Chapter Six: Fetch Parker

Adrian Muaas Knox

He shouldn't have left the wedding hall to head to his hometown; he was certain of that. But he needed to be away from her and that...that kiss.

That damned kiss that tasted exactly like she smelled, like cold refreshing watermelons after a day in the hot summer sun. To say he wanted more would be an understatement; the more she struggled against him, the more the desire to dominate her surged wildly within him.

Her body, firm yet soft in the places her curves fleshed out, felt divine in his hold, as if she were made to be in his arms.

But he should never feel that way for a ‘Clive’.

Never.

{'The Madam and Mr Parker had an intimate lunch. She plans to spend more time with him tomorrow to learn horse riding.'}

Yet, despite this understanding, one text from his butler—one simple text sent him packing and ready to head home.

A married woman learning ‘horse riding’ from an unmarried man who wasn’t even a professional in that field is a clear sign of a budding affair.

He should be relieved by this now that he wouldn’t have to have sex with her, but the thought that she would give another what she denied him was infuriating.

"Muaas, you promised you'd escort me to my last semester in the academy."

Elaine, his late mentor's daughter, complained as she followed him to the car.

She was seventeen going on eighteen, and while he shouldn't notice her beauty, it was growing hard to ignore.

"Sorry, kid, next time."

"I'm not-I'm not a kid, okay? I'm a grown woman."

"Right..."

His drawl was far too strained for her not to notice, but thankfully she said nothing, merely gazed at him with her bright blue eyes through her lashes.

"Wait!"

His mother called from a distance, rushing to him with a bag full of what could be oriental home remedies for fertility and ingredients from the surplus harvest.

"Take these to your wife, and next time, come with her. I want to see the kind of woman my son chose to marry."

Yet another lie he was caught up in.

His mother thought his marriage was voluntary and that he had fallen in love. He needed to marry a Clive to secure the Alpha position; that way, he could ensure that his family would never suffer the same oppression they did when the 'Clives' were in charge.

"She is busy, Mum. She has a lot to manage."

"But-"

"But nothing."

He took the heavy objects from her, passed them to the driver and hugged her as a farewell.

Before he could rustle Elaine’s hair as he often did, she leapt into his arms, and he froze. His mind went blank, and the desire to wrap his arms over her small body overcame him.

She was growing dangerous to be around.

"I want to see your wife, Muaas."

‘Muaas’ was a nickname he received from his late mentor; when he died, Adrian changed it to his middle name, and now he felt an unnatural attraction to the only one left who called him by that name.

"She...doesn't matter. She isn't important."

He whispered with his eyes closed as he pried her from his flesh. Her body was so small and warm, a perfectly fragile body that needed his protection, not lust.

“But Muaas...”

“I have to go now, Elaine. I will try and visit you at the academy.”

“Before I graduate?”

Her eyes brightened.

“Sure.”

He answered, entered the car, and they drove off.

That’s right; Ruby didn’t matter.

He repeated to himself, chanting the words like a spell the entire journey back, yet as soon as they parked, with the fatigue from the long journey, he rushed to the equestrian fields.

He was almost happy when he didn’t find her there, but that was only until her watermelon scent lured him to the sight currently before him where Ruby's arms were on his accountant’s shoulders.

How dare she?

How dare she give herself to another when she acted as if she couldn’t stand his touch? How dare she lean in to kiss him when she had yet to offer her lips to him willingly?

The anger in his veins tunnelled his reddening vision.

"Go ahead, Parker, kiss my wife. I dare you."

His muscles itched; he could pounce on the innocent man and tear him to shreds—but over what? For what reason would he do that?

He couldn’t answer the question.

Ruby’s crimson gaze widened slightly as she turned to face him—this was the first time he saw genuine surprise on her face.

"You are...home?"

Her words did not sound like a question, more like a confirmation—as if she did not believe he was back.

"Why do you sound surprised that I am in my home?"

He hated that the scent of watermelon easily replaced that of grass and dust, but more than that, there was a certain saltiness to her scent. Sweat? Arousal?

Dear God, it better be sweat.

"Right, your home."

Ruby responded, emphasising the ‘your’ with a scoff before the smile he detested formed on her face.

"Welcome home, Alpha."

He was the one to insist she calls him 'Alpha'. But for some reason, he didn't like the distance it introduced between them, especially with her arms still hanging on Parker’s shoulders.

Fuck!

He shouldn't near her, not when he felt this feral, but he couldn't help that his legs were moving on their own.

As if sensing the danger his nearing flesh posed, Parker pulled away from Ruby.

"We had a deal, Alpha. My affairs are my own."

She uttered, and instantly, his march towards her stopped.

She was right, but…but he was still furious.

"Is that so? Parker, what say you? What is your excuse for having your hands on what is mine?"

“On what is yours?”

Ruby asked with a scoff that made him want to stuff something between her crimson-stained lips, something big, hard and stiff that would fill the cavity between to the brim, ensuring only choked sounds escaped her.

“Speak when you are spoken to.”

He growled instead of listening to his corrupted desires, then turned to face his accountant, who was visibly panicking.

He loved the sight, but Ruby stepped before him, shielding Parker from his glare.

"My groom was missing; I grew lonely in this big mansion. Why don't you take me with you to our honeymoon next time."

It took a moment to understand what she was trying to do, but the only thing he couldn’t place was why her protecting Parker infuriated him.

"Let me be clear, Ruby.”

Why was it so hard to get his voice under control?

“I don't want to fuck a hole that's taken another man's dick before."

"The Alpha wants me a virgin?"

"I'll make the exception because I don't much care about you. But I will not fuck a hole my lesser has entered."

A breathy scoff leaves her; if his words hurt her, he couldn’t tell—her damned smile persisted.

"Then my…hole can take men after you?"

"By all means."

"Then Parker, I will be in touch soon. Hopefully, we will resume our lessons with permission from the Alpha this time?"

What? Was she mocking him?

Parker seemed wiser than she, for he looked toward him before opening his mouth and then sealing it.

"Adrian, if you could stop intimidating-"

His chest fluttered at the sound of his name on her lips; again, his cock twitched indecently with the desire to draw out his name from her lips in another fashion, preferably with her writhing under him, but he would not tolerate such a beast like feeling claiming him because of someone he detested.

"What did you call me?"

He interrupted before she could finish, and a flash of something crossed her face before again her condescending smile found its place on her face.

“My apologies. Alpha we-”

"I will. I will teach you everything you asked me to, Ruby."

Parker interrupted with a new determination that Adrian wanted to claw from his face.

**

Ruby Mallory Clive

My stomach flutters at Parker’s words.

‘I will teach you everything’

Does that mean that in addition to horse riding, he will teach me what it means to be priceless to someone?

A laugh almost slips from my throat.

Parker is kind. He has always been one who responds predictably to damsels.

Does this mean he pities me?

Fuck—I would much rather be a cheating bitch than a pitiful affair.

"See yourself out, Parker. My wife and I need to talk."

"I will see him out."

I insist, responding in kind to his frown.

I want Parker to leave and give me time to unpack his pity, but more than that, I do not want to be alone with the Alpha.

"Don't you think you've tested your luck enough?"

At his words, a wave of his potent scent that now holds the bitterness of the raging sea floods my nostrils, making me feel as if I am drowning.

Arguing with an Alpha is unfair.

"Tested my luck? What exactly have I-”

"Mallory!"

He calls harshly, halting my attempted retort.

Something in his expression shifts.

Shit! I shouldn’t have shown him that the name affects me.

“You know, I am absolutely curious as to why the former elder Clive decided to keep you despite you not being his offspring."

His taunt cuts deep, but the look of pity on Parker’s face makes me want to scream.

Please, don't see this part of me. I am not…pitiful.

"I am sorry, Parker; I will see you out next time."

I utter with a polite smile to the innocent man I dragged into this, but he doesn’t move.

I want to drag my eyes from him so that I can unsee the pity laced in them, but I can’t have the Alpha find out any more of my triggers.

"Ruby, I want-"

Parker breathes in a concerned voice that makes me want to shrink from him.

"Please?"

I interrupt with a smile; at least, I hope it’s a smile.

He leaves after muttering an apology to me and bowing to the Alpha.

The two of us stand in silence for what feels like an hour, but probably a minute has passed at most before he speaks.

"You keep pushing me, Ruby."

He punctuates his words with a step toward me, and once I am within his reach, his black-gloved hand cups my jaw forcefully, tilting me to meet his blue gaze.

"I am a Clive. Your hatred is proof. I would like you to refrain from questioning my birth."

His smile grows sinister.

"My hatred is not a paternity test. Like I said, even an idiot can tell a green-eyed father and a brown-eyed mother do not make a red-eyed child. Your only redeeming quality is your hair.”

If he knew my hair was dyed, that it was, in fact, a chocolaty-reddish brown, would he use that against me?

Of course, he would.

My teeth grind against each other as I suppress the desire to slap him; he will probably arrest my hand should I try.

"What is it you want, Alpha?"

I ask, tugging my chin harshly from him, but his hold lowers to my neck.

The sleeve of his right-hand lowers, exposing the cherry blossom tattoo I grew accustomed to watching as his fingers penetrated me.

I want to lick its outline. No, I want to spread my legs and have him soothe my aching nub. I want to ride his knee and deny him my…what did he call it, hole?

Yes, deny him my hole until he begs me for it—hah, who am I kidding? He’d sooner run to Elaine than beg me.

Damn heat.

My eyes seal to keep the images away, but a deviant part of me waits for his hold on my neck to tighten.

His scent grows stronger yet calmer.

His warmth nears me before he inhales me.

A shudder that makes me press my thighs shut rocks through me.

"Your arousal is growing stronger. Are you going into heat?"

My eyes open to meet his, which are now a beautiful and dark stormy blue.

I want to yield to him.

“If I say yes…will the Alpha give me permission to fetch Parker?”