4. I’ll Be Gentle. . . I Promise

BELISARA’S POV

Evander strode past me, his long black cloak billowing behind him as he pushed open the doors of the balcony.

A wave of cool night air rushed into the room, and cut through the suffocation building up in my chest.

I took a desperate step forward, closed my eyes and let the chilly breeze wash over my burning face.

"Is this better?" Evander's deep voice rumbled from the shadows and I opened my eyes to find him watching me.

I nodded, my fingers clutching the midnight-blue silk of my dress. "Yes, Your Majesty. And I. . .I apologize for making a scene during the ball."

"Stop apologizing, Belisara," he murmured and gestured to a dining table near the center of the room. "Take a sit."

I hesitated, but my knees were still trembling from the twelve-mile trek and the panic of the ballroom.

I walked over and sat down on the edge of the chair, keeping my hands neatly folded in my lap.

Evander walked over to a silver platter on the table, lifting the lid and the rich, savory aroma of glazed venison, roasted potatoes and honey bread melted into the air.

My stomach grumbled painfully in hunger, my mouth salivated at the meal in front of me and Evander pushed a set of cutlery into my hands. "Go ahead and eat."

The sight of food made my vision blur. I hadn't tasted anything since yesterday morning, and I was starving.

Forgetting my fear and the elegancy my father had drilled into me, I rushed into the roasted potatoes, and shoved pieces of honey bread in my mouth, barely chewing before swallowing.

Evander pulled up a chair opposite me, sinking his tall frame into the leather, and watched me eat without saying a word.

There was no disgust in his eyes— only a quiet, lingering stare that made my heart flutter for a completely different reason.

When the platter was nearly empty, I reached for the silver goblet and took a sip of red wine, suddenly hyper-aware of the silence between us.

Clearing my throat, I set the goblet down and turned to face Evander. "Your Majesty, may I ask why you choose me to be your date?"

"Why wouldn’t I choose you?" He smiled as though my question was amusing.

"Because I’m a wolfless, Omega and there were so many beautiful, high-ranking she-wolves at the ball tonight."

Evander leaned forward, resting his forearm on the table, his silver-tipped hair falling slightly over his eyes.

"An Omega?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "Then explain to me, Belisara. . . why do you curtsey like a princess?"

What was he talking about? I swallowed and moved an inch away from him.

“How did you know the dance at the royal ball tonight? Only noble wolves know it and even now. . ." He gestured to the spoon in my hand. ". . .you're holding your cutlery like royalty."

A violent panic clawed at my chest and I stood up quickly. If Evander figured out I’m the true heiress of Ambercrest Pack, Uncle Maloch and Morwena would kill me.

"I need to leave," My hands trembled so hard I nearly knocked the goblet over. "Alpha Maloch will be furious if I'm gone for too long. I'm a servant here, I shouldn't be—"

"Belisara." Evander stood up from his chair, his tall frame eclipsing the light from the fireplace as he stepped into my path.

"I can't be here." I said and his thumb brushed a crumb of bread off my lower lip, his touch running a spark of lightning down my spine.

"No one," his gaze dropped to my mouth, "can hurt you here."

His words broke something inside me and after weeks of enduring hurt and pain, I gripped the lapels of his cloak and pulled him down to my lips.

A sharp breath escaped Evander’s throat as our lips crushed together, but shock paralyzed me and I quickly broke the kiss.

"I'm sorry—I shouldn't have—" I stepped back, my chest heaving as I turned around to leave.

"Belisara, wait." Evander lunged forward, his arm anchoring around my waist, and spinning me into his hard, broad chest.

"What do you want?" I asked him and Evander leaned in and seized my lower lip with urgency, his overpowering cedarwood scent intoxicating my senses.

His hands moved from my waist and gripped my hips, pressing me to the hardness bulging against his pants. "I want you." He growled.

Heat pooled between my legs and I arched my body, tilting my head back as Evander buried his face in my neck and rained peppery kisses down my sensitive spot.

My knees nearly gave out as he rubbed me wet against him, his warm breath fanning my skin as I clutched unto his broad shoulders for dear life.

Oh Goddess.

"Do you want me to stop?" He whispered raw and nibbled on my earlobe, his chest beating wildly against mine.

"No," I shook my head frantically. "No, please don't."

With a swift pull, the zipper of my dress came down and the silk fabric slid down my curves, pooling at my feet.

I stood naked before Evander and wrapped my arms around my body to hide my fat folds but Evander stared down at me with tenderness in his eyes.

"You’re so beautiful." He traced constellations across my stretch marks and kissed me deeply, cupping my ass with fierce, possessiveness.

A breathless whimper escaped my lips and he thrust his hot tongue into my mouth and undid the clasp of his cloak.

The heavy, black cloak fell down his shoulders and I fumbled with the buttons on his surcoat until it came off.

He shrugged the surcoat and quickly pulled his white shirt over his head, exposing his defined chest and chiseled abs.

Without hesitation, Evander hoisted me up and carried me over to the massive, velvet bed in a single motion.

"Heavens!" I gasped, not expecting him to lift me up so easily as my back gently dropped on the mattress.

Evander straddled me and his mouth eagerly found my breasts and sucked my right nipple til it peddled.

"E—" I arched into the soft mattress, clawing at the silk bedsheets beneath us as he fondled my left nipple with his fingers, making me writhe underneath him.

How could he make me feel this way? Why do I crave his touch so much?

Evander positioned himself between the heat in my trembling thighs, and pressed his forehead to mine.

"Do you trust me, Belisara?" He breathed hard, unbuckling his belt and I watched his pants roll to his knees as his erect penis sprung out.

I couldn’t speak, I could only gape at the veins lining his thick shaft and the glistening moist at the pink tip.

I nodded and bit my lower lip with desperation to be filled by him.

"I’ll be gentle. . . I promise." He said and in one deep, masterful stroke, Evander parted my wet folds and slipped inside me.

A sharp moan tore from my lips and I dug into the muscles of his back as he filled my aching core.

"Ugh. . .you’re so tight." He grunted and thrust himself harder, rocking my entire body against the mattress.

A spasming sensation sent a coiling shiver into the throbbing pit of my stomach as he kissed me feverishly.

Oh Goddess, what was happening to me? My body reacted to every stroke and I felt myself clenching around him.

"Cum for me." Evander drove himself deeper and deeper, pining my hands above my head when I craved to feel every ridge on his body.

I stared into his piercing grey eyes, my body tightening under him as an explosive climax gripped my body.

"Oh!" My toes curled as Evander stiffened and groaned into my mouth, spilling his cum down my thigh.

"You’re so perfect, Belisara." He panted heavily and rolled beside me. "Come here." He grabbed my soft body to his chest, and held me to his beating heart as our breaths mingled together.