The Alpha's Temptation

Chapter 55 Butterflies In Her Stomach

Tania paled as horror bubbled in her chest. Why was the king always hell bent on removing her clothes? Under that knight in shining armor façade, was he a wild wolf? Too many thoughts swirled in her mind, but she realized that he had only wanted to take care of her. "I—"

Eltanin had been a prince and then a king all his life. And all he ever experienced was how women threw themselves at him. He had witnessed many forms of debauchery in his life and would never consider forcing himself on a woman. Eltanin had never been attracted to a woman to that extent that he would do it, either. However, with Tania, it was different. Every waking moment these days he was fantasizing about her. Whenever he saw her, his wolf clamored on the inside to mark his mate. Just yesterday, his fangs started lengthening the moment he realized that she was naked and taking a bath. Yes, around Tania, he fought to stay under control. Yet, right now, all he wanted was to care for his mate who was suffering with pain, silently. She would never have mentioned to him about her aches had he not noticed. He didn't like the way she reacted to his help. However, he understood the underlying reasoning.

"Tania," he said, his voice ragged. "This liniment is going to ease your aches, and that is all I want." He waited for her reaction, for her to settle and trust him. When her expression did not relax, he added, "Have I ever forced myself on to you?" She stared at him and then blinked. "Don't you think it would be easy for me to force myself on you if I wanted to?"

Her eyes became red with fright, as tears stung. She lowered her face and bit her bottom lip as her hand went to the backrest of the chair she was sitting on earlier. She was contemplating his words, it never occurred to her how terrible it sounded, yet it was true.

"It is absolutely fine with me if you don't want me to apply this medicine on you, Tania," he continued, seeing her reluctance. That was a big fat lie. He was itching to turn her around and slather the medicine on her back. "But make up your mind. You have a long day ahead of you and I don't have much time to waste." Again, false. He had all the time in the world for her, but he wanted to feed her and see to it that she was healthy. The delay was not boding well with him. He tried using reverse psychology, hoping that she would allow him to cater to her.

For several moments, she contemplated what to do next, he waited with his breath lodged in his chest, Tania sucked in a sharp breath and slowly exhaled, she visibly relaxed. "My shoulders are hurting me pretty badly, and so is my neck."

"I know!" He released the tight breath, thanking all the deities. "If you could sit down," he pointed at the bed, "then I will apply it on the affected areas for you." He pulled the cork lid off the jar. _{ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​}

Tania turned around and started opening the laces on the front of her gown as he tried his best to keep speaking, but failing terribly. All he could manage to do was mumble, "I am under magic. No. I mean, this paste is made with magic." he spouted nonsense. "I have asked him many times what the ingredients are, but—"

Tania lowered her gown presenting her back to him, and Eltanin became speechless. He choked on his words. The world stopped. He forgot how to breathe. He had never been so distracted in his life. Every coherent thought flew out of his mind.

Tania had the most beautiful back a woman could ever have. The curve of her neck met with her shoulders, the tan melding with the ivory complexion, as his gaze lowered down her body. She may have been thin, but when she had taken her clothes off, he couldn't believe the generous curves she was bestowed with. From the top he could see the outline of her plump breasts, and they flowed into a slender waist that flared into curvaceous hips. As if that wasn't enough to allure him, right above her hips were two dimples. They were more prominent right now as she was clenching her muscles with tension. Her skin was still healing. The angry red marks on her back had lessened since yesterday.

It took every ounce of his will to suppress his wolf to behave. With shaky hands, he put his fingers in the jar and took out a dollop of the medicine. He would have to ask the royal sculptor to carve a statue of her. He wanted to immortalize her beauty. He noticed a swelling beneath her neck on the left.

Tania moved under his scrutiny and the moment she moved, she hissed in pain. Her hand reached her back and her breasts jutted out. Eltanin caught a glimpse of her rosy nipple and he froze. He felt as if he might die if he didn't touch them and wrap his lips around them. Eltanin had seen so many bosoms in his lifetime that he was no longer curious about them. But the sight in front of him — the plump breasts of his mate, who had a pair of perky, rosy nipples, made him feel like he would go crazy if he didn't feel them. Maybe, he wouldn't let the royal sculptor see his naked mate. He would end up killing him if he got to lay eyes upon her naked body.

She turned her face over her shoulders, waiting for him. "Your Highness, please give me the—"

Eltanin slapped the liniment on her back, careful that he didn't get it on her other injuries. With shaky hands, he started applying the ointment gently. He was so gentle that it was tickling her. She moved back a little to add some pressure from his fingers. He whimpered as his fingers dug in her flesh. He said, "Don't move." Or he feared that he would have to leave the room so as to not be a danger to her.

Tania sat still.

As Eltanin continued to massage her, his fangs lengthened and so did his cock. His eyes flickered silver as he looked at the pulse point on her nape, where it met with the shoulder. He wanted to sink his fangs into her flesh there as he took her. His mouth drooled and he realized that his saliva was laced with his venom. Unable to resist the pull, he lowered himself to her nape, to her shoulder and brushed his lips on her pulse point, grazing them a little with his fangs.

Tania trembled. The soft touch of his lips on her shoulders should've scared her instead she felt butterflies in her stomach. His face was close to hers as his warm breath fell on her skin. His body's heat draped her. Her breath became ragged. She closed her eyes, whimpering under the impact. Certainly, this was magic, otherwise an attraction of this magnitude was impossible. "I—"