Page 17 of All for the Beast

She spread her arms out dramatically.

“It’s absolutely massive. You wouldn’t even have to interact with your parents if you didn’t want to. I think there’s a whole wing back there you didn’t show me.”

V chuckled. It was a soothing sound that made Katy think of sitting with a coffee in a cozy cafe with jazz music playing as rain tapped softly upon the windowsill.

“You’re not wrong. I could certainly live here and rarely be bothered. But I wanted to do something for myself, you see, before all of this was thrust upon me.”

They sauntered alongside the long, majestic in-ground pool with glowing lights riveting along the sides in the shade of lilac sugarplums. Beyond the pool was an outdoor patio with comfortable lounging furniture and an exterior fireplace built in rustic-shaded brick, all under the shade of a curved wall that connected with the home.

“All this, meaning living as a king?”

V nodded, following his feet along the purple luminesce.

“It was a life that was meant for me from birth. Sure, I could have stayed here and waited for it all to come to me without lifting a finger. My parents are incredibly traditional in that sense. But I wanted to actually do something that came from my heart and soul rather than take on something that was handed to me.”

His voice began to crack slightly, and he gazed up into the sky. It was clear and velvety, and he peered down at her as they walked toward the garden.

“Does that make sense to you?” he asked, looking a little pained.

Katy let her hands drop to her sides. It was still a bit brisk out, but her body had warmed from the passion of their conversation. She had the urge to slip her hand into his and reassure him.

“Of course,” she replied. “I have always loved my thirst for adventure and have been thankful for my ability to be free from any expectations … err, well, not anything as formal as this anyway.”

She spun her finger at the yard, making V smile sweetly.

“My parents would have loved it if I found a stable career, I’m sure, then settled down with a family, rather than jumping from job to job and being unsure about my future. But my point is that yes, that all makes sense to me.”

They arrived at an iron gate that led to the most extravagant garden Katy would ever lay her eyes on. Before V even opened it, she could sense the explosion of scents and flavors of the vegetation that lay beyond it, plants that she likely would never see on Earth.

She marveled at the burst of color and floral perfumes that engulfed her, set out in a maze format, looking like something out of a mystical children’s book. The moon above lit their path, and they continued with their conversation.

“However, don’t get me wrong, Katy,” V said. “I am honored to be heir of this extraordinary place and to have the chance to provide for my people. I simply want to have some kind of legacy beyond that before I place it aside to become ruler.”

The cool dew on the grass brushed along her ankles as she walked, and then she realized who the strange shifter really was. He was a noble man who took his responsibilities seriously, but also didn’t want to only be remembered for his place on the rung of a familial ladder. It made her respect him even more, which in turn, made her attraction bloom even further.

“That all sounds very gallant, V,” Katy said, smiling at the ground.

He stopped walking, then looked down at her. Katy found it hard to look him in the face, feeling like his eyes could see through her like a pane of glass.

“I don’t know about gallant,” he said, smirking. “But I want to do good for my people, my parents, this town, and the planet. I know you can understand that.”

Katy’s throat was dry and gritty, while her limbs felt like jelly. It would be so easy to fall into his arms, hold onto him for balance, and have him take her to bed for what would likely be an experience of a lifetime.

Her nether regions pulsed, and as much as she wanted to tell herself that it was because she was starved of touch, the truth in her mind cackled like a raven in the dark.

She wanted him so badly. There was no denying it.

Katy had to peel her eyes from his and gaze around the garden to keep herself from pulling his head down to meet her lips.

“I do understand,” she muttered. “I think that I can certainly help you get to that point, V.”

Katy asked if he could call her a cab to take her back to the inn. She needed to make some notes for the next day and refused to let him take her.

It was physically painful to leave him without a touch from his lips. She nearly ran out of the garden, the setting so flawlessly romantic, and the pull of his body to hers felt cosmically irresistible.

She sat in the hover car, squeezing her thighs together, her thoughts about his capabilities running wild.

EIGHT

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