Page 46 of Cruel Alpha: Season One

His words—although spoken calmly, and with some measure of compassion—only anger me more.

“What was your plan when you came here tonight?” I expect him to shy away from answering, but that wouldn’t be Caspian.

Instead, he looks me in the eyes and speaks only the truth. “My intent was to defile the first woman I came across with curves and long, dark hair, pretending she was you.”

Bile rises to my throat as I imagine it, him fucking some other woman, finding pleasure and relief with his cock buried inside her.

“I won’t listen to this.”

I attempt to step away, reaching for the doorknob, but he stops me, holding me in place.

“You wanted to have a discussion; am I wrong about that?” When I don’t answer, he holds my gaze. “The things I say won’t always be what you want to hear, but they will always be true. You asked a question, and I’ve answered it.”

I’m livid, feeling literal steam rolling off the top of my head. “So, that’s it? I’m frigid and broken to you, so this is your solution?”

“What? No, you’re neither of those things, Annalise. But this is hardly a solution,” he scoffs, letting his hands slip from my wrists as he takes a step back. I’m not sure how to read the look he wears, so I cross my arms, bracing myself for whatever comes next.

He’s silent, and while he thinks, he lets a nervous half-smile slip that shouldn’t be nearly as sexy as it is. Considering.

“It’s just that, I haven’t been able to…solvevery much,” he admits, lifting his eyes to mine as I try to understand the hidden meaning behind his words. “This isn’t my first time coming here. I’ve visited after each of our encounters, but it’s always the same result.”

My mind flashes to the moments we’ve shared when things have gotten more heated than either of us planned. And I’m guessing these are theencountershe speaks of.

“So, this place, coming here, it’s turned into a habit?” I don’t even attempt to shield him from the judgement in my tone.

He breathes deep, seeming to search for how to best explain himself.

“It’s true that I’ve come here on a few occasions, but to my surprise, and possibly yours, I’ve never been able to follow through.”

My brow tenses when I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m supposed to believe you came all this way only to suddenly develop a sense of morals when you walked through the door?”

He chuffs a small laugh and it infuriates me.

“No, it’s more than that. What I mean to say is that… you’ve effectively broken me, Annalise.”

I’m still unsure what’s being implied, but when he glances down at his cock, I understand. It brings to mind the lack of an erection I noticed when the she-pup finally pried her ass off his lap.

My jaw stiffens, not wanting to show that I find the fact that his body may only respond tomenow mildly intriguing. And… maybe a little flattering, too. But I’m too pissed to let him know that part.

“Good. Serves you right.” The comment draws another smile out of him.

“Yes, I suppose it does.”

A long breadth of silence passes between us, and lucky for him, my disappointment is beginning to wane. It’s not like we’ve entered any formal semblance of commitment, so he hasn’t been unfaithful. But I’ll be damned if finding him here didn’t bruise my ego a bit.

“So, where does this leave us. Am I forgiven?”

Red light pours down over him, his solid biceps and chest beneath a white button down, suspenders tight against his shoulders. My eyes flit to his, and the anger I expected to wallow in for a century has already begun to drain from my body.

“Funny. I don’t recall youaskingfor forgiveness.”

His eyes narrow as he smiles wickedly, staring down on me from his towering height.

A breath hitches in my throat when he takes my waist, and then slowly, never breaking his gaze, lowers to the floor. Kneeling before me, that half-smirk set on his lips persists, but I manage to keep my expression blank.

“Annalise Breedlove, Alpha Regent of Clan Centauri, woman who drives me mad, and apparently owns my cock despite never having formally claimed it… will you please accept this, my humble apology?”

I swallow deeply, pretending seeing him in a submissive position hasn’t caused my heart to race.

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