The Alpha's Temptation

By the time they came to the rose garden in front of the passageway, Tania continued to refuse him. She still hadn't kissed his lips. In the end, when she didn't place a kiss on his lips, before setting her feet on the ground, he leaned and brushed his lips on hers.

The kiss was nothing like she had experienced earlier. She gasped when she felt his lips over hers. It was sensuous and her lips started quivering. He set her on her feet on the soft grass under a willowy oak. He tilted his head and his mouth opened as if to say something, but he snapped it shut. Both of them were standing in stunned silence, looking at each other. He picked up a strand of her hair and a ripple of shiver passed over the skin of her chest when his knuckles brushed. Tania was surprised when those waves didn't stop but continued to go lower to her breasts and then to her belly.

Her pulse thrummed and she flushed deep. She dropped her gaze and turned away from him. How was it possible that a mere touch of his brought forth such a strong response? She took a few steps away, clasping her hands, trying to search for something to say. "I— I—" she cleared her throat. "I love the roses near the passageway."

There was no reply.

"You have beautiful orchards," she rambled on. "We have olive groves in Cetus Monastery. I used to come out every other night to see them." She walked beneath the oak. She thought about the green and black olives that grew.

"And what did you do with them?" he asked, not even a foot behind her.

She thought about the groves, and the violet jacarandas trees that bloomed around them. "We harvest them and then make oil. It used to be one of my favorite places."

"Do you want to see my favorite place?"

"You must have a lot of favorite places," she said, glancing over her shoulder.

"No, the one I am talking about is new. Do you want to see it?" He extended his hand for her to hold.

She should have denied his offer but she placed her hand in his. Eltanin grabbed her hand and then walked through a line of Carolina silverbells. He was quiet all the way to a courtyard which he entered through a backdoor. Sweet lavender scent wafted through the air when he turned to the right and took her under a canopy of willows. At first, she thought that someone would catch them, but to her surprise, the courtyard was deserted. Only two sconces burned on the walls that led to the corridor which disappeared inside the palace.

The branches of the willow trees were touching the ground as a gentle breeze swayed them. "Is this your favorite place?" she asked because she thought he would take her to a luxury room. After all, he was a king and he must be used to luxury. Who would a place beneath the willows be his favorite?

He nodded. "It has become my new favorite." He tugged her further inside, parting the branches. And when the branches fell back to their places, they were enclosed in complete darkness. There was not a drop of moonlight that could penetrate the thick trees. He didn't leave her hand and led her to a stone bench that was on the far corner of the canopy. She depended on him completely because she couldn't see clearly through the darkness. He sat down on the bench and tugged her to sit on him. She gasped when she sat down on his lap. He pulled her closer to him against his chest and asked, "Are you fine?"

It was fine and then it wasn't. It's not that she was sitting on his lap for the first time, but this time it felt… different. And she didn't know why. She didn't know whether whatever she was doing was right or not, but she felt heat creeping in face and belly. "I can sit on the side," she offered.

"I know, but you are on my lap because I wanted you to be here."

"Why are we here, Your Highness?" she asked in a low voice.

"Tania?" He whispered, his heart crashing like waves against cliffs. "I am here for my kiss."

Tania went so still against him that her breath lodged in her throat. Even when he was sitting on his lap, her head was only right up to his chin. He curled his finger beneath her chin and tipped it up. "You promised," he reminded her. After staring at her for a long time, waiting like he always did, he brushed his knuckles over her cheek. "I won't ask you again, Tania."

Before she had a chance to respond, his lips were on hers and a gasp escaped her at the pillowy contact. She could feel the shape of his lips as he brushed them over hers. Tania's stomach was a pit of wild butterflies. Her hands trembled as she clutched his naked chest. Eltanin brought one hand behind her head and grabbed it. He pulled her closer to him and deepened his kiss. Her bosoms fell and rose as he grazed her lips with his fangs and moved his other hand to the small of her back. Her blood was set on fire as the touch of his lips scorched her soul. His chest rumbled and a growl emerged from his mouth as he parted her lips. Tania felt the groan tumble down her throat and her liquid heat pooled in her belly.

He picked her up and made her straddle him and pressed her against his chest. She shuddered when she felt his manhood going rock hard against her. She squirmed against him and he moaned in her mouth. Whatever little hesitancy she had, shattered.

Eltanin's hands slid down to her sides and then curled around her, making her press tightly against him. He delved his tongue inside hers and she opened up for him. Another rough groan emanated from him. Tania knew that this kiss was something so much more that she won't be the same again around him. So many sensations flowed in her body. Something stirred inside. As if on an instinct she rolled her hips against him. He grabbed her skirt and pooled it on her thighs. And when he did that, a shudder passed through her as if lightning had hit her.

He stroked her thighs, sending shivers in between her thighs. They moved against each other as his tongue danced around hers, seeking domination, possessiveness. She groaned his name as her fingers threaded in his silky midnight blue hair. Eltanin pulled out and licked her lips before resting his forehead against hers. "Tania," he said as if it were a prayer. He removed himself away from her soon because the kiss had seared him. If he didn't move away, he wouldn't have stopped.

"Hmm?" She whimpered reluctantly, without realizing that her fingers were still threaded in his hair.

He brought his hand to her face and brushed it with his knuckles. "That was the kiss I was talking about." He was seconds away taking her on the stone bench and then sinking his fangs in her pulse point.

A subdued scraping movement occurred. When Tania whipped her head back, he said, "Probably a squirrel."