against my ribs.

While I stood trembling, he was stone-still, our gazes were locked and our bodies almost touching. For long moments he looked at me with those icy grey eyes, and my nostrils were filled with an odd mix of cologne and something musky.

"What's your name?" He asked, his voice of hard whiskey and sin, caressing over my skin sensually. The voice I hadn't been able to forget for a week.

 He leaned his other hand on the wood right beside my head and I knew I was trapped.

I whispered out; "Akira."

The scar above his full lips twisted as he smirked. "That's a very beautiful name."

My heart flared at his compliment and I was sure my cheeks were a bright red colour. Of course, I had gotten admiration because of my name, but there was something about him that made his praise different. 

I looked at the door behind him. "I should go. Madam Yelena needs me."

Immediately I made a move to walk away, his hand came up to cup the back of my neck, almost like a lover's, his huge hand cocooned my entire nape in its grip. 

  

I froze, my muscles stilling as his thumb slowly traced my jaw, while his hand holding the back of my neck, titled my head back. A shiver wracked my body under his predator-like gaze. 

His rough thumb on my chin moved to my cheek in a sensual caress and instinctively, I shut my eyes close. 

He leaned his head into my neck and inhaled deeply. "Why?" His breath was warm as he whispered the single word beneath my ear.

"Why, what?" I whispered a frown was etched on my face.

He gently licked a path on my collarbone and I shivered, his tongue was wet and hot and my body wanted more. He pressed closer into me before suckling hard on that spot making me shudder.

"Why do you always smell so good?" He groaned out - an answer to my question- and his second hand slowly drifted down to my waist. Both hands moved to my hips and he gripped the flesh there, even with the thick linen, I still felt his harsh grip. 

My response was meek. "I don't know."

He swiftly turned me around so my front was pressed against the shelf and he dug his hip into my behind.

The hard swell of his cock on my ass felt foreign, but I wasn't scared, several seconds passed, of both of us breathing hard in silence, and I slowly rolled my hips, once, then twice. I waited for a reaction from Ares but nothing came, instead, his hands on my hips tightened.

"Fuck." Ares groaned out, thrusting his hips harder against mine. 

I couldn't believe what was happening but when his large palm trailed a path to my chest and he palmed my left breast, all forms of disagreement vanished from the tip of my tongue. My heartbeat quickened; my lips parting to accommodate faster breaths as he tested its weight before gripping it harshly. I vaguely noticed his other hand snaking around to grip my ponytail, twisting my head to the side.

"Ohmygod." I cried out, the newfound courage had me grounding my ass back on his cock. 

I didn't know what was encouraging me to do this, but I knew I didn't want to stop. It was like a rush, an addiction, that I didn't want to curb.

His fingers swiftly went for the buttons of my blouse, once they were out of the way, he tugged the cup of my plain white bra down, his big calloused hand cupped my heavy mould and I arched into him. Slowly his fingers teased my breast but they never touch my nipple, which was pleading to be tugged.

A gasp escaped from my lips when he abruptly turned me around, his mouth went straight for my neck and he kissed and caressed everywhere he could with his lips, while my hands dutifully tugged on his long and full silky hair. 

Just as he was kissing a path to the top of my breast, the door to the study suddenly swung open, revealing the last person I wanted to see. 

"Carla." I gasped, quickly pushing the Alpha off of me. 

He looked like he knew she was there but he didn't care. He slowly arranged my ponytail and brushed a knuckle over my cheek before he turned to glare at Carla, effectively blocking me out of her view. 

"I believe knocking before you step into a room is part of your work ethic as a maid in this house," Ares said to her, his voice was firm and authoritative. 

But it wasn't his voice that had me scrambling to get my blouse done, it was his words. They were a slap to my face and they effectively reminded me of what I was in this mansion, a maid. A human slave.

I suddenly felt sick.

As I deftly did the buttons of my blouse, I looked up to find Carla visibly shaking with her head was bowed submissively.

I was sure my cheeks were a deep red as I walked past the Alpha to get my things on the floor, I tried to keep the tears brimming in my eyes in check but they came down anyway.

I briefly heard Ares dismiss Carla before he came to stand behind me. Even after his harsh words, his warm body close to mine had goosebumps making their way onto my skin.

I only hoped Carla wouldn't tell on me. I was already the black sheep as it was, being the Alpha's whore would only escalate matters for me. 

A large hand grabbed my arm as I made a move to the door.

"I didn't give you the permission to leave just yet, Akira." 

The anger simmering inside me suddenly tipped over and I turned to look at him. "You have no right over me, Mr Alpha. I suggest you should be worried about the moon goddess blessing you with a mate than chasing after a common human maid." Not done yet, I stabbed a finger in his chest. "And by the way, fuck you, Alpha Ares."

His grip on my arm tightened and the pain forced a whimper out of me. "You're hurting me. Let go of my arm!" I harshly tugged my arm out of his tight grip. 

His eyes widened a bit like he didn't know what he was doing.

"I'm sorry, Akira. I didn't mean for that to happen -"

"Leave. Me. Alone." I cut him short before slamming the door on his face.

I walked as fast as I could down the stairs, to the supply closet and immediately I entered the dark room, I slid down the wall and broke down. The tears that started in the study refused to stop, I couldn't believe I had made myself so available to him.

But then, it had felt like I knew him. I didn't understand, because one moment all I wanted was for him to use me anyhow he deemed fit, while the next moment, I wanted to be as far away from him as possible.

I wiped the tears streaming down my face as I concluded that I needed to be strong to conjure up a plan and leave here. 

I inhaled and exhaled deeply and I walked out, opting for the stairs that led to the kitchen instead of the elevator, to clear my head for a while.

As I neared the kitchen, I heard familiar voices and my heart began to thud loudly as I paused in the dimly lit stairway. I knew it was wrong listening in on their conversation but I stopped anyway. 

"I suggest you leave her alone, Carla," I heard Eve whisper angrily. "Akira is an adult, she knows what's good and what's bad for her. If the Alpha is attracted to her and the feeling is mutual, I believe she should fucking go for it. After all, she's human and can't be mated to the Alpha. You said so."

I heard a snort that came from Carla. "I can't leave her alone, Eve. She needs to learn to stay away from the Alpha unless she wants to be skinned alive."

Their voices sounded hushed and close by and I knew they were standing by the edge of the kitchen right beside the stairway.

With a huff, I approached them.

"I am so fucking sick and tired of you saying my life would be endangered if I don't stay away from the Alpha, but you never mention the names of the people who will kill me." I glared at Carla, both hands folded over my chest. "I need names, Carla."

I watched as she faltered through her next sentence. "Look, just...just stay away from the Alpha, okay?" Her gaze suddenly turned hard and it followed me as I walked into the empty kitchen. "He doesn't want you and he never will."

I smiled, "This is amusing." I drummed the counter beside me with my fingers. "It's amusing how you know who your Alpha wants and who he doesn't."

Carla stepped towards me, a malicious grin on her face. "Exactly. My Alpha, not yours." She jabbed a skinny finger on my chest and I stumbled at the force. 

That got Eve furious and she wasn't the only one. We were both sending murdering glares her way.

"Hey!" Eve sneered with a frown as she stepped in front of me. "I suggest you back the fuck off before you lose a tooth." 

We both watched as Carla chuckled, flailing her hands around. "Ouuu, I'm so scared -"

"What the hell is going on here?"

We all turned to find Aragorn's mistress, Serena, glaring at us.