Damn Him

Damn he - Darius the Challenger, I rub the space between my eyes.

Why am such a wuss - can't I control myself around him? If I had more faith in myself, he wouldn't have made this a challenge and we'd both be asleep by now.

I don't think we'd be sleeping, honey...

Shut it.

Just go. Think about his warmth. And his odor...

I glance at the bedside clock.

It shows 3am.

We haven't slept one bit last night - I'm dead tired.

Excuses. You just want to screw our mate.

Hey, like you said - you're the boss in human form. I challenge you to go and not jump all over him.

Well, I'm too tired for sex anyway. He probably is as well.

Although, he made this is a challenge and now I hate to give in and let him win - because he's been so full of himself since Day 1, Second 0.

But I shouldn't behave childish, especially since it's doing us both a disfavor.

Screw it, I'm going.

Yes!

I stand up, determined, and quietly walk out of my room. This is just sharing our bed, I reassure myself.

Mhm, my wolf is unconvinced.

I shake my head once in front of his door. The scent here alone is enough to make me dizzy. I want him so bad.

No, Lila! I admonish myself. I can't give in to the Moon Goddess. I still have to decide whether or not I'll accept him as my Alpha. And life partner. And I can't make a good decision without a good night's sleep.

Oh, please, it's not like you have a choice, my wolf says.

I'm too exhausted to make smart decisions.

As I brood within myself, the door opens and I am looking at Darius Carter, topless, in all his glory, leaned at the door with one arm, other reached out to me. "Thank God," he says. "I'm so tired that if you hadn't come, I would've gone to you."

Great. Couldn't I wait a bit fucking longer?

Lila, just go to the fucking bed, my wolf shuts my thoughts down.

I pretend I don't see his hand and walk to his bed. My heart races like a fool.

"I won't even make jokes about this, I'm too tired," he says bluntly. "No wolf business," he lifts his arms in defense.

Oh God. Help me.

I take a quick look at the bed. "I'll sleep on the left," I  basically jump on it.

"That's my side."

"I know," I stuff my head into the pillow that carries the world's most magnificent scent.

When I lift my head, he has a smug face. "Oh, shut up and just lie next to me," I say.

He does as told still wearing the smugness, positioning himself almost on the center of the bed. I really couldn't mind less. The closer the better - I'll fall asleep faster.

Mhm...

I tuck myself beneath the cover, then feel him steal it - which I know he's doing on purpose, so I pull it back at once.

"Sorry," he whispers into my ear, "cheap trick."

My heart, be still.

I lay closer to him, letting my head sink into a soft pillow that is his biceps. I know how he feels. "You're forgiven," I try to speak without emotion. "Now good night."

He inhales with relief. "Good night, Lila."

I sink into sleep with those three words that are like a heavenly melody to my ears.

* * *

When I wake up, I feel so magnificently rested that I don't even notice Darius and I are still lying curled up in a spoon.

Oh.

I literally try to crawl my way out of it, but his grip is too tight for my human form to get out of.

Great. My action woke him up.

He inhales deeply as if doing a morning stretch, releasing his hands from my body shortly.

I use the opportunity to get away from him as soon as possible. And as far.

I hear him chuckle behind me.

"What's so funny?" I look at him.

Damn. Even his morning version is sexy - dark hair ruffled boyishly, his eyes still squinted from the light.

"You," he replies getting up on one elbow. My eyes can't help escaping downward to the bare chest our sheets just uncovered.

Drool worthy.

He laughs shortly with a manly guttural sound coming out his throat. "That's more like it. Now you remind me of Lila from last night," he comes closer to my ear. "Or should I call you Luna now?"

I flush with redness burning my cheeks and instantly hate it. He is acting too macho self confidently I'm gonna devour you right now. I can play you just as good, little Alpha.

"There are only two ways you can call me if you expect I will respond," I get out of bed and put a house robe on.

Now I have his attention. He tilts his head in amusement, waiting for my statement curiously.

"One is Mistress Lila," he laughs as I say it, "and, if we're in public, my Queen should suffice."

His eyes sparkle as he smiles showing his full set of strong white teeth. "I love it," he says at last. I watch in hidden shock as he leaves the bed and approaches me slowly.

I anticipate his next move with slight anxiety. He stops at few inches away, takes my hand into his, never leaving my eyes, and then lays a gentle kiss on it. "I accept, the queen of my heart."

And now mine starts beating horribly loudly.

Ian... I love you and all, but this is end game, my wolf sings on the inside.

He keeps our eye contact, slowing moving his head from left to right. "What's wrong? Are you..." he pauses, smirking, "Are you embarrassed I might actually address you that way in public?"

Hell no, he's trying to dominate us, my wolf finally takes a good stance.

"I don't do embarrassed," I stretch my smile from ear to ear. "I'm looking forward to you calling me your Mistress Lila."

I turn my back to him and open the chest drawers, looking for some fresh clothing.

From all the nervousness, I don't even notice him approach me from the back. I just feel his hands rest on my inner elbows as he lowers his beard on my shoulder. "I don't have the slightest problem with calling you Mistress," he slowly removes a strand of my hair away from my neck, "but we both know it's me who's the Master in here."

I get the world's worst goose bumps as his hand slowly trails up my hand towards my breast. But then he stops abruptly.

"We still haven't put your clothes in there, remember?" he kisses my neck, licking it with his tongue in the process. "You stay here, I'll go bring your luggage. You're not going back to that room anyway."

"You do that," I manage to say calmly, my nipples hardened without my consent.

"Anything for my Mistress," he says controlling his smirk, then disappears into the hallway.

I fucking hate him.