Page 28 of The Fate of Eternity

I shake my head, cutting the distance between us as I take the seat he pulled out for me. “Nothing important,” I mutter when he continues to stare at me. A stare that only intensifies when that’s all I give him, but instead of admitting the little green monster that’s perched on my shoulder, I opt to stuff a piece of steak in my mouth before I can make a fool of myself.

Thankfully, he seems to let it slip, getting comfortable in the chair across from me as I enjoy the best steak of my life.

Sorry, Pearl.

When I can’t fit anything else in my mouth, I fall back in my seat, staring around the space again. “This is a full house.”

“Yeah.”

“How long have you had a whole ass house?” I ask, acutely aware that it’s definitely bigger than the home I shared with my father and Nora.

“Since the first day I shifted.”

His answer catches me off-guard, leaving me to gape at him before I remember myself. I have to clear my throat before I can speak, which only seems to amuse him. “How old were you?”

“Not old enough.” His gaze drops as my frown tightens.

I want to go back to whenever that was and make him feel better, but that’s not possible. All I can do now is be what he needs going forward.

“That’s insane,” I mumble, unsure what else to say, and a sad smile tilts the corner of his mouth.

“That’s my father.”

“I didn’t think it was possible to hate him any more than I already do,” I grunt, and he snickers.

“It’s always possible.”

“Things in this life I didn’t believe could be possible are,” I blurt, hating the words as soon as they leave my mouth.

“Such as?” he asks, intrigued, and I shake my head.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t go shy on me now, Alpha.” He leans across the table, sliding my empty plate aside as he captures my hand in his.

Rolling my eyes, I avoid his deep stare. “Sweet words and deep thoughts aren’t really what we do.”

Silence descends around us, stretching into uncomfortable territory before he speaks. “Why’s that?” My gaze flicks to his, but when I don’t immediately answer, he cocks a brow at me. “Why?” he repeats, keeping hold of my hand as he rises from his seat, edging around the dining table until he’s right beside me. He lifts me to my feet so we’re toe to toe, then reaches for my chin with his free hand, forcing my eyes to his.

“You cup my pussy, we fuck,” I stumble, the truth tasting like lead on my tongue as his gaze narrows.

“Is that all this is to you?”

“No,” I quickly answer, panic flickering through my body, but he seems to believe me.

“But you think that’s all this is to me?” he finally mutters, tilting his head as he takes me in, and all I can do is shrug.

Is it specifically what I think this is to him? Maybe? No… I don’t know, but we really don’t do sweet words and deep thoughts, so I actually have no damn clue.

To drive my point home, he keeps his fingers molded around my chin, holding me in place as he releases my hand with the other, swiftly moving to cup my pussy.

“I can cup your sweet pussy and still talk deep with you, Adrianna,” he rasps, sending a shiver down my spine as I gape up at him.

“Adrianna, huh?” I breathe, acutely aware that my full name has never fallen from his lips. Not in my presence, at least, and definitely not aimed at me.

“It seems I need to be clear about a few things with you, and that’s absolutely fine by me,” he states, tightening his hold on my pussy as his thumb presses harder into my chin. “When I make you admit you’re mine, when I take everything you have to offer, and when I challenge you at every turn, it comes from a place deep inside me thatIdidn’t even know existed.”

His words steal my breath, but the natural need to hide behind humor kicks in. “Your di?—”

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