Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 9 : Scuttled

*Sasha*

“Let me get this straight," Amanda said, glancing at me over the top of her martini glass. “Lucas–face slap Lucas–

saved your life twice yesterday?"

“I saved him, too," I reminded her, “but… yeah, I guess that's the gist of it."

We were back in Nostalgia, but it was earlier in the evening and Bite of the Wolf was a bit ambitious for this time of

day. Not to mention, it was a weeknight. So, Amanda and I both sipped apple martinis and caught up on our

adventures–mostly mine, since the hunky boy in calculus didn't take long to describe. At least she got his number.

“And there's some weird temple under the library?" Amanda whispered, as I'd told her that part in the strictest

confidence.

“Yeah. Hopefully, it doesn't stop construction altogether," I replied glumly.

“It would stop you from seeing a certain someone, though I'm getting the impression you wouldn't mind so much

anymore," Amanda grinned.

I groaned and dropped my head to the table. “Honestly, I just don't know anymore. He's not at all like we were as

kids. Okay, a little bit, but he's a lot more serious about his career than I expected. I kind of figured he was just

going to use being cousin to the White Queen to get whatever he wanted out of life. But he's… not like that."

“And he seems to want to slip you a little black sausage," Amanda teased crudely.

“Amanda!" I hissed, scandalized. “That's gross! Besides, I don't even know if it's true. He keeps wanting to be close

to me...."

“He called you 'precious,'" Amanda butted in.

I felt my cheeks get hot. “Well, yeah, he did. But that's beside the point. He keeps calling me his 'intern,' too. And

every time we get really close, he shifts gears and begins talking about the library project. I just… I don't get it."

Amanda tapped perfectly manicured nails on the tabletop. “Maybe he's trying to keep professional boundaries

because he's, you know, technically your boss?"

“Then why in the Moon Goddess's name doesn't he keep it that way?" I almost sailed in despair.

Amanda's eyes twinkled mischievously. “Maybe he can't. Guys don't always think with the big brain, you know?"

“You're beyond hope. You know that, right?" I sighed.

“I just tell it like it is," Amanda replied, completely unrepentant.

A dark storm entered the bar. The temperature felt like it dropped considerably.

“Well, speak of the devil," Amanda breathed, leaning to the side slightly so she could check out his ass.

I rolled my eyes. “One, he doesn't seem to be in that kind of mood, and two, he's kind of mine… or something…

right?"

“A girl can still show a little appreciation," Amanda said dreamily. Then she shook her head and gave me a shove

that nearly knocked me off my chair. “Go get 'em, Lemon Tart."

I shot her a look before picking up my martini and going to brave the crackling storm cloud that was Lucas Black.

“Hey," I said, sliding onto the barstool next to him just as he ordered a whiskey shot. “Is everything okay?"

Lucas slid a large amount of money across the bar. “Keep 'em comin'," he intoned before turning to me. His eyes

were already bloodshot. Either he'd been crying, which I doubted, or Lucas Black had started the party before he

arrived at Nostalgia.

“Um, Lucas," I said in a soft whisper, “it's the middle of the day. You probably shouldn't...."

“It's over, princess," Lucas interrupted.

My heart squeezed. We were over? We hadn't even started....

“What do you mean, it's over?"

“The library–whole project's been terminated. They found bodies–well, remains–down in the temple. King Xander

said artifacts are one thing, but disturbing the dead is quite another."

My heart sank. “Oh Lucas," I said, pressing my hand over his. “I'm so sorry."

Lucas turned his hand over palm up and threaded his fingers through mine. “Don't worry, princess. They'll find you

a new work study."

“I liked this one," I replied softly, looking down at our joined hands.

“Me, too," Lucas said throatily. He rubbed his thumb in little circles over the back of my hand.

I swallowed. “I suppose that means you get assigned to a different project, too. Maybe we'll be assigned to the

same one?"

Lucas snorted. “Doubt it. I'm in the dog house."

“What? Why? It's not like you put a temple under the old library," I said.

“No. But I didn't spot the bodies, either. Stone went back to the site this morning with an archeological team, and

they uncovered a kind of catacombs straight away. The king's pissed I went to him to ask to keep a lid on things

without doing it myself."

I squeezed his hand. “Lucas, you were attacked last. We were on a train home this morning. You couldn't possibly

have gotten together a team and—“

Lucas slammed his fist on the bar, making the whiskey in his next shot slosh over the edges of the glass."I had forty

men on site yesterday. Hell, Herb was already down there. Would it have killed me to ask him to take a look

around?"

“The same Herb that nearly got killed, along with me and a few others, when the ground imploded?" I said.

Lucas paused, then lifted his second whiskey shot to his lips. “Point taken."

I put my hand over the top. “Lucas. Let's do something else, okay, other than drinking?"

Slow music played in the background. Lucas looked out at the small, empty dance floor. “Okay, princess," he said,

setting the glass down. “You give me a dance, I'll stop drinking."

I glanced at the dance floor. “Lucas, almost nobody is here, and no one's dancing."

“Gives us plenty of space, then, doesn't it?" Lucas slid off his barstool and tugged me off of mine, into his arms.

My heart skipped a beat, then began pounding overtime. “Lucas, this isn't the dance floor."

Lucas pulled our joined hands against his chest, his other arm circling my waist and holding me close. “Does it

matter?"

I looked around. Amanda was giving me a thumbs-up. The rest of the patrons seemed more interested in their

drinks.

“I guess it doesn't," I whispered.

“Good." Lucas swayed his hips, swaying me with him.

He was so warm, and his toned body melted into me where I was soft. We were so close I could feel his heartbeat,

and while it was steadier than mine, it wasn't entirely even either. He wasn't unaffected. I made his heart beat fast–

me.

I made eye contact with his chest, feeling flustered by our dancing.

“Look at me, princess," Lucas breathed in my ear.

A shiver of desire rolled down my spine.

I raised my eyes to his throat, then up to meet his silver-flecked, gray eyes. They were burning with lust… and

something… else?

“How about we get out of here?" Lucas whispered.

I knew what he meant. My mouth went dry and I licked my lips to moisten them, my emotions in turmoil.

Lucas followed the movement of my tongue. “Let's get out of here, princess." He tempted me again.

I could feel what he wanted pressed against my belly, and I let out a little whimper that only he could hear. I was so

conflicted....

Lucas dipped his head, his lips almost brushing mine.

I held my breath in anticipation.

A hand clapped down on Lucas's shoulder, startling us both out of our reverie.

“Mind if I cut in?"

Lucas and I dragged our gaze from each other at the same time.

“Donovan?" I asked, feeling as though I were coming out of some sort of fog.

“Donovan," Lucas said between his teeth. “Yes, actually, we do mind."

Reluctantly, I disentangled myself from Lucas, who growled low in his throat and shifted around to hide… certain…

things.

“Donovan, what are you doing here? I thought you were on a diplomatic mission to Norwind?" I touched his arm,

then noted there was a light bruise on his cheek.

“Negotiating didn't go well," Donovan grumbled, shooting Lucas a suspicious look. “Who's Mr. Handsy?"

I looked at Lucas, who had a dark expression on his face. “This is Lucas Black. He was the site director at that

library build I told you about."

“That one you were chomping at the bit to get on? Yeah, I remember." Donovan looked Lucas up and down. “Still

doesn't explain why his hand was crawling toward your ass."

I turned apple red. “Donovan, that's very rude. Lucas and I–"

“Are old friends," Lucas cut in. “And I don't think it's very friendly to be eyeing Sasha's ass."

“I was eyeing your hand," Donovan snorted.

I reached for Lucas's hand, but to my surprise, he pulled away, making me feel as though I'd been stabbed in the

chest.

“So, steamy s*x on the dance floor is the new, professional way bosses treat their interns these days?" Donovan

snarked.

Angry streaks of red colored Lucas's cheek bones.

“We're…" I looked at Lucas in confusion. “We're not boss and intern anymore. The library project was scrapped."

Donovan turned back to me. “Oh, Sasha, I'm so sorry," he said. He took my hand. “I know how much you were

looking forward to it. Guess neither of us have had much success."

“No." I looked down at our joined hands and gave a little tug.

Donovan let go easily.

“Aren't you a little old to be chasing college students, Donovan?" Lucas asked archly.

“Oh for Goddess's sake, you two! Donovan and I are friends. Friends. Lucas and I...." I trailed off, no longer knowing

how to define us.

“Are old friends," Donovan finished for me. “Yeah. You said so before. And you're one to talk, Lucas. We're about

the same age, right?"

“I suppose," Lucas grunted.

“Do I have to be here for this conversation?" I asked. I sounded testy, but Donovan had just kiss-blocked me and

Lucas had gone all cold again.

“No." Lucas's eyes narrowed on Donovan one more time, then he stepped away. “I was just leaving."

“Um… I didn't say I was going to go with y—“ I began.

“I'm leaving," Lucas said with emphasis.

I blinked. “W-what?"

“He's leaving." Donovan draped a casual arm around my shoulders. “Come on, let's go refresh that apple martini of

yours."

“Lucas?" I asked, trying not to sound hurt. I was certainly confused.

Lucas raised his hand and smoothed my hair behind my ear, his thumb brushing my cheekbone. “This was always a

bad idea, princess. If I'd been sober…"

I smacked his hand away. Anger began to boil in my gut, bubbling up to full-blown rage. “You wouldn't have made a

move on me if you were sober?"

Lucas shook his head. “No."

I raised my hand to slap him again, then thought better of it and curled my hand into a fist at my side. “Fine. Have a

nice life, Mr. Black."

“Sasha...." Lucas murmured.

It was still enough to raise goosebumps on my skin. But I wasn't going to let him humiliate me anymore. “You said

something about my apple martini?" I said pointedly to Donovan.

He got the hint and used his arm around my shoulders to turn both our backs on Lucas. “I did, indeed," Donovan

replied.

When I looked back a few moments later, Lucas was gone.

An emptiness filled my soul.

Damn Lucas f*****g Black anyway!