The Game Of Sex

Katherine Ashford

My Mate.

The word slammed into me unlike any other blow I've taken in my life.

“No," I whispered before I could stop myself. My leg trembled, but I stayed standing. Pride and survival kept me upright.

I had come for the interview because I wanted to be his queen. I needed a man as powerful as the lycan king to get my revenge on Dominic. What I wasn't expecting was to be tagged as his mate in the process.

“That's not possible."

Nikolai didn't answer me right away.

He studied me with a stillness that was far more terrifying than anger. His eyes had darkened.

“You felt it," he said steadily.

It wasn't a question.

Heat coiled low in my stomach, sharp and humiliating. I looked away, fighting the urge to stare at the veins in his arm, or the skin beneath that well ironed dress shirt.

My skin tingled where his gaze lingered. Like my body was betraying secrets I'd buried with my painful past.

“I felt fear," I said, lifting my chin. “That's it."

The corner of his lips lifted, it was slow and knowing. Almost like he could see through every lie.

“Liar.”

A rise of unease swept through the crowd. I understood how they felt, afterall the Alpha King had just declared. A strange woman met his mate in front of them.

They all looked shocked. Their murmurs increased in the crowd.

“Mated to her?”

“A commoner?”

“She's nothing…”

Nikolai raised one hand and silence fell instantly. He didn't look away from me as he spoke.

“Leave us!"

The guards hesitated for sometime.

"Now!” he declared.

One by one the candidates were ushered out, their eyes burning into me with envy, hatred and disbelief. The massive doors shut behind them, leaving the both of us alone in the cold space.

The silence pressed in on us, but I was scared to say anything. “I'm not your mate, I know I came here because I wanted to fill in the position,” I said, my voice weaker now. “But I'm not your mate."

He stepped closer.

I could feel the heat radiating from him, beads of sweat broke out on my forehead. The close proximity made my insides burn, I craved his touch and I couldn't explain why.

"I haven't even touched you.” he mocked.

"You don't know what you're claiming!” I stated. It felt like the words rolled out of my tongue before I could stop myself. It was a stupid decision but I couldn't stop myself, even when all my mind said at the moment was to run and never look back.

“I know exactly what I'm claiming," he said softly. "A broken woman hiding behind her beauty and pain. A wolf pretending she's human, I could smell you from a distance.”

My breath caught.

That was impossible. “You're wrong," I lied. “I'm not…"

His hand rose, not touching me but hovering inches from my cheeks. Heat radiated from him. Dangerous and controlled.

“Your heart is racing,” he murmured. "Your scent changed the moment you stepped into my presence. And your eyes…” His gaze looked into mine piercing. “Recognize mine."

I hated that he was right.

The bond pulse between us, unwanted, undeniable. My body ached like it had wanted Nikolai’s presence all his life.

Nikolai was a brooding king who looked like he wanted to own me, break and control me and that wasn't what I wanted.

“You want a crown?” he asked suddenly and I stiffened.

"I want to live." I said honestly.

A pause followed then he stepped closer. “So do I.” he said and that surprised me more than anything.

Before I could say anything else the doors behind burst open. A guard rushed in, tense and alert.

“Your Majesty, we've confirmed the Blood moon pack has been wiped out.”

My chest constricted violently. My knees nearly buckled.

Nikolai’s head snapped toward me instantly. His hand closed around my wrist, not rough but grounding.

“You knew?" he asked and I shook my head.

“I don't know what you're talking about!" I replied sharply and he smirked.

"Are you going to lie to me?” he asked, his tone calm yet passing a point I did not want to admit.

"Yes, I want the crown. But it has nothing to do with that pack. It has something to do with having a name more powerful than anyone else's." I said without fear.

If I was going to be with him, he needed to know my motivation.

“From this moment…” he began his voice dripping with command. “You are under my protection."

I laughed shakily. "You don't protect people like me, you break them.”

He leaned close, his forehead almost touching mine. “I protect what's mine."

Before I could process, he drew me closer. Not roughly, but with a magnetic insistence, a danger I couldn't even resist.

His hand framed my face, thumbs brushing against my cheekbones. And I felt heat burn beneath my skin.

“You're mine," he said, his voice low and commanding.

"I …I …don't" my breath caught and my voice cracked.

“I don't care what you think,” he interrupted, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “I only care what the bond knows. And the bond wants you.”

A jolt shot through me and my body answered before I could. Heat pulled between my thighs.

I had never felt this much need, not even with Dominic.

His lips grazed mine, not enough to kiss, but enough to graze a storm in my inside.

“Stay still," he murmured. “Or I will take what belongs to me."

I shivered, torn between fear and something dangerously intoxicating.

His fingers grazed my thigh and I gasped. “You belong to me from now onwards! Body and soul!” he declared and my heart pounded against my chest as I whimpered softly.

He touched me and I stopped him. “I want the crown," I said again, in that moment of intimacy.

I had not come to play the game of sex and weakness. Nikolai was my powerful weapon, but in this game of power, this wasn't time to give him access to my body!

Not yet time.