Page 100 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

It’s not a sweet or tender kiss, but one fueled by hunger and a desire so fierce that it burns me. My hands aren’t pushing him away; they’re holding onto him for dear life. His mouth moves against mine, his body hard under his shirt.

I was sure that the long dry spell I have endured meant I didn’t need a man’s touch. All these years, no one excited me, no one made me want to “let loose,” as Katherine once put it. As it turns out, it was Darian’s touch that my body needed in order to wake up.

The giggling of children has me pulling away, feeling flushed and hot. I look over at four kids, who can’t be any more than five years old, tittering and pointing at us. As soon as they see me watching, they scatter.

My chest is heaving as I try to catch my breath.

“I was sure you’d at least slap me,” Darian murmurs.

I don’t miss a beat, using all my strength to punch him in the stomach.

“Oof!” he groans, doubling over. “Spoke too soon.”

“Don’t ever do that again,” I warn him, wishing I looked as dignified as I’m trying to sound.

He just laughs amid the groan. “Do you really think I’m going to stop trying to win you over, Alice? You’re not the only one who has changed in the past seven fucking years. I want to get to know my daughter, but I also want you back.”

“Well, tough luck,” I growl at him. “It’s not happening.”

He straightens up, rubbing his stomach. “You pack a mean punch, Alice Lane. But I’m not giving up. And before you say anything, remember, I spent seven years shackled to Willow.” His voice is dangerously soft. “You have no idea how patient I can be.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “That sounds like a threat.”

He just smiles at me in a way that warms my blood.

Why do I feel like I just got played?

Chapter 20

Alice

“What are you saying?” Katherine leans over the counter, watching me sip my coffee. “You’re going to invite him over for dinner?”

“He’s already invited, Katherine.” I glance at the wall clock before putting the marinated leg of lamb into the oven and setting the timer for an hour. “But it doesn’t mean anything. He’s coming to see Mira.”

My friend is munching on some healthy crackers that she swore she got for me. “So, Darian is Mira’s father. Makes sense. She looks a little bit like him.”

I glance at her discreetly. “You’re not mad I lied to you?”

“Honey, it was what’s called a universal lie. You told everybody the same story. You couldn’t exactly tell me a different one, now, could you? It would’ve blown your cover.” She nibbles another cracker, pondering. “But I still can’t get over this whole thing. You hid his kid from him for seven years! He must be pissed.”

“He wasn’t mad about that,” I admit. “It was more like he was angry that I went through it all by myself. He said if I hadn’t wanted to see him, he would’ve sent someone to look after me.”

Katherine’s eyes widen. “Girl, that’s a green flag in my book. Why did you break up with him again?”

“Family politics on his end. In any case, I don’t want to be with him, but I don’t want to deny Mira her father, either. Darian seems to think we can patch things up, though.”

“Does patching things up come with an engagement ring?” Katherine frowns. “It better. You’re the mother of his child. The time for dating is over. He needs to either put a ring on it or get a court order for visitation.”

“What part of ‘I don’t want to be with him’ don’t you understand?” I drain my coffee, put the mug in the sink, and rinse it with water. “Besides, he’s married.”

“Married?!” Katherine chokes on the cracker. I hurry over to thump her on the back, and she groans. “Not so hard! You’ll break a rib!”

“I’ll get you some water.” I pour her a glass, and she takes a few sips before coughing and glaring at me.

“You didn’t tell me he was married.”

“That’s where the family politics come into play.” I sit down on the stool, grab the carrots, and start peeling them for dinner. “He married a girl I didn’t get along with. According to him, she blackmailed him with something about me, and he had no choice. I can buy that part because I know her, but—” I sigh, my hands coming to a halt. I stare at the carrot I’m holding, my eyes unseeing. “I wasn’t prepared to believe him, Katherine, but he gave me evidence. A flash drive. He told me the truth. But believing him doesn’t mean I can love him again. He seems to think he can win me over.”

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